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.
Chip Douglas
Paul Mason was born in 1985 and grew up an avid pro wrestling fan. Mason used to rent wrestling tapes and study them as a way to learn the business. He finally decided to enter a wrestling school in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 16. It was there, that Mason developed the character of ‘Chip Douglas’ a cocky heel with a babyface.
After two years of training and competing on the independent circuit, Mason decided to save enough money to train with the legendary Harley Race in Missouri. While training under Race’s watchful eye…Mason had plans to travel to Japan and learn their style as well. Paul Mason was a true student of pro wrestling, absorbing everything he could to one day become a huge star. While in training with Race, Mason had started to complain of headaches and on August 16, 2003…Mason collapsed and died after suffering a brain aneurysm.
Paul ‘Chip Douglas’ Mason was only 18 years old at the time of his death. His family made the decision to donate Mason’s organs which reportedly helped over 100 individuals.