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{{short description|American professional wrestler and football player (1969–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|
| image =Darren-Drozdov-Droz (wrestler)_resize.jpg
| birth_name = Darren Alexander Drozdov
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Mays Landing, New Jersey]], U.S.<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|6|30|1969|4|7}}
| death_place = [[Pomona, New Jersey]], U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Julie Youngberg|1999|2005|end=div}}
| alma_mater = [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]]
| module = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
| height = {{convert|6|ft|4|in}}<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| weight = 270 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| names = Darren Drozdov<br>Droz<br>Puke
| debut = November 1997
| retired = October 5, 1999<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/droz|title=Droz|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|access-date= July 30, 2015}}</ref>
| trainer = [[Tom Prichard]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox NFL biography
| embed = yes
| name = Darren Drozdov
| image =
| number = 97
| position = [[Defensive tackle]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 281
| high_school = [[Oakcrest High School]]<br>([[Mays Landing, New Jersey]])
| college = [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland]]
| undraftedyear = 1993
| pastteams = * [[New York Jets]] (1993)*
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1993}}–{{NFL Year|1994}})
* [[Montreal Alouettes]] ({{CFL Year|1996}})
| pfr = D/DrozDa20
}}
}}
'''Darren Alexander Drozdov''' (April 7, 1969 – June 30, 2023), known professionally as '''Droz''', was an American [[professional wrestler]] and [[American football|football]] player. After a short career in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), he went into professional wrestling. He was best known for his time in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), where he wrestled from 1998 to 1999 when a spinal cord injury ended his in-ring career, but remained employed with the company as a writer and columnist until his death in 2023.
==Early life==
Drozdov was born in the [[Mays Landing, New Jersey|Mays Landing]] section of [[Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey]]. Drozdov, as a {{convert|6|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}, {{convert|245|lb|abbr=on}} [[quarterback]] in [[high school]], threw a 72-yard [[touchdown]] pass to [[wide receiver]] Lou Rothman to win the last game of the 1985 regular season to finish the season with a perfect 10–0 record. Drozdov set an [[Atlantic County, New Jersey]] record in [[track and field]] in the [[shot put]] event. He was All-State in football at [[Oakcrest High School]] in South Jersey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0238418/bio|title=Darren Drozdov IMDb profile|website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref>
==Football career==
{{more citations needed|date=June 2023}}
After a stint at [[Fork Union Military Academy]], Drozdov attended the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]] and was a [[defensive tackle]] for the [[Maryland Terrapins football|Terrapins]]. He culminated his collegiate career by graduating with a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in [[criminal justice]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carballo |first1=Rebecca |title=Darren Drozdov, Pro Wrestler Whose Career Was Cut Short, Dies at 54 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/us/darren-drozdov-dead.html |access-date=3 July 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Darren Drozdov, former Maryland football player turned professional wrestler, dies at 54 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-darren-drozdov-maryland-football-wrestling-dies-20230630-n7n6lpuucvbktej24s4jkaha5q-story.html |access-date=3 July 2023 |work=Baltimore Sun |date=30 June 2023}}</ref>
Before his wrestling career, Drozdov was a professional [[American football]] player for three seasons with the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[New York Jets]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and [[Denver Broncos]].<ref name="ross"/> He garnered a measure of notoriety (and the nickname "Puke") when he vomited on [[television]] during a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game directly onto the football before the [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] could snap it. A 1993 ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' article stated that he had vomited at nearly every game that season<ref>King, Peter. "The End Zone", ''Sports Illustrated'', September 20, 1993, Vol. 79, Issue 12.</ref> and would reportedly see a [[psychiatrist]] for a "chronic vomiting" problem.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
==Professional wrestling career==
===Extreme Championship Wrestling (1997–1998)===
