Ib Solvang Hansen
Encyclopedia
Ib Solvang "Eric" Hansen (1 August 1934 – 16 November 1978) was a Danish professional wrestler, known by his ring name Eric the Red, who competed in North American and international regional promotions during the 1960s and 70s, including Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling
, Maple Leaf Wrestling
and National Wrestling Federation
.
One of the major stars in the short-lived International Wrestling Association, he was one of the few to find success in the National Wrestling Alliance
following the IWA's close forming a successful tag team with Pak Song in Championship Wrestling from Florida before his death in 1978.
's Maple Leaf Wrestling in 1968. As Eric the Red, a modern-day Viking
, Hanson faced veterans such as Dutch Momberg
, The Assassin
, Wild Bull Curry
and Tiger Jeet Singh
during his first year and also formed a short-lived tag team with Whipper Billy Watson
.
After becoming a "heel
" in early 1969, he would face the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion
in a series of matches throughout the year as well as some of the most popular wrestlers in the territory such as Paul Diamond and Edouard Carpentier
. Later that year, he also appeared in the World Wide Wrestling Federation facing "The Canadian Wildman" Gene Dubois, Tony Altimore and Jack Vansky although he was mainly used as a preliminary wrestler and had left the promotion by late 1970. He would however make occasional appearances during the next several years, most notably facing WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales
in September 1973 and, the following year, teaming with Baron Mikel Scicluna to defeat WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino
& Johnny DeFazio in Hubbard, Ohio
on November 1, 1974.
, regularly appearing in Buffalo, New York
and Cleveland, Ohio
against many of the promotions top stars such as Chief White Owl and Dominic DeNucci
during the early 1970s. He also became a well known face in the Pittsburgh-area during this time, facing Gorilla Monsoon
, Frank Durso and Victor Rivera
in memorable matches.
Briefly returning to Toronto to face Angelo Mosca
, Vic Rossitani and Prince Pullins during the summer, he would return to the NWL by October 1972 under manager Tony Angelo
as Eric the Animal, a wildman who carried a large bone to the ring and used as a foreign object
. Feuding with NWF North American Heavyweight Champion Johnny Powers
defeating him for the title in Buffalo on February 17, 1973 although he would loose it back to him within several weeks. He would also be involved in a controversial storyline violently attacking Jacques
and Raymond Rougeau
with his bone and subsequently resulting in a feud between the two for several weeks.
After a brief tour of the Maritimes in June, he also headlined several events at the Maple Leaf Gardens
facing Leo Burke
, The Sheik
and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Briscoe on September 23. The following year, he would make occasional appearances in the Detroit-area for Ed Farhat
losing to Dick the Bruiser on April 27, 1974. Facing Ernie Ladd
and Bobo Brazil
on the Cleveland-Buffalo circuit during the year, he also toured Japan during February–March including facing Antonio Inoki
and, returning to Ontario, faced Luis Martinez and Dewey Robertson
later that year.
In early 1975, Hansen began his first tour of the southeastern United States competing for Dick Steinborn in Atlanta, Georgia
where he very quickly becoming one of the promotions top "heels". However, he was soon hired by Pedro Martinez to return to Cleveland to compete in the newly established International Wrestling Alliance
which Martinez and TV sports mogul Eddie Einhorn
were organizing to compete directly against the National Wrestling Alliance
as the first national professional wrestling promotion in the United States.
Remaining one of the top stars in the promotion under manager George "Crybaby" Cannon
, he feuded with IWA Heavyweight Champion Mil Mascaras
throughout the country as the promotion toured the United States. During the tour, Hansen faced Lou Thesz
losing to the then 59-year-old former NWA World Heavyweight Champion at the Roosevelt Stadium
in Jersey City, New Jersey
on August 7, 1975.
By the end of the year however, following the takeover of Johnny Powers after Eric Einhorn pulled out, Hansen remained with the IWA as it attempted to survive as a regional promotion in the Carolinas. He would also travel to Canada several times where his former manager George Cannon was a booker for the Eastern Sports Association
.
and began wrestling overseas, eventually becoming a major star in the Puerto Rican-based World Wrestling Council
. Capturing both the Puerto Rican and WWC North American titles, he also became involved in a violent feud with Carlos Colon
which would result in several riots during late 1976.
