Former Pro Wrestler Jimmy Rave Dead at 39, Months After Having Both Legs Amputated

Olivia Jakiel
·3 min read
Jimmy Rave
Jimmy Rave

Jimmy Rave/Instagram

Jimmy Rave, former Impact Wrestling star, has died six months after having both of his legs amputated due to a MRSA infection. He was 39.

"James was one of my kids and his loss hurts me and many others, and we wish we could have saved him, but we could not," wrestling agent Bill Behrens tells PEOPLE.

Behrens shared a statement regarding Rave's death on Twitter on Monday, adding that Rave's daughter, Kailah, had helped him write it.

"James Michael Guffey has died at the age of 39," the statement began. "James was best known as Professional Wrestler Jimmy Rave. His career started in 1999, continued for over 2 decades. He was a two-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. He appeared in Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling, where he teamed with Lance (Hoyt) Rock as the 'Rock and Rave Infection.' "

RELATED: U.S. Announces Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Olympic Winter Games But American Athletes Will Still Compete

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Behren's Twitter statement went on to describe Rave's long-running career in the wrestling world, adding he "toured Japan with both Dragon Gate Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling where in 2008 he competed in the 'Best of the Super Junior' Tournament," and appeared in "numerous independent promotions including Rampage Pro Wrestling, Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment, and Combat Zone Wrestling, among many others."

"Outside of wrestling, he held the position of Director of the Bartow County, Georgia Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Center for several years. James had been struggling with drug addiction for many years. His struggles resulted in the amputation of his arm and, later, both of his legs," the statement continued.

"James is survived by his ex-wife Felicia, daughter Kailah, son James II, and his parents Jim & Toni Guffey. At the time of his death, he was living in Philadelphia, PA area with Gabby Gilbert," the statement concluded, adding that Rave's memorial services will be held in Georgia.

RELATED VIDEO: Former WWE Wrestler Brian Christopher Lawler Dies at 46 After Being Found in Jail Cell

In October, Rave shared the news about his double leg amputation on Twitter, captioning a black-and-white photo of himself post-operation in part, "Apparently it's time for me to come clean. This past June I began having trouble walking & went to my surgeon. He determined I had MRSA in both legs & they needed to be amputated immediately."

RELATED: Scottish Rugby Player Siobhan Cattigan Dead at 26

In November 2020, Rave revealed on Twitter that he was retiring from wrestling after doctors found an infection in his left arm, which resulted in his arm being amputated above the elbow.

"To my brothers & sisters who I have shared a ring with or a locker room; thank you for always pushing me to do better. Thank You to all of my mentors and my students who allow me to still feel needed," the former pro wrestler wrote. "This was the hardest thing I've ever had to type. … Please take your health much more seriously than I did."

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • No plans to sell TikTok, Chinese parent firm says

    The comments from ByteDance come after reports it was exploring the potential sale of the platform.

  • Big Sur hotel receives highest ranking for inaugural 'Michelin keys'

    Big Sur hotel receives highest ranking for inaugural 'Michelin keys'

  • Q1 2024 Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc Earnings Call

  • Q1 2024 Independent Bank Corp (Michigan) Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Independent Bank Corp (Michigan) Earnings Call

  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spotted in Carmel

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spotted in Carmel

  • GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks rise, yen plumbs 34-year low as BOJ stands pat on rates

    The yen fell amid volatile trade on Friday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained its accommodative monetary policy stance at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting, while Asian shares rose in the broader market. The BOJ kept interest rates around zero on Friday, as expected, while removing a reference to the amount of government bonds it has roughly committed to buying each month. Still, the Japanese yen fell to the weaker side of 156 per dollar in a knee-jerk reaction to the decision, and last stood at 156.15 per dollar.

