• OLD SCHOOL HISTORY (August 1, 2002) – WWE SmackDown!
On this day in 2002, World Wrestling Entertainment aired another episode of their weekly TV show ‘WWE SmackDown!’.
This episode was pre-taped at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina and featured matches, interviews & storyline segments on the road to the ‘WWE SummerSlam 2002’ PPV.
Here’s the card:
1. Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri
2. Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Henry
3. Hulk Hogan vs. Kurt Angle
4. Rikishi vs. D-Von Dudley
5. John Cena vs. Rico
6. The Rock & Edge vs. Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero
• Hulk Hogan, WWE, AEW & More React To Harley Race’s Death
As we noted earlier, WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race passed away at the age of 76.
Harley was dealing with lung cancer and was recently hospitalized. He was scheduled to appear at the Knoxville Fan Expo last weekend, but he couldn’t make the appearance as he was in the hospital.
Below are Harley’s major accomplishments in Pro-Wrestling:
– 8x NWA World Heavyweight Champion
– WWF King of the Ring (1986)
– 1x NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
– 3x AWA World Tag Team Champion
– NWA Hall of Fame
– WCW Hall of Fame
– WWE Hall of Fame
Today at 12:50, we lost the man that fought up until the very last of his existence. More information will be released soon, but just know that he loved pro-wrestling and the fans that loved him.
Harley Race, we love you
— Harley Race (@8XNWAChampion) August 1, 2019
R.I.P Harley Race
[April 11, 1943 – August 1, 2019]
Below is how the wrestling world reacted to Harley Race’s death:
RIP HARLEY,love you my brother HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) August 1, 2019
WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race passed away today at age 76. WWE extends its condolences to Race’s family, friends and fans. https://t.co/lO4OimLsSd
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2019
Today the world lost one of the toughest men ever to walk God's green earth.
RIP Harley Race!
8X NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.The entire sport of professional wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Harley. pic.twitter.com/rEiHknbYn1
— NWA (@nwa) August 1, 2019
AEW is saddened to learn that Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer Harley Race has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/Ik29DwZIQ4
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) August 1, 2019
RIP to one of the greatest performers there ever was. He was a friend. You will be missed #HarleyRace #RIP
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) August 1, 2019
Rest In Peace to a true king, Harley Race. #RIPHarley #HarleyRace
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) August 1, 2019
Really sad to hear the passing of @8XNWAChampion
one of the greatest NWA Champions ever. He was a real man's man and one of the toughest guys I ever met. I loved watching him when he came to the Mid Atlantic area when I was a teen. He certainly made everything real. #RIPHarley pic.twitter.com/Ureia3aq9X— Charles Robinson (@WWERobinson) August 1, 2019
RIP Harley Race. In a day and age where real men seem to be an endangered species, he embodied every bit of the word “real” in and out of the ring. A rough, tough man and a gentleman. Honored to have known him. Godspeed. #RIPHarley
— Frankie Kazarian (@FrankieKazarian) August 1, 2019
Harley vs Dusty. #RIPHarley https://t.co/qHHboeChXq
— Sean Waltman (@TheRealXPac) August 1, 2019
#RIPHarleyRace
We lost a true ledend today; one of the toughest men and one of the greatest champions our sport has ever known. I loved working with him, I loved talking with him. I was proud to be his friend. pic.twitter.com/1W103AZt67— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) August 1, 2019
Learning under Harley Race at his school in Eldon, MO, in our early years, will forever be a career highlight.
Thank you, Harley. @8XNWAChampion ❤️ ?? #RIPHarleyRace pic.twitter.com/42G0ZQbPzU
— Singh Brothers (@SinghBrosWWE) August 1, 2019
#RIP Harley Race. This is why we should not throw the term Legend around freely. It needs to be saved for people like Harley who truly are.
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) August 1, 2019
On January 25th 1993 in met a great man who became a great friend and mentor. A proper man in and out of the ring. One of the true greats. Harley Race passed today. I will be forever grateful for the time I’ve spent with him.
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) August 1, 2019
The Hart family loves you forever King Harley Race. Grateful I got to tell you what you meant to my grandfather Stu Hart, who adored you. My thoughts and prayers to Harley’s family today? pic.twitter.com/t5PqOJW0Lx
— Nattie (@NatbyNature) August 1, 2019
