Legends of the territories: Danny Hodge (left) with Eddie Graham, outside the Sportatorium in Dallas. You cant even imagine my thoughts. No apple stood a chance in his hands!! March 2, 1976: He defeated Hiro Matsuda to win his sixth NWA World Jr . Matsuda eventually faced Hodge again and lost, where Hodge defeated him for the championship on March 2, 1976. Jun 25: AEW Forbidden Door The family will receive visitors beginning at 1 PM Sunday. Rest in power. You know, you give him your body and he takes advantage of it. Hard to believe that my boyhood hero, riding partner, and mentor, the great #DannyHodge has passed away. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. Lesnar vs. Rhodes is indeed happening at Backlash. You would respect him one way or another, he would get your respect. [5] In his professional boxing debut, he scored a first-round knockout victory over Norm Jackson. As a collegiate wrestler for the University of Oklahoma, Hodge was undefeated at 460, with 36 pins and reportedly was never taken off his feet during his collegiate career. Rest in power. Our thoughts are with everyone missing Danny Hodge today. There is a statue in his honor in Perry, Oklahoma, unveiled in 2016. The collegiate wrestling equivalent of footballs Heisman trophy is named for him. [10] On July 22, 1960, Hodge defeated Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Stockyards Coliseum in Oklahoma City. Discover Danny Hodge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. And you cant do that until you get in shape. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, he was well ahead of a Bulgarian opponent with a gold medal within his sights when the two became entangled. > Photo Galleries
After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. People dont realize how strong that guy is., Jerry Briscos story is as a kid in Oklahoma, where he snuck into a gym and crawled through the rafters for a chance to see his hero. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc, William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 26, 2020. Brodie Lee passes away after battling lung issue. His mat wrestling brought to him to two Olympics Games he placed 5th in Finland in 1952 but captured the Silver Medal in 1956 in Australia. Hodge's rivalry with Savoldi led to a bizarre event. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Stacy Ewy Wilson, Hodge's granddaughter,shared the news on Facebook this morning, writing the following: Danny Hodge, my amazing Grandfather, passed away on Christmas Eve. Hodge joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, one year before he made the U.S. Olympic team and competed at 174 pounds. [11] Mantell eventually lost the title to Hiro Matsuda, Hodge's rival. [2], Daniel Allen Hodge was born on May 13, 1932. Here is Danny Hodge's obituary. [20], Hodge died at the age of 88 on December 24, 2020. We are sad to announce that on January 21, 2021 we had to say goodbye to Danny Hodge of Chandler, Oklahoma. Professional wrestling has seen some incredible amateur wrestlers make the transition to the pros, but few with as decorated a wrestling background as Danny Hodge. [6] Going into May 1956 wrestling trials for US Olympic team, Hodge was middleweight favorite. For three consecutive years from1955-1957, he won theBig Seven Conference and NCAA Championships at 177 pounds. The native of Perry, Oklahoma died earlier this week, although no cause of death has been revealed. Legendary wrestler Danny Hodge has died During his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech, Bret Hart called Hodge 'one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling there's ever been.' By Sean Rueter @s1rude Dec 26, 2020, 3:25pm EST Danny Hodge's list of accomplishments is remarkable. Such was the case with Danny Hodge, an unassuming man who became one of the most decorated amateur and professional wrestlers of all time. Danny Hodge is gone to be with the Lord. Truly legendary. He was eliminated on May 2 by William Smith. There is simply no denying Danny Hodges greatness as an amateur wrestler. Hodge's father entered the ring during a boxing match on May 27, 1960, between Hodge and Savoldi, and stabbed Savoldi with a penknife. [12] On September 1, 1983, Hodge returned to the ring facing against SWCW USA Junior Heavyweight Champion Eric Embry which Embry won. Danny Hodge became a mainstay in McGuirks NWA Tri-State territory (that encompassed Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and became Mid-South in 1979), as well as competing in other NWA territories such as Sam Muchniks St. Louis Club, Ed McLemores Southwest Sports in Texas (better known as WCCW in the 1980s), and Cowboy Luttralls Championship Wrestling From Florida. pic.twitter.com/hM99cY8fYE, Ted DiBiase (@MDMTedDiBiase) December 26, 2020, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodges passing. https://t.co/Svv9MmeMLU, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. > The Artist Canvas
