Lance Cade was a professional wrestler who had a promising career in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was trained by the legendary Shawn Michaels and had several tag team championships under his belt. However, his life was cut short at the age of 29 due to an accidental drug overdose that caused heart failure. In this article, we will explore the details of Lance Cade’s cause of death and how it affected his family, friends, and fans.
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Early Career and WWE Success
Lance Cade was born as Lance Kurtis McNaught on March 2, 1981 in Carroll, Iowa. He started wrestling at the age of 15 and moved to Texas to train with Shawn Michaels at his wrestling academy. He made his debut in 1999 and worked in Japan before being signed by WWE in 2001. He was assigned to various developmental territories such as Memphis Championship Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association, and Ohio Valley Wrestling.
In 2003, he formed a tag team with Mark Jindrak and debuted on the Raw brand as Garrison Cade. They had a brief feud with The Dudley Boyz and Evolution before splitting up in 2004. Cade then took time off to recover from a knee injury and returned in 2005 with a new partner, Trevor Murdoch. They adopted a cowboy gimmick and won the World Tag Team Championship three times. They also had memorable matches with teams like The Hardy Boyz, Kane and Big Show, and Cryme Tyme.
In 2008, Cade turned heel and aligned himself with Chris Jericho, who was feuding with Shawn Michaels. Cade helped Jericho retain his World Heavyweight Championship against Michaels at Unforgiven and attacked him several times afterwards. However, Cade’s alliance with Jericho ended abruptly when he was released from WWE in October 2008 due to a seizure he suffered on a flight from Japan. According to Wrestling Inc., Cade had taken painkillers and muscle relaxers before boarding the plane.
Independent Circuit and All Japan Pro Wrestling
After his release from WWE, Cade continued to wrestle on the independent circuit under his real name or as Cowboy Cade. He worked for promotions such as World League Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, International Wrestling Association Puerto Rico, and Ring of Honor. He also made a brief return to WWE in September 2009 but was sent to drug rehabilitation at his request. He was released again in April 2010.
Cade then joined All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in June 2010 and formed a tag team with former WWE star Rene Dupree. They competed in the AJPW Junior Tag League and won two matches before losing in the finals. Cade also challenged for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship but failed to win it.
Personal Life and Death
Cade was married to Tanya Gonzalez from 2000 to 2006 and had two daughters with her. They remarried in 2008 but divorced again in 2010. Cade also had a son from another relationship. He was close friends with Shawn Michaels, who considered him as his protégé.
On August 13, 2010, Cade was found dead in his home in San Antonio, Texas by his father. The cause of death was announced as apparent heart failure. However, the autopsy report revealed that he died from mixed drug intoxication that complicated a cardiomyopathy, according to The New Haven Register. The report did not indicate whether Cade’s use of steroids contributed to his heart condition.
Cade’s death shocked the wrestling world and many of his colleagues expressed their condolences and tributes on social media. WWE also issued a statement on its website saying: “World Wrestling Entertainment was informed Friday morning by Lance McNaught’s father that he has passed away of apparent heart failure. WWE extends its deepest condolences to the McNaught family.”
Cade’s legacy lives on through his matches, his fans, and his children. He was a talented wrestler who had a bright future ahead of him but succumbed to the dark side of the industry. His story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone who struggles with addiction or mental health issues. Rest in peace, Lance Cade.
