Anthony Durante | Fentanyl Overdose Death

Anthony Durante was an American professional wrestler who passed away from a fentanyl overdose. He was famously known as one pair of The Pitbulls, a tag team consisting of himself and pro wrestler Gary Wolfe.

How Anthony Durante Died

Durante was found dead on September 25, 2003, in Westerly, Rhode Island. His girlfriend Dianna Hulsey was also found deceased. Both were found with evidence of intravenous drug injection due to needle marks on the skin. 

The official cause of death for both Durante and Hulsey was an accidental drug overdose caused by fentanyl, a very powerful synthetic opioid. The drug OxyContin was also discovered in the house.

The couple had two children, a 21-month-old boy and an 8-month-old girl. The children were found at the residence and were thankfully still alive.

About Anthony Durante

Anthony Tony Durante is the real name of the wrestler, not the ring name. During his career, Durante has ring names such as Pitbull #2 (Wolfe was Pitbull #1), Pitbull Rex, Skullduggery, and Mad Bull Buster.

Durante was born on July 26, 1967, in Hammonton, New Jersey. In 1989, Durante began his career with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), later changed to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

His first match proved to be a spectacle, as he formed the tag team with Wolfe, yet lost to the Hart Foundation which consisted of Jim Neidhart and Bret Hart.

Wrestling Career

Durante faced various professional wrestlers including Rick Rude and Derrick Dukes. In 1995, The Pitbulls won the World Tag Team Championship.

The Pitbulls refused the instructions of wrestlers Francine McGillicutty and Stevie Richards to superbomb wrestler Luna Vachon, leading the Pitbulls to join Raven’s Nest, facing off against the Eliminators. During the CyberSlam event in 1996, the Pitbulls defeated the Eliminators.

Later in his career, Durante participated in the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). However, he lost the title due to a distraction caused by Shane Douglas. Chris Jericho proved victorious and won the title.

Durante later wrestled Shane Douglas in a televised event for the World Television Championship pay-per-view (PPV) event Barely Legal. Unfortunately, Durante lost the match.

The Pitbulls continued to compete in various wrestling events including Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) and the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Before his death, Durante achieved countless accomplishments as a pro wrestler.

Anthony Durante’s History Of Substance Abuse & Rehab

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid which can more easily lead to an overdose compared to other drugs. Although the extent of Durante’s substance abuse may not be known, his overdose suggests he participated in a dangerous form of opioid use known as intravenous injection.

There are no known instances in which Durante attempted to find treatment for his drug use. 

Recovery Is Possible

Injecting opioids is a dangerous practice that can lead to addiction and an increased risk of overdose. However, recovery is possible when you access a treatment center, develop tools for relapse prevention, and receive ongoing support from friends, family, and the community.

To learn how we address substance use disorder, please contact us today.