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. The 20-year old finished fifth in the freestyle wrestling tournament. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. Hold your neck. How he managed to hold his head in place and get out of the car, well, only God knows how that, Hodge said. The injuries sustained in the accident caused his retirement from professional wrestling. When he handed me the belt, I had almost tears in my eyes. [11] Once again regaining the title a few months later, Hodge found himself as an ex-champion again when he eventually faced "Nature Boy" Roger Kirby. With that kind of legacy, while many modern fans may not be aware of Hodge, he left a huge impression on the business. See, when I did that, though, I wasnt happy. He remains the only amateur wrestler to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. He didnt tell wife Dolores that he changing gears to wrestle, but shed been with him since their school daysthey married in 1951and had no quarrels. Hodge became McGuirk's principal headliner, and by 1962, Hodge was making upwards of $80,000 a year. Never judge a book by a cover is sound advice (or as Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu argued, know your enemy). Hodge became the junior heavyweight successor to McGuirk, a division Hodge would dominate for the next fifteen years. Thats Danny Hodge up there, I know, but man, thats a five hundred pound bear! Little did I know that fifteen years later when I was in the ring with him, Id know why the bear was screaming., Jerry Brisco learns not to shake the hand of Danny Hodge in 2014 at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction ceremony (its the posthumous induction plaque for Wilbur Snyder). In total, Hodge was a seven-time NWA junior heavyweight champion, defeating Angelo Savoldi for his first championship on July 22, 1960. I wanted to be happy for me., There wasnt a lot of happiness in his childhood. No apple stood a chance in his hands!! Thirteen days later, Hodge was involved in a near-fatal car wreck that left the stars neck broken as he carried his head in place to safety, avoiding death but ending his career. Perry-bred. Mike Chapman, the Iowa author and wrestling historian who worked with him on his biography, Oklahoma Shooter: The Dan Hodge Story, recalled how the normally agreeable Hodge got very direct when talking about the beatings he endured as a youth. Here is Danny Hodge's obituary. Hodge picked cotton and plucked chickens in his early years. #RIPCHAMP pic.twitter.com/JDPAFZNNS7, Helluva night in #OKC! Dave Meltzer will have more on Hodge's life and career later today. Mother Wilma Dean Meadows. 1985. The only reason I got my hand out was because he loosened it up. If you didnt challenge him, hed find a way to make you, as Sputnik Monroe learned when he won the junior heavyweight belt from Hodge in 1970. Hold your neck. He can still hear the voice today. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been amended to fix the date of Hodges passing to December 24, 2020. Our loss, Heavens gain. I always loved talking to him. pic.twitter.com/hM99cY8fYE, Well saddened to hear the news today of Danny Hodge passing away. His career ended in 1976 after a car accident nearly cost him his life. Hodge got top billing from the start and a helping hand from Ed Strangler Lewis, the great champ who saw him on TV and asked if to help manage him. https://t.co/SZyZXTSVYi, AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary hall of fame wrestler Danny Hodge, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. The list of 24 honorees includes the likes of Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Bruno Sammartino. . Hodge is the only amateur wrestler to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But when I grabbed you, Id see the expression come over your face. [11] He held the belt for several months until he lost it to Lorenzo Parente; they both continuously lost and regained the title in the span of a year during their feud. WWE is saddened to learn that Danny Hodge passed away today at age88. special because they could not be duplicated or surpassed! Amateur and professional wrestling legend Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. While its been debated how certain legendary tough men would have fared if MMA existed, its almost a guarantee that Hodge would have tried it, if the sport was around in the late 50s or early 60s. But when that bell goes ding, something happened to Dempsey and something happened to Dan Hodge, Chapman said. He made frequent world tours but, devoted to his home life, primarily spent his time in the brutally sprawling McGuirk territory, from Oklahoma City and Joplin, Missouri to the Louisiana bayous and the Mississippi Delta. If Id squawk to the referee, hed say he was just trying to make it look real, Monroe said in 1997 in Scott Teals Whatever Happened to ? 