Mean Gene Okerlund passes away - 76

[Innovator]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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. <a href="https://t.co/DyPiEiVLoV">https://t.co/DyPiEiVLoV</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1080488900890628101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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RIP, best backstage interviewer

[slik]

RIP

[Evil Vito]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :(

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

This sucks. But the man lived hard and lived an incredible life. Mostly upset cuz this means I'm getting way too old.

[Evil Vito]

As much as any commentator, the voice of wrestling for 20-30 years. Just an instantly recognizable face and voice, and never afraid to inject a little personality into proceedings, in stark contrast to modern "my guest at this time" WWE 'interviewers'.

[screech]

Well this sucks :(

[#1-norm-fan]

Damn. One of my favorite overall personalities in wrestling.

[Triple A]

damn...

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

As much as any commentator, the voice of wrestling for 20-30 years. Just an instantly recognizable face and voice, and never afraid to inject a little personality into proceedings, in stark contrast to modern "my guest at this time" WWE 'interviewers'.

Yep. Mean Gene actually knew how to get talent over in 2 minute interview spots. Now we're stuck trying to act like Corey Graves is any good.

[Lock Jaw]

RIP one of the best voices and personalities ever

[Shisen Kopf]

This is old news

https://www.tpwwforums.com/showpost.php?p=4306227&postcount=2

[#1-norm-fan]

As much as any commentator, the voice of wrestling for 20-30 years. Just an instantly recognizable face and voice, and never afraid to inject a little personality into proceedings, in stark contrast to modern "my guest at this time" WWE 'interviewers'.

Definitely. The idea that interviewers should cower in fear of the heels isn’t exactly wrong. But Gene just looking up with a “Don’t you lay your hands on me, pal.” never felt counterproductive to putting the heel over simply because Gene was just that awesome.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Definitely. The idea that interviewers should cower in fear of the heels isn’t exactly wrong. But Gene just looking up with a “Don’t you lay your hands on me, pal.” never felt counterproductive to putting the heel over simply because Gene was just that awesome.

wouldn't have made sense for Gene to be vulnerable and it would have been stupid for any heel to attack him, would have ruined his mystique. I like how every so often he'd just hint at the fact he'd sue them for everything they were worth if they touched him.

[Innovator]

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[Blue Demon]

Damn, another big part of childhood is gone, such a distinctive voice and helped get people over. :'(

[Curtis]

RIP.


Never heard a bad thing about Mean Gene or him being involved in any drama.
One of the most important faces in wrestling history.

[Sixx]

Damn. He was as iconic to me as Hulk Hogan.

RIP, Mean Gene.

[Lock Jaw]

Still loved to hear his voice to this day as part of WWE Story Time. Just the best and most soothing voice ever. Mean Gene was wrestling.

[Shisen Kopf]

Too bad he died. Its a shame the news is only just coming out now

http://s3.amazonaws.com/lemmetweet/tweet/imgs/ZnWIWXaMqsdbgabiRcbIkhwG.jpg20160508-3-144j7yz?1462745894

[Gerard]

Arguably the 3 most recognisable voices of wwe all gone, Gorilla, Bobby and now Gene. :'(

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Everybody's close personal longtime friend. :(

RIP Mean Gene.

[owenbrown]

Not Mean Gene :'(

[Sepholio]

RIP Mean Gene. All time best at what he did. No one even close imo.

[Emperor Smeat]

RIP :(

Think I called up the Mean Gene Hotline once or twice back in the day.

[Shisen Kopf]

Kids, if you wanna know the cause of death call the hotline tonight before 9pm. Get your parents permission and call

https://ringthedamnbell.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/meangenehotline.jpg

[Loose Cannon]

Gene was the best at talking up a PPV to make you think you were making the worst decision of your life by not ordering it lol

[ClockShot]

Read about this while sitting in the parking lot of the movie theatre.

This sucks. Just the best guy ever.

Can't believe the last thing I'm gonna remember him is that Kevin Hart Sprite commercial.

R.I.P.

