Family of Matt “Doink the Clown” Osborne Files Lawsuit Against WWE, Claims Brain Injuries Lead to Osborne’s Death

June 27, 2015

According to The Dallas Morning News, the family of the late Matt Osborne, known most famously for playing the Doink the Clown character in WWE in the 1990’s, has filed a lawsuit against WWE, alleging brain injuries and other issues suffered by Osborne while he was working for WWE led to his death in June of 2013.

The lawsuit filed by Osborne’s family is said to be very similar to the recent suits filed against WWE by Billy Jack Haynes and Cassandra Frazier, the widow of the late Nelson Frazier Jr, aka Big Daddy V.

The lawsuit filed by the Osborne family incorrectly claims that he began professional wrestling in 1985 after he was approached by WWE promoter Vince McMahon, when in fact he got into the business after approaching his own father about transitioning into pro wrestling after achieving success as an amateur wrestler.

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.