03/02. He finished his amateur career with 17 wins, no losses and 12 KO's. [18][19], Hodge is also the subject of four books written by Mike Chapman: Two Guys Named Dan (Hodge and Dan Gable, 1976), The Toughest Men in Sports (1984), Legends of the Mat (2006) and Oklahoma Shooter: the Dan Hodge Story (2009). Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam From speaking to him youd never know all that he accomplished. From speaking to him youd never know all that he accomplished. I have his autographed biography. They get him back up the steps to the back of the stage behind the curtain, and they are absolutely tormented and in anguish. Backstage, Bill Watts dressed down the playful Hodge, but found himself on the receiving end when Hodge snatched off a hot water faucet, leaving Watts to shower in the cold. Hodge was renowned for his technical skills and traveled the world, competing in Japan and other wrestling hotspots outside the United States. 1974 He was an actor, known for The Wrestler (1974), WWE Raw (1993) and Wednesday Night Fights (1955). RIP Danny Hodge. Pound for pound, there wasnt anybody in the business that could stay with him. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. His eyes narrowed and he glared at me and he said, Mike, I made up my mind that I was never going to lose a fight again, ever, Chapman said. He is in both the U.S. amateur wrestling Hall of Fame, for his three NCAA titles and Olympic silver medal, and the pro wrestling Hall of Fame, as a seven-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. STILLWATER, Okla. - Dan Hodge, a Distinguished Member inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Charter Class of 1976, passed away on Thursday, at the age of 88. While the cause of death isn't known yet, he had been battling dementia for several years. Wichita Falls, TX - 4-H Arena. He said, I want you to pick me up. This is without crossing his legs, just the muscles in his legs. Dan Allen Hodge, 88, of Perry has gone to heaven. They made that much clear on Raw this week. [11], On March 5, 1976, and just three days after defeating rival Matsuda for the championship, Hodge was driving his car when he fell asleep at the wheel causing him to crash through a bridge and into a lake. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. DANNY BUBBA YOU WERE AS GOOD IN THE RING AS IT GETS AND AN EVEN BETTER FRIEND OUTSIDE OF THE RING. [14] WWE Hall of Famer and seven-time world champion Bret Hart has referred to Hodge as "one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling theres ever been",[15] and described being in the same room as Hodge at the 2008 National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum's award ceremony as "a big, big honor for me". A man who promoted the sport his entire life, even down to his iron-grip handshake. A consummate competitor in the ring, WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart referred to Hodge as one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling theres ever been. Hodge returned for two appearances on Raw in 2005 and 2012. Hodge went a perfect 46-0 in college at OU winning three. In addition to his collegiate wrestling career, Hodge also won three Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships in freestyle wrestling, as well as winning one in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1956 at 174 pounds. City & Area Directories. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. Perry, OK., is a very small town but known for their amateur wrestling. Great Bolo (Al Lovelock) W (2-1) retained NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. Edit Search New Search Jump to Filters. Hodge passed away in his native Perry, Oklahoma on December 24th. He was a 3-time NCAA champion and won his college the 1957 team title. I was privileged to get to know Danny personally when I got into pro-wrestling. Leroy McGuirk, the promoter in our area teamed me with Danny often, and Hodge took me under his wing and yes, he loved to pull pranks, so I got my share. By Ryan Droste - December 27, 2020 10:54 am EST. Godspeed sir. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. Long considered one of the toughest men in the sport, Hodges amateur and professional accomplishments were lauded by anyone who followed his career, including fellow Oklahoman Jim Ross. . April 14, 2021. 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