Matt Osborne
Matthew "Matt" Wade Osborne was an American professional wrestler. Osborne was a second generation wrestler, being son of "Tough" Tony Borne, and is best known as being the first and longest-running wrestler to portray the character of Doink the Clown. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1957. sborne was found dead on June 28, 2013, in the Plano, Texas apartment he lived in. Though no weapons were found near his body, and police said the death appeared accidental, they launched a precautionary homicide investigation. The cause of death was later determined to be an accidental overdose of morphine and hydrocodone. He also suffered from heart disease, which had been a contributing factor in his death. In June 2015, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against WWE, alleging that "WWE created a culture of violence and sacrificed Matt Osborne’s brain for its own profit" which "led to further illnesses and injuries, including depression and drug abuse, which ultimately resulted in his untimely death." WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said the suit was without merit and blamed the attorneys for taking advantage of the families involved. The suit was filed by Michelle James, the mother of two of Osborne's four children, and was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant, who ruled that they failed to show that his death was linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy Matt Obsorne appeared in SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 as a DLC character in 2008 under the name, Doink the Clown. However, he did not appear in any other licensed wrestling game afterwards.
Known For
Credits
- 2013 ·Legends of Mid-South Wrestlingas Matt Borne
- 2013 ·ECW - Unreleased Vol. 2as Doink the Clown
- 2011 ·JCW Legends and Iconsas
- 2007 ·Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1as "Maniac" Matt Borne
- 1996 ·WAR Ryogoku Crush Nightas Doink
- 1995 ·WWF Mega Matches '95as Doink the Clown
- 1994 ·ECW's NWA World Title Tournamentas Doink The Clown
- 1994 ·Inside the WWFas Doink The Clown
- 1993 ·WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1993as Doink The Clown
- 1993 ·WWE SummerSlam 1993as Doink The Clown
- 1993 ·WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammersas Doink the Clown
- 1993 ·WWF European Rampage 1993as Doink the Clown
- 1993 ·WWE U.K. Rampage 1993as Doink the Clown
- 1993 ·ECW Hardcore TVas
- 1993 ·WWE WrestleMania IXas Doink the Clown
- 1993 ·Rawas Doink The Clown (archive footage)
- 1993 ·Rawas Doink (archive footage)
- 1993 ·Rawas Doink
- 1993 ·Rawas Doink The Clown
- 1992 ·WCW Wrestle War: WarGamesas Big Josh
- 1992 ·WCW Clash of The Champions XVIIIas Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW Starrcade 1991as Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW Clash of The Champions XVIIas Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW Halloween Havoc '91as Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91as Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW The Great American Bash 1991as Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USAas Big Josh
- 1991 ·WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sunas Big Josh
- 1990 ·WCW Starrcade '90: Collision Courseas Sgt. Kruger
- 1990 ·NWA Clash of The Champions XIII: Thanksgiving Thunderas Sgt. Krueger
- 1987 ·WCCW Christmas Star Wars '87as Matt Borne
- 1987 ·WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '87as "Maniac" Matt Borne
- 1987 ·WCCW Parade of Champions '87as Matt Borne
- 1986 ·WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '86as "Maniac" Matt Borne
- 1986 ·WCCW Labor Day Star Wars '86as "Maniac" Matt Borne
- 1985 ·WrestleManiaas "Maniac" Matt Borne