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.
‘The Golden Boy’ Michael Cammett
Michael Cammett grew up a professional wrestling fan. In particular, Cammett idolized ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels and wanted to one day follow HBK’s footsteps into WWE. As a young kid, Cammett’s parents said he would often practice wrestling moves on his bed and other furniture…often breaking things along the way. Michael was undersized standing 5’9 and weighing 175 pounds, but that didn’t stop Cammett from exceling in high school athletics playing football and track.
When Cammett was 17 years old, he applied to the IWF wrestling school in New Jersey. A trainee was required to be 18, but Cammett impressed the owner so much with his essay on why he wanted to become a pro wrestler that he waived the age limit and accepted him into the school. Cammett was a natural at wrestling and was said to be one of the training school’s earliest graduates. Cammett made his pro debut in June of 2014.
He was given the moniker of ‘The Golden Boy’ Michael Cammett and won several titles during his short career. Cammett was also voted Wrestler of the Year for the IWF by the fans three years in row for 2014, 2015 and 2016. Cammett was so advanced as a wrestler, he became a trainer himself helping teach a new generation of wrestlers. While his small stature perhaps was an albatross to a successful career outside of the indies, Cammett pursued a higher education enrolling at Rutgers University. Cammett studied physical therapy and was working towards a doctorate in that field.
On June 26, 2021…Cammett and some friends went rafting on the Delaware River. He tragically drowned in the rough waters. Michael Cammett was just 24 years old at the time of his death. Dr. Tom Prichard had this to say about Michael Cammett as a wrestling student…“Mike was a bright, intelligent kid who had a passion for professional wrestling. He participated in many seminars I did for the IWF, and he always stood out. He excelled every time I watched him work in the ring. Mike was a pleasure to be around, train and work with. He was smart enough to know there was life after wrestling and pursued his education for after wrestling. I enjoyed our talks and I enjoyed training him over the years. He left us way too soon. I’m going to miss him.”
To read other Grappling with Tragedy stories…Please Click Here.
David Fullam
A bright flame gone too soon.