WWE star Ashley Massaro's brain will be donated to science to study for CTE after the Playboy model 'committed suicide' after concussions caused her spiral into depression

  • WWE fighter Ashley Massaro reportedly died by suicide at her home in New York on Thursday 
  • The 39-year-old had claimed that concussions sustained during her wrestling career has caused her to spiral into depression 
  • She was part of a class action lawsuit against WWE that was dismissed last September and is now pending appeal  
  • Massaro's lawyer says her brain may be analyzed by a top doctor for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE 
  • Bennet Omalu, known as the 'Concussion Doctor', has diagnosed a number of former wrestlers with CTE following their deaths 
  • The condition can cause personality changes, including aggression and depression 

By Andrew Court and Leah Simpson For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:40 EDT, 18 May 2019 | Updated: 18:13 EDT, 18 May 2019

Ashley Massaro's brain may be donated to science, a lawyer for the late WWE star revealed on Saturday. 

Massaro, 39, reportedly took her own life on Thursday, eight months after the dismissal of a lawsuit in which she claimed head injuries sustained during her wrestling career had caused her to spiral into depression.

The deceased wrestler's attorney, Konstantine Kyros, told The New York Post that her brain may now be analyzed by a top doctor for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. 

While CTE can only be diagnosed after death, it is known to cause memory loss, confusion and personality changes, including depression and suicidal thoughts.  

Ashley Massaro, 39, reportedly took her own life on Thursday, after complaining the head injuries sustained during her WWE career caused her to spiral into depression. She is pictured in 2007

Ashley Massaro, 39, reportedly took her own life on Thursday, after complaining the head injuries sustained during her WWE career caused her to spiral into depression. She is pictured in 2007

The doctor likely to examine Massaro's brain is Bennet Omalu, a prominent professor at the University of California Davis. 

Known as the 'Concussion doctor', he has previously diagnosed six former wrestlers  with CTE by examining their brains following death.  

Massaro joined a class action lawsuit against WWE in 2016, in which she  accused the company of concealing risks of injury known to cause neurological damage. 

The suit was dismissed in September 2018, but is pending appeal with a court date scheduled for next month.   

The doctor likely to examine Massaro's brain is Bennet Omalu, a prominent professor at the University of California Davis (pictured)

The doctor likely to examine Massaro's brain is Bennet Omalu, a prominent professor at the University of California Davis (pictured)

Massaro said in her 2017 affidavit: 'Aside from my on-going physical injuries that were sustained in the ring, and my former battle with addiction, to this day I suffer from depression, for which I take medication; migraine headaches; and severe short-term memory loss.

'I attribute these issues to my work-related injuries sustained while working for the WWE, and specifically to the routine repetitive blows to the head, I received in the ring over the course of my career which were not properly diagnosed or treated.'

Massaro claimed it caused her severe and ongoing pain and suffering, emotional distress and financial hardship'.

She said the organisation 'used narcotics as a tool to allow me and other wrestlers to perform through our injuries' leading to addiction which she sought treatment through the WWE Former Talent Rehab Program in September 2010. 

Massaro remained in the program for 42 days but said there was no monitoring after the program and claimed WWE ignored other aspects of the head trauma.

Massaro joined a class action lawsuit against WWE in 2016, in which she accused the company of concealing risks of injury known to cause neurological damage

 Massaro joined a class action lawsuit against WWE in 2016, in which she accused the company of concealing risks of injury known to cause neurological damage

Following Massaro's death on Thursday, the WWE released a statement offering their condolences to the fighter's family and friends.

'We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro,' the statement read. 

The organization said Massaro 'was beloved by her fellow Superstars and fans around the world. WWE offers its condolences to Ashley’s family and friends.'  

The star was discovered unconscious at her home on Long Island Thursday after she failed to show at her local radio job and insider claimed.

The wrestler and model was a WWE Superstar from 2005 to 2008, and rose to even greater notoriety among a mainstream audience after appearing on the cover of Playboy. 

Officials responded to her Suffolk County home following a call reporting an unconscious female and administered CPR during the ride to the hospital, according to dispatch audio obtained by The Blast, who reported her subsequent death as a suicide.  

She is survived by her 18-year-old daughter, Alexa. 

The wrestler and model was a WWE Superstar from 2005 to 2008, and rose to even greater notoriety among a mainstream audience after appearing on the cover of Playboy

The wrestler and model was a WWE Superstar from 2005 to 2008, and rose to even greater notoriety among a mainstream audience after appearing on the cover of Playboy

 

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WWE star Ashley Massaro's brain 'will be donated to science for study' 

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