Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.
Kenny Valentine
Kenneth Laymon was a professional wrestler known under the name ‘Kenny Valentine.’ He mainly wrestled for several independent organizations in the south including World Alliance Wrestling and Southern Championship Wrestling. Laymon was a pro wrestler/trainer for nearly 20 years.
Kenny Valentine’s last match took place on March 20th, 2010 in Jasper, Alabama against ‘Action’ Mike Jackson. When Laymon wasn’t competing in the ring, he was working as a truck driver to provide for his wife and four children. On the early morning of March 26th, 2010, Laymon was driving his tractor trailer through the town of Munfordville, Kentucky. His tractor trailer veered off on the opposite side of the road and struck a church van carrying Amish families who were headed to a wedding in Iowa.
The crash killed Laymon and ten of twelve passengers in the van…the youngest being just 2 months old. The incident was considered the deadliest motor vehicle accident in Kentucky history. Coroners had to identify Laymon through his dental records. Police believe that Laymon was on his cell phone at the time of the accident. Ken ‘Valentine’ Laymon was 45 years old.