Brian Mackney Passes Away at 77

Canadian wrestling icon "Silent" Brian Mackney has died at the age of 77. Despite being mute and deaf, Mackney enjoyed a 26-year career in professional wrestling, overcoming significant challenges.

Career Highlights

Trained by wrestling figure Johnny Evans, Mackney never reached main event status but became well-known as enhancement talent in Canada for Jack and Frank Tunney’s Maple Leaf Wrestling and the WWF. He also competed in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Mackney was the first deaf wrestler employed by WWE, and in 2019 he received a lifetime achievement award from Great White North Wrestling.

Tribute from Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling

"MAPLE LEAF PRO is saddened to hear of the passing today of 'Silent' Brian Mackney, a Maple Leaf Wrestling alumni and legend in Toronto. Mackney was more than a journeyman, who not only won the hearts of the Toronto fans in the 1970s and 1980s, but gained attention around the world, competing in Japan with both New Japan Pro Wrestling and All-Japan Pro Wrestling. He also worked various territories of the NWA, including Mid-Atlantic. When the WWF took over Toronto, Silent Brian continued working in Toronto for Vince McMahon for several years. Remarkably, Brian Mackney accomplished all of this as a deaf person, showing that his hearing impairment would not slow him down – he rose above it all and accomplished what many do not."

Legacy

Brian Mackney’s career demonstrates resilience and determination, breaking barriers for hearing-impaired athletes in professional wrestling worldwide.

Slam Wrestling — 2025-11-08