Former pro wrestler Mike “Mad Dog” Bell, who recently was featured in the film “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” died Sunday afternoon at age 37. “Bigger, Stronger, Faster“, a critically acclaimed documentary was a study of steroids in sports, and was produced by Chris Bell. The film focused on his older brother Mike, as aspiring pro wrestler, and his younger brother Mark, who was a world-class power lifter. Mark also did some wrestling. The movie had candid interviews with Chris’ brothers Mike and Mark. Mike has admitted on his brother’s film of taking anabolic steroids through most of his career. There was also some interviews of their parents, Rosemary and Sheldon.

Bell is an Arlington High School graduate and Poughkeepsie native. Mike worked primarily out of the Northeast and later the west coast where he eventually became part of the UPW trainers. It was the World Wrestling Entertainment in the late 1990s that made Bell famous and the Extreme Championship Wrestling. He performed at Mid-Hudson Civic Center for both promotions. Mike Bell was also a football captain at Arlington and later played on scholarship at the University of Cincinnati.

Some of the great fights of Michael were against the likes of Bret Hart and Undertaker. He was also involved in an infamous dark match with Perry Saturn where both men dropped each other on their heads.

It was not yet known what was the cause of death of the “Mad Dog”. WWE Fans are speculating on what really happened to this former pro wrestler.

Chris Bell sent an email message to 411mania.com about the death of his brother. 

“My older brother Michael aka MAD DOG in the wrestling world, passed away yesterday from unknown causes. He was residing at a sober living place in Orange County and was celebrating 60 days of being clean and sober from any drugs or alcohol. His roommates found him dead in his room at about 2:30pm yesterday and he was pronounced dead on the spot by medical experts. The cause of death is unknown and does not appear to be self inflicted.

My brother was my true hero growing up and I always wanted to be big and strong like him. He was the inspiration for me to make my movie Bigger Stronger Faster* because I saw how the American Dream negatively affected his sense of self worth. I will always remember my brother as the nicest guy in the world that sometimes got caught up in the wrong things. I am so sad right now over his passing. He was on his way to getting his life back on track and he was taken away from us at such a young age. My family thanks everyone who has sent emails and called. It really means a lot.

I Love you Michael. Your little brother, Christopher”

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