Former wXw champion John ‘Bad Bones’ Klinger passes away at 40

“Bad Bones” John Klinger has passed away.

The former 3-time wXw World Champion was 40 years old. His passing was announced by WXW on Monday.

A translation of wXw’s post on X reads:

“We say goodbye to “Bad Bones” John Klinger. John Klinger was one of the defining wrestlers at wXw for over a decade. He won all of the major titles at wXw and won both 16 Carat Gold and Shortcut to the Top. In his almost 450 matches in the wXw ring, he always worked hard and did his best to excite his fans. At just 40 years old, John died far too early, shortly before his planned retirement. We wish his family and friends strength in this difficult time.”

A cause of death has not been revealed.

Klinger debuted in wXw in 2005 and went on to become one of the German promotion’s top stars. His three title reigns with the wXw World belt is tied for the most all-time with Gunther and Jurn Simmons.

Wrestling under the name Bad Bones, Klinger wrestled at TNA TV tapings in 2009, 2014, 2016, and 2017 as well. He lost to Josh Barnett in his last match for the promotion taped at Universal Studios in January 2017. Klinger once challenged Nick Aldis for the Global Force Wrestling Amped taping in London in 2016 as well.