Grappling With Tragedy: Brian Ong

Brian Damage

Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.

Brian Ong

Brian Ong was a former amateur wrestler, who began training to become a professional wrestler. Ong was enrolled with All Pro Wrestling based in Hayward, California. On May 28, 2001, Ong was in training with a number of students. One of those students, was none other than Dalip Singh (better known as the future Great Khali in WWE). Singh was just 7 months into his own career when the two met in a training session.

On this day, Dalip Singh was practicing doing a maneuver called a “Flapjack.” It is a move where one wrestler grabs an opponent, lifts him up in the air and then slams the individual straight down on his belly. Almost a version of a reverse chokeslam. Brian Ong took the move once and landed awkwardly and his head hit hard on the canvas. Obviously dazed and shaken up, Ong was tended to by APW’s medical staff.

After being evaluated, Ong was deemed okay to continue his training. Ong again stepped in the ring with Singh and tried the spinebuster maneuver. Ong who was already concussed, attempted the move with Singh and again hit his head hard on the canvas. Ong was in no condition to continue and in very bad shape collapsed.

Ong ended up dying from his multiple head injuries. Brian Ong was just 27 years old at the time of his death. Ong’s family sued APW for the wrongful death of the wrestling trainee. Dalip Singh was cleared of any wrongdoing, but APW was found responsible for rushing Ong back into the ring after showing signs of a concussion. The family was awarded a $2,011,860 judgment.