Ten-bell salute
In professional wrestling, a ten-bell salute is given to honor a wrestler that has died, especially when that wrestler is a current member of the promotion or a distinguished former member of the promotion.
It is typically given at the beginning of a card, with the current members of the promotion either in the entranceway, in the ring or around the ring. Both wrestlers and audience observe a moment of silence during the tolling of the bell.
Honorees
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
In World Wrestling Entertainment (and its predecessor, the World Wrestling Federation), several such salutes have been televised over the past ten years. Some of the honorees have included:
- André the Giant (1993, heart failure).
- Brian Pillman (1997, heart failure).
- Owen Hart (1999, ring accident).
- Gorilla Monsoon (1999, heart failure).
- "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (2002, heart attack).
- Lord Alfred Hayes (2005, complications from a stroke).
- Eddie Guerrero (2005, heart failure).
A ten-bell salute was also given at WWF events following the September 11, 2001 attacks, to honor those who were killed.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
The most remembered instance of this honor in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is the salute given to Chris Candido at TNA Hard Justice in May 2005. He had died of a blood clot, a complication of leg surgery, on April 28 of that year.
In boxing
The ten-bell salute is also used in boxing to honor a departed boxer, where it is known as the "final ten-count."