Hodge would tie you up. 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. Hackney. [13] In 2007, he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Danny Hodge with the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship belt. The car flipped, and the crash broke his neck and shattered his teeth upon impact. I wanted to be happy for me., There wasnt a lot of happiness in his childhood. pic.twitter.com/BsdnvXmGyt, The great DANNY HODGE has passed awayTuff as nails.. Leave a sympathy message to the . If you do just what the coach says, thats fine. I have never met anyone more thankful, humble and kind than my grandfather. Obituary of Danny Hodge Spencer- Mr. Danny Joe Hodge, age 64, of Spencer, passed away Monday, December 4, 2017, unexpectedly at his home. IMPACT Wrestling TV Spoilers From Toronto, Ontario, Canada (4/17). [5] At the Melbourne Olympics freestyle middleweight, he won the silver medal, losing the final to Bulgarian Nikola Stanchev. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc, William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 26, 2020. Please enter a valid email and try again. Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle; Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); He can be emailed at goliver845@gmail.com, you can follow him on Twitter @gregmep, and visit www.oliverbooks.ca. July 15: Impact Slammiversary A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 3 PM Sunday, September 12, 2021. at Myers Funeral Home. pic.twitter.com/aoBmcIYtmG, IT BREAK MY HEART TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE LEGEND DANNY HODGE. 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. In later years, he served as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission that oversaw combat sports including MMA in the state. [12] On September 1, 1983, Hodge returned to the ring facing against SWCW USA Junior Heavyweight Champion Eric Embry which Embry won. > Collectibles Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. https://t.co/SZyZXTSVYi, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. . Jul 1: Money in the Bank Something went wrong. He won a judgment in court. He transitioned to the world of professional wrestling, debuting in 1959 after being trained byLeroy McGuirkandEd "Strangler" Lewis. New Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox. Hodge was an acclaimed collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, where he went a perfect 46-0. He was also blessed to have Delores, his earth angel as his wife. The Dan Hodge Trophy is presented to the NCAAs best college wrestler each year. National Wrestling Hall of Famer Danny Hodge died in his hometown of Perry, OK, on Dec. 24. He retired on July 9, 1959.[5]. May 28: NXT Battleground His home burned down when he was 9, and his mother suffered severe burns over 70 percent of her body, necessitating blood transfusions. The prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy is named after Hodge and recognizes the nations top collegiate wrestler. Info Share. He was raised by his grandfather in later years. The Oklahoma natives highly decorated career included recognition as a three-time NCAA Champion, Olympic silver medalist, National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, and eight-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Hodge could squeeze apples until they burst into bits and break steel pliers with his gifted double-tendon strength. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. He said his strength was due to having double tendons in his hands. You are welcome to share your memories or photo, (Donations can be made in his memory to the Perry Wrestling Moment Park.). [4], His reputation as a high school wrestler preceded him when he joined the US Navy in 1951. [6] Going into May 1956 wrestling trials for US Olympic team, Hodge was middleweight favorite. He got out and the other kid wouldnt come in to wrestle., Bill Watts gets the last word on Danny Hodge. You see what Im saying? https://t.co/SDrmnjZw6g pic.twitter.com/3Ewb6DrEsh, One of the best professional and amateur wrestlers ever, has passed away. Hodge was a gentle, God-fearing, family-loving man outside the ring. [21] He made fewer appearances in public as it was announced that he suffered from dementia in his later years, starting in 2018.[22]. A great book. 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. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. i very enjoyed!big smile, hug, and hard shakehand,i never forget your memory,sadR.I.P. Duke Myers tale is set on a stage in Shreveport, Louisiana, where, at the champs request, he put his open, flat hand between Hodges legs. Danny Hodge has taken the 3 count. 1966 (Kansas City) [2] Retired. 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. Perry-bred. Danny Hodge. 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.. The young man drowned during his Manitoulin Island honeymoon, after an accidental explosion forced the wedding party to attempt to flee to a hospital by boat. 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. The accomplished athlete competed in wrestling at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, winning the silver at the 56 event. This man was my hero.my everything! Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving . A great amateur and professional wrestler who is an absolute credit to our business. After all, who would expect an 80-year-old man to be capable of crushing an apple with one hand? Photo by Joyce Paustian. He was also a 6x NWA United States Tag Team Champion and NWA Tri-State North American Champion. Hodge passed away on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. Rest in Peace Sir! Danny Hodge was born on May 13, 1932 in Perry, Oklahoma, USA. 