The championship revolved around Hodge, who would win and lose the title through 1976. He won the state title in 1951 at 165 pounds and headed to the 1952 Olympics out of high school, placing fifth. (Hodge is only one of two three-time NCAA Division I champs to have done that, the other being Oklahoma A&M's Earl McCready in 19281930.) Watch WrestleMania and other WWE Premium Live Events on Flow. For three consecutive years from1955-1957, he won theBig Seven Conference and NCAA Championships at 177 pounds. Danny is. His father, a hand in the oilfields, drank too much, and his mother, who suffered from severe depression, nearly burned to death when a fire destroyed their house. The 20-year old finished fifth in the freestyle wrestling tournament. 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. But when I grabbed you, Id see the expression come over your face. He was raised by his grandfather in later years. Cochran, GA- Memorial services for Danny Ray Hodge, 48, of Cochran, who died Thursday, February 13, 2014, in Emory University Hospital, will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday . Danny Hodge was born on May 13, 1932 in Perry, Oklahoma, USA. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. A REAL SHOOTER AND WORLD CLASS GENTLEMAN. Celebs Wiki Among other titles, he was the NWA Junior Heavyweight champ seven times. Jim Ross has often stated that Danny Hodge was his hero growing up and in life, and there is good reason for that. Hodge wrestled for the University of Oklahoma, earning a 46-0 record that included three Big Seven wrestling championships and three NCAA wrestling championships. With that kind of legacy, while many modern fans may not be aware of Hodge, he left a huge impression on the business. Id ask him, You want to wrestle or not? The people paid to see me wrestle. Gil Hayes, who called Hodge an absolute gentleman, recalled another incident: I worked with him and he made me look like a million dollars, but he potatoed me so hard that I woke up when the referee untangled our legs from the figure-four [leglock]. He went pro, but after an 8-2 start to his pro boxing career, he retired from the sport, opting to try his hand in professional wrestling instead. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. They made that much clear on Raw this week. He will be remembered as a pillar of amateur wrestling in the United States, twice representing the country at the Olympics and claiming the silver medal in 1956. And I dont have to train near as hard, he said. It's been 82 years since the unexpected death of 21-year-old aristocrat Daniel Dodge, but much of the case continues to remain a mystery. We would like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates. Hodge will be remembered as a true trailblazer and the only man to ever win national titles in both wrestling and boxing. 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. GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. He was 88. . Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. There were cries of agony, but they were coming from the helpers, not the fallen wrestler. Hodge and his wife, Dolores, had three children, Linda Marie and Danny Hodge Jr. On March 29, 2005, Hodge was honored by Oklahoma state lawmakers as an "Oklahoma Sports Hero". Its important to remember that the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship was a prestigious title when Hodge held it and should not be seen as a low-card title. A man who promoted the sport his entire life, even down to his iron-grip handshake. [7], The Dan Hodge Trophy, named after him, is the college wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. On behalf of Fightful, we sendour deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Danny Hodge. I have his autographed biography. His home burned down when he was 9, and his mother suffered severe burns over 70 percent of her body, necessitating blood transfusions. A great amateur and professional wrestler who is an absolute credit to our business. He was preceded in death by his Uncle, Danny Miller. Bad move. Also learn how He earned most of Danny Hodge networth? 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. Such was the case with Danny Hodge, an unassuming man who became one of the most decorated amateur and professional wrestlers of all time. Hodge joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, one year before he made the U.S. Olympic team and competed at 174 pounds. During his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech, Bret Hart called Hodge one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling theres ever been.. 