Advertisement

Iconic WWE announcer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund dead at 76

anthony sulla-heffinger
Staff writer
·3 min read

Gene Okerlund, one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling during the 1980s and ’90s, has died at age 76, WWE announced on Wednesday morning.

Okerlund, whose most famous role came as a backstage interviewer, rose to prominence with the AWA before eventually joining WWE in 1984. During his time with the company, his vignettes with stars such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Randy “Macho Man” Savage helped promote matches on WWE programming.

Okerlund’s iconic nickname, “Mean” Gene, was given to him by Jesse “The Body” Ventura, according to WWE’s obituary.

In addition to conducting interviews, Okerlund hosted shows and provided ringside commentary during his initial tenure with WWE. Okerlund also sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at “WrestleMania I.”

In the 1990s, Okerlund, like many other big-name stars from WWE, jumped to Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling promotion, serving in a similar capacity as he did while employed by WWE.

WWE Hall of Fame announcer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund has died at age 76, the company announced on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
WWE Hall of Fame announcer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund has died at age 76, the company announced on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (Photo courtesy of WWE)

After returning to WWE in 2001, Okerlund appeared on various programs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Hogan in 2006.

While Okerlund appeared in the ring as a wrestler sporadically during his career, his role was just as important as many of the professional wrestlers he interviewed during his segments. Okerlund’s ability to play it straight with the likes of Savage, Hogan and other stars such as the Iron Sheik, helped sell their characters as “faces” or “heels” for the crowd.

Thanks to the rise of the internet and the WWE Network, Okerlund’s iconic moments have remained relevant and a part of pop culture, decades later.

While a cause of death has yet to be released, Okerlund battled kidney issues during his adult life, eventually needing to undergo two transplants, one in 1995 and another in 2004.

News of Okerlund’s death sparked an outpouring of condolences and memories on social media Wednesday morning.

More from Yahoo Sports:
• Sugar Bowl meeting of mascots goes sour
• Chippy 76ers-Clippers game results in ejections
• Why is female NBA assistant only making $10K?
• Purdue superfan Tyler Trent dies of cancer at age 20