What does it mean on a wrestling tribute when the toll the bell 10 times?

 I just ran across some old tribute clips on my PC from when some of my favorite wrestlers passed away, every one of them had the fans stand in in respect and silence as the ring bell was tolled 10 times as the superstars stood in silence, and yes, sometimes tears on the stage in front of the ramp.

What does tolling the bell 10 times mean? In wrestling a wrestler can be counted out if he/she doesn't make it back into the ring by a count of 10. when a current or former member of the wrestling company has passed away. to me it symbolizes that the wrestler in question was unable to answer life's final 10 count.. in a matter of speaking.

some have said it is the equivalent of a 3 volley gun salute. in Japanese wrestling, it is done to honor the memory of a superstar that has passed away, BUT, it is also used to signal a great wrestler has retired.

over the year WWE has done a number of 10 bell salutes:

Andre the Giant(1993)

Brian PIllman(1997)

Rick Rude(1999)

Owen Hart(1999)

Gorilla Monsoon(1999)

The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith(2002)

Lord Alfred Hayes(2005)

Eddie Guerrero(2005)

The Fabulous Moolah(2007)

Paul Bearer(2013)

The Ultimate Warrior(2014)

Verne Gagne(2015)

Dusty Rhodes(2015)

Rowdy Roddy Piper(2015)

Bobby Heenan(2017)

Bruno Sammartino(2018)

Jim Neidhart(2018)

Mean Gene Okerlund(2019)



WWE has also used the bell salute to honor victims of real life tragedy's:

to honor the victims of 9/11

17th anniversary of 9/11

26 bell salute for he victims of sandy hook shooting

fallen members of the military on memorial day

in memory of martin luther king jr

in memory of former president George H.W.Bush

honoring the victims of the shootings in el paso tx and

Dayton ohio

other wrestlers have been honored by other organizations have been honored in the same manor, Randy Savage, miss Elizabeth, wcw referee mark Curtis, Chris candido matt capotelli, and the dynamite kid just to name a few.

when I see these tributes done it gives me goosebumps and I end up tearing up.



i hope was able to give you a little insight into what it means, in the event that you run across one on TV or youtube.. thanks for reading!