Daniel Moody, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Bearer who wrestled on the independent circuit as DJ Pringle, has passed away. His death was announced on Tuesday by Steve Stasiak of Book Pro Wrestlers.
Daniel was the last surviving member of the immediate Moody family. His father, William Moody, the legendary manager known as Paul Bearer and Percy Pringle III, died on March 5, 2013. His mother Dianna died on January 31, 2009, due to complications from breast cancer. His older brother Michael died on September 21, 2014, at the age of 34.
Paul Bearer was one of the most recognizable figures in WWE history, best known as the manager of The Undertaker and Kane. His high-pitched voice, ghostly appearance, and signature urn made him one of the most iconic characters in professional wrestling. Before joining the WWF in 1990, he managed the likes of Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Lex Luger, and The Ultimate Warrior under the name Percy Pringle III in territories including Championship Wrestling from Florida and World Class Championship Wrestling.
Daniel followed his father into the wrestling business, working Gulf Coast independent promotions as DJ Pringle. Paul Bearer wrote on his blog that Daniel “wrestles on the gulf coast independent scene as DJ Pringle, and I have the honor of being in his corner now and then.”
In 2014, Daniel and his brother Michael accepted Paul Bearer’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Undertaker appeared in character at the ceremony to pay tribute. The brothers had also approved the controversial Paul Bearer segments that WWE ran on Raw after their father’s death in 2013, in which CM Punk used Bearer’s memory as part of his WrestleMania 29 storyline with The Undertaker.
Stasiak wrote in his tribute: “His father, Paul Bearer, wasn’t just a character on TV. He was part of the fabric of this business. One of those voices and presences you don’t forget. But behind all of that was a family. A son. A real life that existed far beyond what we saw on screen.”
A cause of death has not been announced. No additional details were available at the time of this report.
