Independent Wrestling Star Jaka Passes Away at 39 Following Heart Attack

Jonathan Echevarria, best known to wrestling fans as Jaka, has died at the age of 39.

The former EVOLVE Tag Team Champion passed away in Florida after suffering a heart attack just days following his final match for Boca Raton Championship Wrestling on August 31.

Trained by Magic and later influenced by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race through seminars, Echevarria began wrestling in 2007 and quickly became a fixture on the Northeast independent scene. He worked for notable promotions such as Beyond Wrestling, CHIKARA, GCW, Wrestling Is Fun, and Full Impact Pro. Over the years, he gained a reputation in locker rooms for being funny, uplifting, and universally liked.

Echevarria found his greatest success teaming with Chris Dickinson. As a duo, they held the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles multiple times and represented the brand at WrestleMania AXXESS in 2018. He also wrestled on AEW Dark in 2021.

During his time in Beyond Wrestling, Echevarria was part of the well-known faction Team Pazuzu, alongside current AEW talent Angel Ortiz and TNA’s Mike Santana. Both men acknowledged his passing on social media, with Ortiz posting “I love you tio” and Santana calling the news “gutting.”

In recent years, Echevarria continued competing under the name Jaka, teaming with Sean Maluta as The Island Boys. Together, they held tag team gold in both BRCW and Full Impact Pro.

His sister Annette helped launch a GoFundMe after his heart attack, describing him as someone who brought “laughter and energy wherever he goes.”

Echevarria’s final in-ring performance came just days before his death, closing out an 18-year career that saw him work alongside some of the biggest names in independent wrestling.

September 8, 2025 9:16 am

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