The virus has certainly impacted the world of sports and it took many lives. It was noted how the longtime pro-wrestling referee Mickie Henson (aka Mickie Jay) passed away at the age of 59 in the last month. It was noted that Henson passed away following a battle of pneumonia from the virus, according to PWInsider. He was taken off life support and he suffered severe lung damage while battling pneumonia.
Mickie Jay had a great career as a referee
Henson had begun working as a referee in 1987. He was hired by WCW in the early 1990s and worked there until WWE purchased the company in early 2001. WWE hired Henson in 2005, and he eventually worked as head referee for SmackDown and ECW. He left the ring in 2008 after being diagnosed with Mantle cell lymphoma, which he later defeated.
Henson had officially departed WWE in 2009 and was complimentary of WWE for keeping him paid for 8 months after he learned of his illness. At one point he had been told he only had months to live, but he won his battle against deadly cancer.
Henson briefly worked as an enhancement talent on WWE TV in the early 1990s, and also wrestled on the Florida indie scene. He lived in Key West, Florida for more than 15 years, and was known to be an avid fisherman. He was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with the Charlie Smith Referee’s Award in 2018.
WWE had issued a statement which read:
“WWE is saddened to learn that Mickie Jay Henson, former referee in both WWE and WCW, passed away at the age of 59.”
Recently former WCW executive Eric Bischoff remembered the life of Scott Hall and paid tribute to his friend to the Augusta, Georgia-based outlet FOX 54. Credit to the outlet for the below.
“He was a very kind person by nature. He was a very caring person by nature. He was a generous person in many respects. He had a very healthy professional attitude about that. Scott was very comfortable with his role, and his abilities, and where he was positioned.” In fact, Bischoff adds, “if anything, any of the comments that I heard from Scott dismissed the necessity for that accolade.”
