On August 23, 2023, legendary wrestler Terry Funk died on the age of 79. His death was tragically followed the following day when 36-year-old Windham Rotunda (AKA WWE star Bray Wyatt) succumbed to a heart attack consequently of COVID-19 complications. The subsequent day, to start “WWE SmackDown,” the corporate’s stars gathered at the highest of the ramp and honored the 2 late wrestlers with a ten-bell salute.
For those unfamiliar, the ten-bell salute is a long-held tradition inside skilled wrestling, serving as a solution to honor the dead. Its history isn’t exactly clear, as the character of the industry in its early days makes it difficult to pin down an origin. Nonetheless, its use inside WWE goes back to at the very least the mid-Nineteen Eighties.
A ten-bell salute is not given to each wrestler who dies; it’s always reserved for when an lively wrestler or someone viewed as historically significant passes away. When it takes place, your complete roster gathers near the entranceway because the ring stays empty. All the arena (ideally) stays silent because the ring bell is struck 10 times.
Outstanding Examples Of The Ten-Bell Salute
Along with Wyatt and Funk, WWE has honored many wrestlers with a ten-bell salute over time. Early recorded instances include David Von Erich in 1984 and Andre the Giant in 1993, with more contemporary examples including “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, and Bruna Sammartino.
The ten-bell salute is used outside of WWE, as well. AEW honored Brodie Lee with one after the wrestler died in 2020. Moreover, Latest Japan Pro-Wrestling held a ten-bell salute for Jay Briscoe in 2023, and the tradition extends from American promotions like TNA and Ring of Honor all the way in which all the way down to the independent scene.
Occasionally, the ten-bell salute has also been used inside “kayfabe” as a part of company storylines. This happened in 2007 when Vince McMahon “died” as a part of an onscreen storyline that was quickly canceled following the double murder/suicide committed by Chris Benoit just days later.
Together with honoring the dead, the ten-bell salute is usually used to commemorate the top of a wrestler’s profession. That is most frequently seen in Japan, however it happens elsewhere all over the world as well, akin to when WWE used it to indicate the top of Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway’s in-ring profession in 2020.