  • Paramedic sentencing in Elijah McClain's death caps trials that led to 3 convictions

    Almost five years after Elijah McClain died following a police stop in which he was put in a neck hold and injected with the powerful sedative ketamine, three of the five Denver-area responders prosecuted in the Black man's death have been convicted. Experts say the convictions would have been unheard of before 2020, when George Floyd's murder sparked a nationwide reckoning over racist policing and deaths in police custody. Previously, she has said the two acquitted Aurora police officers, as well as other firefighters and police on the scene, were complicit in her 23-year-old son’s murder and that they escaped justice.

  • Q1 2024 Antero Midstream Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Antero Midstream Corp Earnings Call

  • UPDATE 1-India votes in second election phase as Modi vs Gandhi contest heats up

    India began voting on Friday in the second phase of the world's biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination, affirmative action and taxes. Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general elections that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4. Modi is seeking a record-equalling third straight term on the back of his economic record, welfare measures, national pride, Hindu nationalism and personal popularity.

  • Joel Embiid pushes through the pain, delivers epic performance in 76ers' Game 3 win over Knicks

    The reigning MVP put his franchise on his powerful shoulders to complete arguably the strongest playoff performance of his career.

  • Massive fire burns at Oceanside Pier in California

    STORY: Plumes of smoke barraged the pier as firefighters responded from the ground and above, with helicopters making multiple water drops to fight the flames.The Oceanside Fire Department said the fire started in a vacant building at the end of the pier.According to local media, some businesses closed due to the fire. As of Thursday, the Oceanside Fire Department is still working to learn the cause of the fire.

  • Repatriated South African apartheid-era artworks on display to celebrate 30 years of democracy

    A selection of South African artworks produced during the country’s apartheid era which ended up in foreign art collections is on display in Johannesburg to mark 30 years since the country's transition to democracy in 1994. Most of the artworks were taken out of the country by foreign tourists and diplomats who had viewed them at the Australian Embassy in the capital, Pretoria. The embassy had opened its doors to Black artists from the townships to be recognized and have their artworks on full display to the public.

  • Allianz (ETR:ALV) Is Paying Out A Larger Dividend Than Last Year

    Allianz SE ( ETR:ALV ) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the...

  • Q1 2024 Third Coast Bancshares Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Third Coast Bancshares Inc Earnings Call

  • Defence gear maker Saab raises sales outlook after Q1 profit jumps

    STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish defence equipment maker Saab reported on Friday a 28% rise in operating profit for the first quarter and raised its organic sales growth outlook for the full year. Operating profit at the maker of the Gripen fighter jet was 1.19 billion crowns ($109 million), compared with 928 million a year earlier. Saab, which competes with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin, France's Dassault and Britain's BAE Systems, has seen strong demand for its products over the past year and has been boosted by Sweden's accession to NATO.

  • ‘There’s Still Tomorrow’ director Paola Cortellesi talks success, toxic relationships and hope

    LONDON (AP) — Actor Paola Cortellesi has long been a staple on the Italian pop culture scene, mostly known for her work as a comedian. Then she turned to directing and her first feature movie, “There’s Still Tomorrow,” took Italy by storm. The black-and-white film about an ordinary woman trapped in a toxic marriage in post-World War II Italy opened in October. The low-key drama resonated with women from all walks of life, even overtaking the global hit “Barbie” at the Italian box offices. After

  • Q1 2024 Antero Resources Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Antero Resources Corp Earnings Call

  • Gordon, Jokic lead the Nuggets to the brink of a sweep with a 112-105 win over the Lakers in Game 3

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — With one championship ring and a tenacious veteran core, the Denver Nuggets are a daunting matchup for any opponent in the NBA. They're clearly a particular nightmare for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are one game away from an early summer after Denver stretched its winning streak in this rivalry to a whopping 11 games. Aaron Gordon had a playoff career-high 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and the Nuggets mo

  • Balfour Beatty's (LON:BBY) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's

    Balfour Beatty plc ( LON:BBY ) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable...

  • Dow Jones Futures: Microsoft, Google Jump; New Market Rally Still Must Do This

    Microsoft and Google jumped on earnings late after the market rally attempt showed resilience Wednesday amid Meta's sell-off.