Hodge was born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, where he continued to live. pic.twitter.com/hM99cY8fYE, Ted DiBiase (@MDMTedDiBiase) December 26, 2020, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. Hodge, then aged 80, crushing an apple with one hand at the. He also served as the chairman of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, which regulates all combat sports in the state. 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. Hodge died Thursday at 88. DANNY HODGE OBITUARY. Danny loved to cook, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and spending his free time with family, especially his nieces and nephews. Lets talk about what happened. A man who promoted the sport his entire life, even down to his iron-grip handshake. Rhodes' WrestleMania loss is brought up on Wrestling Observer Radio. Get exclusive pro wrestling content on Fightful Select, our premium news service! RIP my friend. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodge's passing. He competed at two Olympics, winning the silver medal in Australia in 1956. Legendary Oklahoma wrestler Danny Hodge has died at the age of 88. As a collegiate wrestler for the University of Oklahoma, Hodge was undefeated at 460, with 36 pins and reportedly was never taken off his feet during his collegiate career. I always loved talking to him. WWE to bring two-day SuperShow event to Mexico in July, MLW announces Premier Streaming Network as its international home, Seth Rollins vs. [12] On September 1, 1983, Hodge returned to the ring facing against SWCW USA Junior Heavyweight Champion Eric Embry which Embry won. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. He was raised in Perry attending school here and graduating from Perry High School in 1951. . Joplin, MO - Memorial Hall. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc, Very saddened to learn of the loss of Danny Hodge. In later years, he served as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission that oversaw combat sports including MMA in the state. [21] He made fewer appearances in public as it was announced that he suffered from dementia in his later years, starting in 2018.[22]. Your email address will not be published. He retired on July 9, 1959.[5]. He was preceded in death by his Uncle, Danny Miller. He also earned the Cauliflower Alley Club lifetime achievement award (2004) and the Lou Thesz Award (2007). And he didnt even realize that he had knocked me out., Hodges career abruptly ended on March 15, 1976, and his life nearly did too, when he fell asleep driving from Houma, Louisiana to Monroe. 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. In 2018 came the news that Hodge, suffering from dementia, had gone missing; it was news to many who saw Hodge as undefeatable. [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. But if I was with Danny, then that made it, Akbar said. [11] After holding the title for over four years, he eventually dropped the title to longtime rival Hiro Matsuda. He was raised by his grandfather in later years. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc. In 2007, he was inducted into theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame. His accomplishments are well-documented here. Stacy Ewy Wilson, Hodge's granddaughter,shared the news on Facebook this morning, writing the following: Danny Hodge, my amazing Grandfather, passed away on Christmas Eve. This man was my hero.my everything! Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Danny Michael Hodge (1950 - 1974) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. A $5,000 pot to anyone who could last ten minutes with him lured a couple of hopefuls from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with wrestling backgrounds. > Collectibles
I always loved talking to him. He won the National Golden Gloves tournament to launch his professional campaign where it is believed he went 8-2, although BoxRec only lists him at 7-2. Brodie Lee passes away after battling lung issue. His amateur wrestling career in the includes a silver medal at the 1952 Olympics and three NCAA championships in the 177 pound weight class. Please do yourself a favor and look it up. (They were never mean, but always humorous, and generally things no one else could do.) Let us know in the comments below. Hodge became a huge star in the NWAs Junior Heavyweight division throughout the 1960s and 1970s, capturing his first NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1960, defeating champion Angelo Savoldi for the title less than a year into his pro wrestling career. 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. He was 88. No BS. Jun 25: AEW Forbidden Door His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. 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. [17] There is a statue in his honor at the Perry Wrestling Monument Park in Oklahoma, unveiled in 2016. Truly legendary. He got out and the other kid wouldnt come in to wrestle., Bill Watts gets the last word on Danny Hodge. Hodge was a gentle, God-fearing, family-loving man outside the ring. He was the first amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. April 14, 2021. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodges passing. Hodge could squeeze apples until they burst into bits and break steel pliers with his gifted double-tendon strength. There were cries of agony, but they were coming from the helpers, not the fallen wrestler. If you do just what the coach says, thats fine. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. 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. #RIPCHAMP pic.twitter.com/JDPAFZNNS7, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. https://t.co/SDrmnjZw6g pic.twitter.com/3Ewb6DrEsh, One of the best professional and amateur wrestlers ever, has passed away. He and his wife had three children. At Ames, Iowa, in April 1952, Hodge survived the US Olympic Trials, and was coached by Naval Academy Instructor Ray Swartz in the 174-pound division. He was born Wednesday, April 06, 1955 in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be held Tuesday,. Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. Among other titles, he was the NWA Junior Heavyweight champ seven times. Such was the case with Danny Hodge, an unassuming man who became one of the most decorated amateur and professional wrestlers of all time. The native of Perry, Oklahoma died earlier this week, although no cause of death has been revealed. All results for Danny Lee Hodge. The legend of Hodge grew out of his home state where he attended the University of Oklahoma winning three NCAA championships while going 46-0 during his collegiate career, never to be taken off his feet. He was a 3-time NCAA champion and won his college the 1957 team title. I always wondered, Why in the heck is that bear screaming so loud? Legendary collegiate and professional wrestler Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. The family will receive visitors beginning at 1 PM Sunday. In total, Hodge was a seven-time NWA junior heavyweight champion, defeating Angelo Savoldi for his first championship on July 22, 1960. [11] Mantell eventually lost the title to Hiro Matsuda, Hodge's rival. Here is the worlds heavyweight champion and here Ive got this prestigious belt.. Legitimately one of the toughest guys in a boxing or wrestling ring, Danny Hodge was a mentor to many and a groundbreaking competitor. The Perry, Oklahoma, native was a member of the Professional Hall of Fame; the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame; the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for both amateur and pro wrestling, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame (1996), and more. He would win his seventh and final NWA Junior Heavyweight title in March of 1976 and two weeks later, retired from the sport still champion. Hodge went a perfect 46-0 in college at OU winning three. Godspeed sir. 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. In April 1957, Hodge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. 01:03. [2], Daniel Allen Hodge was born on May 13, 1932. My deepest condolences to his family. There is simply no denying Danny Hodges greatness as an amateur wrestler. [5] Hodge's first major feud was with National Wrestling Alliance Junior Heavyweight Champion Angelo Savoldi. Rest In Peace, Danny. After graduating Perry High School in Perry, Oklahoma, where he had been state champion in 1951, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he went 46-0, never even taken off his feet. He was never even taken off his feet as a college wrestler, an incredible feat. Laughing for memories, crying for loss. RIP Danny Hodge. [6] Going into May 1956 wrestling trials for US Olympic team, Hodge was middleweight favorite. Danny Hodge was born on May 13, 1932 in Perry, Oklahoma, USA as Dan Allen Hodge. Known for abnormal hand strength due to being born to two sets of tendons in his hands, he went into the pro wrestling world following training from Leroy McGuirk and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, debuting in the fall of 1959 and become a major star, especially in the McGuirk's midwest territory and in the parts of the southern U.S. In 1957, Americas best wrestler turned boxer. He transitioned to the world of professional wrestling, debuting in 1959 after being trained byLeroy McGuirkandEd "Strangler" Lewis. pic.twitter.com/hM99cY8fYE, Well saddened to hear the news today of Danny Hodge passing away. Hodge became McGuirk's principal headliner, and by 1962, Hodge was making upwards of $80,000 a year. Christmas was his favorite time of year! Something went wrong. Hodge was an acclaimed collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, where he went a perfect 46-0. 00:25. Edit your search or learn more. Our thoughts are with everyone missing Danny Hodge today. Hodge is enshrined in multiple Halls of Fame, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement and the Lou Thesz Award by the Cauliflower Alley Club. 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. Survivors include his parents, Judy (Terry) Burgett, Herman (Betty) Hodge; siblings, Mike Hodge, Christy (Mike) Lopez, Sherri Hodge, Lynnell (Jeremiah) Corbin, Heath (Kasey) Hodge; nieces and nephews, Bayli (Kyle) Titus, Taylon, Aaric, Elle, Austin, Lacey, Kaedyn, Korben, Brielle, Amanda, Leelynn. You know, you give him your body and he takes advantage of it. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. While the cause of death isn't known yet, he had been battling dementia for several years. Danny Hodge Death - Dead, Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death, Passed Away: On March 18th, 2021, InsideEko Media learned about the death of Danny Hodge through social media publications made on. (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.) [3], At Perry High School in Oklahoma, Hodge won the 165-pound title at the state tournament in 1951. > Career Records
Hodge pinned the first in about thirty seconds, but the fellow protested the pinfall. Even after retirement, Hodge made occasional appearances in wrestling, including two on RAW. 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. You would respect him one way or another, he would get your respect. So I was different than everybody, he said. He was an actor, known for The Wrestler (1974), WWE Raw (1993) and Wednesday Night Fights (1955). Rest in Peace Sir! > Music
By Ryan Droste - December 27, 2020 10:54 am EST. He was 88. [11] He held the belt for several months until he lost it to Lorenzo Parente; they both continuously lost and regained the title in the span of a year during their feud. They told me, Danny boy, we need you. No, you dont need me. I told them I can get all the fights I want here in Perry, Oklahoma, for nothing. And I thought to myself then, Is this all the world Im going to get to see? Shuffled from relative to relative, Hodge was regularly whipped with a cane by his alcoholic grandfather until he couldnt take it anymore. And I dont have to train near as hard, he said. He would hold the title for 1,450 days, finally losing it in 1964. Danny Hodge, a legend in the world of wrestling and combat sports, has passed away at the age of 88. [16] He served as chairman of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, which regulates professional boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts in Oklahoma. Jack Nasworthy ran a carnival based out of Hutchinson, Kansas, and once offered the cash-starved youngster $100 to take on all comers. Hodge married his wife Dolores in 1951 and the couple had three children. 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. Danny Hodge is gone to be with the Lord. You cant even imagine my thoughts. May 28: NXT Battleground [13] In 2007, he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Miz announced for WWE Monday Night Raw, AEW Dark: Elevation line-up announced for Monday night, AAA Triplemania XXXI Monterrey: El Hijo Del Vikingo retains, notes and full results, Will Ospreay confirms he is medically cleared but speaks out on the toll of his injuries. 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. Today, the NCAA awards the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy to the top college wrestler in the country as a tribute. > Gaming
With that kind of legacy, while many modern fans may not be aware of Hodge, he left a huge impression on the business. Hold your neck. He can still hear the voice today. 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