On Wednesday night, former WCW and TNA star Daffney Unger worried family, friends, and fans due to a live stream on Instagram in which she was clearly distressed and holding a gun. She would talk about being all alone and that she wanted her brain to go to Boston. This was likely in reference to the Boston University CTE Center who carry out studies into brain injuries. Since the Instagram video ended, multiple wrestlers, family, and the police have been attempting to locate her, and it has now been confirmed that Daffney, real name Shannon Spruill has sadly died aged 46.
Following the news becoming known, the wrestling world has been grieving, and multiple wrestlers who were lucky enough to have known and worked with her over the years have taken to Twitter to share tributes. A selection of those can be read below.
Daffney began her wrestling career in 1999 as part of WCW after answering a casting call and would play David Flair’s girlfriend and managed both him and Crowbar. She would work a few matches on house shows before making her in-ring television debut, wrestling Miss Elizabeth on Nitro. Then with Vince Russo writing the show and looking for shocking storylines, he would have her, along with Crowbar, defeat Chris Candido and his girlfriend Tammy Lynn Sytch in a mixed tag team Nitro match to become co-WCW Cruiserweight Champions. On the subsequent episode of Thunder, she would become sole champion defeating Crowbar before losing the title to Chavo Guerrero Jr, who was competing as Lt. Loco in a triple threat match that also included Disco Inferno the following month.
She would end up being released by WCW shortly before they were purchased by WWE and went on to work for countless promotions over the years. She would have a brief spell in WWE’s developmental territory OVW managing Damien Sandow but post WCW, she is best remembered for working for TNA between 2008 and 2011. Initially, she played a fake Sarah Palin character before aligning with Stevie Richard and Raven. During this time, she was involved in some memorable Monster’s Ball matches. However, she would, unfortunately, suffer a concussion in one of them. Sadly this wouldn’t be the last of her injuries, as during a dark match against Rosie Lottalove, she would end up hospitalized after suffering a bruised sternum, a severe stinger, and another concussion.
Once her contract with TNA was not renewed in 2011, she decided to take legal action against the promotion for putting her in an unsafe working environment. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2013, and while Daffney didn’t wrestle again, she did make appearances from time to time, with the most high profile being for ROH in 2018.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
