Professional Wrestler. Wrestled in the ECW and UWFI. Died in the ring at the American Legion Building in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
**********
Times Leader, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - Tuesday, January 11, 2000
January 7, 2000 ary Mitchell Albright, 36, of Pensacola, Fla., died Friday at Hazleton General Hospital. Born May 18, 1963, in Quincent Point, R.I., he was a son of the late Gary F. and Elsie J. (Blackburn) Albright. He was a graduate of Nebraska University with a degree in journalism and a minor in geography and history. He was a professional wrestler with several wrestling organizations, most recently All Japan Pro Wrestling. He attended Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Surviving are his wife, the former Monica S. Anoai; son, Samuel A., at home; daughters, Angelica A. and Alexandria F., both at home; sister, Patricia J. Crain, Pensacola, Fla.; three nephews and in-laws. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Arrangements are by the Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton
*************
Associated Press Archive - Monday, January 10, 2000
A professional wrestler collapsed and died from a heart attack during a match in his debut in World Xtreme Wrestling after a long career in Japan.
Gary M. Albright, 36, who wrestled under the names Air Albright, Airplex and Vulkhan Singh, died of cardiac arrest after collapsing about 45 minutes into the match Friday night at the Hazleton American Legion, according to Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Andy Piskel.
Albright suffered from an artery disease, but did not mention any illness when he began his match against Billy "Lucifer Grimm" Owens at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, according to a letter from Albright's father-in-law, Afa Anoai, that was posted on the WXW's Internet Web site. Anoai, known as Afa the Wild Samoan, is owner and CEO of Top Rope Productions and WXW.
Albright collapsed at about 10 p.m., and died shortly afterward at the hospital.
The match was Albright's return to the United States after spending 12 years wrestling in Japan. During his career, he won the All Japan Professional Wrestling International Tag Team Title twice, was part of a pay-per-view wrestling special and was made into an action figure by a Japanese toy company.
"Gary was a very honorable man who was not only one of the best wrestlers that we have in this business, but also he did not need the TV exposure from the big two to make a name for himself," said Anoai, referring to the more popular World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling organizations.
Albright was a three-time All-American at the University of Nebraska in the early 1980s and an assistant wrestling coach there before starting his pro career in 1986.
He lived in Pensacola, Fla., and is survived by his wife, Monica, a son, two daughters, a sister and three nephews. Private services are planned Jan. 14 in Pensacola, Fla. Memorial donations should be sent to the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola.
**********
Times Leader, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - Tuesday, January 11, 2000
January 7, 2000 ary Mitchell Albright, 36, of Pensacola, Fla., died Friday at Hazleton General Hospital. Born May 18, 1963, in Quincent Point, R.I., he was a son of the late Gary F. and Elsie J. (Blackburn) Albright. He was a graduate of Nebraska University with a degree in journalism and a minor in geography and history. He was a professional wrestler with several wrestling organizations, most recently All Japan Pro Wrestling. He attended Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Surviving are his wife, the former Monica S. Anoai; son, Samuel A., at home; daughters, Angelica A. and Alexandria F., both at home; sister, Patricia J. Crain, Pensacola, Fla.; three nephews and in-laws. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Arrangements are by the Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton
*************
Associated Press Archive - Monday, January 10, 2000
A professional wrestler collapsed and died from a heart attack during a match in his debut in World Xtreme Wrestling after a long career in Japan.
Gary M. Albright, 36, who wrestled under the names Air Albright, Airplex and Vulkhan Singh, died of cardiac arrest after collapsing about 45 minutes into the match Friday night at the Hazleton American Legion, according to Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Andy Piskel.
Albright suffered from an artery disease, but did not mention any illness when he began his match against Billy "Lucifer Grimm" Owens at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, according to a letter from Albright's father-in-law, Afa Anoai, that was posted on the WXW's Internet Web site. Anoai, known as Afa the Wild Samoan, is owner and CEO of Top Rope Productions and WXW.
Albright collapsed at about 10 p.m., and died shortly afterward at the hospital.
The match was Albright's return to the United States after spending 12 years wrestling in Japan. During his career, he won the All Japan Professional Wrestling International Tag Team Title twice, was part of a pay-per-view wrestling special and was made into an action figure by a Japanese toy company.
"Gary was a very honorable man who was not only one of the best wrestlers that we have in this business, but also he did not need the TV exposure from the big two to make a name for himself," said Anoai, referring to the more popular World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling organizations.
Albright was a three-time All-American at the University of Nebraska in the early 1980s and an assistant wrestling coach there before starting his pro career in 1986.
He lived in Pensacola, Fla., and is survived by his wife, Monica, a son, two daughters, a sister and three nephews. Private services are planned Jan. 14 in Pensacola, Fla. Memorial donations should be sent to the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola.
