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RIP Arnold Skaaland/Ray Stern
Topic Started: Mar 14 2007, 02:08 PM (33 Views)
Stinger
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“Golden Boy” Arnold Skaaland, a WWE Hall of Famer and a member of the WWE family for over a half-century, passed away Tuesday at the age of 82, with his wife, Betty, by his side.

Arnie was involved in virtually every aspect of sports-entertainment, from grappling to managing to promoting. During the era of the World Wide Wrestling Federation, Skaaland was a stockholder of Capitol Wrestling Corporation, and a producer of live events at the Westchester County Center.

As a wrestler, Skaaland was fearless, taking on much larger men and always giving them a fight. In 1967, he and Spiros Arion won the now-defunct WWE United States Tag Team Championship. He also served as the referee for the famous 1962 match in Japan between “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Rikidozan.

Another generation of fans may remember Skaaland as a manager. He regularly accompanied Bruno Sammartino to the ring during his reigns as WWWF Champion, and later led Bob Backlund to the same title. Perhaps Skaaland’s most controversial moment occurred while managing Backlund; on Dec. 23, 1983, he threw in the towel for Backlund after the Iron Sheik trapped the titlist in the camel clutch – ending the clean-living kingpin’s long reign as WWE Champion.

Skaaland was a legend in all facets of sports-entertainment, and in 1994, he became a member of the first full class inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

- WWE.com

:( RIP to yet another Hall of Fame member.

It seems like every other day, someone in wrestling (or MMA) dies. The last 3 or 4 threads started here, have all been because someone died.
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Stinger
Mar 14 2007, 04:08 PM
...

Skaaland was a legend in all facets of sports-entertainment, and in 1994, he became a member of the first full class inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

- WWE.com

:( RIP to yet another Hall of Fame member.

It seems like every other day, someone in wrestling (or MMA) dies. The last 3 or 4 threads started here, have all been because someone died.


At least he lived a long, full, and good life. RIP.
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Stinger
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I'm just going to post this one here. Also from WWE.com

Ray 'Thunder' Stern dies
March 14, 2007

Wrestling great Ray “Thunder” Stern, who became famed for his in-ring aerial maneuvers in the 1950s and later became a health club pioneer, died last week. He was 74.

Stern, born Walter Bookbinder in Brooklyn, N.Y., became interested in bodybuilding while he was a member of the Merchant Marines. He would later go to California’s famed Muscle Beach to pursue a bodybuilding career, where he met Gold’s Gym founder Joe Gold and bodybuilder Armand Tanny. The two convinced Stern to stay in California and pursue a career in wrestling.

Stern made his in-ring debut in 1950 and earned the nickname “Thunder” because of his spectacular aerial assault in the squared circle. Over a 16-year career, he would hold several tag team titles and have a noted rivalry with Ray Stevens.

Outside the ring, Stern was a successful businessman, founding the first coed health club and first health club with a children’s nursery. In 1994, his autobiography, The Power of Thunder: The Rags to Riches Story of One Man’s Adventure of Fame, Fortune, Romance, & Fitness, was published.

Stern is survived by his wife Debi.
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