Drozdov appeared with [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) from 1997 to 1998, where he formed a stable of "invaders" from the WWF with Lance Wright, [[Achim Albrecht|Brakkus]], [[The Can-Am Express|Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehistoryofwwe.com/ecw-results-1998/ |title=1998 |website=Thehistoryofwwe.com |access-date=2016-12-31}}</ref><ref name="Torch03Jan03">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_2079.shtml|date=January 3, 2003|title=5 Yrs Ago: ECW Arena Report – Storm, Lynn, Snow, RVD, Dudleys|author=Forbes, Chris|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter|Pro Wrestling Torch]]|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Torch06Jan03">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_2119.shtml|date=January 6, 2003|title=5 Yrs Ago: ECW – Storm & Candido win titles, Dudleys, Tazz, Snow|author=Powell, Jason|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter|Pro Wrestling Torch]]|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Torch28Jan03">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_2372.shtml|date=January 28, 2003|title=5 Yrs Ago: ECW – Snow, Dreamer, Taz, RVD, Nicole Bass|author=Powell, Jason|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter|Pro Wrestling Torch]]|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Torch04May03">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_2885.shtml|date=May 4, 2003|title=Lynn, Snow, Heyman, Storm, Tazz, RVD – ECW TV 5 Yrs Ago|author=Powell, Jason|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter|Pro Wrestling Torch]]|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> From 1998 to 1999, he also worked in WWF developmental territories<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=427&page=20|title=Droz « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=}}</ref> and the independent circuit in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=427&page=4&year=1999&promotion=202|title=Droz NWA New Jersey 1999}}</ref>
===World Wrestling Federation (1998–1999)===
Drozdov made his [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) debut in 1998.<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/84 84]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/84}}</ref> He claimed the natural ability to regurgitate on command, and WWF management decided to use this as his [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick|gimmick]]. In the documentary ''[[Beyond the Mat]]'', his meeting with [[Vince McMahon]] is shown, with McMahon requesting Drozdov to [[Vomiting|vomit]] into a trashcan in his office.
Drozdov first wrestled in dark matches and on ''[[WWF Shotgun Saturday Night]]''. He debuted on ''[[WWE Raw|Raw is War]]'' on the May 25, 1998 episode as an associate of the [[The Road Warriors|Legion of Doom]]. Dubbed '''Puke''', he was the unofficial third member of the group. In late 1998, he competed in the [[WWF Brawl for All]] tournament, making it to the semifinals before losing to [[John Layfield|Bradshaw]].
Droz was involved in a confrontation involving L.O.D. member [[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk]]'s [[alcoholism]]. In this confrontation, Hawk was seen by his partner [[Road Warrior Animal|Animal]] as unfit to wrestle and Droz was tapped to take Hawk's place in the tag team. The situation ended with accusations that he had been the "enabler" of Hawk's problems and had dosed the L.O.D. member to take his place in the team. During this segment, Hawk was shown to have been pushed off the [[JumboTron|TitanTron]] by Droz.
The feud culminated at the [[United Kingdom|UK]] pay-per-view [[WWF Capital Carnage]] when the L.O.D. team of Droz and Animal took on [[The Headbangers]]. During the match, Drozdov entered the ring to defend Animal who was on the receiving end of an illegal double-team by The Headbangers. While the referee was occupied ushering [[Thrasher (wrestler)|Thrasher]] out of the ring, [[Mosh (wrestler)|Mosh]] rolled up Drozdov, and the referee turned around and made the three count. Animal, enraged that Puke got involved, began to brawl with him before walking away from the ring in disgust, effectively ending Drozdov's run with L.O.D.
After Drozdov's stint with the L.O.D., efforts were made to rebrand his persona, including one involving a series of skits called ''Droz's World'', where he would tell stories about his life as a professional wrestler. He started to come into his own after [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Turn|turning]] [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]]. Drozdov started to build a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]] of wrestlers who shared his bizarre lifestyle. He added [[Matt Bloom|Prince Albert]] to his faction as his personal "[[body piercing]] artist" and [[Vic Grimes|Key]], alleged to be Droz's [[Illegal drug trade|dealer]]. At [[Royal Rumble (1999)|Royal Rumble]], Droz competed in the royal rumble match where he was eliminated by [[Viscera (wrestler)|Mabel]]. On the Sunday Night Heat before [[WrestleMania XV]], Droz competed in a Battle Royal to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championship making it to the final four before being eliminated. At [[SummerSlam (1999)|SummerSlam]], Droz and Prince Albert competed in a Tag team turmoil match to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championship which was won by [[The Acolytes]] ([[Faarooq]] and [[John Layfield|Bradshaw]]).
