More on the passing of Lance Cade

Lance Cade, the former WWE wrestler, whose real name was Lance McNaught, has died of a heart attack aged 29.

His death was first reported by the WWE website this morning.

Tanya, McNaught’s wife said her husband had suffered from breathing
difficulties over the past week. He was rushed to hospital on Tuesday
night after passing out at home. He discharged himself Wednesday and on
Thursday traveled to his father’s home near San Antonio where he
remained until he passed away late last night.

McNaught broke into the business in 1999 after training at Shawn
Michaels’ wrestling academy. From there he wrestled for FMW in Japan
until he signed a WWE developmental contract in 2001 around the time of
the invasion angle following WWE’s purchase of WCW. He was later paired
in a tag team with Renee Dupree in OVW before eventually being called up
to the main roster in 2003, under the name Garrison Cade.

He was mostly used as a mid card act, teaming on-and-off with Mark
Jindrak and most memorably with Trevor Murdoch. In the summer of 2008,
McNaught was in the midst of the biggest push of his career, aligned
with Chris Jericho in a feud with Shawn Michaels, but was fired in
October when he suffered a seizure on a flight which was believed to be
the result of overdosing on pain killers and muscle relaxers.

WWE signed McNaught back 12 months later but he only made one appearance
in developmental in Tampa and was never seen again. He gave interviews
earlier this year saying that he had asked WWE officials to send him to
rehab, but after completing a 30-day program, WWE fired him for a second
time.

He had recently been wrestling overseas and was scheduled for an
upcoming tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Shawn Michaels, Jim Ross and Matt Hardy were among those this afternoon
leading the tributes on Twitter.

“I will always remember Lance Cade’s big cheeks when he smiled and the
love he had for his daughter,” Tommy Dreamer wrote. “Very sad. Cherish
life.”

TNA announcer Taz wrote: “I got to know Lance slightly in WWE. He was a
good guy with tons of potential. RIP.”

McNaught is survived by his wife Tanya and daughters, Natallye, 7, and
Laryssa, 2.

(credit: The Wrestling Globe Newsletter)