It's been reported that 80s star Nikolai Volkoff and 90s star Brian Lawler, AKA Brian Christopher and Grand Master Sexay, have both died from very different causes. Volkoff passed away today at the age of 70 just days after being released from a Maryland hospital where he was being treated for, among other issues, dehydration. As for Lawler, it's quite tragic as it's been reported that Lawler, who is the son of Jerry the King Lawler, died as a result of s suicide attempt in his jail cell. Earlier this month, Lawler had been arrested for DUI and for evading the police and was found hanging in his cell yesterday morning. He was rushed to the hospital in dire condition and, at some point today, ultimately died as a result of the injuries he sustained. He was 46 years old

Volkoff had been a star in a number of territories during the 70s and 80s, mostly as a tag team wrestler. During the early 70s, as part of the Mongols with partner Geto, Volkoff win the WWWF International Tag Team Championship and would have a brief run with the WWF Tag Team Championship in the mid 80s with the Iron Sheik, winning them at the inaugural WrestleMania. Volkoff was one of those guys who was around who benefitted from being a frequent opponent of Hulk Hogan during the mid 80s, along with a lot of other top heels in the WWF. Volkoff continued to wrestle in the WWF as a mid-card singles and tag team guy until about the mid 90s and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Brian Lawler saw most of his success in wrestling come from being a star in the United States Wrestling Association, which was the promotion formed after the merging of Memphis' Continental Wrestling Association with Dallas' World Class Wrestling Association. As he was Jerry Lawler's son, it should come as little surprise that Brian was often booked as the top star in the promotion, winning the company's top championship more than two dozen times. He would make his way to the WWF during the late 90s and would eventually form Tool Cool, a tag team, though eventual trio that would include Rikishi, with Scott Garland, AKA Scotty 2 Hotty, which saw them have a brief month long run as WWF Tag Team Champions during the summer of 2000. Brian had issues with drugs an alcohol and was eventually let go from the WWF after it was discovered that he was illegally transporting drugs across the US/Canadian border. He would make a brief return in 2004, lasting only a month before he was released once again. From what I understand, Brian Lawler had been battling his problems with booze and drugs for pretty much his entire adult life and, as is sometimes the case, it looks like he may have simply gotten sick and tired of being sick and tired for so long.