Leaving the WWC in April 1977, Hansen returned to Toronto for a short while before moving on to World Class Championship Wrestling
where he feuded with the Von Erich family
for several months. The following year, he joined The Assassin
in the Tri-State area in his feud with Randy Tyler during the spring on 1978. His allies soon turned against him however, when The Assassin and The Brute
attacked him during a television taping in early July.
Teaming with Steven Little Bear, he eventually lost a loser-leaves-town match against The Assassin and The Brute at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
on July 22, 1978 with a record 31,000 in fans in attendance.
. Defeating Steve Brody in Ft. Lauderdale two days later, he was soon recruited by manager Sonny King for his stable along with Pak Song. Although defeating Rick Oliver in West Palm Beach on October 9, Hansen would be disqualified in matches against Steve Brody and Jimmy Garvin
the following week.
He soon began teaming with Pak Song and, only two weeks after Hansen's debut, they captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship from Mike Graham & Steve Keirn
in Lakeland, Florida
on October 14. Although losing to Graham & Keirn after his partner Bobby Duncum was pinned during a tag match in West Palm Beach two days later, he and Pak Song would retain the tag team titles defeating Eddie Graham & Killer Karl Kox in Tampa, Florida
on October 17. The following night, he and Pak Song would defend their titles twice in one night defeating Rick Oliver and Prince Tonga in Tampa, Florida
and Killer Karl Kox & Steve Keirn in Miami later that night. Breaking his leg during the match, Keirn's injury was written into the storyline as Keirn later claimed he had been attacked by Hansen and other members of Sonny King's stable while training at a local gym with graham.
Hansen and Pak Song continued their winning streak, continuing to feud with Mike Graham & Killer Karl Kox in tag team and singles matches during the next several weeks. On October 25, they again wrestled to matches in one night defeating Prince Tonga & Sonny Driver at a television taping in Tampa and, later that night, teamed with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum losing a 6-man tag team match against Jerry Brisco, Jim Garvin and Dusty Rhodes in Miami.
After losing Killer Kox & The Grahams a 6-man tag team elimination match with Pak Song and Sonny King in St. Petersburg three days later, he later interfered in the main event helping NWA Heavyweight Champion Harley Race
defeat Dusty Rhodes. Facing Rhodes in a non-sanctioned "Lights Out" match in Tampa on October 31, he nearly defeated Rhodes with outside interference by his manager Sonny King however Killer Kox would also interfere in the match knocking out Hansen and allowing Rhodes to pin Hansen to win the match.
Despite this loss, he and Pak Song would continue defending their titles during October and early-November. On November 7, he and Pak Song would face Killer Karl Kox & Dusty Rhodes, both longtime rivals, later defeating the challengers via disqualification after Killer Kox attempted to hit Hansen with a steel chair.
and was driving through the Town ‘N Country
area when his car stalled on West Hillsborough Boulevard. After telephoning for assistance, Hansen was struck by a car while crossing the median. His head hitting the windshield of the car, he suffered severe brain damage as well as numerous bodily injuries. Taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hansen remained in a coma for a week before he died from his injuries on November 16, 1978.
Grand prix wrestling
Grand Prix Wrestling is a wrestling promotion run and owned by Emile Duprée. Grand Prix Wrestling has currently stopped touring due to heavy traveling costs...
, Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
and National Wrestling Federation
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
.
One of the major stars in the short-lived International Wrestling Association, he was one of the few to find success in the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
following the IWA's close forming a successful tag team with Pak Song in Championship Wrestling from Florida before his death in 1978.
Early career
Born in Odense, Denmark, Hansen emigrated to Canada during the mid-1950s and eventually became involved in professional wrestling making his debut in the Toronto-area for Frank TunneyFrank Tunney
Francis Martin “Frank” Tunney was a Canadian professional wrestling promoter, based in Toronto.-Early years:...
's Maple Leaf Wrestling in 1968. As Eric the Red, a modern-day Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
, Hanson faced veterans such as Dutch Momberg
Killer Karl Krupp
George Momberg , better known by the ring name Killer Karl Krupp, was a Dutch-born professional wrestler famous during the 1970s and early 1980s.-Early life:...
, The Assassin
Jody Hamilton
Joseph "Jody" Hamilton is an American retired professional wrestler and current wrestling promoter and trainer. In his active days Hamiltion was best known as known as one half of the tag team The Assassins where he was called "Assassin #1"...
