Legendary Pro Wrestling Announcer Okerlund Passes Away at 76
Wednesday, January 02, 2019
GoLocalPDX Sports Team
Mean Gene Okerlund |
It is unclear how he died.
"WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Gene Okerlund, the most recognizable interviewer in sports-entertainment history, has passed away at age 76,” said the WWE in a statement.
According to TMZ, Okerlund had health problems dating back several years including two kidney transplants, the first of which took place in 1995 and the second in 2004.
About Okerlund
Okerlund began his career as a radio DJ back in Nebraska before taking a job with the American Wrestling Association in 1970.
From there, he joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early 1980s where he started out as a wrestler before becoming an announcer.
As a wrestler, one of his most famous moments came in 1984 when he pinned Mr. Fuji in a tag team match with Hulk Hogan.
Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.