WWE

WWE legend Paul Bearer died from a heart attack ... Paul's son tells TMZ ... and the sad part, it could easily have been prevented.

Michael Moody tells us, Paul's death certificate lists the cause of the heart attack as supraventricular tachycardia or SVT -- a dangerously high heart rate.

But here's the thing ... we spoke to a cardiologist who tells us, SVT is quite common and if treated, usually isn't deadly. SVT's symptoms are similar to anxiety and heartburn ... so people tend to ignore it, which is what likely happened to Paul.

Michael says doctors believe his dad -- real name Bill Moody -- had been struggling with SVT in the last few weeks of his life.

CM Punk's seemingly cold-hearted tirade last week during the WWE tribute to Paul Bearer wasn't at all what it seemed ... because we've learned Paul's family gave its stamp of approval before the shenanigans.

In case you missed last week's RAW, the WWE aired an emotional tribute to the late Paul Bearer ... and smack in the middle, CM Punk attacked another wrestler (Kane) with Paul's urn.

Paul's son Michael Moody tells TMZ, the act of desecration was pre-planned ... WWE's creative team approached Paul's family for permission before the stunt unfolded on live TV.

The team wanted to use the diss to promote next month's Wrestlemania battle between Punk and Undertaker ... and Paul's family was down with it.

You better watch your step around WWE Vice-Prez Stephanie McMahon ... because she will literally pulverize your ass if you cross her.

Our proof: McMahon just posted this video of her doing some ridiculous boxing drills ... and holy crap, she is fast.

Coincidentally, we spoke to McMahon just this week in NYC ... and she told us all about her training secrets. Watch the clip.

Suddenly, "fights like a girl" sounds a whole lot scarier.

Former WWE superstar Chris "The Masterpiece" Masters saved his mother from burning to death by uprooting a tree with his bare hands and using it as a battering ram to enter her house.

Masters -- real name Chris Mordetzky -- tells us, he rushed to his mother's L.A. home yesterday after his uncle called and said a neighbor had gone crazy and barricaded himself inside her house.

When Chris showed up, the neighbor was shouting through the front door that he would burn the place down if anyone tried to gain entry.

Chris says he tried talking sense into the guy, but he wasn't having it -- so Chris called the cops ... but when they showed up, the neighbor set the house on fire.

Chris jumped into hero mode -- tearing a tree out of the ground and tossing it through a window.

Chris reached through the window and removed his mom from the inferno ... at which point police rushed in and arrested the neighbor on arson charges.

The man is currently still in custody. It's unclear why he snapped.

They were as close as a man and his speedo-wearing bodyguard could be ... but now, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase tells TMZ his relationship with Virgil is completely nonexistent.

DiBiase was leaving JFK with his wife yesterday when we asked the WWE legend if he had read recent reports that Virgil was now broke and selling t-shirts on a subway platform in NYC to survive.

"That's what I've heard," Ted told us ... "I haven't talked to him in a long time."

Still, Ted says he still considers Virgil a friend and sounded concerned for his former wrestling partner.

As for Virgil, a TMZ staffer saw him in the subway recently and tried to speak with the guy ... but Virgil made it clear he didn't want to talk.

Honoring Macho Man Randy Savage's death with a national holiday is NOT a ludicrous idea -- just ask his brother -- who tells TMZ he is 100% on board with a new White House petition trying to make that happen.

If you didn't know, the folks over at Mandatory.com petitioned the government (thanks to their handy online forum) to make May 20 -- the day Macho died in 2011 -- an official "Day of Remembrance."

The petition reads, "Macho Man Randy Savage was a national treasure loved by everyone ... no matter if you knew him from Slim Jim commercials or his wrestling career, you felt a deep connection with Savage ... keep his legacy alive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy."

Macho's brother, Lanny Poffo, tells TMZ that he couldn't be happier the fans want to honor his bro that way AND he's all for it, adding, "The fans will never let Randy Die. He made it cool to love wrestling."

FYI: The group needs 100,000 by April 4 in order to get Obama & Co. to review it -- so far it's only got 2,425 and one really supportive brother.

Wrestling legend Paul Bearer will be laid to rest tomorrow following his funeral in his home state of Alabama.

The funeral services will be taking place at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Mobile, AL at 10AM. Paul -- real name Bill Moody -- will be buried after in neighboring Serenity Memorial Gardens.

As we reported, Paul passed away Tuesday evening after suffering a blood clot. He was 58.

Paul is survived by his parents, children, and grandchildren.

Just three days before Paul Bearer died, he complained he was suffering a blood clot ... TMZ has learned.

"Cowboy" Bob Kelly -- one of the board members of a prominent wrestling society called the Cauliflower Alley Club -- tells TMZ he last saw Paul on March 2nd at a Club reunion.

Bob says Paul was in bad health, with a severe breathing problem. According to people at the event, Bearer was coughing and had trouble standing for long periods of time. He told people he was going to seek treatment for what he called "respiratory issues."

Bob says Paul went to the hospital immediately following the reunion.

Bob says he was later informed the famed wrestling manager was being treated for a blood clot.

Paul Bearer -- the spooky WWE manager who helped introduce The Undertaker -- died Tuesday evening at the age of 58 ... this according to the WWE.

Bearer -- real name "Bill" Moody -- joined the WWE in 1990 ... playing the role of a creepy funeral director who managed various wrestling stars ... including Undertaker, Kane, Rick Rude, Vader and Mankind.

The details surrounding Bearer's death are unclear -- but he reportedly suffered from serious health problems over the past decade ... including morbid obesity and gallbladder issues.