, Wild Bull Curry
Bull Curry
Fred Thomas Koury, Sr. was an American of Lebanese decent who was best known as a professional wrestler under the name ”Wild Bull” Curry. Bull Curry is recognized as one of the originators of the hardcore style predating even legends such as The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher...
and Tiger Jeet Singh
Tiger Jeet Singh
Jagjit Singh Hans is a semi-retired professional wrestler, known better by his ring name Tiger Jeet Singh. He wrestled as a crazed heel, coming to the ring with a sword in his mouth . Singh wrestled in Japan for 22 years...
during his first year and also formed a short-lived tag team with Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
.
After becoming a "heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
" in early 1969, he would face the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
in a series of matches throughout the year as well as some of the most popular wrestlers in the territory such as Paul Diamond and Edouard Carpentier
Édouard Carpentier
Édouard Ignacz Weiczorkiewicz was a Québécois professional wrestler better known by his ring name Édouard Carpentier. In a career that spanned from the 1950s into the 1970s, he garnered several world championships.-Early life:...
. Later that year, he also appeared in the World Wide Wrestling Federation facing "The Canadian Wildman" Gene Dubois, Tony Altimore and Jack Vansky although he was mainly used as a preliminary wrestler and had left the promotion by late 1970. He would however make occasional appearances during the next several years, most notably facing WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales
Pedro Morales
Pedro Morales is a retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He began his wrestling career as a teenager in 1959 and continued through to the late 1980s...
in September 1973 and, the following year, teaming with Baron Mikel Scicluna to defeat WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
& Johnny DeFazio in Hubbard, Ohio
Hubbard, Ohio
Hubbard is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. It is formed from part of Hubbard Township, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve. The population was 8,284 at the 2000 census...
on November 1, 1974.
National Wrestling Federation
Hansen soon began wrestling for the National Wrestling FederationNational Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
, regularly appearing in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
against many of the promotions top stars such as Chief White Owl and Dominic DeNucci
Dominic DeNucci
Dominic DeNucci is an Italian-American professional wrestler. He is also an accomplished trainer, counting former World Heavyweight champions Mick Foley and Shane Douglas, as well as referee Brian Hildebrand, among his students.-Early career:...
during the early 1970s. He also became a well known face in the Pittsburgh-area during this time, facing Gorilla Monsoon
Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella , better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play announcer, and booker...
, Frank Durso and Victor Rivera
Victor Rivera
Víctor Rivera is a volleyball player from Puerto Rico, who was a member of the Men's National Team that ended up in sixth place at the 2007 FIVB Men's World Cup in Japan. In the same year the wing-spiker was named Best Spiker at the NORCECA Championship in Anaheim...
in memorable matches.
Briefly returning to Toronto to face Angelo Mosca
Angelo Mosca
Angelo Mosca is a former Canadian Football League player and professional wrestler. He is also known by the wrestling nicknames King Kong Mosca and The Mighty Hercules...
, Vic Rossitani and Prince Pullins during the summer, he would return to the NWL by October 1972 under manager Tony Angelo
Tony Angelo
Tony Angelo is an American drifting pioneer. He started drifting with Chris Forsberg in Doylestown, PA, and eventually progressed to being a D1GP driver, as well as a Formula D seeded driver...
as Eric the Animal, a wildman who carried a large bone to the ring and used as a foreign object
Foreign object
The term foreign object or foreign objects may refer to:*An object that intrudes where it should not be, as into a living body or machinery: see foreign body...
. Feuding with NWF North American Heavyweight Champion Johnny Powers
Johnny Powers
Johnny Powers is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, known by his legally changed ring name Johnny Powers...
defeating him for the title in Buffalo on February 17, 1973 although he would loose it back to him within several weeks. He would also be involved in a controversial storyline violently attacking Jacques
Jacques Rougeau
Jacques Rougeau Jr. is a retired French-Canadian professional wrestler from Saint-Sulpice, Quebec, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s with the World Wrestling Federation under his own name, and as The Mountie. Rougeau has held fifteen championships during his career...
and Raymond Rougeau
Raymond Rougeau
Raymond "Ray" Rougeau is a former Canadian professional wrestler and French language television presenter and commentator.-Career:...
with his bone and subsequently resulting in a feud between the two for several weeks.
After a brief tour of the Maritimes in June, he also headlined several events at the Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
facing Leo Burke
Leo Burke
Leonce Cormier is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. He was born in Dorchester, New Brunswick. He competed across Canada, in several American promotions, and wrestled internationally for both Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council and the National Wrestling Alliance in New Zealand...