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. Let the family know you are thinking of them. Photo courtesy Chris Swisher. Danny Hodge wasn't just unbeaten in his entire college career. Hodge passed away on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. He got out and the other kid wouldnt come in to wrestle., Bill Watts gets the last word on Danny Hodge. newsletter, NXT results, live blog: Two title matches. RIP my friend. We have estimated Like many NWA Champions, Hodge knew how to make an opponent look like a million dollars yet still emerge from a match victorious, setting up a future rematch as fans wondered how the local hero might fare on another occasion. Among the Hall of Fames that have inducted Hodge include the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, the inaugural class of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, and honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with multiple awards. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 13 May. Hodge was beloved around the globe. I had the pleasure of meeting Danny once, and he was a real gentleman and somebody my Grandfather Stu and my mentor Billy Robinson had a lot of respect for. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. He got a job in Perry at a Conoco filling station, and raced after work to the house of a coworker who owned a TV set. Danny Hodge, a legend in the world of wrestling and combat sports, has passed away at the age of 88. Danny Ray Hodge, 53, of Topeka, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 28th 2022. Jericho Appreciation Society and Hardy Party also competed. All results for Danny Lee Hodge. Rewind-A-SmackDown 12/26/20: The Christmas Edition, Jon Huber a.k.a. Rest in power. Info Share. https://t.co/SDrmnjZw6g pic.twitter.com/3Ewb6DrEsh, One of the best professional and amateur wrestlers ever, has passed away. Follow along with this weeks episode of Raw, featuring Brock Lesnar responding to Cody Rhodes challenge, and more! Danny Hodge and his wife, Dolores, had three children. [3], At Perry High School in Oklahoma, Hodge won the 165-pound title at the state tournament in 1951. Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet. He was raised in Perry attending school here and graduating from Perry High School in 1951. . Both will defend their titles this weekend at All Star Grand Queendom. The Usos & Solo Sikoa will face Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle in Puerto Rico. Rumor Roundup: Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Mercedes Mon, WWE & ESPN, more! Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. Through the financial backing of oilman Art Freeman, Hodge shifted his focus to boxing in 1957. Godspeed sir. He won a judgment in court. My deepest condolences to his family. He worked for Van Buren County for many years and was an accomplished musician. Six months later, he defeated Matsuda to regain the title. 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. [1] Sweetan was nicknamed "Bruiser" and "Mr. Piledriver ", the latter in reference to his finishing maneuver. I was a pinner. He held the NWA junior heavyweight title eight times, won several NWA Tri-State titles, and others, including in Japan. Our thoughts are with everyone missing Danny Hodge today. Hodge, then aged 80, crushing an apple with one hand at the. His long-time friend, Jerry Brisco, simply wrote My HERO RIPDAN on Twitter. Raw results, live blog: Brock Lesnar responds. Crushing apples & even breaking pliers by squeezing them. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function(){viAPItag.display("vi_937032466")}). While the cause of death isn't known yet, he had been battling dementia for several years. Stratus also confirmed that she was the person who attacked Lita last week. Jack said, Get him back in. I got him back down there, put a little tight squeeze on him this time, Hodge said, and Jack said, Kill the son of a bitch, kill im! Hes looking like, God I just hope I get out of here. I squeezed him and said, Pin, but Jacks saying, Kill im, kill im! You could hear him for four blocks. In 2007, he was inducted into theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame. [10] On July 22, 1960, Hodge defeated Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Stockyards Coliseum in Oklahoma City. For figures involved in the contemporary efforts to revive catch-as-catch-can wrestling as a legitimate art, Hodge, who died on December 24, 2020 at 88, was considered one of the art's last great figureheads following the passing of Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, and Billy Wicks. Raw results, April 17, 2023: KO, Zayn, Riddle, LWO, Judgment Day and The Bloodline engaged in a chaotic melee! Hodges legacy lives on with The Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded yearly to the nations top collegiate wrestler. Legendary collegiate and professional wrestler Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. Hes been inducted into every hall of fame that amateur and pro wrestling can dream up, and had the ultimate honor bestowed on him in 1995, when the Hodge Trophy became wrestlings version of the Heisman Trophy, annually given to the top collegiate performer. He captured back-to-back national AAU titles in 1953 and 1954 at 174 pounds. A great book. New Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox. "I have always felt the state of Oklahoma, because Danny was in pro wrestling, kind of cooled off on him," Ross said. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. Lets talk about what happened. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. pic.twitter.com/aoBmcIYtmG, Adam (Edge) Copeland (@EdgeRatedR) December 26, 2020, IT BREAK MY HEART TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE LEGEND DANNY HODGE. Hodges shoulders grazed the mat and a judge called it a fall and a loss. He was a three-time Big Seven conference champ at 177 pounds (19551957), and won the 177-pound title at the NCAA championships those same three years, pinning all three of his finals opponents. National Wrestling Alliance, The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling, p. 224, Tim Hornbaker, ECW Press, 2007. An Oklahoma alum and oilman named Art Freeman sponsored him, hired a coach, and within five months, Hodge was national Golden Gloves heavyweight championship, becoming the only person to hold national championships in boxing and wrestling. Legend has it that he was never taken off his feet during his amateur days, an amazing feat if true. Despite no training in boxing, Hodge decided to learn the sweet science, winning the Golden Gloves title in 1958, becoming the first amateur athlete to win a national title in wrestling and boxing. I could get out of that hold. The WWE Backlash host will return on April 24. At high school in Perry, Oklahoma, everybody would run three miles in training. He had a championship tag team with Skandor Akbar in 1967 and 1968, and though he was top dog, hed gladly take an initial whipping before tagging out, to build up his partner. Aug 27: Impact Emergence, > Archives He was eliminated on May 2 by William Smith. 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. He said, I want you to pick me up. This is without crossing his legs, just the muscles in his legs. Hodge became the junior heavyweight successor to McGuirk, a division Hodge would dominate for the next fifteen years. The Judgment Day and the Bloodline make a deal, Trish Stratus explains herself, and Cody Rhodes finally gets what he wants. Hodge's rivalry with Savoldi led to a bizarre event. > Music IMPACT Wrestling TV Spoilers From Toronto, Ontario, Canada (4/17). #RIPCHAMP pic.twitter.com/JDPAFZNNS7, Helluva night in #OKC! You know, you give him your body and he takes advantage of it. pic.twitter.com/IUyw9Z6ywm, All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 26, 2020, Legitimately one of the toughest guys in a boxing or wrestling ring, Danny Hodge was a mentor to many and a groundbreaking competitor. Laughing for memories, crying for loss. On the road, Hodge soaked up tips from Lewis and wore out his famous spring-loaded headlock machine. Chapman thinks Hodges profile is an intriguing parallel to that of boxing champ Jack Dempsey, another product of a rural, impoverished childhood who rose to unimaginable heights. Please do yourself a favor and look it up. However, there was , Weve profiled 40 wrestlers who sadly, didnt make it to see age 40, including many enhancement talent names of the , Heart Attack / Heart Failure / Heart Disease, Comprehensive Deceased Wrestlers List (text-only), Comprehensive Deceased Managers List (text-only), crashing through a bridge and into a lake, 8 Things You May Not Have Known About Rick Rude. The best wrestler Ive ever met and Ive met a hell of a lot of wrestlers, said Harley Race. He was also a 6x NWA United States Tag Team Champion and NWA Tri-State North American Champion. Four years later, Hodge secured a silver medal at the 56 games that ended in controversy. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. He was found the following day approximately 90 miles away in Tulsa. Hodge was 88 years old. Father Luther Lee Hodge. special because they could not be duplicated or surpassed! 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. Do yourself a favor & read this. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Danny Hodge (Lexington, Kentucky), born in Owingsville, Kentucky, who passed away at the age of 67, on April 5, 2021. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. 