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Darren Alexander Drozdov (April 7, 1969 – June 30, 2023), known professionally as Droz, was an American professional wrestler and football player. After a short career in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL), he went into professional wrestling. He was best known for his time in the WWE (WWF), where he wrestled from 1998 to 1999 when a spinal cord injury ended his in-ring career, but remain employeed with the company as a writer and columnist until his death in 2023.
Before his wrestling career, Drozdov was a professional American football player for three seasons with the National Football League (NFL)'s New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. He garnered a measure of notoriety (and the nickname "Puke") when he vomited on television during a Monday Night Football game directly onto the football before the center could snap it. A 1993 Sports Illustrated article stated that he had vomited at nearly every game that seasonKing, Peter. "The End Zone", Sports Illustrated, September 20, 1993, Vol. 79, Issue 12. and would reportedly see a psychiatrist for a "chronic vomiting" problem.
Drozdov first wrestled in dark matches and on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night. He debuted on WWE Raw on the May 25, 1998 episode as an associate of the Legion of Doom. Dubbed Puke, he was the unofficial third member of the group. In late 1998, he competed in the WWF Brawl for All tournament, making it to the semifinals before losing to John Layfield.
Droz was involved in a confrontation involving L.O.D. member Hawk's alcoholism. In this confrontation, Hawk was seen by his partner Animal as unfit to wrestle and Droz was tapped to take Hawk's place in the tag team. The situation ended with accusations that he had been the "enabler" of Hawk's problems and had dosed the L.O.D. member to take his place in the team. During this segment, Hawk was shown to have been pushed off the JumboTron by Droz.
The feud culminated at the United Kingdom pay-per-view WWF Capital Carnage when the L.O.D. team of Droz and Animal took on The Headbangers. During the match, Drozdov entered the ring to defend Animal who was on the receiving end of an illegal double-team by The Headbangers. While the referee was occupied ushering Thrasher out of the ring, Mosh rolled up Drozdov, and the referee turned around and made the three count. Animal, enraged that Puke got involved, began to brawl with him before walking away from the ring in disgust, effectively ending Drozdov's run with L.O.D.
After Drozdov's stint with the L.O.D., efforts were made to rebrand his persona, including one involving a series of skits called Droz's World, where he would tell stories about his life as a professional wrestler. He started to come into his own after turning heel. Drozdov started to build a stable of wrestlers who shared his bizarre lifestyle. He added Matt Bloom to his faction as his personal "body piercing artist" and Vic Grimes, alleged to be Droz's dealer. At Royal Rumble, Droz competed in the royal rumble match where he was eliminated by Mabel. On the Sunday Night Heat before WrestleMania XV, Droz competed in a Battle Royal to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championship making it to the final four before being eliminated. At SummerSlam, Droz and Prince Albert competed in a Tag team turmoil match to determine #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championship which was won by The Acolytes (Faarooq and John Layfield).
Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Drozdov #142 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1999.
Drozdov landed on his head and suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck. He was immediately admitted to the Nassau County Medical Center, where he underwent hours of surgery to reduce and stabilize the pressure on his injured neck. Because the match was pre-taped, it was not aired to the public during the October 7 broadcast and has never been shown to the public. However, the footage of him being taken out on a stretcher has been seen in WWE's "Don't Try This at Home" public service announcements.
Even with intensive medical care, his injury initially left him a Tetraplegia with essentially no movement below the neck. Droz eventually regained movement in his upper body and arms. Drozdov repeatedly stated that the incident was an accident and that he held no animosity towards Brown for his injury, while Brown has said there is no blame on either side for the accident.
Drozdov made an appearance on the Life and Death of the Road Warriors DVD in 2005, discussing his run with the group in 1998. In September 2007, Droz was named honorary captain for a Maryland Terrapins football game against Villanova University. Drozdov was also interviewed for the Brawl for All and Last Ride of the Road Warriors episodes of Dark Side of the Ring in 2020.
Drozdov married WWE seamstress Julie Youngberg in 1999, days after his accident. He later stated that the one thing he would like to do would be to walk Julie down the aisle. The two divorced in late 2005.
Drozdov used a customized, tank-like wheelchair that was designed and financed by his college friend, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank.
Drozdov died on June 30, 2023, at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, New Jersey. He was 54.
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