Professional Wrestler. Wrestled in the ECW and UWFI. Died in the ring at the American Legion Building in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
**********
Times Leader, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - Tuesday, January 11, 2000
January 7, 2000 ary Mitchell Albright, 36, of Pensacola, Fla., died Friday at Hazleton General Hospital. Born May 18, 1963, in Quincent Point, R.I., he was a son of the late Gary F. and Elsie J. (Blackburn) Albright. He was a graduate of Nebraska University with a degree in journalism and a minor in geography and history. He was a professional wrestler with several wrestling organizations, most recently All Japan Pro Wrestling. He attended Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Surviving are his wife, the former Monica S. Anoai; son, Samuel A., at home; daughters, Angelica A. and Alexandria F., both at home; sister, Patricia J. Crain, Pensacola, Fla.; three nephews and in-laws. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Arrangements are by the Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton
*************
Associated Press Archive - Monday, January 10, 2000
A professional wrestler collapsed and died from a heart attack during a match in his debut in World Xtreme Wrestling after a long career in Japan.
Gary M. Albright, 36, who wrestled under the names Air Albright, Airplex and Vulkhan Singh, died of cardiac arrest after collapsing about 45 minutes into the match Friday night at the Hazleton American Legion, according to Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Andy Piskel.
Albright suffered from an artery disease, but did not mention any illness when he began his match against Billy "Lucifer Grimm" Owens at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, according to a letter from Albright's father-in-law, Afa Anoai, that was posted on the WXW's Internet Web site. Anoai, known as Afa the Wild Samoan, is owner and CEO of Top Rope Productions and WXW.
Albright collapsed at about 10 p.m., and died shortly afterward at the hospital.
The match was Albright's return to the United States after spending 12 years wrestling in Japan. During his career, he won the All Japan Professional Wrestling International Tag Team Title twice, was part of a pay-per-view wrestling special and was made into an action figure by a Japanese toy company.
"Gary was a very honorable man who was not only one of the best wrestlers that we have in this business, but also he did not need the TV exposure from the big two to make a name for himself," said Anoai, referring to the more popular World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling organizations.
Albright was a three-time All-American at the University of Nebraska in the early 1980s and an assistant wrestling coach there before starting his pro career in 1986.
He lived in Pensacola, Fla., and is survived by his wife, Monica, a son, two daughters, a sister and three nephews. Private services are planned Jan. 14 in Pensacola, Fla. Memorial donations should be sent to the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola.
**********
Times Leader, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - Tuesday, January 11, 2000
January 7, 2000 ary Mitchell Albright, 36, of Pensacola, Fla., died Friday at Hazleton General Hospital. Born May 18, 1963, in Quincent Point, R.I., he was a son of the late Gary F. and Elsie J. (Blackburn) Albright. He was a graduate of Nebraska University with a degree in journalism and a minor in geography and history. He was a professional wrestler with several wrestling organizations, most recently All Japan Pro Wrestling. He attended Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Surviving are his wife, the former Monica S. Anoai; son, Samuel A., at home; daughters, Angelica A. and Alexandria F., both at home; sister, Patricia J. Crain, Pensacola, Fla.; three nephews and in-laws. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Church, Milton, Fla. Arrangements are by the Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton
*************
Associated Press Archive - Monday, January 10, 2000
A professional wrestler collapsed and died from a heart attack during a match in his debut in World Xtreme Wrestling after a long career in Japan.
Gary M. Albright, 36, who wrestled under the names Air Albright, Airplex and Vulkhan Singh, died of cardiac arrest after collapsing about 45 minutes into the match Friday night at the Hazleton American Legion, according to Luzerne County Deputy Coroner Andy Piskel.
Albright suffered from an artery disease, but did not mention any illness when he began his match against Billy "Lucifer Grimm" Owens at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, according to a letter from Albright's father-in-law, Afa Anoai, that was posted on the WXW's Internet Web site. Anoai, known as Afa the Wild Samoan, is owner and CEO of Top Rope Productions and WXW.
Albright collapsed at about 10 p.m., and died shortly afterward at the hospital.
The match was Albright's return to the United States after spending 12 years wrestling in Japan. During his career, he won the All Japan Professional Wrestling International Tag Team Title twice, was part of a pay-per-view wrestling special and was made into an action figure by a Japanese toy company.
"Gary was a very honorable man who was not only one of the best wrestlers that we have in this business, but also he did not need the TV exposure from the big two to make a name for himself," said Anoai, referring to the more popular World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling organizations.
Albright was a three-time All-American at the University of Nebraska in the early 1980s and an assistant wrestling coach there before starting his pro career in 1986.
He lived in Pensacola, Fla., and is survived by his wife, Monica, a son, two daughters, a sister and three nephews. Private services are planned Jan. 14 in Pensacola, Fla. Memorial donations should be sent to the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Pensacola.
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