[Gerard]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mean Gene, what an absolute legend! <a href="https://t.co/PHIzzcr5aF">pic.twitter.com/PHIzzcr5aF</a></p>&mdash; 90s WWE (@90sWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/90sWWE/status/1080537917951537152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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:lol:

[XL]

Well that’s a shitty way to start 2019.

RIP MGO

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/EGzE5B1oEC">pic.twitter.com/EGzE5B1oEC</a></p>&mdash; Moloch-André Fleury (@alex_navarro) <a href="https://twitter.com/alex_navarro/status/1080563999895371776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[rez]

:(

[slik]

Here is a song Mean Gene recorded in the 50s as a teenager


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aCSOS-8MasI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Very sad. It surprises me how young he was. I mean, 76 is a good run, but I dunno, I just think it's weird that when he came out at WrestleMania X-7 he was only 57. I dunno, I guess I haven't thought about it that much. A shame.

[Fignuts]

Wait wtf Super Dave, Daryl Dragon, and Mean Gene all died on the same day at the same age.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh fuck, I didn't know about Bob Einstein. I loved him as the surrogate in Arrested Development. I don't know why you could yourself "Captain & Tenille" when your name is Daryl fucking Dragon, by the way.

Skimming over that on a wrestling board, I did read that as "Super Dragon" though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Also, I think Dave Dragon was the name of Hulk Hogan's in that 3 Ninjas movie. :lol:

[Gerard]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8114381/wwe-mean-gene-okerlund-cause-of-death/

And now Todd Okerlund has told TMZ how his father’s health began to decline last month following a bad fall at home.

Gene suffered multiple broken ribs after tumbling at his house in Florida, according to his son.

He had been in ill health for a number of weeks and his fall only worsened his condition.


Todd says his dad was admitted to a nursing home just days before his death.

And then “Mean” Gene began suffering trouble with his breathing before being rushed to hospital on Wednesday, where he sadly lost his life with his wife Jeanne by his side.



:(

[Damian Rey 2.0]

That is heart wrenching to read

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'm picturing the afterlife today...<br><br>Mean Gene: Gentlemen! Great to see you again after all this time.<br>Monsoon: Welcome, Mean Gene!<br>Heenan: Boy, they're letting anyone in these days...<br>Monsoon: WILL YOU STOP???<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMeanGene?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMeanGene</a></p>&mdash; Frank D (@fdoosey) <a href="https://twitter.com/fdoosey/status/1080518365507141632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Gerard]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/HulkHogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HulkHogan</a> will return to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Raw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Raw</a> THIS MONDAY to honor the late, great <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWE</a> Hall of Famer &quot;Mean&quot; Gene Okerlund! <a href="https://t.co/UiOf3kY4Rl">https://t.co/UiOf3kY4Rl</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1081311726862286849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Not exactly a surprise announcement.

[Black Widow]

Hope he gives a endorsement to that Lars guy just to make the selective outrage crowd cry even more.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I wish black Widow died instead of Gene.

[Black Widow]

I'm so hurt a stranger on the internet that doesn't affect my life in anyway wishes i died.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

what does that have anything to do with it? I still wish you died.

[Evil Vito]

Lol using Okerlund’s death as an excuse to bring back Hogan. Fucking WWE.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

y'know, I'm sure it's not being done with the purest intentions but Gene and Hulk had a huge fondness for one another so its whatever. One of those things people should just let go.

[Bad News Gertner]

I remember seeing Gene a couple weeks back on the Edge and Christian Show and thought he didn't look well.

Gene was an integral part of the expansion. He changed the way they did interviews. He's probably the second most important person to the expansion behind Hogan. Gene was able to adapt to all the different personalities and get the most out of them. They definitely don't make them like Gene anymore.

[Shisen Kopf]

All that plus he was mean. Gotta be mean to make it in rasslin

[Black Widow]

what does that have anything to do with it? I still wish you died.
I'm sure you'll go before me over dosing on Cheetos or Having a heart attack cause you don't like how something was booked.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

It's more likely to be an OD from omelets.

[rez]

Would be nice if they had flair, sting, and some others on hand for tonight as well.