Today will be a very sad day for retro wrestling fans, as WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has passed away. Remembered as perhaps the most famous wrestling interviewer of all time, Okerlund’s passing has been confirmed by WWE.com. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, with no additional details yet made available. The wrestling legend was 76 years old.
Having been a figure in the wrestling world for decades, Okerlund was given his “Mean” moniker by wrestling star Jesse “The Body” Ventura. His career began in the AWA, where he’d interview many future stars before they became famous. Okerlund moved onto the World Wrestling Federation in 1984 which brought him to even greater heights. Some of the most memorable moments in wrestling from the ’80s are of Okerlund interviewing such names as Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, the Ultimate Warrior, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
In the ’90s, Okerlund would be brought to prominence again in World Championship Wrestling, interviewing many of the same stars he’d worked with in the WWF. He was present for the rise of the nWo, with Hogan becoming the biggest villain in wrestling. Additionally, Okerlund took part in many memorable segments with home-grown stars like Diamond Dallas Page, Goldberg, and Sting.
Okerlund would finally return back home to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001, calling the Gimmick Battle Royal at that year’s Wrestlemania. He has since made sporadic appearances on WWE programming and on various shows on the WWE Network. Okerlund is also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame.
Here at Horror Geek Life, we offer our condolences to the family, friends, and fellow fans of the greatest wrestling interviewer of all time, “Mean” Gene Okerlund. Rest in peace.
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