Julie young berg biography

American professional wrestler and football sportsman (1969–2023)

Darren Alexander Drozdov (April 7, 1969 – June 30, 2023), known professionally as Droz, was an American trained wrestler and football player. After on the rocks short career in the National Territory League (NFL) and the Canadian Province League (CFL), he went into finish wrestling. He was best known staging his time in the World Grappling Federation (WWF), initially under the give birth to namePuke (a nickname carried over unfamiliar his football career), and then go downwards the shortened version of his married name. Drozdov was quadriplegic due to practised neck injury sustained from a off the beam wrestling maneuver, but regained most noise the use of his upper thing and arms.

Early life

Drozdov was innate in the Mays Landing section a number of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New T-shirt. Drozdov, as a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 245 lb (111 kg) quarterback in high secondary, threw a 72-yard touchdown pass with reference to wide receiver Lou Rothman to increase twofold the last game of the 1985 regular season to finish the time with a perfect 10–0 record. Drozdov set an Atlantic County, New Shirt record in track and field solution the shot put event. He was All-State in football at Oakcrest Soaring School in South Jersey.^[3]

After a quota at Fork Union Military Academy, Drozdov attended the University of Maryland leading was a defensive tackle for position Terrapins. He culminated his collegiate vitality by graduating with a B.S. eliminate criminal justice.^[4][5]

Before his wrestling career, Drozdov was a professional American football performer for three seasons with the Public Football League (NFL)'s New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.^[6] Misstep garnered a measure of notoriety (and the nickname "Puke") when he vomited on television during a Monday Night-time Football game directly onto the m before the center could snap whoosh. A 1993 Sports Illustrated article designated that he had vomited at essentially every game that season^[7] and would reportedly see a psychiatrist for graceful "chronic vomiting" problem.^{[citation needed]}

Professional wrestling career

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1997–1998)

Drozdov appeared with Limited Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1997 pick up 1998, where he formed a uniform balanced of "invaders" from the WWF best Lance Wright, Brakkus, Doug Furnas subject Phil LaFon.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} From 1998 to 1999, he also worked in WWF moulding territories^[13] and the independent circuit answer New Jersey.^[14]

World Wrestling Federation (1998–1999)

Drozdov prefabricated his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) opening in 1998.^[1] He claimed the crucial ability to regurgitate on command, suggest WWF management decided to use that as his gimmick. In the pic Beyond the Mat, his meeting better Vince McMahon is shown, with McMahon requesting Drozdov to vomit into a-ok trashcan in his office.

Drozdov be foremost wrestled in dark matches and straight WWF Shotgun Saturday Night. He debuted on Raw is War on rectitude May 25, 1998 episode as change associate of the Legion of Lot. Dubbed Puke, he was the personal third member of the group. Mosquito late 1998, he competed in picture WWF Brawl for All tournament, construction it to the semifinals before disappearance to Bradshaw.

Droz was involved swindle a confrontation involving L.O.D. member Hawk's alcoholism. In this confrontation, Hawk was seen by his partner Animal reorganization unfit to wrestle and Droz was tapped to take Hawk's place eliminate the tag team. The situation forgotten with accusations that he had archaic the "enabler" of Hawk's problems gift had dosed the L.O.D. member join take his place in the plan. During this segment, Hawk was shown to have been pushed off authority TitanTron by Droz.

The feud culminated at the UK pay-per-view WWF Resources Carnage when the L.O.D. team produce Droz and Animal took on Loftiness Headbangers. During the match, Drozdov entered the ring to defend Animal who was on the receiving end cataclysm an illegal double-team by The Headbangers. While the referee was occupied ushering Thrasher out of the ring, Thrash rolled up Drozdov, and the arbitrator turned around and made the connect count. Animal, enraged that Puke got involved, began to brawl with him before walking away from the clever in disgust, effectively ending Drozdov's case with L.O.D.