''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'' ranked Drozdov #142 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated|PWI 500]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=427&view=awards#awards|title=Droz « Wrestler-Datenbank « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref>
====Career-ending injury====
Drozdov's active wrestling career ended prematurely when he suffered a severe neck injury during a match with [[D'Lo Brown]] during a ''[[WWF SmackDown!]]'' taping on October 5, 1999, at [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum|Nassau Coliseum]] on [[Long Island]]. The incident occurred five months after the death of [[Owen Hart]]. Droz later stated that he was wearing a loose shirt during the match, a factor which contributed to the accident. When Brown attempted his signature running [[powerbomb]], he was not able to gain a proper grip on Droz, and Droz was unable to execute a proper jump to aid in the lifting into the powerbomb position.
Drozdov landed on his head and suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/07/nyregion/wrestler-is-injured-in-li-competition.html |title=Wrestler Is Injured In L.I. Competition |date=October 7, 1999 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> He was immediately admitted to the Nassau County Medical Center, where he underwent hours of surgery to reduce and stabilize the pressure on his injured neck. Because the match was pre-taped, it was not aired to the public during the October 7 broadcast and has never been shown to the public. However, the footage of him being taken out on a stretcher has been seen in [[WWE]]'s "Don't Try This at Home" public service announcements.<ref name="PWS">{{cite web |last=Finnegan |first=Joey |url=https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/droz-dlo-brown-injury/ |title=Droz and D'Lo Brown – How A Disastrous Moment Brought on Strength |date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |website=Pro Wrestling Stories}}</ref>
Even with intensive medical care, his injury initially left him a [[Tetraplegia|quadriplegic]] with essentially no movement below the neck.<ref name="ross" /> Droz eventually regained movement in his upper body and arms.<ref name="PWS"/> Drozdov repeatedly stated that the incident was an accident and that he held no animosity towards Brown for his injury,<ref name="ross">{{cite web |last=Ross |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Ross |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wwes-darren-drozdov-thrives-15-years-after-being-paralyzed-during-match |title=WWE's Darren Drozdov thrives 15 years after being paralyzed during match |date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=August 5, 2016 |website=FOX Sports}}</ref> while Brown has said there is no blame on either side for the accident.<ref>{{cite web |last=Featherstone |first=Chris |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2447573-dlo-brown-clears-the-air-about-droz-talks-chest-protector-low-point-in-wwe |title=D'Lo Brown Clears the Air About Droz, Talks Chest Protector, Low Point in WWE |date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>
===Post-injury===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}
Droz continued to work for the WWE as a writer and columnist following his accident and wrote articles and essays for website and magazine content. He also became a recurring guest on the ''WWE Byte This!'' internet show, commenting on his opinions regarding talents or upcoming matches. For several years, he also wrote articles with his predictions for each [[WWE]] [[pay-per-view]].
Drozdov made an appearance on the ''Life and Death of the Road Warriors'' DVD in 2005, discussing his run with the group in 1998. In September 2007, Droz was named honorary captain for a [[2007 Maryland Terrapins football team|Maryland Terrapins]] football game against [[Villanova Wildcats football|Villanova University]]. Drozdov was also interviewed for the [[Brawl for All]] and Last Ride of the Road Warriors episodes of ''[[Dark Side of the Ring]]'' in 2020.
==Personal life and death==
Drozdov resided in [[South Jersey]] with his sister and her family. Drozdov required 24-hour in-home care and was required to take multiple medications daily in addition to needing to lie flat for long periods of time. With the assistance of his medical staff, and continued support from WWE, he was able to sustain a degree of independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wwes-darren-drozdov-thrives-15-years-after-being-paralyzed-during-match|date=December 16, 2014|title=WWE's Darren Drozdov thrives 15 years after being paralyzed during match|author=Ross, Jim|work=foxsports.com|access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>
Drozdov married WWE seamstress Julie Youngberg in 1999, days after his accident. He later stated that the one thing he would like to do would be to walk Julie down the aisle. The two divorced in late 2005.
Drozdov used a customized, tank-like wheelchair that was designed and financed by his college friend, [[Under Armour]] founder [[Kevin Plank]].<ref name="ross"/>
Drozdov died on June 30, 2023, at [[AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus|AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center]] in [[Pomona, New Jersey]]. He was 54.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carballo |first1=Rebecca |title=Darren Drozdov, a Former Pro Wrestler, Dies at 54 |work=The New York Times |date=July 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/us/darren-drozdov-dead.html |access-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702005604/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/us/darren-drozdov-dead.html|archive-date=July 2, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
==
*[[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==
*{{Professional wrestling profiles}}
*[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=drozddar001 Stats Crew profile]
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[[Category:American wheelchair users]]
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[[Category:Oakcrest High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey]]
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