Professional wrestling star Jonathan Echevarria, known by his ring name Jaka, died at age 39 after suffering a heart attack following his final wrestling match. The wrestler passed away on September 7, 2025, after being hospitalized in critical condition.
Echevarria made his final public appearance at a Boca Raton Pro Wrestling event on August 31, 2025. He suffered the heart attack less than a week later, according to reports. The wrestler had been in the wrestling business since 2007, performing for numerous independent promotions throughout his career.
Echevarria was best known for his work with the WWE-affiliated EVOLVE promotion, where he achieved significant success as a tag team wrestler. Alongside his longtime partner Chris Dickinson, he held the EVOLVE Tag Team Championships twice as part of their team known as Doom Patrol. The duo made a notable appearance at WrestleMania 34 Axxess in 2018, where they defended their titles and defeated WWE contracted wrestlers Biff Busick and Danny Burch.
Beyond his EVOLVE success, Echevarria was a staple of the northeast independent wrestling scene. He was particularly associated with Beyond Wrestling, a New England-based promotion where he was dubbed “The Original Ace.” He also competed for Game Changer Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance, and Full Impact Pro, among other organizations.
In 2021, Echevarria appeared on All Elite Wrestling’s Dark: Elevation program, teaming with Sean Maluta as The Island Kings in a match against Santana and Ortiz, who were then part of The Inner Circle. He also had wrestling connections with current AEW star Angel Ortiz and TNA Wrestling’s Mike Santana through their work together in Beyond Wrestling as part of a faction called Team Pazuzu.
Chris Dickinson, Echevarria’s tag team partner and self-described best friend of 30 years, initially shared news of the heart attack on Instagram before the wrestler’s death was confirmed. Dickinson described his partner as “beloved” and noted that they were dealing with a healthy 39-year-old man suffering such a medical emergency.
The wrestling community responded with an outpouring of tributes following news of Echevarria’s death. Angel Ortiz expressed his love for his former stablemate on social media, while Mike Santana posted that he was gutted by the news. John Silver shared memories of sharing locker rooms and joking around with Echevarria, describing one particular night as among the funniest of his life.
Former EVOLVE booker Gabe Sapolsky paid tribute to the wrestler, indicating that no one would say a bad word about Echevarria and expressing gratitude for everything he contributed to the wrestling business. Other wrestling personalities, including Joe Gacy, Aleister Black, and Thunder Rosa, also shared their condolences and memories.
AEW issued an official statement mourning Echevarria’s passing, expressing that the company joined the wrestling world in grief and sending thoughts to his family, friends, and fans. The Jacksonville-based promotion acknowledged his contributions to professional wrestling.
Echevarria’s family established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses from his hospitalization. The fundraiser attracted donations from several notable figures in professional wrestling, including a $5,000 contribution from All Elite Wrestling CEO and President Tony Khan. Jack Perry, an AEW wrestler, also donated approximately $1,000 to support the family.
Beyond Wrestling confirmed Echevarria’s death on social media, posting a tribute that referenced his nickname. The promotion later announced that their Monday episode of Wrestling Open would be dedicated to honoring his memory. Echevarria’s sister Annette had described him in the GoFundMe campaign as someone who brought laughter and energy wherever he went.
Throughout his wrestling career, which spanned over 320 matches, Echevarria shared the ring with prominent wrestlers including MJF, Tommaso Ciampa, and Keith Lee. His wrestling activity had decreased in recent years, with him participating in approximately five to six matches per year since 2019, compared to an average of 40 matches annually during his more active period from 2008 onward.
The GoFundMe established by his family remains active to continue supporting them during this difficult time, having raised significant funds from the wrestling community and fans who were touched by Echevarria’s career and personality.
Sources:
https://nypost.com/2025/09/08/us-news/wwe-affiliated-wrestling-star-jonathan-jaka-echevarria-dies-at-39/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/wwe/article-15077301/Wrestling-star-Jonathan-Echevarria-Jaka-39-dies-heart-attack.html
https://itrwrestling.com/news/aew-sends-issues-statement-message-after-wrestler-jaka-passes-away/
