Neil Superior

Ruter disputed these version of events. While it was true Caricofe had used legal drugs to build muscle mass, Caricofe was in healthy shape and had wrestled a match in New Jersey only a few weeks before his death. Caricofe had not attacked anyone at the hotel and did not pose a threat to the police officers until they attempted to restrain him. Ruter believed that police officers should have "shown patience" as Caricofe was visibly disoriented. The legal team for the Caricofe family based their case on proving that Caricofe would still be alive had he not been beaten or pepper sprayed by police. The case was dismissed by Judge Frederic Smalkin who believed the officers had responded properly. The ruling was upheld by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on April 1, 2002, concluding that the officers had never resorted to deadly force.

From 1999 to 2010, NWL owner Dick Caricofe promoted a series of memorial shows, "Lord of the Rings", in memory of his son and other HoPWF/NWL personalities. The first-ever memorial show was held at the Superior Pro Wrestling Training Center on November 23, 1999, in honor of Neil Superior and Big E. Sleeze. John Rambo, who had since taken over the school, wrote a eulogy on the promotion's website. The event featured former World Wrestling Federation talent including, most notably, Doink the Clown, Gillberg and Headshrinker Samu. The "Neil Superior Memorial Cup", a unique multi-ring professional wrestling tournament, was included in subsequent "Lord of the Rings" shows.

A year after Caricofe's death, his parents were still unable to find out the details of what occurred that night. The family's Baltimore attorney, Gerald Ruter, believed his clients were being stonewalled by law enforcement. The family began their own investigation and, starting on August 23, 1997, an investigator handed out 500 flyers around the Fenwick Inn hoping to find witnesses such as tourists who may have been there the previous summer. A letter to the editor was scheduled to be published in The Daily Times that weekend. The family also looked into making an appeal to the public by placing ads in major newspapers. On June 2, 1998, Caricofe's parents filed a $350 million federal lawsuit against the Ocean City Police Department, claiming that their son had died as a result of police brutality. The case was heard in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Gerald Ruter, an attorney for the Caricofe family, claimed that the officers "jumped on him and knocked him down and emptied several cans of pepper spray into his face" causing him to suffocate to death. It was further claimed their use of nightsticks and pepper spray to subdue Neil Caricofe was unnecessary and constituted excessive force. Among those named in the lawsuit included former mayor Roland F. Powell, Police Chief David Massey and 13 Ocean City police officers who were charged with wrongful death, excessive force, inadequate training and supervision of police, and false arrest.

Early on the morning of August 23, 1996, Caricofe, who had left his hotel room around 4:00 am, was observed acting erratically and running naked on the seventh floor of the Fenwick Inn in Ocean City, Maryland. It was believed that Caricofe had left his room accidentally and was unable to find his way back. Caricofe may have been suffering from a medical condition caused by seizures and which made him to appear to be sleepwalking. Neither was it unusual, according to the Caricofe family, for him to sleep either in his underwear or in the nude. The night desk clerk, Lisa Mulvihill, became aware of the situation when a concerned guest called the front desk. When Mulvihill went to investigate, she saw Caricofe "jumping around and banging himself against the wall". She briefly attempted to communicate with Caricofe but, finding him unresponsive, returned to the front desk and called police. Mulvihill received a second call that Caricofe was banging on the doors of several rooms. Mulvihill then made a second call to police informing them that she was returning to the seventh floor and requesting that officers meet her there.

An autopsy report from the Maryland Medical Examiner determined Caricofe had died as a result of heart disease combined with the ingestion of drugs and alcohol. A toxicology report found the presence of ephedrine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, anabolic steroids and ethanol in his system. They also concluded that the beating did not cause internal injuries nor were they considered life-threatening. No disciplinary action was taken against the officers involved, however, the incident was investigated by both the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office. The officers were allowed to continue their regular duties during the investigation. On October 8, 1996, State Attorney Joel Todd announced the results of the investigation and cleared the Ocean City Police Department of any wrongdoing.

