• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (February 18, 2017) – Old School Wrestling Legend Passed Away
On this day in 2017 we lost Old School NWA/WWF Legend ‘The Russian Bear’ Ivan Koloff (Real name: Oreal Perras) at the age of 74 due to liver cancer.
In 1971 he defeated then WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino for the title in what is said to be an even more shocking moment than what we witnessed at WrestleMania XXX, when Brock Lesnar broke The Undertaker’s streak.
Those who were in Madison Square Garden on January 18, 1971 said that you could hear a needle drop after Koloff had defeated Bruno via pinfall.
The Russian Bear has yet to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a very deserving honor that they missed out on while he was still alive.
REST IN PEACE IVAN KOLOFF!
August 25, 1942 – February 18, 2017
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• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (February 18, 1995) – Old School Wrestling Veteran Passed Away
On this day in 1995 we lost Old School Wrestling Veteran ‘Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert (Real name: Thomas Gilbert Jr.) at the young age of 33 due to a heart attack.
Eddie wrestled for all the major big promotions during his career, including the World Wrestling Federation, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, Mid-South/UWF, ECW, USWA, GWF, …
He was married to famous wrestling valet Missy Hyatt from 1987 till 1989 and then married Madusa (later known as Alundra Blayze) in 1992.
REST IN PEACE EDDIE GILBERT
August 14, 1961 – February 18, 1995
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• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (February 18, 1989) – Legendary Old School Diva Passed Away
On this day in 1989 we lost Old School Wrestling Legend Mildred Burke (Real name: Mildred Bliss) at the age of 73 due to a stroke.
Mildred, who wrestled during the 30s, 40s & 50s, is widely considered one of the greatest female professional wrestlers in the history of this sport.
Burke used to be the NWA World Women’s Champion for almost twenty years.
In 2016 she was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of their annual Legacy wing inductees.
REST IN PEACE MILDRED BURKE
August 5, 1915 – February 18, 1989
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