In 2005 and 2012 he appeared on WWE RAW to honour fellow Oklahoma wrestling nativeJim Ross. The WWE issued a statement honoring his life and career while wrestlers and others in the industry took to social media to applaud him, including William Regal, Jim Ross, Ted DiBiase, Edge, and the Iron Sheik. Hodge broke his neck and shattered his teeth but the double-tough Hodge wasnt tapping out to the Grim Reaper. At 88 years old, Danny Hodge height not available right now. He. The prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy is named after Hodge and recognizes the nations top collegiate wrestler. "I have always felt the state of Oklahoma, because Danny was in pro wrestling, kind of cooled off on him," Ross said. At Ames, Iowa, in April 1952, Hodge survived the US Olympic Trials, and was coached by Naval Academy Instructor Ray Swartz in the 174-pound division. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving . Hodge will be inducted into theInternational Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as part ofits inaugural class on August 28, 2021. He also earned the Cauliflower Alley Club lifetime achievement award (2004) and the Lou Thesz Award (2007). We are sad to announce that on January 21, 2021 we had to say goodbye to Danny Hodge of Chandler, Oklahoma. The native of Perry, Oklahoma died earlier this week, although no cause of death has been revealed. At high school in Perry, Oklahoma, everybody would run three miles in training. The young man drowned during his Manitoulin Island honeymoon, after an accidental explosion forced the wedding party to attempt to flee to a hospital by boat. He and his wife had three children. Legendary wrestler Danny Hodge has died During his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech, Bret Hart called Hodge 'one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling there's ever been.' By Sean Rueter @s1rude Dec 26, 2020, 3:25pm EST Danny Hodge's list of accomplishments is remarkable. He was famous for the ability to crush apples with one hand,[1] a feat which he demonstrated live on ESPN during the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships. 01:03. According to OKCFox.com, Hodge left his home in Perry on July 7 around 5:20 pm and failed to return.. Police reportedly said the 86-year-old was in "imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death." He said his strength was due to having double tendons in his hands. GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. Well, I think I could whip this one, he remembered thinking. He had a championship tag team with Skandor Akbar in 1967 and 1968, and though he was top dog, hed gladly take an initial whipping before tagging out, to build up his partner. He runs and owns POST Wrestling alongside Wai Ting. RIP Danny Hodge. We have estimated The Oklahoma state wrestling champion went to the University of Oklahoma and amassed a sterling 46-0 record with three Big Seven titles, and three NCAA titles at 177 pounds. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Hodge picked cotton and plucked chickens in his early years. Hodges legacy lives on with The Dan Hodge Trophy, which is awarded yearly to the nations top collegiate wrestler. He was 88. Truly legendary. In April 1957, Hodge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Discover Danny Hodge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Hodge was renowned for his technical skills and traveled the world, competing in Japan and other wrestling hotspots outside the United States. Something went wrong. They told me, Danny boy, we need you. No, you dont need me. I told them I can get all the fights I want here in Perry, Oklahoma, for nothing. In 1955, Hodge came to wrestle at Oklahoma, where he would post a 46-0. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Hes been inducted into every hall of fame that amateur and pro wrestling can dream up, and had the ultimate honor bestowed on him in 1995, when the Hodge Trophy became wrestlings version of the Heisman Trophy, annually given to the top collegiate performer. https://t.co/Svv9MmeMLU, Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. If I wasnt with Danny, the people hated me that much more. I could get out of that hold. Do yourself a favor & read this. Hodge was 88 years old. He made appearances in WWE on Raw in 2005 and 2012 in which he honored fellow Oklahoman Jim Ross. pic.twitter.com/NToh6LuGnc. My deepest condolences to his family. I always loved talking to him. #RIPDannyHodge pic.twitter.com/LyMkSETKtF. People dont know what its like growing up in the atmosphere like this. Death 17 Jan 1975 - Jacksonville, Onslow, North Carolina. National Wrestling Hall of Famer Danny Hodge died in his hometown of Perry, OK, on Dec. 24. A scholarship to the University of Oklahoma followedthe straight arrow never cut class, of courseand he became an undefeated, three-time All-American at 177 pounds. For amusement, Hodge and his friends took the round rings off wagon wheels, fashioned a T from the wooden slats, and ran up and down dirt roads with them. His handshake was sure inspiring too R.I.P. I have no doubt that he will receive his job well done. > Music