R.I.P.

The WWE released a statement saying ... "WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of William Moody, aka Paul Bearer."

"Moody made his WWE debut in 1991 as the manager of The Undertaker and went on to become a memorable part of WWE over the course of the next 20 years. Our deepest condolences go out to Moody’s family, friends and fans."

The WWE has a message for Glenn Beck -- if you're gonna talk smack about the organization ... BE A MAN ... AND DO IT IN PERSON!!

Beck has been on the attack against the "stupid wrestling people" at WWE after they introduced a new character named Zeb Colter -- who Beck described as "a villain who just happens to be a racist Tea Partier."

Beck -- clearly offended by the character -- went on a tear on his radio show recently ... blasting the WWE for mocking him ... and claiming the WWE is entertainment for dumb people.

Now, the WWE is firing back ... with Zeb and his pal Jack Swagger recording a new video statement for Beck, in which they break character and explain that what they do is simply harmless entertainment .. that's no different from "NCIS" and "Glee."

The WWE superstars also make a real challenge to Beck -- inviting the political commentator to address the "stupid" wrestling community live and directly on "Monday Night Raw."

WWE star Jack Swagger was arrested last night in Mississippi, TMZ has learned -- after allegedly driving under the influence ... with pot in his car.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ, Swagger -- real name Jacob Hager -- was leaving a "Smackdown" taping at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi when he was pulled over for speeding.

According to law enforcement, the officer who pulled him over determined Swagger was driving under the influence -- and a search revealed Swagger was in possession of marijuana.

We're told Swagger -- a former WWE World Heavyweight champ -- was taken in by local police officers ... and later released on his own recognizance.

He has been charged with DUI (not alcohol), marijuana possession, and speeding -- all misdemeanors.

He's a living legend in collegiate wrestling -- becoming a freaking NCAA champ despite having just ONE LEG -- and now, he's coming out of retirement to train for the 2016 Olympics ... because it's the last chance he'll get at Olympic gold.

You'll recall, the IOC has eliminated wrestling from the Olympics following the 2016 games in Rio -- which means Rio will be the last Olympic games to feature the sport. (It's being replaced by field hockey. Seriously.)

Now, 24-year-old Anthony Robles -- who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual championship in the 125-pound weight class while at ASU -- tells TMZ, "If this is the last chance to be at that elite level, I want to represent my country and try and take home the gold."

He adds, "The Olympics is the highest level for wrestling ... There isn't a higher platform to reach for."

Robles unofficially retired from the mat 2 years ago .. and has since worked as a motivational speaker -- but he adds, "I never said I was retired completely."

The Iron Sheik isn't just a WWE legend ... he's also a veteran Olympic wrestler ... and he's so pissed that his sport is getting booted from the Games ... he's now threatening violence.

As we previously reported, the International Olympic Committee has moved to drop wrestling from the 2020 games ... in favor of other sports like field hockey. Seriously.

Now, Sheik -- who says he competed for Iran in the 1968 Olympics and then became an asst. coach for Team USA in the '70s -- tells TMZ (in his trademark broken English) he's looking to take matters into his own hands.

"After 1000 years they take away the best sport in the world? This is the first time the dumb motherf**kers have no balls for they make the walking an Olympic sport."

He adds, "If I see anybody on the street that work from the IOC I swear to the Jesus I suplex them put them in camel clutch break their back make them humble."

"The #TEAMSHEIKIE respect the Olympic now they can all go f**k themselves and make the Curling Olympic sport because they all the biggest piece of no good s**t and I never watch the Olympic again. Also buy my t shirt [on my website] or go f**k yourself.”

It's a little confusing ... but we think we get the point.

Pro wrestler Kenn Doane knows a lot about being a bully -- he played one as a former WWE star -- and now he's using that experience to write his first book ... about kids and bullying.

Doane -- known as Kenny Dykstra in his WWE days -- tells TMZ, he decided to become an author while rehabbing a knee injury suffered last month ... and wanted to address the topic of bullying.

The former tag team champ must be a badass with the pen ... because he's already lined up a publisher for "Billy's Bully" -- which shows one kid standing up to his tormentor, and teaches kids how to avoid becoming a bully.

According to Doane, his publisher hooked him up with illustrators and another author to put the finishing touches on the book -- and it should be released sometime in June.

Getting shot in the face has its perks, particularly if you're a wrestling fan -- just ask Thomas Dotterer, who's being treated like a champ by the WWE just days after some thugs blasted him while robbing his Syracuse liquor store.

The 77-year-old was in critical condition last week after taking a bullet to the eye ... but instead of complaining, he told the media he was more upset about the outcome of the WWE Royal Rumble because his favorite wrestler had lost!!!

"The Rock beat [CM] Punk. Did you know that?"

Word of the tough-as-nails fan got back to the WWE ... and the org. raced to get in touch with the guy.

In fact, we're told Dotterer already got a phone call from CM Punk and was promised ringside seats and a backstage pass the next time the org. comes to Syracuse.

Jerry "The King" Lawler says he clinically died on live TV ... only to be brought back to life ... which now makes him A BONA FIDE ZOMBIE!!!

Jerry was out in NYC Friday (looking very much alive) when our photog asked him all about his recovery. You'll recall, Lawler suffered a near-fatal heart attack last year, while taping an episode of "Monday Night Raw."

Jerry says he's "good as new" and even wants to get back in the ring at some point.

But more importantly, he's thinking of changing his name to Jerry "The Walking Dead" Lawler ... considering he "actually died on live TV" and then came back to life. Just like a zombie would.