, The Sheik
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Briscoe on September 23. The following year, he would make occasional appearances in the Detroit-area for Ed Farhat
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
losing to Dick the Bruiser on April 27, 1974. Facing Ernie Ladd
Ernie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd , nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.-Pro Football career:...
and Bobo Brazil
Bobo Brazil
Houston Harris was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bobo Brazil. He is credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling...
on the Cleveland-Buffalo circuit during the year, he also toured Japan during February–March including facing Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
and, returning to Ontario, faced Luis Martinez and Dewey Robertson
Dewey Robertson
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
later that year.
In early 1975, Hansen began his first tour of the southeastern United States competing for Dick Steinborn in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
where he very quickly becoming one of the promotions top "heels". However, he was soon hired by Pedro Martinez to return to Cleveland to compete in the newly established International Wrestling Alliance
International Wrestling Alliance
The International Wrestling Alliance may refer to the following wrestling promotions:*Independent Wrestling Alliance , an Australian-based wrestling promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1960s and early 1970s...
which Martinez and TV sports mogul Eddie Einhorn
Eddie Einhorn
Eddie Einhorn is minority owner and Vice Chairman of the Chicago White Sox.Einhorn produced the nationally syndicated radio broadcast of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1958...
were organizing to compete directly against the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
as the first national professional wrestling promotion in the United States.
Remaining one of the top stars in the promotion under manager George "Crybaby" Cannon
George Cannon (wrestler)
George Arnold McCarther , better known as George "Crybaby" Cannon, was a Canadian pro wrestler and wrestling manager, best known as manager of the Fabulous Kangaroos....
, he feuded with IWA Heavyweight Champion Mil Mascaras
Mil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
throughout the country as the promotion toured the United States. During the tour, Hansen faced Lou Thesz
Lou Thesz
Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz was a United States professional wrestler and 18-time world heavyweight champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days , longer than anyone else in history...
losing to the then 59-year-old former NWA World Heavyweight Champion at the Roosevelt Stadium
Roosevelt Stadium
Roosevelt Stadium was a baseball park at Droyer's Point in Jersey City, New Jersey. It opened in April 1937 and hosted high-minor league baseball, seven major league baseball games, plus championship boxing matches, top-name musical acts, important regional high school football and even soccer...
in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
on August 7, 1975.
By the end of the year however, following the takeover of Johnny Powers after Eric Einhorn pulled out, Hansen remained with the IWA as it attempted to survive as a regional promotion in the Carolinas. He would also travel to Canada several times where his former manager George Cannon was a booker for the Eastern Sports Association
Eastern Sports Association
The Eastern Sports Association, often referred to in the business simply as "the Maritimes," was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Halifax, Nova Scotia...
.
From San Juan to Tulsa
Like many other wrestlers who competed for the IWA, Hansen found little work in the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
and began wrestling overseas, eventually becoming a major star in the Puerto Rican-based World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
. Capturing both the Puerto Rican and WWC North American titles, he also became involved in a violent feud with Carlos Colon
Carlos Colón
Carlos Colón may refer to:*Carlos Colón, Sr., wrestler*Carly Colón, wrestler whose real name is Carlos Colón, son of the above*The Deadlines' lead guitarist, Carlos Colón...
which would result in several riots during late 1976.
Leaving the WWC in April 1977, Hansen returned to Toronto for a short while before moving on to World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
where he feuded with the Von Erich family
Von Erich family
The Von Erich family is a professional wrestling family. Their actual birth names are "Adkisson", but every member of the family who went into the wrestling business used the ring name "Von Erich", after the family patriarch, Fritz ....
for several months. The following year, he joined The Assassin
Jody Hamilton
Joseph "Jody" Hamilton is an American retired professional wrestler and current wrestling promoter and trainer. In his active days Hamiltion was best known as known as one half of the tag team The Assassins where he was called "Assassin #1"...
in the Tri-State area in his feud with Randy Tyler during the spring on 1978. His allies soon turned against him however, when The Assassin and The Brute
Bugsy McGraw
Bugsy McGraw is the ring name of former professional wrestler Michael Davis. He also wrestled under the name "The Skull." He is not to be confused with the other wrestler named Mike Davis.-Total Nonstop Action Wrestling :...
attacked him during a television taping in early July.
