Quote: Anthony Durante, who was part of the Pitbull tag team in ECW in the mid 1990s, was found dead by police yesterday. Durante (36) along with his girlfriend were found without any signs of trauma or foul play to either of their bodies leading police to investigate it as a possible drug overdose. They estimated that the couple had been dead for only a day or two before they were found.

Quote:They estimated that the couple had been dead for only a day or two before they were found.

Quote:Originally posted by HydratedPeach
What makes this even sadder is that the couple's two children, a 21-month old boy and a 8 month old girl, were in the house with their dead parents for at least a couple of days. Police said the boy managed to find food for himself, but the girl was found dehydrated and starving in her crib.

Quote:Originally posted by Flock of Moosen
Do you think that if Triple H died with a bunch of people, he has it written somewhere that only he is to be talked about?

Quote:MORE DETAILS ON THE PASSING OF PITBULL 2, ANTHONY DURANTE

Anthony Durante, known to ECW fans as Pitbull2, \"probably died of drug overdoses\", Westerly Police Chief Stephen N. Baker said Friday to Providence, Rhode Island newspaper The Providence Journal.

Durante, 36, was a former ECW World Tag Team champion with Gary Wolfe for a brief run in 1995 and former ECW World Television champion in 1996.

Durante and Dianna C. Hulsey, 29 were found by Durante's stepfather this past Thursday. Baker told the newspaper that Durante and Hulsley had been dead for at least 24 hours.

Prescription drugs and a needle were found in their home and it is believed that no one else was involved in the incident beyond Durante and Hulsley.

According to Philadelphia NBC affiliate channel 10, \"an autopsy done Friday showed the victims had needle marks on their bodies. A substance believed to be the painkiller OxyContin was found in the house.\"

Police found the couple's children, a 21-month-old boy and 8-month-old girl, inside Durante's home. It is believed the children will eventually placed with relatives.

According to the article, Durante filed for bankruptcy in September 2001 and moved from Philadelphia to Rhode Island. He had been working as a money-counter at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut and had moved into his home just three weeks ago.

Durante debuted for ECW in June 1994, feuding briefly with Sabu and Taz. The Pitbulls team feuded with a number of ECW regulars including The Public Enemy, The Bad Breed, Raven and Stevie Richards, and the Eliminators. A September 1995 Best of Three Falls Double Dog Collar match with Raven and Richards is still considered one of the best matches in the history of the promotion.

Renowned for his strength and toughness, Durante received a big singles push in 1996 and 1997 with feuds with Raven and Shane Douglas, culminating in a bout against Douglas at the first ECW PPV, Barely Legal in April 1997.

Durante and Wolfe dropped out of sight after a drug related arrest in late 1997, returning for another brief ECW run as heels against Taz. Durante faced Taz at ECW's third PPV, November to Remember '97.

After leaving ECW, the Pitbulls worked several independent promotions and received a WWF tryout. In recent years, Durante had quietly dropped out of the wrestling business, although he had fought in several MMA events some time back.

Prior to his ECW run, Durante and longtime friend Wolfe worked independents and international tours as the Pitbull Express, including runs in New Zealand and Germany.

At the USA Pro Wrestling event in Queens, New York on 9/26, Philadelphia-based worker Billy Reil (who was trained by Durante) announced that Durante had passed away and led the crowd in a \"Pitbull\" chant. Other independent promotions in the Northeast held a 10 bell salute to Durante as well.

Quote:Originally posted by Flock of Moosen
So, they did get a WWF tryout. I wonder why that never worked out.

Quote:At the USA Pro Wrestling event in Queens, New York on 9/26, Philadelphia-based worker Billy Reil (who was trained by Durante) announced that Durante had passed away and led the crowd in a \"Pitbull\" chant.