In 2007, he was inducted into theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Hodge passed away on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. He was a three-time Big Seven conference champ at 177 pounds (19551957), and won the 177-pound title at the NCAA championships those same three years, pinning all three of his finals opponents. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Danny Michael Hodge (1950 - 1974) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. He was literally Mr. Oklahoma and later on, when I turned against him, I had some very, very close calls with fans and things because they loved Danny Hodge. What Hodge calls one of the greatest thrills of life came in January 1968, when he defeated Lou Thesz for the short-lived Trans World Wrestling Association championship in Japan, becoming the only man to claim a world junior heavyweight title and a heavyweight title at the same time. How do we create a person's profile? Edit your search or learn more. His final reign was short-lived, beating Matsuda on March 2, 1976. The stories of Hodges toughness are legendary from the numerous examples of his non-human grip strength being showcased in the forms of apples and pliers being crushed. You cant even imagine my thoughts. Danny Hodge was also an incredibly kind man. It was public knowledge that Hodge had been battling dementia. [6] Going into May 1956 wrestling trials for US Olympic team, Hodge was middleweight favorite. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam Danny Hodge, the skilled wrestler and boxer who never lost a match while wrestling at Oklahoma in the late 1950s, died this past Thursday, the OU wrestling program announced. [11] After holding the title for over four years, he eventually dropped the title to longtime rival Hiro Matsuda. Ive just seen the saddening news from my friend @Fgbrisco that the legendary Danny Hodge has passed away. Rest in power. Hodge is enshrined in multiple Halls of Fame, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement and the Lou Thesz Award by the Cauliflower Alley Club. Brodie Lee passes away after battling lung issue. Thirteen days later, Hodge was involved in a near-fatal car wreck that left the stars neck broken as he carried his head in place to safety, avoiding death but ending his career. > Canadian Hall of Fame
[5] Savoldi required 70 stitches at a local hospital, while Hodge's father was arrested. Thanks https://t.co/89euDce2Ti, I never see your style! Hodge, then aged 80, crushing an apple with one hand at the. His career ended in 1976 after a car accident nearly cost him his life. Then he heard a voice. The pro fisticuffs lasted after about a year; in July 1959, two months after losing to Cuban Nino Valdes, Hodge quit boxing and filed a $116,000 lawsuit against his backers, saying they breached a contract that was supposed to provide him with about 35 percent of the gate after expenses. [21] He made fewer appearances in public as it was announced that he suffered from dementia in his later years, starting in 2018.[22]. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. Your dads happy, your familys happy. You know, you give him your body and he takes advantage of it. i very enjoyed!big smile, hug, and hard shakehand,i never forget your memory,sadR.I.P. His mat wrestling brought to him to two Olympics Games he placed 5th in Finland in 1952 but captured the Silver Medal in 1956 in Australia. He is only amateur wrestler to appear on the cover of. Hodge could squeeze apples until they burst into bits and break steel pliers with his gifted double-tendon strength. No apple stood a chance in his hands!! Police in Oklahoma issued a Silver Alert on Saturday for wrestling legend Danny Hodge, who suffers from dementia, but hours later he was found.. They made that much clear on Raw this week. To say I am heartbroken is an understatement. So I was different than everybody, he said. His accomplishments are well-documented here. The legend of Hodge grew out of his home state where he attended the University of Oklahoma winning three NCAA championships while going 46-0 during his collegiate career, never to be taken off his feet. The WWE Backlash host will return on April 24. Hodge considered trying out for the 1960 Olympics in boxing and wrestling, but decided to turn pro to earn a living. The Usos & Solo Sikoa will face Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle in Puerto Rico. Hodge went a perfect 46-0 in college at OU winning three. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Danny Hodge (Lexington, Kentucky), born in Owingsville, Kentucky, who passed away at the age of 67, on April 5, 2021. He was 88. Your email address will not be published. The Cauliflower Alley Club presented him with its Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and the Lou Thesz Award in 2007. Copyright 2023 Fightful, Inc. All Rights Reserved. But inside, he could be a handful; sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Hodge will be remembered as a true trailblazer and the only man to ever win national titles in both wrestling and boxing. Hodge pinned the first in about thirty seconds, but the fellow protested the pinfall. [11] He held the belt for several months until he lost it to Lorenzo Parente; they both continuously lost and regained the title in the span of a year during their feud. He will be remembered as a pillar of amateur