German wrestler John “Bad Bones” Klinger died aged 40, Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) announced on May 20, 2024. The promotion said he died shortly before his planned retirement. Contemporaneous reports did not disclose a cause of death.
Who was Bad Bones John Klinger?
Klinger was a German professional wrestler who debuted in wXw in 2005 and became one of the promotion’s leading figures. In its May 20, 2024 tribute, wXw described him as one of its defining wrestlers for more than a decade. F4W/WON reported that he held the wXw World Championship three times, tying the record at the time of that report, and appeared at TNA television tapings in 2009, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Those are selected career milestones, not a complete account of his international work.
What did wXw say about his career?
In a translated version of the promotion’s announcement published by F4W/WON, wXw said: “John Klinger was one of the defining wrestlers at wXw for over a decade.” The promotion also said he had won all of its major titles and the 16 Carat Gold and Shortcut to the Top tournaments.
wXw counted almost 450 matches by Klinger in its ring. That is the promotion’s approximate figure, rather than an independently audited total.
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Unlimited Wrestling offered another perspective on his influence, saying he passed his knowledge to the next generation and opened doors for others.
When was Klinger’s last documented match?
POST Wrestling reported that Klinger’s last documented match took place on May 11, 2024, against Flash Morgan Webster. The report identifies it as his last documented match; it does not establish that no later match took place elsewhere.
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Was a cause of death announced?
F4W/WON’s contemporaneous report said no cause of death had been revealed. No cause is established in the reporting cited here, so speculation would be unwarranted.
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- Each figure is detailed with TrueFX technology for a life-like face and added collectability!
- Fans can recreate signature moves with 14 points of articulation for dynamic posing!
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- WWE fans can find their favorite Superstar figure or can collect them all (each sold separately, subject to availability).
Sources
- F4W/WON, Ian Carey, “Former wXw champion John ‘Bad Bones’ Klinger passes away at 40” (May 20, 2024)
- POST Wrestling, Andrew Thompson, “wXw Germany announces passing of John Klinger” (May 20, 2024)
- Unlimited Wrestling, “Wir gedenken John ‚Bad Bones‘ Klinger (1984 – 2024)” (May 20, 2024)
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