Gene Anderson (wrestler)

This article is about the professional wrestler. For other uses, see Eugene Anderson (disambiguation).
Gene Anderson
Anderson, c. 1982
Birth nameEugene Avon Anderson[1][2]
BornOctober 4, 1939[3][2]
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.[3][4]
DiedOctober 31, 1991(1991-10-31) (aged 52)[5][1]
Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S.[1][6]
Cause of deathHeart attack[5][6]
Alma materNorth Dakota State College of Science[1]
Spouse(s)Edith Simpson[5]
Children3, including Brad Anderson[7][6]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gene Anderson[3][6]
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[4][2]
Billed weight251 lb (114 kg)[4]
Trained byVerne Gagne[4]
Debut1958[4]
Retired1985[4][2]

Eugene Avon Anderson (October 4, 1939 – October 31, 1991) was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. He is best known for being one-half of the tag team the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, first with Lars Anderson, then with Ole Anderson.

He was a marquee performer for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from the late-1960s, appearing with promotions including the American Wrestling Association (AWA), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (ACW).[3][4][6][8][9] The Minnesota Wrecking Crew were named "Tag Team of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1975 and 1977.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference CharlotteObserver was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Hornbaker2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d George Schire (2010). Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-87351-620-4.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Gene Anderson". Cagematch.de. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference RobertsonRenwick2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d e Harris M. Lentz III (January 1, 2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rhodes2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Gerald W. Morton; George M. O'Brien (1985). Wrestling to Rasslin: Ancient Sport to American Spectacle. Popular Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-87972-324-8.
  9. ^ Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis; Andrew William Wright (February 8, 2011). The Road Warriors: Danger, Death and the Rush of Wrestling: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling. Medallion Press, Incorporated. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-60542-164-3.