Wrestling has created quite a buzz Stateside and the performers in the ring have earned themselves a status of fame that many only dream of. But lately, that image is becoming more and more tarnished as drug scandals seem to pop up everywhere and the big problem is that they are almost always linked with a death and/or murder.

After the disturbing case of Chris Benoit who went on a "roid rage" and killed his wife and young son before commiting suicide, today a new death case plagues the now canceled World Championship Wrestling or WCW for short. Former wrestler Chase Tatum was found dead in his home late on Sunday afternoon, his father announced today. The apparent cause of death seems to be accidental drug overdose.

It seems 34-year-old Tatum was recuperating from a back surgery he sustained 10 days earlier to repair a degenerative disc. Also, the wrestler had been battling painkiller dependency for years but his father revealed that "he was in the process of getting his life back together" with plans to enter a Miami rehab facility. "He was confident he was going to turn things around, to live a normal life again without those painkillers".

In order to find out for sure what caused the premature death of Chase Tatum, a toxicology report is now under way by order of the Fulton County Medical Examiner. In 6 to 8 weeks a definitive verdict on the matter will be given. Until then, only speculations can be made.

His father also commented on his son's brief wrestling career of two and a half years that left him with serious back problems. It was these back problems that ultimately led to his painkiller addiction because he didn't have the money for the surgery (the federation failed to provide medical insurance). Starting from an early career in bodybuilding that saw him win Mr. Georgia at age 19, Chase then became a personal trainer.

He entered wrestling at the suggestion of one of his clients who told him to audition. Two years later he came off the circuit and looked towards television and film. He starred in several commercials and in a couple of films such as "Creature from the Black Lake" or "Who's Your Caddy?". In the later part of his life he became involved with Outkast's Big Boi who hired him as a road manager personal assistant.