Thanks to Dr. Keith Lipinski for sending along the following yesterday:
From Kevin Kleinrock…
For those of you who have not heard the news, Darren McMillan, who wrestled as Dynamite D, passed away last night at about 8 PM from complications related to cancer.
D had a storied history in the So Cal wrestling scene and gained a measure of international stardom with his “Mr. 80’s” Dynamite D persona in XPW.
Most recently D served as a coordinator for the pilot episode of Wrestling Society X. WSX co-creator/producer Kevin Kleinrock has credited D with being responsible for his career in wrestling and said that without Darren, XPW and therefore WSX would never have come to be.
The following is from SoCalUncensored.com :
SCU has learned Darren McMillan, who wrestled in SoCal as Dynamite D passed away around 8:00 PM on April 11th. Dynamite D is best known for his time in XPW, however it had been wrestling locally since 1990. D was also responsible for training or helping to train countless SoCal wrestlers including Kaos, Damian Steele, and Ed Ferarra.
D also hosted a radio show that was responsible for helping to promote Southern California indy shows in the days prior to the explosion of the Internet.
More information will be posted as it becomes available. SCU wants to send our best wishes to all of Dynamite D’s friends and family.
If you want to post your thoughts or condolences, you may do so here.
Dynamite D in SoCal (brief history Bio)
1989 – 1994 Host of popular radio talk show Wrestle Talk on Cable Radio Network – over 500 shows, including two live ringside broadcasts of WCW at the Great Western Forum. Prompted many to join the ranks of Pro Wrestling including but not limited to: Kriss Kloss, Mace the Ref, Beautiful Jack Studd & Joey Ryan.
1889-90 Trained in wrestling by: Verne Langdon, Sam Houston, Terry Funk & The Fabulous Moolah at Slammers Wrestling Gym.
1990-1996 Appeared in dozens of promotional pieces for Slammers for FNN, USA Network, Channel 7 Eyewitness News, Mc Donalds and many others.
1990-1996 Office Manager Slammers Wrestling Gym
1990-1996 Top Instructor for Slam U, Slammers University of Pro Wrestling. Trained over 50 superstars including: Hombre de Oro/Carlito Montana (who trained Angel and Messiah)
Poncho Killa (Samoan Kid at Slammers)
Johnny Webb (“Spider” Pete Malloy at Slammers)
Homelss Jimmy (his cousin)
Ed Ferarra (Beautiful Bruce Beaudine at Slammers)
The Real Deal Damien Steele
Jesus Zapata/Felony
Mace the Ref (& wrestler)
Superstorm/Beautiful Jack Studd and many others
1991-1996 Wrestler & Booker – Slammers Wrestling Federation (SWF)
1994 Cracked the PWI top 500 wrestlers
1991-1996 Producer on 15 SWF Videos (Co-Hosted 3 of them)
1997-1998 Southern California Championship Wrestling (SCCW) – Owner
1999 Helped develop and launch XPW. Served behind the scenes and wrestled
2000-2002 Instructor at XPW’s Asylum
2001-2002 Created and wrestled as the Mr. 80’s character tribute wrestler
2003 Worked as consultant for GSCW
2005 Worked as Agent & Booker for FCW
2006 Worked as a coordinator on MTV’s WSX
For friends, colleagues, and fans wishing to attend the funeral services for Dynamite D, they will be taking place on Sunday, April 22.
According to his family, this will be a short ceremony followed by a “celebration of Darren’s life.” Attendees will be encouraged to share their stories and memories of D.
The service will take place:
Sunday, April 22nd @ 2:00pm
Sunland Neighborhood Church
10632 Oro Vista Ave.
Sunland, CA 91040
Church phone #: (818) 352-3186 (Call during the week if you need directions as there is no receptionist on weekends)
Dress code: dress as you wish, casual or formal