Teaming with Steven Little Bear, he eventually lost a loser-leaves-town match against The Assassin and The Brute at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
on July 22, 1978 with a record 31,000 in fans in attendance.
Championship Wrestling from Florida
On October 4, Hansen made his debut in Championship Wrestling from Florida defeating Phil Mercado at the Jai-Alai Fronton in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Defeating Steve Brody in Ft. Lauderdale two days later, he was soon recruited by manager Sonny King for his stable along with Pak Song. Although defeating Rick Oliver in West Palm Beach on October 9, Hansen would be disqualified in matches against Steve Brody and Jimmy Garvin
Jimmy Garvin
James Williams is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name "Gorgeous" Jimmy "Jam" Garvin and as a member of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds....
the following week.
He soon began teaming with Pak Song and, only two weeks after Hansen's debut, they captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship from Mike Graham & Steve Keirn
Steve Keirn
Stephen "Steve" Paul Keirn is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from...
in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
on October 14. Although losing to Graham & Keirn after his partner Bobby Duncum was pinned during a tag match in West Palm Beach two days later, he and Pak Song would retain the tag team titles defeating Eddie Graham & Killer Karl Kox in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
on October 17. The following night, he and Pak Song would defend their titles twice in one night defeating Rick Oliver and Prince Tonga in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and Killer Karl Kox & Steve Keirn in Miami later that night. Breaking his leg during the match, Keirn's injury was written into the storyline as Keirn later claimed he had been attacked by Hansen and other members of Sonny King's stable while training at a local gym with graham.
Hansen and Pak Song continued their winning streak, continuing to feud with Mike Graham & Killer Karl Kox in tag team and singles matches during the next several weeks. On October 25, they again wrestled to matches in one night defeating Prince Tonga & Sonny Driver at a television taping in Tampa and, later that night, teamed with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum losing a 6-man tag team match against Jerry Brisco, Jim Garvin and Dusty Rhodes in Miami.
After losing Killer Kox & The Grahams a 6-man tag team elimination match with Pak Song and Sonny King in St. Petersburg three days later, he later interfered in the main event helping NWA Heavyweight Champion Harley Race
Harley Race
Harley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
defeat Dusty Rhodes. Facing Rhodes in a non-sanctioned "Lights Out" match in Tampa on October 31, he nearly defeated Rhodes with outside interference by his manager Sonny King however Killer Kox would also interfere in the match knocking out Hansen and allowing Rhodes to pin Hansen to win the match.
Despite this loss, he and Pak Song would continue defending their titles during October and early-November. On November 7, he and Pak Song would face Killer Karl Kox & Dusty Rhodes, both longtime rivals, later defeating the challengers via disqualification after Killer Kox attempted to hit Hansen with a steel chair.
Death
On November 8, he and Pak Song defeated Jimmy Garvin & Prince Tonga at a television taping in Tampa. Later that night at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, he and Pak Song would face Mike Graham & Dusty Rhodes defeating them by disqualification. Following the match, Hansen flew back to the Tampa International AirportTampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
and was driving through the Town ‘N Country
Town 'n' Country, Florida
Town 'n' Country is a census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 78,442 at the 2010 census.Within Town 'n' Country are located Bay Crest Park, Countryway, Rocky Creek, Sweetwater Creek.-History:...
area when his car stalled on West Hillsborough Boulevard. After telephoning for assistance, Hansen was struck by a car while crossing the median. His head hitting the windshield of the car, he suffered severe brain damage as well as numerous bodily injuries. Taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hansen remained in a coma for a week before he died from his injuries on November 16, 1978.
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(1 time) - with Pak Song
- National Wrestling FederationNational Wrestling FederationThe original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
- NWF North American Heavyweight ChampionshipNWF North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles title in the American professional wrestling promotion, the National Wrestling Federation. The title started in 1968 as a National Wrestling Alliance title, named the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship until the NWF...
(1 time)
- World Wrestling CouncilWorld Wrestling CouncilThe World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
- WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipWWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship is a secondary professional wrestling championship that is defended in the World Wrestling Council based in Puerto Rico. The title was created in January 1974 and, as its name suggests, is defended exclusively within Puerto Rico.-Title history:...
(2 times) - WWC North American Heavyweight ChampionshipWWC North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWC North American Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship defended in the Puerto Rican promotion, the World Wrestling Council. Created in 1974, it was the primary singles championship of the promotion until the creation of the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship...
(2 times)