wrestling in the United States, twice representing the country at the Olympics and claiming the silver medal in 1956. Hodge was an acclaimed collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, where he went a perfect 46-0. The Dan Hodge Trophy is presented to the NCAAs best college wrestler each year. He was found the following day approximately 90 miles away in Tulsa. Amateur and professional wrestling legend Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. Legendary collegiate and professional wrestler Danny Hodge has passed away at the age of 88. I always absolutely loved spending time with him and sitting under his learning tree. And heres one from Jim Ross, who was awed as a young ref in early-70s Oklahoma to be on the road with his idol. ##RIPHodgepic.twitter.com/04pnIfZUrJ, Catch Wrestling U #BlackLivesMatter #SpeakingOut (@CatchWrestling) December 26, 2020, WWE is saddened to learn that Danny Hodge passed away today at age 88. https://t.co/hKWUuiMZ7r, AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary hall of fame wrestler Danny Hodge, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. Danny Hodge was married to his wife Delores and had three children. Hodge wrestled for the University of Oklahoma, earning a 46-0 record that included three Big Seven wrestling championships and three NCAA wrestling championships. (They were never mean, but always humorous, and generally things no one else could do.) . One of Danny Hodges most famous abilities was that of his vice-like grip, attributed to the fact he had double tendons. March 2, 1976: He defeated Hiro Matsuda to win his sixth NWA World Jr. Heavyweight title in St. Petersburg, FL. Among the Hall of Fames that have inducted Hodge include the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, the inaugural class of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, and honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club with multiple awards. He was an actor, known for The Wrestler (1974), WWE Raw (1993) and Wednesday Night Fights (1955). He was also blessed to have Delores, his earth angel as his wife. Get the occasional email with the latest wrestling tributes and memorials, Search by ring name, real name, cause of death, organization, time period (2000s, etc) or specific year, WWE Hall of Famer Ravishing Rick Rude was an amazing individual in and out of the ring. Such was the case with Danny Hodge, an unassuming man who became one of the most decorated amateur and professional wrestlers of all time. It's been 82 years since the unexpected death of 21-year-old aristocrat Daniel Dodge, but much of the case continues to remain a mystery. The Judgment Day and the Bloodline make a deal, Trish Stratus explains herself, and Cody Rhodes finally gets what he wants. Everyone who got close to Danny Hodge has a special Hodge story. You see what Im saying? Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. . According to wrestling journalist Greg Oliver, Hodge died on December 24, 2020(other reports have it as Christmas Day) and had been suffering from dementia. Hodge was a gentle, God-fearing, family-loving man outside the ring. I put more in, I get more out; you see what I am saying? Crushing apples & even breaking pliers by squeezing them. He was born on September 14, 1968 in St. Joseph, MO, the son of Herman Hodge and Judy (Miller) Burgett. No cause of death has been given for the Oklahoma star, although he had been battling dementia in recent years. A consummate competitor in the ring, WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart referred to Hodge as one of the greatest wrestlers in pro wrestling or amateur wrestling theres ever been. Hodge returned for two appearances on Raw in 2005 and 2012. And you cant do that until you get in shape. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, he was well ahead of a Bulgarian opponent with a gold medal within his sights when the two became entangled. Episode 111 of Elevation is a wrap! He finished his college career unbeaten, 46-0. He retired on July 9, 1959.[5]. I always loved talking to him. I had the pleasure of meeting Danny once, and he was a real gentleman and somebody my Grandfather Stu and my mentor Billy Robinson had a lot of respect for. RIP my friend. It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. He was eliminated on May 2 by William Smith. He was a 3-time NCAA champion and won his college the 1957 team title. New Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox. Hodge punched out his car window and swam to safety, holding his neck in place until he could get help. Rewind-A-SmackDown 12/26/20: The Christmas Edition, Jon Huber a.k.a. Danny Morris Hodge age 58 of Bradenton, FL, formerly of Marion,KY passed away. Hodge was born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, where he continued to live. April 14, 2021. Danny was the best wrestler, amateur and pro, Ive ever been around. 00:25. Stacy Ewy Wilson, Hodge's granddaughter, shared the news on Facebook this morning, writing the following: Related Article MLW Fusion Returning For A New Season In 'Just A Few Weeks', Will Feature 2023 Super Series Bad move. Please take the time to google this incredible man and his career both in Wrestling and Boxing. 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