Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers has died, 13 years after he first revealed to SlamWrestling.net that his end was near.
It was not a work when, in 2011, he talked about his hepatitis C diagnosis, which happened in 2005, and how he had started to really feel the changes the disease was making to his life.
“I’m getting close to the end of the road,” Sayers told writer Dan Wilson. “It doesn’t get any worse without going into liver failure. Luckily we have not reached that point. I have undergone conventional treatment for almost a year which almost killed me and almost cured me. I do say almost cured. I have a very stubborn case and they are now looking for experimental treatments for me but have not found anything yet.”
Sayers’ widow, Val Cheshire Sayers, posted the news on her husband’s “Fuzzy’s Forum” Facebook page on November 15, 2024: “I regret that must announce that my husband of 42 years died last night. He was one of the kindest men I have ever known. He loved the wrestling world and his place in it.” He was 75.
Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers at age 75.
The Facebook page was an important part of Sayers’ life, as he shared memories of his days in and around the Vancouver pro wrestling scene in the 1980s, as a wrestler and as a manager. He had a brief comeback in 2006 to wrestle for Steeltown Wrestling in Manitoba.
This post on BC promoter Al Tomko, who was Sgt. Tomko when he wrestled, is a good example of Sayers’ stories:
Al Tomko was my opponent in many main event matches. We had so many matches over the years. As well as an opponent Al was my Promoter and over the years we had several arguments and fights. One fight where Tomko ended up firing me. We were in the dressing room where we argued over a finish. The argument got very heated almost a fist fight. Instead grabbed his bag and yelled “Fuzzy you’re fired.” I yelled back, “You can’t fire me cause I quit.”
Al headed out the dressing room door with me on his heels, Al yelling “Your fired” with me yelling back “I quit.” We were like two kids both throwing a tantrum, Al on the way to his vehicle screaming, “You’re fired” and me retorting “I Quit.” We both got in our vehicles.
Several weeks went by with just neither of us speaking. Then on a Saturday afternoon my phone rings and I pick up and it’s Al Tomko and he says “Fuzzy are you coming to Cloverdale tonight?” I said “I could if you want me.” Al says “Well I’ll see you there.” I think I worked Biker Bernie (Bernie Burns).
It wasn’t the only time Al and I had disagreements like the time I broke down his office door. Al. would always say things like, “There’s two sides to every story — the front and the back.” I loved Al Tomko.
Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers in his wrestling prime.
Prior to Facebook, Sayers was a frequent and expansive email writer to SlamWrestling and this writer from the early days of the website. Those communications eventually resulted in two columns for Slam, one on Rocky Johnson and another on Tiger Dori Singh.
That writing started as a kid, penning letters to the local wrestling promoters. Through Facebook, he never really stopped.
“By the age of 10 I knew somehow, someway I was going to be a pro wrestler, at about this time I started writing promoters asking about how to go about getting into the wrestling business,” Sayers once wrote to this author. “Much to my surprise there was not much of a demand for ten year olds. The standard answer from promotors went something like a Hulk Hogan infomercial, say your prayers and take your vitamins. One promoter Rod Fenton told me to take amateur wrestling in school or at the YMCA. So I did and started to work on becoming a shooter.”
Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers as a manager at ringside.
In Fuzzy’s Forum, he was able to celebrate names old and new, but also his anxieties. This is a post from September 2024:
I’m really overwhelmed by everyone’s kind words. Some of the comments and messages today calmed me down. I’ve been having such a good time on here talking to you all the last few weeks. It was a nice distraction because I was scared of the surgery. When they told me that I was moving to a rehab instead of going home, I couldn’t believe it. I was devastated. I turned here and started writing and thank you to everybody who wrote me. It made me realize that I’m Never going to be alone because I have everyone of you. I love you all.
For more on the life and times of Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers, a former Canada Heavyweight Champion and UWA tag team champion with “Diamond” Timothy Flowers, see the stories below — or head to Fuzzy’s Forum.
Funeral information is not known at this time.
Jonathan and Val had one daughter, Kathy, and grandson, Odin.
TOP PHOTO: JR Bundy and manager Jonathan “Fuzzy” Sayers
FUZZY SAYERS LINKS
- May 15, 2017: Guest column by Fuzzy Sayers: The Rock and I had the same trainer – Rocky Johnson
- Apr. 30, 2017: Guest column by Fuzzy Sayers: Remembering Tiger Dori Singh
- May 18, 2011: Hepatitis C has Fuzzy Sayers near the end
- Dec. 20, 2007: Jonathan ‘Fuzzy’ Sayers still feels the urge
