Pro wrestler 'Mad Dog' Bell found dead

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Mike "Mad Dog" Bell, a former professional wrestler whose struggle with substance abuse was featured in the documentary "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," has died. He was 37.

Bell was found Sunday at a Costa Mesa live-in rehabilitation facility, his family said.

An autopsy was conducted but investigators couldn't immediately determine the cause of death, said Dan Akin, a supervising deputy at the Orange County coroner's division. The coroner is awaiting the results of toxicology tests, he said.

Chris Bell, whose 2008 documentary examines the steroid use of his two brothers, said Mike Bell had long battled with his addictions to prescription painkillers and alcohol.

"He was always wrestling, he was a personal trainer, he was always pushing his body to the max," Chris Bell told the Orange County Register.

"You can't really blame wrestling, but it's kind of the lifestyle," he said. "You have a couple of painkillers to get to the next match, have a couple drinks night to night and it gets out of hand."

Bell wrestled on World Wrestling Entertainment's "Monday Night Raw" as a "jobber," a fighter who takes falls to promote others.

"Although Mr. Bell was never under a WWE contract, WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Bell family," the organization said.

Former professional wrestler turned personal trainer Mike “Mad Dog” Bell died at the age of thirty-seven at a live-in rehabilitation facility in Costa Mesa, California last Sunday.

Mike’s brother Chris Bell said, his brother had an up and down battle with his addictions and had checked himself into Romona House.

Mike’s struggles with abuse were documented in a film called “Bigger, Stronger, and Faster.”

In an interview with reporters, Chris said, “You can’t really blame wrestling, but it’s kind of the lifestyle. You have a couple of painkillers to get to the next match, have a couple of drinks night to night and it gets out of hand.”

WWE released a statement saying, “Although Mr. Bell was never under a WWE contract, and WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Bell Family.”

Mike wrestled on WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” as “a jobber,” a fighter to takes falls to promote others

A supervising deputy at the Orange County coroner’s office said that an autopsy was conducted but investigators could not immediately determine the cause of death, and they are waiting for the results of a toxicology test.