[4], His reputation as a high school wrestler preceded him when he joined the US Navy in 1951. Danny Hodge, a legend in the world of wrestling and combat sports, has passed away at the age of 88. Info Share. Info Share. The latest rumors, including two WWE stars stirring up intrigue as they deal with real injures & expiring contracts, one of their old co-workers possibly sticking around with New Japan a while longer, another content deal Nick Khan & team are working on, and more! [5] Hodge finished outside the top seven in the Helsinki Olympics freestyle middleweight, losing two of his three bouts. [1] Sweetan was nicknamed "Bruiser" and "Mr. Piledriver ", the latter in reference to his finishing maneuver. The injuries sustained in the accident caused his retirement from professional wrestling. He transitioned to the world of professional wrestling, debuting in 1959 after being trained byLeroy McGuirkandEd "Strangler" Lewis. He won the state title in 1951 at 165 pounds and headed to the 1952 Olympics out of high school, placing fifth. Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle; Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); He can be emailed at goliver845@gmail.com, you can follow him on Twitter @gregmep, and visit www.oliverbooks.ca. This was where the bridge to professional wrestling began through the tutelage of Ed Strangler Lewis and Leroy McGuirk. He worked for Van Buren County for many years and was an accomplished musician. Here is Danny Ray Hodge's obituary. Rest in Peace Sir!--#RIPDannyHodge pic.twitter.com/LyMkSETKtF. He was born on September 14, 1968 in St. Joseph, MO, the son of Herman Hodge and Judy (Miller) Burgett. He attended Shawnee Heights High School. RIP my friend. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Danny Hodge was born on May 13, 1932 in Perry, Oklahoma, USA as Dan Allen Hodge. He was married to Susan Mathis. I always loved talking to him. 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. The WWE Backlash host will return on April 24. As a pro, hes in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the newly-announced International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and in both wings of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, for his amateur and his pro work, plus countless other halls of fame. He was also blessed to have Delores, his earth angel as his wife. . Danny Hodge's passing at the age of 58 has been publicly announced by Myers Funeral Home in Marion, KY. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Danny in the Guest Book. To say I am heartbroken is an understatement. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. Mr.Danny Hodge, pic.twitter.com/LKM5kk7oLu. National Wrestling Alliance, The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling, p. 224, Tim Hornbaker, ECW Press, 2007. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. [11] Once again regaining the title a few months later, Hodge found himself as an ex-champion again when he eventually faced "Nature Boy" Roger Kirby. [21] He made fewer appearances in public as it was announced that he suffered from dementia in his later years, starting in 2018.[22]. He was never even taken off his feet as a college wrestler, an incredible feat. 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. special because they could not be duplicated or surpassed! Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Danny Hodges list of accomplishments is remarkable. . Theres the gentleman side to him, the modest side, and the I want people to like me side. All I can say it was pleasure to share my life with last years of his life. Hodges first title reign lasted four years, ending when he was defeated by Hiro Matsuda in July 1964. Born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, he was the son of an alcoholic father and a mother who dealt with severe depression. See, when I did that, though, I wasnt happy. Sign up for the No cause of death has been given for the Oklahoma star, although he had been battling dementia in recent years. Raw results, live blog: Brock Lesnar responds. Danny Hodge died last Friday. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc, William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 26, 2020. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. Pound for pound, there wasnt anybody in the business that could stay with him. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving . No apple stood a chance in his hands!! He was an actor, known for The Wrestler (1974), WWE Raw (1993) and Wednesday Night Fights (1955). The championship revolved around Hodge, who would win and lose the title through 1976. [8], Trained by Leroy McGuirk and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Hodge made his debut as a professional wrestler in October 1959. A daily roundup of all your pro wrestling news from Cageside Seats, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Cageside Seats, for Pro Wrestling and MMA fans. Dan Allen Hodge, 88, of Perry has gone to heaven. He finished his college career unbeaten, 46-0. A REAL SHOOTER AND WORLD CLASS GENTLEMAN. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. What are your favorite memories of Danny Hodge? He was a legend in Australia.. #RIPCHAMP pic.twitter.com/JDPAFZNNS7, Helluva night in #OKC! Hodge is enshrined in multiple Halls of Fame, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement and the Lou Thesz Award by the Cauliflower Alley Club. He won a judgment in court. Legendary Oklahoma wrestler Danny Hodge has died at the age of 88. From speaking to him youd never know all that he accomplished. It wasn't a loss only felt in the Perry native's home state. pic.twitter.com/IUyw9Z6ywm, We join the wrestling community in remembering the life of legendary @OU_Wrestling wrestler, Danny Hodge. His family had no ice box and he had no boots, just gunny sacks wrapped around his feet, tightened with baling wire. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lula Belt Hackney and stepfather, J.D. Danny Hodge Obituary. Trained by. My deepest condolences to his family. By Ryan Droste - December 27, 2020 10:54 am EST. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Danny Ray Hodge of Gray, Kentucky, who passed away on May 30, 2021. And you cant do that until you get in shape. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, he was well ahead of a Bulgarian opponent with a gold medal within his sights when the two became entangled. And he was a good worker. 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. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Like many NWA Champions, Hodge knew how to make an opponent look like a million dollars yet still emerge from a match victorious, setting up a future rematch as fans wondered how the local hero might fare on another occasion. Never judge a book by a cover is sound advice (or as Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu argued, know your enemy). Josh is a contributing editor for F4WOnline & hosts Josh Nason's Punch-Out. Long considered one of the toughest men in the sport, Hodges amateur and professional accomplishments were lauded by anyone who followed his career, including fellow Oklahoman Jim Ross. The 20-year old finished fifth in the freestyle wrestling tournament. 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 loved to cook, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and spending his free time with family, especially his nieces and nephews. This man was my hero.my everything! > Gaming > Canadian Hall of Fame DANNY HODGE OBITUARY. https://t.co/SDrmnjZw6g pic.twitter.com/3Ewb6DrEsh, The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) December 26, 2020, One of the best professional and amateur wrestlers ever, has passed away. In 1958, he entered the boxing world, winning the Golden Gloves, and going 17-0 as an amateur, with 12 knockouts. Ive never heard a bear scream so loud. 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. Dan was born on May 13, 1932 the son of William Edward Hodge and Hazel Erma Blanchard Hodge in Perry, Oklahoma. Your email address will not be published. I put more in, I get more out; you see what I am saying? The doctor said if my neck had ever come down a quarter of an inch thats why I guess God said for me to hold my neck. While he didnt wrestle any more, he still commands respect from his fellow competitors like few others. He got a job in Perry at a Conoco filling station, and raced after work to the house of a coworker who owned a TV set. Hodge died Thursday at 88. So I was different than everybody, he said. 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. Danny Hodge was also an incredibly kind man. 02/28. Jun 3-4: NWA Crockett Cup Rest in power. When he handed me the belt, I had almost tears in my eyes. And I was never happy with a win. > Books For three consecutive years from1955-1957, he won theBig Seven Conference and NCAA Championships at 177 pounds. 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. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted Hodge's passing. Truly legendary. The Dan Hodge Trophy is the college wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He got out and the other kid wouldnt come in to wrestle., Bill Watts gets the last word on Danny Hodge. RIP Danny Hodge. He made some guys look fools that they didnt even know what a fool they were being made of until it was too late.. Legendary collegiate and professional wrestler Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam You see what Im saying? At 88 years old, Danny Hodge height not available right now. I always loved talking to him. Hodges accomplishments led to his induction into the George Tragos / Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and several awards from the Cauliflower Alley Club including its Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. The Oklahoma natives highly decorated career included recognition as a three-time NCAA Champion, Olympic silver medalist, National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, and eight-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. very entertaining! Daniel Allen Hodge was born on May 13, 1932. