US pro wrestler Jay Briscoe has been named as the victim of a fatal car crash that has also left his daughter fighting for life in hospital.
Tributes from the wrestling world flooded in for Briscoe, real name Jamin Pugh, after he reportedly died in a car accident in Laurel, Delaware, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
The Delaware State Police have issued a statement revealing that Pugh’s vehicle was struck head-on by another that swerved into his lane for “unknown reasons”. The driver of that vehicle, who is identified in the report, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Jay was not wearing a seat belt but his daughters were.
The force added: “The two passengers in Pugh’s pickup truck, identified as his 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old daughter, were both properly restrained. Both girls were taken by ambulance to an area hospital and were admitted in critical condition.”
Jay Briscoe and her daughter to cheer up the timeline pic.twitter.com/yL50gf35ho
— NHATional Scissoring Day ✂️ (@nhathaniel_h) January 18, 2023
The American brothers Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe competed as The Briscoe Brothers in professional wrestling.
They gained notoriety through their 20-year association with the American company Ring of Honor (ROH), where they set a record by winning the ROH World Tag Team Championship 13 times.
Tony Khan, the CEO of All Elite Wrestling, announced Briscoe’s death on Twitter.
“Sadly, Jamin Pugh has passed away. Known to fans as Jay Briscoe, he was a star in ROH [wrestling company Ring of Honor] for over 20 years,” he wrote.
“From the first show until today, Jay and his brother Mark dominated ROH, reigning as champions to this day,” he said.
One of my favorite physical exchanges with Jay Briscoe from our 2017 ROH run.. The believability & realness of Jay as a performer & wrestler was incredible. It’s almost unbelievable at how gifted he was at professional wrestling. pic.twitter.com/fIBX3aNBsh
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) January 18, 2023
World Wrestling Entertainment chief content officer Paul Levesque - better known by his ring name Triple H - called Briscoe an “incredible performer who created a deep connection with wrestling fans across the globe”.
“My condolences to the family and friends of Jay Briscoe,” he said.