What is Axl Rotten?
[[File:AxlRottenApril2009.png|thumb|right|Rotten in April 2009]] '''Brian Knighton''' (April 21, 1971 &ndash; February 4, 2016) also known as '''Axl Rotten''' was an [[Americans|American]] professional wrestler that wrestled for the original [[ECW]] and [[WWE]]. Rotten was trained by retired wrestler Jim Leon and former [[World Championship Wrestling]] jobber Joey Maggs. He was born in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. Rotten's body was found dead in a [[McDonald's]] bathroom in [[Linthicum, Maryland]] from a heroin overdose at the age of 44.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/pro-wrestling/ring-posts-blog/bal-axl-rotten-wrestling-accidental-overdose-20160216-story.html|accessdate=September 21, 2024|title=Professional wrestler Axl Rotten died from overdose in Linthicum, according to police report|publisher=[[Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.wwe.com/inside/axl-rotten-passes-away Axl Rotten passes away at 44]</ref> He died of [[cardiac arrest]]. After his death, an autopsy revealed that Knighton had been suffering from [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/jordan-parsons-axl-rotten-balls-mahoney-diagnosed-cte-223126/|accessdate=September 21, 2024|title=Jordan Parsons, Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney diagnosed with CTE|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{US-sports-bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rotten, Axl}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:2016 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from cardiac arrest]] [[Category:American professional wrestlers]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Baltimore]]