Back in the NWL, Superior successfully defended his title against Dave Casanova, Jimmy Deo, Morgus the Maniac and other challengers during 1993 and 1994. On August 3, 1994, Superior won a 9-man battle royal in Front Royal, Virginia that included Allen Anthony, Brian DeRiga, Dave Casanova, Doink the Clown, Tank Noakes, The Metal Maniac and Shane Shadows. On February 24, 1995, Superior retained his title against T. Rantula in Clear Spring, Maryland. On March 26, Superior and Jeremy Sumpter defeated Shane Shadows and Julio Shanchez at Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia. On November 4, 1995, Superior pinned Bodydonna Skip in Keyser to retain the NWL Heavyweight title. Two weeks later, he appeared to have lost the title to Mike Himeberger but the referee reversed the decision when it was discovered Superior's opponent had used his feet on the ropes to pin the champion. Superior continued defending the title until his sudden death in the summer of 1996. His last recorded match was against Mark Mest in Martinsburg, West Virginia on June 30, 1996. The title remained vacant until John Rambo defeated "Hollywood" Bob Starr the following year.

That same year, Superior opened his own wrestling school in Hagerstown. It became the main training facility for the National Wrestling League, later nicknamed "The House of Pain", and whose students included Spazman Brian Anthony, Slickyboy, and Professor Egon Ecton. In 1993, Superior and his school were featured in The Washington Post Magazine.

Superior also wrestled for other independent promotions during the early-1990s including, most notably, International World Class Championship Wrestling, Main Event Wrestling and South Atlantic Pro Wrestling. On April 12, 1992, Superior defeated Helmut Hessler in Hagerstown for the SAPW Heavyweight Championship. He remained champion until the promotion's close four months later.

After spitting with Stahl, Superior embarked on a singles career. One of his first major opponents was The Honky Tonk Man who he faced in Hagerstown on August 10, 1991. Superior also feuded with Rasta the Voodoo Mon. Later that year, Superior defeated Helmut Hesler to win the NWL Heavyweight Championship. The title had been vacated when John Rambo left the promotion to wrestle for Pacific Northwest Wrestling. Superior would hold the title for five years making him the longest in the promotion's history.

Caricofe was trained by Afa Anoa'i at the Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling School in Whitehall, Pennsylvania and made his debut in 1989.

He and his father, Dick Caricofe, founded the All Star Wrestling League (later known as the National Wrestling League) in Hagerstown, Maryland that same year. Caricofe formed a tag team with fellow Wild Samoan graduate Doug Stahl called The Superior Brothers, "Nasty" Neil and "Desirable" Doug Superior, respectively. They also wrestled as The Satanic Warriors. The team competed throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania as well as feuding with The Fantastics (Bobby and Jackie Fulton) during NWL tours in Hawaii and Guam. In 1989, The Brothers Superior defeated The Cream Team (Dino Casanova and Rip Sawyer) in Moorefield, West Virginia to become first NWL Tag Team Champions. They remained champions until their breakup the following year.

Neil Allen Caricofe (April 6, 1963 – August 23, 1996), better known by the ring name Neil Superior, was an American professional wrestler and trainer. A mainstay on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit during the 1990s, Superior was perhaps best known for his tenure in the National Wrestling League. His five year reign as NWL Heavyweight Champion is the longest in the promotion's history. In addition, Superior was the first co-holder of the NWL Tag Team Championship as one half of The Brothers Superior with Doug Superior. Superior also wrestled for International World Class Championship Wrestling and South Atlantic Pro Wrestling, where he was its last heavyweight champion, and as a preliminary wrestler for World Championship Wrestling. He died during an altercation with Ocean City police officers which resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

Neil Allen Caricofe was born on April 6, 1963 in Hagerstown, Maryland, one of two sons born to Leatrice and Richard A. "Dick" Caricofe. Graduating from North Hagerstown High School in 1981, Caricofe attended American University for two years on a scholarship. He later worked as a correctional officer in nearby Sykesville and served in the United States Army Reserve. Caricofe also did volunteer work as a Big Brother and was a member of the local parks board in his hometown.