RIP my friend. Adam Pearce made the match official on Monday's Raw. He will be remembered as a pillar of amateur wrestling in the United States, twice representing the country at the Olympics and claiming the silver medal in 1956. Stu Hart [1] Debut. He didnt have ask for it, said Watts. He was born on September 14, 1968 in St. Joseph, MO, the son of Herman Hodge and Judy (Miller) Burgett. From speaking to him youd never know all that he accomplished. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc, Very saddened to learn of the loss of Danny Hodge. He made frequent world tours but, devoted to his home life, primarily spent his time in the brutally sprawling McGuirk territory, from Oklahoma City and Joplin, Missouri to the Louisiana bayous and the Mississippi Delta. A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 3 PM Sunday, September 12, 2021. at Myers Funeral Home. "Danny Hodge was a legend in Japan. Eventually, he found refuge living at a fire house, sleeping on a steel cot, sweeping floors, and polishing trucks. #RIPDannyHodge pic.twitter.com/LyMkSETKtF. Hodges first title reign lasted four years, ending when he was defeated by Hiro Matsuda in July 1964. The WWE issued a statement honoring his life and career while wrestlers and others in the industry took to social media to applaud him, including William Regal, Jim Ross, Ted DiBiase, Edge, and the Iron Sheik. pic.twitter.com/aoBmcIYtmG, IT BREAK MY HEART TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE LEGEND DANNY HODGE. Hodge was 88 and. Great Bolo (Al Lovelock) W (2-1) retained NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. And I thought to myself then, Is this all the world Im going to get to see? Shuffled from relative to relative, Hodge was regularly whipped with a cane by his alcoholic grandfather until he couldnt take it anymore. He got a job in Perry at a Conoco filling station, and raced after work to the house of a coworker who owned a TV set. The Dan Hodge Trophy is the college wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Hodge was the last one out and the first one back, and later, out in the country, hed run four more miles. His home burned down when he was 9, and his mother suffered severe burns over 70 percent of her body, necessitating blood transfusions. He traveled with me and he would go to the towns and do the interviews with a radio station or TV and he says, I have a young man here that the world is going to want to see. Oklahoma promoter Leroy McGuirk had built his career on the National Wrestling Alliance junior heavyweight title, and Hodge, at about 220 pounds, held it regularly from 1960 to 1976. In addition to his collegiate wrestling career, Hodge also won three Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships in freestyle wrestling, as well as winning one in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1956 at 174 pounds. He finished his college career unbeaten, 46-0. Born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, he was the son of an alcoholic father and a mother who dealt with severe depression. The WWE Backlash host will return on April 24. Danny Hodge with the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship belt. Hodge wrestled for the University of Oklahoma, earning a 46-0 record that included three Big Seven wrestling championships and three NCAA wrestling championships. Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet. > Collectibles
July 15: Impact Slammiversary Rumor Roundup: Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Mercedes Mon, WWE & ESPN, more! April 14, 2021. Hodge will be inducted into theInternational Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as part ofits inaugural class on August 28, 2021. He was also a 6x NWA United States Tag Team Champion and NWA Tri-State North American Champion. Edit Search New Search Jump to Filters. A REAL SHOOTER AND WORLD CLASS GENTLEMAN. He was 88. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. Pound for pound, there wasnt anybody in the business that could stay with him. But when that bell goes ding, something happened to Dempsey and something happened to Dan Hodge, Chapman said. He was 88. https://t.co/SZyZXTSVYi, AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary hall of fame wrestler Danny Hodge, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. Danny Hodge died last Friday. He was like Dempsey. The only reason I got my hand out was because he loosened it up. As a collegiate wrestler for the University of Oklahoma, Hodge was undefeated at 460, with 36 pins and reportedly was never taken off his feet during his collegiate career. Actually, his matches never lasted long before he pinned his opponent. [11] After Parente lost the belt to Hodge again, Hodge held the belt for another four months until eventually losing it to Sputnik Monroe on July 13, 1970. Lets talk about what happened. The Oklahoma native held national titles in wrestling and boxing and was a three-time NCAA Champion while also winning a silver medal in the Olympics. Thats Danny Hodge up there, I know, but man, thats a five hundred pound bear! Little did I know that fifteen years later when I was in the ring with him, Id know why the bear was screaming., Jerry Brisco learns not to shake the hand of Danny Hodge in 2014 at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction ceremony (its the posthumous induction plaque for Wilbur Snyder). He won the Big Seven title three times, and the NCAA title three times at 177 pounds. His father, a hand in the oilfields, drank too much, and his mother, who suffered from severe depression, nearly burned to death when a fire destroyed their house. Danny Ray Hodge, 53, of Topeka, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 28th 2022. All I can say it was pleasure to share my life with last years of his life. Never judge a book by a cover is sound advice (or as Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu argued, know your enemy). . It was public knowledge that Hodge had been battling dementia. Stay tuned toLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. Crushing apples & even breaking pliers by squeezing them. Obituary of Danny Hodge Spencer- Mr. Danny Joe Hodge, age 64, of Spencer, passed away Monday, December 4, 2017, unexpectedly at his home. Hard to believe that my boyhood hero, riding partner, and mentor, the great #DannyHodge has passed away. Here is the worlds heavyweight champion and here Ive got this prestigious belt.. In April 1957, Hodge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. newsletter, NXT results, live blog: Two title matches. Hodge broke his neck and shattered his teeth but the double-tough Hodge wasnt tapping out to the Grim Reaper. