One of my favorite wrestlers growing up. With his bald head, green tongue, and more body hair than anyone can imagine then his wild antics in the ring like chewing up the turnbuckle then using the stuffing as a weapon or pulling out a concealed "foreign object"(usually a tongue depressor covered with medical tape) he was one of the greatest characters to grace the squared circle. He wrestled well into his 60's. Out of the ring, he was a soft spoken intelligent college graduate who was a high school teacher as well as a football and wrestling coach. He was one of the few wrestlers who would never break kayfabe(in laymen's terms, the act) and was always in character. Strange thing that in a lengthy career he never held any titles of note because he really didn't need a title. So, RIP George. It was a pleasure watching you work.
R.I.P. George the animal Steele. One thing I never forgot when he ripped open the turnbuckle and shove the stuffing in Macho Man's mouth!
I remember buying an old issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated at a convention. This monthly "Apter Mag" had, among other things, a centerfold/ poster of a pro wrestler. This particular issue had one of "The Animal" looking over his shoulder into a mirror while combing his back hair......try as I might, I haven't been able to find this thing to scan or find it on line because I thought it might be a nice way to remember a class act such as George "the Animal" Steele. BTW, there's a video out there of him "accidently" lighting his chest hair on fire during an interview with his then manager, Classy Freddie Blassie, that is hilarious. RIP, George........Hey!.......YOU!.....
Funny story with Ivan. He was the first to knock Bruno Sammartino off as WWWF champion and when he won the match, the announcer didn't want to announce him as champion in fear of starting a riot because of the highly partisan crowd. I particularly loved his work in WCW with The Russians with his "nephew" Nikita as well as with Krusher Kruschev(played by Barry "Smash/Repo Man" Dairsow). RIP Russian Bear.
Last month was Snuka then yesterday George... was wondering who the 3rd was going to be (of wrestlers I was familiar with) and here it was Ivan. Wasn't even close. That's what 5 now since the start of the year. Jimmy Snuka Chavo Guerrero Sr. (Chavo Classic) Nicole Bass George Steele Ivan Koloff
Dude was a legendary tough guy. Nobody took liberties with him. Jim Ross put Ivan Koloff in his top ten list for toughest wrestlers, along with the likes of Harley Race. Not bad for a guy that was less than six feet( five-seven or eight?).
Yeah. That Flowers For Algernon skit was pretty funny, melvinpox. They used to do a lot of that kind of thing. The Hart Foundation on a Dating Game spoof and Playboy Buddy Rose' Blow Away Diet come to mind.