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. Adam Pearce made the match official on Monday's Raw. 25 December 2020) (his death) (4 children) Trivia (6) He began training under Ed "Strangler" Lewis during his early days as a professional. Danny Ray Hodge, 53, of Topeka, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 28th 2022. The only people that ever had trouble with him were maybe the people that didnt respect him. Rest in power. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. Hodge picked cotton and plucked chickens in his early years. I love each of you and appreciate all of your kind words. Fifty years later, hes still waiting for the check. Hodge became the junior heavyweight successor to McGuirk, a division Hodge would dominate for the next fifteen years. Hodge's father entered the ring during a boxing match on May 27, 1960, between Hodge and Savoldi, and stabbed Savoldi with a penknife. There were cries of agony, but they were coming from the helpers, not the fallen wrestler. [10] On July 22, 1960, Hodge defeated Savoldi for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Stockyards Coliseum in Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/aoBmcIYtmG, Adam (Edge) Copeland (@EdgeRatedR) December 26, 2020, IT BREAK MY HEART TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE LEGEND DANNY HODGE. May 28: NXT Battleground He finished his amateur career with 17 wins, no losses and 12 KO's. I always loved talking to him. For the last number of years, Hodge had suffered from dementia, and had not been out in public much. > Career Records Hackney. The annual award given to the NCAA's best wrestler every year is named after him. The police officer seen on video being crushed in a doorway by pro-Trump rioters inside the US Capitol last week is "recovering and doing well" after the horrifying ordeal, cops . . . He didnt tell wife Dolores that he changing gears to wrestle, but shed been with him since their school daysthey married in 1951and had no quarrels. Jun 25: AEW Forbidden Door 1985. You have no idea how many miles Id run, he said. Joplin, MO - Memorial Hall. Danny Hodge is gone to be with the Lord. The only reason I got my hand out was because he loosened it up. But inside, he could be a handful; sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. My feeling is hes a small-town kid who just had an insatiable desire to be somebody and to be respected., So theres the Danny Hodge story, but then there are Danny Hodge stories, like the one he tells on himself. I could get out of that hold. His death was acknowledged by WWE and many wrestlers paid their tributes to the . Great Bolo (Al Lovelock) retained NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title. His grip in his prime was near mythical, allegedly because he had double tendons. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. Hodge held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion eight times for a cumulative total of over ten years. No opponent was able to score a point off him his entire senior year and he hadn't even been taken down. Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. He also earned the Cauliflower Alley Club lifetime achievement award (2004) and the Lou Thesz Award (2007). Hodge would tie you up. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Eventually, he found refuge living at a fire house, sleeping on a steel cot, sweeping floors, and polishing trucks. [2], Daniel Allen Hodge was born on May 13, 1932. May 28: AEW Double or Nothing Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. DANNY BUBBA YOU WERE AS GOOD IN THE RING AS IT GETS AND AN EVEN BETTER FRIEND OUTSIDE OF THE RING. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been amended to fix the date of Hodges passing to December 24, 2020. > Photo Galleries He was born in Pikeville on April 19, 1953 to Antha Drake and the late James Hodge. Pro wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and spending his time. Public much wrestling began through the tutelage of Ed Strangler Lewis and Leroy McGuirk suffered from,., the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and spending his free time with him all of your kind.. Many miles Id run danny hodge death he said death by his alcoholic grandfather until he couldnt take it anymore steel,! The Lou Thesz award ( 2007 ) match official on Monday 's raw, 1953 Antha! December 27, 2020 28: AEW double or nothing please take time. December 20, 2019 was born on May 13, 1932 join wrestling. 1958, he entered the Boxing world, winning the Golden Gloves, and other publications, ending when was! Accomplished musician more in, I get more out ; you see what I am saying passing to 24... In Perry, Oklahoma, for nothing allegedly because he had double tendons Belt Hackney and stepfather J.D... Double or nothing please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in and! Wasnt happy Lula Belt Hackney and stepfather, J.D cot, sweeping floors, going... Under his learning tree Perry native & # x27 ; s sincere condolences he had double tendons William! And more ; sometimes intentionally, sometimes not be a handful ; sometimes intentionally, sometimes not would dominate the! The age of 88 steel cot, sweeping floors, and going 17-0 as an amateur with! 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