• On This Day In Wrestling History: Old School Wrestling Legend Passed Away
On this day in 2014, we lost Old School Wrestling Legend Ox Baker (Real name: Douglas Baker Sr.) at the age of 80 due to complications from a heart attack.
Baker most famously competed in several different territories during his long, illustrious career, including the WWWF/WWF, NWA (JCP), AWA, NJPW, WCCW, GCW, CWF, CWA, AJPW, … & many more.
Those of you who weren’t fortunate enough to see him in the ring during his professional wrestling career, will certainly remember him for his role in John Carpenter’s movie “Escape from New York”, where he was fighting Kurt Russell.
† REST IN PEACE OX BAKER
April 19, 1934 – October 20, 2014
• Mike Kanellis Not Getting WWE Release, Possibly Getting Punished
As we noted before, former 24/7 Champion Mike Kanellis asked for his release from WWE. Below is his explanation for this:
“Today I asked for my release from WWE. I want to thank everyone in the company who has helped me out and who I have shared a locker room with. I love you all. I’ve been with the company for almost 3 years and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. However it is time for me to move on.
I am only 34 years old and feel I have way to much left in the tank. Working 1 day a week is just not going to cut it for me. I came to WWE to work and that opportunity does not exist right now.
I re-signed with the company back in June because I thought it was what was best for my family, and maybe from a financial standpoint it was. But I quickly realized that bringing my work frustrations and misery home with me, is not good for my family and I no longer want my daughter to constantly see me come home defeated, sad and angry. It’s not fair to her or my wife.
Being a pro wrestler was and is my lifelong dream and I’m just not ready to give that up yet. I wasted 4 years of my life addicted to drugs and not caring, when I should have been having the best matches of my life.
Now that I am clean, sober and motivated, I want to have those 30 minute matches. I want to travel the world and wrestle in front of UK crowds, German crowds, Japanese Crowds.
I want to feel the love and excitement wrestling once gave me. I also want my daughter to be able to see me wrestle. I want her to see her daddy work for his money.
I’ve never been ok with just collecting a paycheck and I can’t in good conscience tell my daughter she has to work her a$$ off to get ahead in life, then not do it myself. I don’t know what the future holds, but for the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful and excited.
Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me and had my back. I love you.”
— Miracle (@RealMikeBennett) October 14, 2019
However, WWE might not grant it (similar to how WWE didn’t release Luke Harper after Harper went public about it).
Below is what Brad Shepard is reporting regarding this situation:
“According to a source in WWE, Mike Kanellis is not currently expected to be granted his release. I’m told he’ll get the ‘Lio Rush treatment’ until he decides to ‘play nice’.”
WATCH: Super Hot Video Of WWE Diva Maria Kanellis’ Juggs Being Groped:
