Jay Briscoe, one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time, has died at the age of 38.
Briscoe, real name Jamin Pugh, died in a car crash in Laurel, Delaware, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and is in critical condition at the hospital. The identities of the other individuals involved have not been disclosed.
AEW and ROH owner Tony Khan confirmed Briscoe’s death. Khan pledged to support Briscoe’s family in any way he could.
“Sadly, Jamin Pugh has passed away. Known to fans as Jay Briscoe, he was a star of ROH for over 20 years from his first show to today,” Khan wrote“Jay and his brother Mark ruled ROH and are champions to this day. We will do everything we can to support his family. Rest in peace Jaymin.”
After starting his in-ring career as a teenager, Briscoe rose to fame in professional wrestling when he teamed up with his brother Mark in ROH. In their more than 20 years of promotion, the Briscoes have won the ROH Tag Team Championship 13 times. They just won the ROH Final Battle last month, beating FTR in what is widely considered one of the best matches of 2022. It capped last year’s trilogy of games between the two teams.
“I was in tears when I heard the news,” FTR’s Cash Wheeler tweets“I just don’t know what to say. Rest in peace, Jay.”
Briscoe also found success as a singles wrestler, a two-time ROH World Champion. When ROH launches its Hall of Fame in 2022, he and Mark are the first wrestlers to be inducted.
NJPW and Impact Wrestling are among the other promotions where the Briscoes have previously had tag team titles.
“IMPACT is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jay Briscoe,” Impact Wrestling tweets“Jay will always be remembered as the trailblazer he and his brother Mark left in the ring every night. Our sincere condolences go out to his loving family as well as his friends and fans.”
