Former pro wrestler Mike Graham, whose real name was Edward Gossett, was distraught over the suicide of his son at Biketoberfest two years ago, when he, too, took hios own life Thursday during the biker rally in Daytona Beach. Graham's wrestling-promoter father killed himself in 1985.
DAYTONA BEACH -- An incident report released by Daytona Beach cops, confirms former pro wrestler Mike Graham, visiting here for Biketoberfest, was found dead "lying face up" on a bed Thursday night in a North Halifax Drive home from an apparent self-inflicted "gunshot wound to the forehead."
The 61-year-old Tampa Bay area native, whose real name was Edward Michael Gossett of Indian Rocks, was found dead by his wife, Diane Marie Hamilton, with police and paramedics responding to a 9-1-1 call at 8:47 p.m. for a report of a suicide. Graham's wife told cops that her distraught husband had been threatening suicide for the last two years over the suicide of his son, Steven Gossett, two years ago during Biketoberfest.
Headline Surfer was among the first media outlets to report Graham's suicide on Saturday, but at the time was unable to confirm exactly when the fatal shooting occurred, reporting it happened Friday from initial reports as did most media outlets. The police report stated a Freedom Arms .22 caliber revolver was found next to Graham's body, which was "lying face up on the bed with a gunshot wound to the forehead."
Police have termed the homicide a "death investigation, routine for such an incident while a homicide investigation is ongoing, even if suicide by firearm is the expected outcome as to cause of death.
The incident report stated that "a small revolver (Freedom Arms .22 caliber) was found next to Gossett."
Graham was pronounced dead shortly after cops arrived on scene. Graham's wife told cops that the former wrestler "had threatened to commit suicide frequently ever since (his) son committed suicide two years prior during Biketoberfest."
Graham was pronounced dead shortly after cops arrived on scene. Graham's wife told cops that the former wrestler "had threatened to commit suicide frequently ever since (his) son committed suicide two years prior during Biketoberfest."
Ironically, Graham's father, Eddie Graham, the more famous promoter of Championship Wrestling from Florida, took his own life by shooting himself in the head on Jan. 21, 1985. Mike Graham wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance before leaving the squared circle earlier in the decade.
His death is among a growing list of former professional wrestlers under the age of 65, who have died from either suicide or health-related issues stemming from drug and alcohol abuse, including use of steroids.
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