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. SmackDown results, April 14, 2023: Solo Sikoa unleashes a brutal post-match attack on Matt Riddle, WWE NXT results, April 11, 2023: Grayson Waller wins Fatal-4 Way to face Carmelo Hayes at Spring Breakin', Roman Reigns survives Cody Rhodes with controversial victory at WrestleMania, The Bloodline vs. Matt Riddle rivalry history, Liv Morgans most outrageous moments: WWE Top 10, April 13, 2023. Skandor Akbar and Danny Hodge. RIP dear friend! He was famous for the ability to crush apples with one hand,[1] a feat which he demonstrated live on ESPN during the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships. From speaking to him youd never know all that he accomplished. Rest In Peace, Danny. So, how much is Danny Hodge worth at the age of 88 years old? [2], Daniel Allen Hodge was born on May 13, 1932. Raw results, live blog: Brock Lesnar responds. Hodge married his wife Dolores in 1951 and the couple had three children. While wrestling at 177 pounds for the Olympics, he would have fought at welterweight, and given how quickly he picked up boxing to add to his world-class wrestling foundation, he would have been well served for success several decades later. Earlier today, William Regal reflected on Hodges incredible career and friendship in a social media post. He finished his amateur career with 17 wins, no losses and 12 KO's. Truly legendary. special because they could not be duplicated or surpassed! And I dont have to train near as hard, he said. Rest in Peace Sir!--#RIPDannyHodge pic.twitter.com/LyMkSETKtF. Hodge became McGuirk's principal headliner, and by 1962, Hodge was making upwards of $80,000 a year. Mother Mary Lee Smith. 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. Amateur and professional wrestling legend Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. 1974 He was an actor, known for The Wrestler (1974), WWE Raw (1993) and Wednesday Night Fights (1955). Hodge is the only amateur wrestler to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Raw results, April 17, 2023: KO, Zayn, Riddle, LWO, Judgment Day and The Bloodline engaged in a chaotic melee! Legendary Oklahoma wrestler Danny Hodge has died at the age of 88. No BS. 3010 North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN DANNY HODGE OBITUARY Danny Hodge's passing has been publicly announced by Serenity of Cleveland Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cleveland, TN.. Hodge submitted to Don The Spoiler Jardines claw hold one night in Shreveport, and ringside attendants carried him to the dressing room. Hodge passed away in his native Perry, Oklahoma on December 24th. Hodge wrestled for the University of Oklahoma, earning a 46-0 record that included three Big Seven wrestling championships and three NCAA wrestling championships. He also served as the chairman of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, which regulates all combat sports in the state. In eighth grade, Hodge found he had a knack for wrestling. 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]. 00:25. very entertaining! Sign up for Peacock to watch. How do we create a person's profile? I was a pinner. My heart goes out to his wife Delores & family. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. The best wrestler Ive ever met and Ive met a hell of a lot of wrestlers, said Harley Race. 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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. The only people that ever had trouble with him were maybe the people that didnt respect him. Fifty years later, hes still waiting for the check. Bad move. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. You know, you give him your body and he takes advantage of it. Never judge a book by a cover is sound advice (or as Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu argued, know your enemy). While the cause of death isn't known yet, he had been battling dementia for several years. The injuries sustained in the accident caused his retirement from professional wrestling. I always loved talking to him. "Danny Hodge was a legend in Japan. What a shame. Robert Carson (born Robert Beier, July 4, 1940 - February 10, 2017 [1] ), better known by his ring name Bob Sweetan, was a Canadian professional wrestler. > Obituary Archive 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. The Oklahoma native held national titles in wrestling and boxing and was a three-time NCAA Champion while also winning a silver medal in the Olympics. His grip in his prime was near mythical, allegedly because he had double tendons. He showed me the leverage of the headlock, Hodge explained. WWE is saddened to learn that Danny Hodge passed away today at age88. [15], Danny won the 1958 Chicago Golden Gloves at Heavyweight, then won a Chicago-NY Intercity bout in October, beating Charley Hood. There is a statue in his honor in Perry, Oklahoma, unveiled in 2016. Hodges legacy lives on with The Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded yearly to the nations top collegiate wrestler. He was Mr. Wrestling in Oklahoma. Episode 111 of Elevation is a wrap! Hodge went a perfect 46-0 in college at OU winning three. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Go with God my friend as you will be remembered with much Love & respect , FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Official Statement on the passing of Danny Hodge pic.twitter.com/EKKRDZ0oQ9, I'm honored to have known the greatest American wrestler ever. I put more in, I get more out; you see what I am saying? Laughing for memories, crying for loss. Theres the gentleman side to him, the modest side, and the I want people to like me side. People dont know what its like growing up in the atmosphere like this. [10], Hodge was a perennial NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, holding the title eight times for a total of over ten years, longer than anyone else. Godspeed sir. [5] As a professional, he had a reported record of 82, although only 7 wins have been documented. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodges passing. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hodge after a show in Oklahoma years ago and was fortunate enough to experience the infamous handshake. Truly legendary. His family had no ice box and he had no boots, just gunny sacks wrapped around his feet, tightened with baling wire. 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. , know your enemy ) i have never met anyone more thankful, humble and kind than my grandfather for... Learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy acclaimed collegiate wrestler learning tree wrestler to ever on... All, who would expect an 80-year-old danny hodge death to be capable of crushing an apple with hand. Of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodges passing today at age88 or! 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