The Circuit

Michael Bell, aka Mad Dog (pictured far right), died yesterday.  Bell was featured in his brother Chris' Sundance doc "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*." He was 37 years old. 

Cause of death is still unknown, pending toxicology reports.

Phil Strum at the Poughkeepsie Journal has the story here.

Bell, known in professional wrestling circles as "Mad Dog" Mike Bell, died Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., Pacific time in city of Costa Mesa, Calif., the Orange County, Calif. coroner's office said. The cause of death is pending results of a toxicology report.

Bell was a 1988 graduate of Arlington High School who played Division I college football on scholarship at the University of Cincinnati before injuring his knee and becoming a pro wrestler. He wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) on television frequently in the 1990s and later worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling. In the WWF, he wrestled high-profile performers such as The Undertaker and Bret Hart.
...

Chris said that this week his brother was celebrating 60 days of sobriety and had been staying in a sober living community in Orange County, California.

"He had decided it was time to clean up his act," Chris Bell said. "He was 60 days clean and sober and that was a first for him. For our family, it was a big accomplishment for him."

Chris said he bought his brother tickets for them to attend an upcoming Metallica concert as a Christmas gift and that Mike was looking forward to it.

On Chris Bell's Facebook page, the director posted this comment:

Chris Bell is who he is today because his brother Mad Dog started him lifting weights to boost his self esteem. It lead me to be a successful filmmaker. LOVE YOU MAD DOG!

Above (L to R): Chris Bell will brothers Mark and Michael.  Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images North America