Funeral services for Shannon “Daffney” Spruill, the former professional wrestler, are set for Friday and her death has intensified concerns in the professional wrestling industry – especially among the women performers.
Ashley Massaro, who wrestled for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), killed herself in 2019 at the age of 39.
Hana Kimura, who emerged as a celebrity while wrestling professionally in Japan, killed herself in 2020 at the age of 22.
Then last week came Spruill. On Sept. 1, she was found dead inside her apartment in Norcross, Georgia, of an apparent gunshot wound after saying during an Instagram Live broadcast that she was going to kill herself. Spruill was 46.
Her death still is under investigation by the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner.
“I definitely think these last couple of tragedies that we’ve had in wrestling have helped create an awareness,” said Jamie Lynn Senegal, a professional wrestler who said she considered Spruill a mother figure, “and kind of bring the sisterhood that we have a little stronger and closer together to make sure everybody’s OK.”
Melissa Anderson, a professional wrestler known as Cheerleader Melissa, said she can hear the impact among women in the business.