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Danny Hodge (Lexington, Kentucky), born in Owingsville, Kentucky, who passed away at the age of 67, on April 5, 2021. Get the occasional email with the latest wrestling tributes and memorials, Search by ring name, real name, cause of death, organization, time period (2000s, etc) or specific year, WWE Hall of Famer Ravishing Rick Rude was an amazing individual in and out of the ring. Danny Hodge was also an incredibly kind man. [14] WWE Hall of Famer and seven-time world champion Bret Hart has referred to Hodge as "one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling theres ever been",[15] and described being in the same room as Hodge at the 2008 National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum's award ceremony as "a big, big honor for me". The pro fisticuffs lasted after about a year; in July 1959, two months after losing to Cuban Nino Valdes, Hodge quit boxing and filed a $116,000 lawsuit against his backers, saying they breached a contract that was supposed to provide him with about 35 percent of the gate after expenses. Sign up for Peacock to watch. Danny Hodge, considered by many to be one of the greatest technical wrestlers in the history of amateur and professional wrestling, passed away late on Christmas night. Fifty years later, hes still waiting for the check. The best wrestler Ive ever met and Ive met a hell of a lot of wrestlers, said Harley Race. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Erma, and brothers William Hodge . He was Mr. Wrestling in Oklahoma. Hodge was an acclaimed collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, where he went a perfect 46-0. Jack Nasworthy ran a carnival based out of Hutchinson, Kansas, and once offered the cash-starved youngster $100 to take on all comers. Hodge will be remembered as a true trailblazer and the only man to ever win national titles in both wrestling and boxing. Rest in Peace Sir!#RIPDannyHodge pic.twitter.com/LyMkSETKtF, Sean Waltman (@TheRealXPac) December 26, 2020. Born on a Friday, John Pollock is a reporter, editor & podcaster at POST Wrestling. He promptly offered to give it back. January 24, 2005 - RAW: He appeared on Raw to honor Jim Ross. Photo courtesy Chris Swisher. After graduating Perry High School in Perry, Oklahoma, where he had been state champion in 1951, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he went 46-0, never even taken off his feet. pic.twitter.com/IUyw9Z6ywm, All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 26, 2020, Legitimately one of the toughest guys in a boxing or wrestling ring, Danny Hodge was a mentor to many and a groundbreaking competitor. [6] Going into May 1956 wrestling trials for US Olympic team, Hodge was middleweight favorite. I have no doubt that he will receive his job well done. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He didnt tell wife Dolores that he changing gears to wrestle, but shed been with him since their school daysthey married in 1951and had no quarrels. Great Bolo (Al Lovelock) retained NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. Danny Ray Hodge, 53, of Topeka, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 28th 2022. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. I always wondered, Why in the heck is that bear screaming so loud? pic.twitter.com/BsdnvXmGyt, The great DANNY HODGE has passed awayTuff as nails.. IMPACT Wrestling TV Spoilers From Toronto, Ontario, Canada (4/17). 00:25. Born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, he was the son of an alcoholic father and a mother who dealt with severe depression. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving . And heres one from Jim Ross, who was awed as a young ref in early-70s Oklahoma to be on the road with his idol. [8], Trained by Leroy McGuirk and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Hodge made his debut as a professional wrestler in October 1959. [15], Danny won the 1958 Chicago Golden Gloves at Heavyweight, then won a Chicago-NY Intercity bout in October, beating Charley Hood. GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. Robert Carson (born Robert Beier, July 4, 1940 - February 10, 2017 [1] ), better known by his ring name Bob Sweetan, was a Canadian professional wrestler. The native of Perry, Oklahoma died earlier this week, although no cause of death has been revealed. Death 5 January 1974 - Marion, Florida, United States. He won a judgment in court. My deepest condolences to his family. [10], Hodge was a perennial NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, holding the title eight times for a total of over ten years, longer than anyone else. WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco announced this morning that one of the greatest amateur and professional wrestlers who ever lived, Danny Hodge, passed away yesterday at 88 years old. His family had no ice box and he had no boots, just gunny sacks wrapped around his feet, tightened with baling wire. Regarded as one of the best amateur wrestlers of all-time in addition to an extensive pro wrestling career, Danny Hodge passed away at the age of 88 on Christmas day. Legendary Oklahoma wrestler Danny Hodge has died at the age of 88. He was born Wednesday, April 06, 1955 in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be held Tuesday,. Go with God my friend as you will be remembered with much Love & respect , FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Official Statement on the passing of Danny Hodge pic.twitter.com/EKKRDZ0oQ9, I'm honored to have known the greatest American wrestler ever. He also earned the Cauliflower Alley Club lifetime achievement award (2004) and the Lou Thesz Award (2007). Dave Meltzer will have more on Hodge's life and career later today. Survivors include his parents, Judy (Terry) Burgett, Herman (Betty) Hodge; siblings, Mike Hodge, Christy (Mike) Lopez, Sherri Hodge, Lynnell (Jeremiah) Corbin, Heath (Kasey) Hodge; nieces and nephews, Bayli (Kyle) Titus, Taylon, Aaric, Elle, Austin, Lacey, Kaedyn, Korben, Brielle, Amanda, Leelynn. https://t.co/8byekrHv8k, Hard to believe that my boyhood hero, riding partner, and mentor, the great #DannyHodge has passed away. 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