Doink The Clown -- Cause of Death Revealed ... Accidental Drug Overdose

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Doink The Clown
Cause of Death Revealed
Accidental Drug Overdose
Ex-WWE star Doink the Clown died from a toxic overdose of morphine and hydrocodone ... this according to officials in Collin County, Texas.

TMZ has obtained the autopsy report for Matthew Wade Osborne -- whose body was discovered at his girlfriend's home on June 28.

According to the report, the medical examiner discovered "high levels of the opiates morphine and hydrocodone" in Osborne's system at the time of his death.

FYI -- hydrocodone is the key ingredient of the painkiller Vicodin.

The medical examiner expains, "I am of the opinion that [Osborne], a 55 year old white man, died as a result of toxic effects of opiates."

The ME says Osborne also suffered from heart disease, which was a "significant and contributory factor" in his death.

The former wrestler's body was riddled with scars -- which covered his forehead, both arms and his left knee. Get TMZ Breaking News alerts to your inbox

Shawne Merriman -- I Did NOT Overdose on Drugs

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Shawne Merriman
I Did Not OD on Drugs

Retired NFL star Shawne Merriman is adamant ... he did NOT overdose on drugs at an L.A. nightclub last night ... telling TMZ he was simply dehydrated. 

The 29-year-old -- who was transported from Colony nightclub to an L.A. hospital around 9:30pm Sunday night -- tells us ... "I didn't feel well and they called the ambulance for me to make sure I was good."

Merriman says he doesn't know who called the ambulance.

We're told the person who called 911 reported that Shawne was "barely conscious."

After Merriman was admitted to the hospital, the ex-NFL star says, "They told me to drink some fluids and sent me on my way."

Shawne says he's been running himself ragged recently -- "I've been finishing my MBA, shooting a bunch of films, launching my LightsOut [company] and still training."

In fact, Shawne says he had just gotten off a plane from Canada ... and went straight to the clubs last night.

Shawne's rep tells us, "At the hospital, he got fluids and felt fine ... so he went right back to the club."

As for reports that Shawne was treated for a drug overdose, the rep tells TMZ ..."That's absurd ... if you had a drug overdose, you wouldn't be at a club right after."