RIP Ox Baker.
He had such a great look for pro wrestling. I've heard he was also one of the nicest guys ever.
His Heart Punch got over for a good reason - On June 13, 1971, Ox and his partner the Claw were wrestling in an AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship tag team match against Alberto Torres and his partner Cowboy Bob Ellis in Verdigre, Nebraska. Torres was injured during the match and died three days later. Though evidence indicated that Torres died of a ruptured appendix, Baker's Heart Punch was blamed and, though by his own account Baker was privately distraught over the death, he did "work" it as though he had killed Torres.
On August 1, 1972, in Savannah, Georgia Baker faced Ray Gunkel, who was a popular wrestler in (and part owner of) the Georgia promotion. Though it was claimed that Gunkel dropped dead in the ring from the Heart Punch, other accounts, most notably in the biography of Vince McMahon Sex, Lies and Headlocks, state that Gunkel had suffered a heart attack apparently from over-indulging at a restaurant before the match. The truth is that Gunkel won the match and died in the dressing room after the match.
In both cases, Baker was "blamed" for the death.
Him and Ronnie Garvin were involved in one of my favorite angles.
-Ronnie stomped on Ox's dentures
Here's Ox Baker's full appearance on the Price Is Right
Ox started a riot in Cleveland circa 1974 when he relentlessly heart punched another wrestler.