In professional wrestling, a ten-bell salute is given to honor a wrestler who has died, especially when the wrestler is a current member of the promotion or a distinguished former member of the promotion. It is the professional wrestling equivalent of a three-volley salute. It is typically given at the beginning of a card, with the current members of the promotion either in the entryway, in the ring, or around the ring. Both the wrestlers and audience observe a moment of silence while the bell is rung.
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World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE
WWE (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation and the World Wrestling Entertainment) has included several ten-bell salutes in its television broadcasts. Some of the honorees include:
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, since their deaths were later discovered to be a murder-suicide, Benoit was not given a ten-bell salute.
On May 23, 2011, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who had died three days prior of a suspected heart attack, was given a tribute on Raw, but it did not include a salute.
On December 16, 2012, a 26-bell salute was given at the beginning of WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view in tribute to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that had taken place two days earlier in WWE's home state of Connecticut.
Ten-bell 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 against 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 rang 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 Undertaker.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Arguably the best-known ten-bell salute in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is that given to Chris Candido at Hard Justice in May 2005. Candido had died of a blood clot due to complications of leg surgery on April 28 of that year.
There was also a ten-bell salute at a TNA event in Amsterdam, New York on May 20, 2011, in honor of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who had died that morning.
Usage in other promotions
In Extreme Championship Wrestling at the Cyber Slam event, a ten-bell salute was given in remembrance of Louie Spicolli, who died from an accidental drug overdose on February 15, 1998.
Lucha Underground gave a ten-bell salute in remembrance of Perro Aguayo, Jr. on March 21, 2015, the night after Aguayo tragically died in the ring due to a freak accident that happened during a tag team match for The Crash in Tijuana.
On the morning of June 18, 2010, Trent Acid was found dead at his Philadelphia home by his mother. It was later determined that he had died because of a drug overdose. At a Ring of Honor show in Buffalo, New York that night, a ten-bell salute was given to Acid.
Richard "Rick" Wilson committed suicide on February 23, 1999. He was 33 years old. His death was announced eight days later on Nitro, where he was honored with an "In Memory..." graphic at the beginning of the show and given a ten-bell salute.
On April 14, 2000, Masakazu Fukuda suffered a fatal head injury during a match with Katsuyori Shibata in the Young Lion Cup Tournament after taking a flying elbow drop. He was rushed to the hospital, but died five days later on April 19 due to a brain hemorrhage; he was 27 years old. The rest of the tournament was dedicated to Masakuza's memory and was honored with a ten-bell salute and a tribute show in September of that year.
On December 15, 2001, Combat Zone Wrestling's Cage of Death 3 show had a ten bell salute for Russ Haas, with some wrestlers wearing black armbands, and others taping "RH" on their wrestling boots.
At MCW Shane Shamrock Cup 11 on July 30, 2011, a ten-bell salute was observed in honor of Tim Burke's death. At the time of his MCW Hall of Fame induction, the company acknowledged the contributions of Burke and Dennis Wipprecht stating that "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".
Brian Hildebrand died from bowel cancer on September 8, 1999 at the age of 37. He refereed one last match at a local independent show mere days before his death. Hildebrand's death was briefly acknowledged on the following episode of Thunder, but the first WCW event to have taken place after his death was a house show on September 11 at the Baltimore Arena, which was held in his honor with a ten-bell salute. Late in the show, friends Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Shane Douglas (known as The Revolution) shared heartfelt words about Hildebrand and dedicated the show to him.
In boxing
The ten-bell salute is also used in boxing to honor deceased boxers, where it is also known as the "final ten-count".