Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Oct 20, 2014 11:36:42 GMT -6
From www.f4wonline.com
Ox Baker passes away
Monday, 20 October 2014 08:23
Doug "Ox" Baker, whose menacing looks made him one of the more memorable heels of the 1970s, passed away today at the age of 80.
Baker had been in poor health for several months, and his death is believed to have been due to kidney failure at about 4:45 a.m.. Jerry Lawler posted the news on Twitter. Baker had a significant role as a villain who got into a fight scene with Kurt Russell in the John Carpenter movie, "Escape from New York," which made him memorable outside the wrestling world.
Baker was a headlining heel through most of the 70s, working at different times throughout most of the major territories, as the master of the heart punch. He was in the match where Alberto Torres died in 1971, and wrestled Ray Gunkel hours before Gunkel passed away in 1972. In some places, this was exaggerated into a story that Baker had anywhere from two to five men with his heart punch, which was put over as the most deadly move in wrestling.
During his career, he held championships in 16 different territories and wrestled almost almost all the top stars from his era from The Sheik, Dick the Bruiser, Fritz Von Erich, Dusty Rhodes, The Crusher, Giant Baba, Carlos Colon, Mil Mascaras and Superstar Billy Graham.
After his active career was over, he remained appearing at independent shows until recently, when his health issues became worse. He was a regular at the Cauliflower Alley Club. As far as national television went, he briefly managed The Russian Brute in the AWA in 1989 and managed The Night Stalker (Bryan Clark) in WCW in 1990.
Ox Baker passes away
Monday, 20 October 2014 08:23
Doug "Ox" Baker, whose menacing looks made him one of the more memorable heels of the 1970s, passed away today at the age of 80.
Baker had been in poor health for several months, and his death is believed to have been due to kidney failure at about 4:45 a.m.. Jerry Lawler posted the news on Twitter. Baker had a significant role as a villain who got into a fight scene with Kurt Russell in the John Carpenter movie, "Escape from New York," which made him memorable outside the wrestling world.
Baker was a headlining heel through most of the 70s, working at different times throughout most of the major territories, as the master of the heart punch. He was in the match where Alberto Torres died in 1971, and wrestled Ray Gunkel hours before Gunkel passed away in 1972. In some places, this was exaggerated into a story that Baker had anywhere from two to five men with his heart punch, which was put over as the most deadly move in wrestling.
During his career, he held championships in 16 different territories and wrestled almost almost all the top stars from his era from The Sheik, Dick the Bruiser, Fritz Von Erich, Dusty Rhodes, The Crusher, Giant Baba, Carlos Colon, Mil Mascaras and Superstar Billy Graham.
After his active career was over, he remained appearing at independent shows until recently, when his health issues became worse. He was a regular at the Cauliflower Alley Club. As far as national television went, he briefly managed The Russian Brute in the AWA in 1989 and managed The Night Stalker (Bryan Clark) in WCW in 1990.