"Mean" Gene Okerlund passes away

[otismotis08]

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/mean-gene-okerlund-dies-at-76-wwe-announces

Sure do miss the good old days of the WWF. "Mean" Gene's reporting style and his comedic shtick never grew old for me. Rough news to kickoff the new year. RIP

 

[frankluv]

RIP.

 

[o_h3]

 

[Suhrreal]

I was reading he studied broadcast journalism at UNL in the 70's and started with a radio gig in Nebraska. He is a legend RIP!

 

[redwine65]

mean gene was Saturday morning in Omaha.

 

[DudznSudz]

He was one of the interviewees on HBO's excellent documentary about Andre the Giant. He looked old and not very healthy.

 

[frankluv]

I did not know that he was a DJ in Nebraska.

 

[Bleed Husker Red]

I would have pegged him to be in his 90s.. guess he was not as old as I remember him from my childhood

 

[DudznSudz]

I think a lot of us just thought he was old because he was a balding man in his 30's and 40's. Dudes like that just "look" older.

He also liked to speak with an air of "authority" by always speaking a little too loudly and evenly, which was in stark contrast to the stupid, roided-out maniacs screaming into the microphones on the tv shows.

 

[grayhairedfreak]

How he was able to keep a straight face interviewing all those crazy wrestlers was amazing. Part of my childhood gone. RIP Mean Gene.

 

[SPbObRT]

one of a kind RIP.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

mean gene was Saturday morning in Omaha.

Roddy Piper and Mean Gene, it doesn’t get much better than that!

 

[jedimasterjed]

RIP mean Gene, I really enjoyed listening to you interview people.

 

[big red23]

 

[TwinsRRUs_rivals79748]

RIP Mean Gene!

Watched wrestling so much as a kid and listened to him over the years. Very recognizable voice.

 

[huskerhooligansdotcom]

a true legend of the industry.... RIP

 

[Tarheelhusker]

I tried to find Mean Gene interviewing Andy Kaufman but couldn't. I know there has to be one out there.
But oh those 'rasslin memories.

 

[huskerhooligansdotcom]

I tried to find Mean Gene interviewing Andy Kaufman but couldn't. I know there has to be one out there.
But oh those 'rasslin memories.

I do not believe that Mean Gene was a memphis guy so I don't know if there will be a Kaufman interview

 

[EATAFAT1]

Aww man, havent missed Mean Gene this much since his chicken sandwiches after his fast food joint closed up. RIP Mean Gene Brother!

 

[WC_'sker]

.
Anyone remember the pre- Mean Gene Guy? When I was a kid, there was a guy named Joe Swyback (Zweibeck???) or something like that on the wrestling show. He pimped a product called Gera-speed (???). Anyone remember that? Those were the days of The Crusher, Verne Gagne, Chief Wahoo McDaniel, Baron Von Ratchke, Nick Bockwinkle, Kenny "Sodbuster" Jay, George "Scrap Iron" Gdasky???... Ha! probably butchered enough names.... old memories...

 

[redwine65]

.
Anyone remember the pre- Mean Gene Guy? When I was a kid, there was a guy named Joe Swyback (Zweibeck???) or something like that on the wrestling show. He pimped a product called Gera-speed (???). Anyone remember that? Those were the days of The Crusher, Verne Gagne, Chief Wahoo McDaniel, Baron Von Ratchke, Nick Bockwinkle, Kenny "Sodbuster" Jay, George "Scrap Iron" Gdasky???... Ha! probably butchered enough names.... old memories...

I do, I wonder if gera-speed did anything? bobby hennan was pretty funny with mean gene too. the claw went to school with my dad at north high :Cool:

 

[Tarheelhusker]

Originally it was Vern Gagne’s Gera Speed. Joe must have bought him out.
I think there are 3 looped commercials by ol’ Joe. In this video.

 

[HuskerJack95]

I do, I wonder if gera-speed did anything? bobby hennan was pretty funny with mean gene too. the claw went to school with my dad at north high :Cool:

Not so fast...Baron Von Raschke was from Germany, wasn't he??? Laughing

 

[DonlugoQ]

His son was a US Olympic hockey player in 1988.

 

[Husker.Wed._rivals]

.
Anyone remember the pre- Mean Gene Guy? When I was a kid, there was a guy named Joe Swyback (Zweibeck???) or something like that on the wrestling show. He pimped a product called Gera-speed (???). Anyone remember that? Those were the days of The Crusher, Verne Gagne, Chief Wahoo McDaniel, Baron Von Ratchke, Nick Bockwinkle, Kenny "Sodbuster" Jay, George "Scrap Iron" Gdasky???... Ha! probably butchered enough names.... old memories...

You forgot Reggie Parks and Ali Ben Kan. Can you name the signature moves? The Crusher (100 Megaton Bolo), Gagne (Gung Fu), McDaniel (Tomahawk Chop), Von Ratchke (Claw), Bockwinkle (?), Jay (?), Gadasky (Pile Driver), Parks (Sleeper Hold), Ben Kan (Camel Clutch).

And don't forget the midgets. Cowboy Lang and The Mighty Atom.

 

[Dean Pope]

He was one of the interviewees on HBO's excellent documentary about Andre the Giant. He looked old and not very healthy.

Mean Gene loved his booze. He said in an interview a year or two ago that he enjoyed it and had no intention of quitting.

 

[EATAFAT1]

Mean Gene loved his booze. He said in an interview a year or two ago that he enjoyed it and had no intention of quitting.

There are some good wrestler stories about Gene on Youtube.

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

You forgot Reggie Parks and Ali Ben Kan. Can you name the signature moves? The Crusher (100 Megaton Bolo), Gagne (Gung Fu), McDaniel (Tomahawk Chop), Von Ratchke (Claw), Bockwinkle (?), Jay (?), Gadasky (Pile Driver), Parks (Sleeper Hold), Ben Kan (Camel Clutch).

And don't forget the midgets. Cowboy Lang and The Mighty Atom.

Those were the greatest, sure brings back good memories

 

[Dean Pope]

You forgot Reggie Parks and Ali Ben Kan. Can you name the signature moves? The Crusher (100 Megaton Bolo), Gagne (Gung Fu), McDaniel (Tomahawk Chop), Von Ratchke (Claw), Bockwinkle (?), Jay (?), Gadasky (Pile Driver), Parks (Sleeper Hold), Ben Kan (Camel Clutch).

And don't forget the midgets. Cowboy Lang and The Mighty Atom.

Didn't Bockwinkle use the figure four?

 

[otismotis08]

Didn't Bockwinkle use the figure four?

Greg the hammer Valentine