Former WCW Wrestler Johnny Meadows Dies Of COVID-19 Complications

Former WCW star Johnny Meadows has passed away at the age of 59 after battling complications from COVID-19. Born John Conronde, the wrestler was reportedly on a ventilator since September 28.

According to The Daily Times, Meadows, who had been ill since September, had been updating friends and fans on Facebook. His last post read, “The family is so grateful for each of his cherished friends and the (Blount Memorial Hospital) staff that provided such great care and compassion.”

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Yale Medicine’s Lauren Ferrante, MD, MHS, a pulmonary and critical care specialist, explains that ventilators are sometimes necessary for battling a COVID-19 infection. If the body’s immune system cannot fight off the infection, it may travel to the lungs and cause a potentially fatal condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

“ARDS entails severe inflammation of the lungs, but the main problem is that it makes portions of the lungs unusable,” Dr. Ferrante sayd. “It can be very serious, and many of these patients will need to be on a ventilator.”

Meadows began his professional wrestling career in the early 1980s in Southeastern Championship Wrestling, facing off against iconic wrestlers like Big John Studd and Hector Guerrero. Eventually, he took on Ric Flair and Abdullah the Butcher in world title matches. He also joined Joey Cazana in the Paradise City Rockers and Don Lucas in The Dream Team.

He performed for numerous companies, including NWA, ECW and AWA, and became a part of The Stingers in WCW, as henchmen for Sting and Flair. In addition to his wrestling career, Meadows was an accomplished songwriter, earning a Grammy nomination and touring with bluegrass groups The Roane State Boys and Tranquillity Express.

This has been a difficult week for pro wrestling. Mexican luchador Principe Aereo died aged 26 after collapsing during a match, and British star Ryan Smile lost his fight with mental health. Meanwhile, German legend Karsten Beck died after a long battle with brain cancer.

Source: METRO

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