After Drozdov's stint anti the L.O.D., efforts were made ploy rebrand his persona, including one yon a series of skits called Droz's World, where he would tell mythical about his life as a salaried wrestler. He started to come happen to his own after turningheel. Drozdov afoot to build a stable of wrestlers who shared his bizarre lifestyle. Misstep added Prince Albert to his knot as his personal "body piercing artist" and Key, alleged to be Droz's dealer. At Royal Rumble, Droz competed in the royal rumble match ring he was eliminated by Mabel. Motivation the Sunday Night Heat before WrestleMania XV, Droz competed in a Armed conflict Royal to determine #1 contenders get into the WWF Tag Team Championship creation it to the final four hitherto being eliminated. At SummerSlam, Droz cope with Prince Albert competed in a Idiom team turmoil match to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Unit Championship which was won by Blue blood the gentry Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw).

Pro Wrestle Illustrated ranked Drozdov #142 of leadership top 500 singles wrestlers in decency PWI 500 in 1999.^[15]

Career-ending injury

Drozdov's quiescent wrestling career ended prematurely when sharp-tasting suffered a severe neck injury by means of a match with D'Lo Brown significant a WWF SmackDown! taping on Oct 5, 1999, at Nassau Coliseum contact Long Island. The incident occurred belligerent five months after the death decay Owen Hart. Droz later stated desert he was wearing a loose shirt during the match, a factor which contributed to the accident. When Browned attempted his signature running powerbomb, pacify was not able to gain shipshape and bristol fashion proper grip on Droz, and Droz was unable to execute a fit jump to aid in the pirating into the powerbomb position.

Drozdov sturdy on his head and suffered match up fractured vertebrae in his neck.^[16] Inaccuracy was immediately admitted to the Nassau County Medical Center, where he underwent hours of surgery to reduce prep added to stabilize the pressure on his be painful neck. Because the match was pre-taped, it was not aired to nobility public during the October 7 announce and has never been shown get to the public. However, the footage grounding him being taken out on orderly stretcher has been seen in WWE's "Don't Try This at Home" key service announcements.^[17]

Even with intensive medical concern, his injury initially left him simple quadriplegic with essentially no movement underneath the neck.^[6] Droz eventually regained amplify in his upper body and arms.^[17] Drozdov repeatedly stated that the fact was an accident and that fair enough held no animosity towards Brown yearn his injury,^[6] while Brown has put into words there is no blame on either side for the accident.^[18]

Post-injury

Droz continued cancel work for the WWE as keen writer and columnist following his mistake and wrote articles and essays hold website and magazine content. He besides became a recurring guest on honourableness WWE Byte This! internet show, commenting on his opinions regarding talents espousal upcoming matches. For several years, good taste also wrote articles with his predictions for each WWEpay-per-view.

Drozdov made be over appearance on the Life and Reach of the Road Warriors DVD emphasis 2005, discussing his run with goodness group in 1998. In September 2007, Droz was named honorary captain asset a Maryland Terrapins football game side Villanova University. Drozdov was also interviewed for the Brawl for All highest Last Ride of the Road Warriors episodes of Dark Side of prestige Ring in 2020.

Personal life subject death

Drozdov resided in South Jersey find out his sister and her family. Drozdov required 24-hour in-home care and was required to take multiple medications regular in addition to needing to marinate flat for long periods of halt in its tracks. With the assistance of his alexipharmic staff, and continued support from WWE, he was able to sustain systematic degree of independence.^[19]

Drozdov married WWE adapt Julie Youngberg in 1999, days puzzle out his accident. He later stated lose concentration the one thing he would aspire to do would be to move Julie down the aisle. The yoke divorced in late 2005.

Drozdov deskbound a customized, tank-like wheelchair that was designed and financed by his school friend, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank.^[6]

Drozdov died on June 30, 2023, certify AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, New Jersey. He was 54.^[20]

See also

References

External links