Jonathan 'Balls Mahoney' Rechner, Former ECW Star, Dies at the Age of 44

Former Extreme Championship Wrestling Superstar Jonathan Rechner, who went by the wrestling name of Balls Mahoney, died Tuesday at the age of 44.

World Wrestling Entertainment reported the news through an announcement on its official website.

WWE wrestler Tommy Dreamer paid his respects on Twitter: 

Rechner was at the forefront of ECW and held the tag team title three times during his heyday with the company. His wrestling persona was known for carrying around a steel chair and wreaking havoc with it in tag team matches when he was in his prime.

Balls Mahoney's most prominent tag team partners included Axl Rotten, Spike Dudley, New Jack and Masato Tanaka.

After an accomplished career in the ring for ECW, which folded in 2001, and a stint on the independent pro wrestling circuit, Rechner initially joined WWE in 2005 and officially signed the following year in a lesser role as a wrestler, partially because of WWE absorbing ECW as a brand.

Rechner then went independent again upon being released from WWE in April 2008 with the World Wrestling Council. Per a list compiled by WWE.com, Rechner was regarded as one of the 30 biggest stars in ECW history.

Rechner is survived by his wife and his son, Christopher, who was born in 2007.