Ten-bell salute

In professional wrestling, a ten-bell salute is given to honor a wrestler that has died, especially when that wrestler is a current member of the promotion or a distinguished former member of the promotion. It is the professional wrestling equivalent of a 21 gun salute.

It is typically given at the beginning of a card, with the current members of the promotion either in the entranceway, in the ring or around the ring. Both wrestlers and audience observe a moment of silence during the tolling of the bell.

Honorees

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

In World Wrestling Entertainment (and its predecessor, the World Wrestling Federation), several such salutes have been televised over the past ten years. Some of the honorees have included:

• André the Giant (1993, heart failure).
• Brian Pillman (1997, heart failure).
• Rick Rude (1999, heart failure).
• Owen Hart (1999, ring accident).
• Gorilla Monsoon (1999, heart failure).
• "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (2002, heart attack).
• Lord Alfred Hayes (2005, complications from a stroke).
• Eddie Guerrero (2005, heart failure).

A ten-bell salute was also given at WWF events following the September 11, 2001 attacks, to honor those who were killed in the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C..

On June 25, 2007, Chris Benoit, along with his wife Nancy and his son Daniel were found dead in their home in Fayetteville, Georgia. However Benoit did not get a ten-bell salute after it was discovered to be a murder-suicide.

On May 23, 2011, "Macho Man" Randy Savage who had died three days prior of a suspected heart attack was given a tribute on WWE Raw, but was not given a salute.

Tenbell salutes within WWF/WWE storylines

While ten-bell salutes have typically been reserved for real-life deaths, it has been used in kayfabe at least thrice in WWE history (see worked shoot). The most recent instance was in June 2007 for Mr. McMahon (WWE chairman Vince McMahon's on-screen persona), as part of an angle where he was inside a limousine that exploded, and was presumed dead.

In 1988, Harley Race was "honored" with ten bells as part of a promo by Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, wherein Heenan accused Hulk Hogan of causing serious injuries to Race. This angle grew out of a match where Race was legitimately injured during a match vs. Hogan, due to a mistimed move, and was forced to take a hiatus.

On a Raw is War broadcast shortly after the Royal Rumble in January 1998, Paul Bearer and Kane tolled the bell ten times in ring to mock the Undertaker, with whom they were feuding at the time. Their actions grew from an incident at the Royal Rumble where, in the storyline, Kane and Bearer had locked the Undertaker in a casket and set it ablaze, presumably killing the Undertaker.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

The most memorable instance of this honor in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is the salute given to Chris Candido at TNA Hard Justice in May 2005. Candido had died of a blood clot due to a complication of leg surgery, on April 28 of that year.

There was also a ten-bell salute at a TNA event in Amsterdam, NY, on May 20, 2011, in honor of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who had died that morning.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

In ECW, at their Cyber Slam 1998 event, the ten-bell salute was given in remembrance of Louie Spicolli, who died from an accidental drug overdose on February 15, 1998.

In boxing

The ten-bell salute is also used in boxing to honor a departed boxer, where it is known as the "final ten-count."