stroke Archives

Buddy Rogers Death

By Mike Rickard on January 4, 2018 / 1990s, 1992, Stroke / Leave a comment

Buddy Rogers Death – Stroke 1921-1992 (Age 71) Police officer turned wrestler Buddy Rogers achieved national renown as “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, the top-drawing heel during his run. Rogers would become the first man to hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. Rogers’ career and style would inspire many wrestlers, most of all Ric Flair, who emulated Rogers and even battled him for the title “Nature Boy.” A Talented Athlete Born Herman Rohde, Jr., the man who would legally change his name to Buddy Rogers was a talented athlete who learned how to wrestle at the local YMCA. Rogers was an all-around athlete, thriving in football, boxing, track, and swimming during his youth in Camden, New Jersey. Rohde won YMCA championships in wrestling and swimming, the beginning of a lifetime of championships. Marketing Himself to the Top Rohde began wrestling under the name Dutch Rohde,

Bobo Brazil Death

By Mike Rickard on November 1, 2017 / 1990s, 1998, Stroke / 1 Comment

Bobo Brazil Death – Stroke 1924-1998 (Age 73) WWE Hall of Famer Bobo Brazil began wrestling in 1951, his famous name coming after a printer misspelled his name at the time. Known for his headbutt finisher the Coco Butt, Brazil battled racial prejudice, winning over even the most biased of people. A Typo Creates a Legend Houston Harris, the man who would become world-famous as Bobo Brazil was born on July 10, 1925 in Little Rock, Arkansas but grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois. Harris trained under grappler Joe Savoldi, debuting in 1951. Harris wrestled as “Boo Boo” Brazil until a printer’s error listed him as “Bobo” Brazil. Bobo was born and the name stuck. At the time, segregation in the South normally limited African-American wrestlers to only wrestling other African-American wrestlers, but Brazil proved so popular that promoters put aside their prejudices in order to make money. A Legendary

S.D. Jones Death

By Mike Rickard on October 17, 2017 / 2000s, 2008, Stroke / Leave a comment

S.D. Jones Death – Stroke 1945-2008 (Age 63) “Special Delivery” Jones may have counted the lights much of his career, but no one did it with such style or gave fans the hope that tonight might be his night to win. Although he wrestled most of his career as enhancement talent, S.D. Jones is fondly remembered by fans who watched him in the WWF, and saw “Special Delivery” share the spotlight in some of the WWF’s biggest moments. A Dream Comes True Antigua native Conrad Efraim, the man who would become known as “Special Delivery” trained under WWF Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz. According to Jones’ widow Kathlyn, “He never thought in his wildest dreams that he would have become a wrestler – when he was in Antigua, his friends told me that he used to box and lift weights and then when he went to the Virgin Islands he

Nicole Bass Death

By Ryan on February 17, 2017 / 2010s, 2017, Most Popular, Stroke, Women / 1 Comment

Nicole Bass Death – Stroke 1964-2017 (age 52) Nicole Bass died on Friday, February 17th, 2017. She was 52. Earlier this week, Meltzer reported that she had suffered from a stroke. Apparently she was unable to recover. Bass was a professional bodybuilder before transitioning to wrestling. Nicole Bass Wrestling Career First getting her feet wet in ECW, Nicole would eventually make her way to the WWE by 1999. Even with limited wrestling ability, Bass came along at the right time and right place in the WWE’s booming Attitude era. Debra was expecting to take on Sable in an Evening Gown match on the 3/5/99 episode of Raw… instead, she got Nicole Bass Armed with a unique look, the WWE was hoping to strike gold twice, essentially booking Bass as a carbon copy of Chyna – a dominant female who could hang with the boys. Chyna was of course a rousing success for the WWE.

Stu Hart Death

By Ryan on October 23, 2016 / 2000s, 2003, Stroke / 1 Comment

Stu Hart Death – Stroke 1915-2003 (age 88) If there was ever a name to be synonymous with Canadian wrestling, it’s Stu Hart. Father to WWE superstars Bret and Owen Hart, Stu was born in Saskatoon in 1915. In 1948, Stu Hart created the Stampede Wrestling promotion out of Calgary. Stu Hart is not only credited with training his sons, but also other well known Canadian names including Chris Jericho, Edge, Christian, and Chris Benoit. Stu Hart died on October 16, 2003. He had suffered a stroke in the weeks prior, and was also battling diabetes and arthritis. For 2010’s ceremony, Stu Hart was posthumously inducted into his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. He was inducted by son, Bret Hart. Stu Hart Grave Stu Hart’s memorial is located at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens in Calgary. The plot is located at the Garden of Angels, Structure 88, Niche 1059.

Lord Alfred Hayes Death

By Mike Rickard on October 22, 2016 / 2000s, 2005, Stroke / 6 Comments

Lord Alfred Hayes Death – Stroke 1928-2005 (age 76) Born on August 8, 1928 in London, England, Alfred Hayes would rely on his English accent and dignified attitude to present himself as an arrogant heel or friendly Englishman. Hayes competed as a wrestler before managing wrestlers and later, serving as an announcer and Vince McMahon’s sidekick on the WWF’s Tuesday Night Titans show. A Distinguished Athlete Hayes was a distinguished athlete, becoming the youngest British 7th dan black belt in judo and the youngest British heavyweight champion, just two years into his wrestling career. After years as a babyface (or “blue-eyes” as babyfaces were called in England), Hayes toured in North America, returning as a heel. Hayes began to manage wrestlers during the 1970’s, with his persona of an arrogant Englishman serving him well. However, Hayes occasionally found himself in the ring as well, as seen when he feuded with Bobby “The Brain”