George "the Animal" Steele dead at 79

[JimmyMess]

http://heavy.com/sports/2017/02/george-the-animal-steele-dead-age-real-name-wife-family-pay-myers-cause-of-death/

Wrestlers are just dropping everywhere!

RIP

[Shisen Kopf]

His fued with the Macho Man was PrettyCool. RIP you hairy bastard

[#1-norm-fan]

Damn. I was just watching a shoot with him a few days ago and thought "He looked pretty old in the 80's but he doesn't look bad now."

[#1-norm-fan]

Steady diet of turnbuckles finally caught up to him.

[Black Widow]

RIP.

He always annoyed me though.

[Bad News Gertner]

Very sad. George was a hell of a character. They definitely don't make them like George anymore. Hall of fame high school football coach in Michigan too.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

RIP

One of the all time great characters. Also was a teacher in his real life.

[Jordan]

RIP George, totally a Legend. Not a great "worker" but very entertaining and very over, great worker in that regard.

[Emperor Smeat]

RIP

[Bad News Gertner]

RIP George, totally a Legend. Not a great "worker" but very entertaining and very over, great worker in that regard.

I thought he was a great worker. He's schtick was over like Rover.

[Bad News Gertner]

George Steele was returning to the WWF in 1981 and the company wanted to get over how dangerous his Flying Hammerlock finisher was. So they brought in Rick Bolton who could pop out his shoulder. You have to see the finish. What a way to get a move over.


1Raenc8wb7k

[Sepholio]

Damnit man. RIP.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Win...Elizabeth? Bye bye.

[Lock Jaw]

RIP

I remember as a kid being "weirded out" by his look, but that his antics and persona were enjoyable to me.

He is also good in the movie Ed Wood

[Rammsteinmad]

Didn't even realize he was still alive tbh.

Aw well RIP.

[Emperor Smeat]

PWI had a story about his origins in wrestling and basically it was all because of a drinking binge he had with friends one time and finding out he could make more money with wrestling than his job at the time.

Also originally wrestled with a mask because he didn't want people to find out he was still a local school teacher.

George Steele, of course, wasn't really an animal or even a George. He was William James Myers, best known as Jim Myers among his friends and for most of his life, he was a coach and teacher who was bouncing on the side in Michigan. One night, he and his friend were drinking and the friend suggested, for the umpteenth time that Steele should be a pro wrestler. After being relayed a story about how much money Killer Kowalski allegedly made, they tracked down a local wrestling promoter in Michigan named Bert Ruby. Steele met with Ruby and according to Steele's 2013 autobiography Animal, Ruby opened the door, took one look and said "Beautiful." Steele was soon training under Gino Brito and wrestling under a mask to hide his identity as a school teacher - oddly enough also the plot of 1980s pro wrestling syndicated sitcom Learning The Ropes, which starred Lyle Alzado and featured a ton of Jim Crockett Promotions talents.

[Bad News Gertner]

George made a video to be released when he passed. Very sad and amazing.

Tcc1BNir33A

[DAMN iNATOR]

Very sad. George was a hell of a character. They definitely don't make them like George anymore. Hall of fame high school football coach in Michigan too.

And most importantly of all, a former Michigan State Spartan. RIP. :'(

[Bobholly138]

George Steele was in the first match I remember seeing. RIP sir.