Tragic news today as Shannon Spruill, known to wrestling fans as Daffney Unger, has passed away at the age of 46.
Fans and friends became concerned for Spruill on Wednesday, September 1, when she went public with some of her battles on social media. Police were dispatched at several known addresses before her family was contacted with a correct, updated address that she'd just moved to in recent weeks. SHIMMER Wrestling posted the following, announcing the news.
"We are very sad to have to announce the passing of Shannon Spruill aka Daffney Unger @screamqueendaff. We are posting this at the request of her family. Please respect their privacy at this trying time.
— SHIMMER Wrestling (@SHIMMERwomen) September 2, 2021
I will miss you my logical sister from another mister."
-Lexie Fyfe
Daffney first emerged on the pro wrestling scene in 1999 when she responded to a WCW contest looking to land new talent. She quickly gained popularity as part of an act with Crowbar and David Flair, en route to becoming one of the few women in wrestling history to hold the Cruiserweight Championship.
Spruill would continue her work as Daffney across NWA:TNA, XPW and even shortly under a WWE developmental contract before briefly retiring. She returned to independent wrestling and signed with TNA during one of their most instrumental periods portraying a phony version of former Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, before returning to the Daffney persona where she served as a manager and sometimes wrestler.
Aseries of injuries led to the in-ring retirement of Daffney, and she ended up filing a workers' compensation claim against TNA, which was settled out of court in 2013. Since then, Spruill appeared sparingly for the likes of Shine Wrestling and ROH, but was a regular on the convention scene.
Fightful would like to send our condolences to the friends, family, and fans of Shannon Spruill.
If you're in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting “NAMI” to 741741
