Rave, real name James Guffey, shared in late October that he had undergone the operation back in June, months after he had his left arm amputated.
His wrestling agent Bill Behrens confirmed that Rave passed away on Sunday, sharing a statement that he said he had prepared with the star’s daughter, Kailah.
While a cause of death was not revealed, the statement shared: “James had been struggling with drug addition for many years. His struggles resulted in the amputation of his arm and, later, both his legs.”
In October, Georgia native Rave shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed, as he opened up about his health struggles, writing: “Apparently it’s time for me to come clean. This past June I began having trouble walking & went to my surgeon.
“He determined I had MRSA in both legs & they needed to be amputated immediately. Promoters can tell you along with my peers, I’ve had a history w/this and would cancel Shows often due to this condition.”
Rave added: “I’ve gone this whole time not disclosing my legs because of this embarrassment. Sorry I fell short of your expectations. I tried … I really did.”
Soon after news of his death broke, a host of stars from the wrestling world took to Twitter to share tributes to the Rave, best known for his work with Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
A statement on Impact Wrestling’s official account read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of James Guffey, otherwise known as Jimmy Rave. We offer our sincere condolences to his family & friends during this difficult time. Rave made his IMPACT debut in 2002 during The Asylum Years & became a mainstay of the X-Division.”
Wrestler Mick Foley, who had led a drive to raise funds to help with Rave’s mounting medical costs, shared a photo of the late star in his wrestling heyday.
“This really hurts,” he captioned the nostalgic snapshot. “Jimmy Rave has passed away. He was only 39. #RIPJimmyRave.”
Fellow wrestler Wesley “Davey” Richards wrote in his tribute: “I hope you have found the peace you were searching for here. You had a heart of gold. RIP Jimmy Rave.”
“Dammit…RIP Jimmy Rave,” tweeted Frankie Kazarian. “I’m glad we shared a ring as many time as we did. I’m glad we got the chance to know each other over 18 years ago. I’m glad we were friends. I’m glad that I knew you, and I will miss you. Godspeed my friend.”
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Matt Hardy posted a photo of himself and Rave with a group of other wrestlers from happier times as he remembered the “bright, talented” star.
“I wasn’t close with Jimmy Rave, but I was able to work with him on a few occasions,” Hardy shared. “He was a kind, bright, talented young man. I’m very sad to hear about his death, especially considering he was so young & had a wife & children. I hope your soul finds peace, Jimmy.”
“Heart broken, and extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Jimmy Rave,” said pro wrestler Sami Callihan. “Such an amazing performer, that was such an influence to so many wrestlers. It was a true pleasure sharing the ring with him. Condolences to all of his friends and family. RIP JIMMY RAVE.”
ROH wrestling star Angelina Love stated: “RIP Jimmy Rave. I have nothing but fond memories of working with you both in @ringofhonor and @IMPACTWRESTLING. God bless you and your loved ones at this heartbreaking time. I hope your soul is at peace ❤️.”
“I hope you find peace Jimmy,” wrote AEW star Eddie Kingston. “I know it was hard my man, you are a great dude to me always and hugged me so hard last time I saw you. A mind for the this sport that very few had. R.I.P. Jimmy Rave.
British wrestling star Nick Aldis acknowledged the difficult “last couple of years” Rave had as he expressed his heartbreak over the news.
“I just got online and saw the news about Jimmy Rave. More than sad, absolutely heartbreaking,” he said. “Nobody deserves to suffer the way he did for the last couple of years, especially a guy as good hearted as Jimmy. Condolences to his friends & loved ones. RIP.”
Days before his death, Rave asked his Twitter followers to donate to his PayPal and CashApp accounts as he continued in his efforts to cover medical fees.
“In just a few hours it will be my birthday,” he wrote in the leadup to his December 8 birthday. “It’s never [meant] all that much but this year has been super difficult.”
Rave revealed toward the end of 2020 that he was retiring from professional wrestling after 21 years, as he shared that his world “came crashing down” on learning that his left arm would be amputated.
According to Behrens’ statement, Rave “is survived by his ex-wife Felicia, daughter Kailah, son James II, and parents Jim & Toni Guffey. At the time of his death, he was living in the Philadelphia, PA area with Gabby Gilbert.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that MRSA is a staph infection known to be resistant to several antibiotics.
According to the CDC’s website, the risk of becoming infected with MRSA “increases with activities or places that involve crowding, skin-to-skin contact, and shared equipment or supplies.
“Some of the people who carry MRSA can go on to get a MRSA infection. Non-intact skin, such as when there are abrasions or incisions, is often the site of an MRSA infection.
“Athletes, daycare and school students, military personnel in barracks, and those who receive inpatient medical care or have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body are at higher risk of MRSA infection.”