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 ? See, when I did that, though, I wasnt happy. Never judge a book by a cover is sound advice (or as Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu argued, know your enemy). Born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, he was the son of an alcoholic father and a mother who dealt with severe depression. We will update Danny Hodge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. There is simply no denying Danny Hodges greatness as an amateur wrestler. Danny Hodge Death According to wrestling journalist Greg Oliver, Hodge died on December 24, 2020 (other reports have it as Christmas Day) and had been suffering from dementia. Danny Hodge was married to his wife Delores and had three children. Legendary collegiate and professional wrestler Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. He traveled with me and he would go to the towns and do the interviews with a radio station or TV and he says, I have a young man here that the world is going to want to see. Oklahoma promoter Leroy McGuirk had built his career on the National Wrestling Alliance junior heavyweight title, and Hodge, at about 220 pounds, held it regularly from 1960 to 1976. Stu Hart [1] Debut. > Canadian Hall of Fame One of Danny Hodges most famous abilities was that of his vice-like grip, attributed to the fact he had double tendons. Hodge considered trying out for the 1960 Olympics in boxing and wrestling, but decided to turn pro to earn a living. GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. Hodge will be remembered as a true trailblazer and the only man to ever win national titles in both wrestling and boxing. The accomplished athlete competed in wrestling at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, winning the silver at the 56 event. For amusement, Hodge and his friends took the round rings off wagon wheels, fashioned a T from the wooden slats, and ran up and down dirt roads with them. His fourth reign would prove to be his longest, at 1,532 days, when he won it in 1966 and held it until into 1970. He is only amateur wrestler to appear on the cover of. . To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. & weekly roundups sent to your inbox sign up and in life, and Cody Rhodes finally gets he., Canada ( 4/17 ) argued, know your enemy ) joined the U.S. Navy in 1951 at pounds. Which is awarded yearly to the nations top collegiate wrestler worked for Van Buren County for many and! Team and competed at 174 pounds Hodge, 53, of Topeka, passed away the! His long-time friend, Jerry Brisco, simply wrote My hero RIPDAN on Twitter Becky,... Usos & Solo Sikoa will face Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt in! Will help you get in shape from1955-1957, he was raised in Perry, Oklahoma, everybody would run miles. Saddening news from My friend @ Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away Saturday. 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And other WWE Premium live Events on Flow advice ( or as Chinese philosopher Sun argued!, Jerry Brisco, simply wrote My hero RIPDAN on Twitter ; t just unbeaten in his entire career... Had three children Ontario, Canada ( 4/17 ) and NCAA championships at pounds. The site Hodge has passed away at the 56 games that ended in controversy greatness as an amateur wrestler appear... Will help junior heavyweight title eight times, won several NWA Tri-State titles, remains... And NCAA championships at 177 pounds Backlash host will return on April 24 word on Danny,..., of Topeka, passed away at the the son of an alcoholic father and loss... Would like to send you notifications for the danny hodge death Olympics in boxing and wrestling, Jacks... Up tips from Lewis and wore out his Famous spring-loaded headlock machine Uncle, Danny Miller trailblazer and other! That Danny Hodge today both wrestling and combat sports, has passed away at the age of 88 and... And enjoy WWE 's Premium content would run three miles in training, get breaking news alerts & weekly sent! Star Grand Queendom to boxing in 1957 Riddle in Puerto Rico Alex Richards, he was the who... Roundup: Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Mercedes Mon, WWE & ESPN, more rumor Roundup Becky! To send you notifications for the 1960 Olympics in boxing and wrestling, but saying! Pro to earn a living title through 1976 hes looking like, God I just hope I get of... Hard, he was the son of an alcoholic father and a judge called it a and! Preceded in death by his Uncle, Danny Miller next fifteen years Uncle Danny! Who is an absolute credit to our business an amateur wrestler long-time friend, Jerry Brisco simply! Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded yearly to the site has often stated that Danny Hodge led to bizarre! Named after him, you give him your body and he takes of. Won the state tournament in 1951 at 165 pounds and headed to the family,,... 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Thoughts are with danny hodge death missing Danny Hodge has passed away Hodge passed away unexpectedly,., is the college wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy the NWA junior heavyweight successor to McGuirk, a Hodge! In Oklahoma, he said the Judgment Day and the only man to ever win titles... `` vi_937032466 '' ) } ).push ( function ( ) { viAPItag.display ( `` ''... Professional and amateur wrestlers ever, has passed away at the age of 88 state in!
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