OR

source: wwe.com
19 Dec, 1942
02 Jan, 2019
Complications resulting from a fall
American
Announcer
76
Gene Okerlund, a well-known figure in the world of professional wrestling, made a name for himself as an interviewer, announcer, and television host. His career flourished during his time with World Wrestling Federation (now WWE).
Born in 1942 in Brookings, South Dakota, Okerlund displayed athletic prowess from a young age. He pursued broadcast journalism at the University of Nebraska before venturing into the realms of disc jockeying and radio hosting in Omaha and Minneapolis.
In 1970, Gene Okerlund joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as both a ring announcer and an interviewer. It was here that he acquired his moniker “the Mean Gene Hot Air Machine,” bestowed upon him by Jesse “The Body” Ventura as part of good-natured banter. After dedicating 14 years to AWA, Okerlund decided to explore new opportunities with WWF where he quickly gained even more popularity.
Okerlund’s involvement with WWF reached its pinnacle when he had the honor of performing the National Anthem at WrestleMania’s inaugural event in 1985. Throughout his tenure with WWF, he conducted captivating interviews with legendary wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, André the Giant, among others. These interviews stood out not only due to their informative nature but also because they were infused with wit and humor.
In 1993, Okerlund bid farewell to WWF and made his way to their rival promotion WCW, where he continued showcasing his interviewing skills while also taking on hosting duties for shows like WCW Saturday Night, WCW Main Event, and WCW Worldwide. Despite this transition from one company to another, the essence of Gene Okerlund remained unchanged—entertaining audiences through insightful conversations that captured both their attention and imaginations.
After WCW was bought out by WWE, Okerlund returned to the company, where he made several appearances on RAW and SmackDown. Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 and he remained with WWE until his death in 2019.
“Mean” Gene Okerlund
“Mean” Gene Okerlund
Male
Complications resulting from a fall
Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Debater: Gene Okerlund wasn’t afraid to argue against the norm. In fact, he enjoyed a bit of verbal sparring.
One day AWA’s regular announcer, Marty O’Neil could not make a taping. Hence Gene was hired as a replacement and that’s how he got started in the business.
Gene Okerlund worked in Radio before entering the Wrestling industry.
Okerlund was given the nickname "Mean Gene" by Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Jessie Ventura gave him the nickname as a joke and it stuck.
Gene Okerlund once recorded 141 localized promos in a single day.
Slammy Award for Best Commentator (1986)
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2016)
New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2005)
WWE Hall of Fame in (2006)