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http://kayfabememories.com/Stories/mickkarch/mk20.htm

Back some 34 years ago, I was watching a televised wrestling bout on
the AWA network featuring one of the all-time KM favorites, the
legendary masked man, "Doctor X" (Dick Beyer) and a veteran TV jobber
by he name of Guy Taylor. I don't recall where Taylor was actually
from, but I believe he was billed from Dublin, Ireland. It's amazing
what one remembers after so many years, but this match had a such
bizarre and horrific aftermath that it sticks in my mind to this day.

"X" was early on into his run as the AWA's leading heel. Back in those
days, of course, TV matches were primarily "squashes" designed to give
the top stars their push and get you to buy tickets to see the arena
shows in your city. If a main event caliber match was shown on TV, it
was generally part of a hotshot angle or last minute surprise,
generally with the heels being stunned that they were thrust into
matches with a surprise babyface star of the day. I mention this only
to emphasize that this was just your typical, run-of-the-mill squash.
For Guy Taylor, it was a chance to collect a paycheck and be seen on
national syndication.

Towards the end of the match---and I remember this well ----Taylor
somehow wound up falling back towards the ropes, violently snapping
his neck and back of his head on the lower rope strand as he fell
backward.

I remember thinking "My god, he could have broken his neck." Shortly
thereafter, "X" applied his leglock to conclude the match.

The next morning, I read in the Minneapolis Tribune that a wrestler
had collapsed and died after a Twin City television bout. In fact, it
was Guy Taylor. The article detailed how Taylor had just finished a TV
match with Dr. X when he had gone back to the locker room to get paid
and suddenly collapsed. Police and paramedics were unable to revive
him and he died a short time later. The cause of death was attributed
to a heart attack he suffered after the match.

I have always wondered if that wicked blow, that whiplash effect he
took from the rope strand somehow caused a blood clot or something
similar, leading to the fatality. It is unfortunately a vivid but sad
memory from the AWA's golden era.


--- Internet Rex 2.29