Gordon Solie: Difference between revisions
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===World Championship Wrestling=== |
===World Championship Wrestling=== |
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Gordon Solie called WCW Pro from March 12, 1994 to July 1, 1995, alongside Dusty Rhodes and Larry |
Gordon Solie called WCW Pro from March 12, 1994 to July 1, 1995, alongside Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko.<!--He also worked semi-regularly in WCW in 1988 and 1989. This was cut short due to his already dealing with health problems at that time.--> |
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In 1995, [[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]] pushed for [[World Championship Wrestling]] to place his father, [[Angelo Poffo]], in its [[WCW Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]]. Solie opposed this decision,<ref name=hpqpvz>http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/Latest_On_Randy_Savage_In_The_WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Former_Diva_On_Dog_Whisperer.html</ref> because he felt wrestlers (or in this case, family of wrestlers) should not be asking for spots in the Hall — in this case, especially, since Poffo did not have much of a career in WCW and was not a notable wrestler.<ref name=hpqpvz /> Gordon Solie was involved in the selection of the 1993 and 1994 inductees but was not consulted in regard to the 1995 inductee class. Although Solie was also inducted in the 1995 WCW Hall of Fame, he had already given his notice of termination. Poffo's induction went on and Solie left the company shortly after. |
In 1995, [[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]] pushed for [[World Championship Wrestling]] to place his father, [[Angelo Poffo]], in its [[WCW Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]]. Solie opposed this decision,<ref name=hpqpvz>http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/Latest_On_Randy_Savage_In_The_WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Former_Diva_On_Dog_Whisperer.html</ref> because he felt wrestlers (or in this case, family of wrestlers) should not be asking for spots in the Hall — in this case, especially, since Poffo did not have much of a career in WCW and was not a notable wrestler.<ref name=hpqpvz /> Gordon Solie was involved in the selection of the 1993 and 1994 inductees but was not consulted in regard to the 1995 inductee class. Although Solie was also inducted in the 1995 WCW Hall of Fame, he had already given his notice of termination. Poffo's induction went on and Solie left the company shortly after. |
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Revision as of 22:28, 19 July 2014
| Gordon Solie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Francis Jonard Labiak |
| Born | January 26, 1929 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Died | July 27, 2000 (aged 71) New Port Richey, Florida |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Gordon Solie |
| Billed from | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Retired | 1995 |
Gordon T. Solie[1] (born Francis Jonard Labiak,[1] later Jonard Pierre Sjoblom,[1] January 26, 1929 – July 27, 2000), was a Florida-based professional wrestling play-by-play announcer working for World Championship Wrestling. Solie was also the regular announcer for Georgia Championship Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida and Continental Championship Wrestling, among others.
Career
The "Dean" of wrestling announcers
Gordon Solie is possibly the most recognized voice from the days of "classic wrestling" (used here synonymous with the territorial system) and was nicknamed the "Dean" of wrestling announcers, the "Walter Cronkite of wrestling" and the "Howard Cosell of wrestling". During the time when ABC Sports Jim McKay reported during the Israeli Hostage Crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympic, he transcended the run-of-the mill sports coverage and helped elevate the genre to prime time news. Many wrestling fans began comparing Solie's stoic reporting and interviewing skills to McKay. Solie even resembled McKay in the eyes of many.
He is best known for his laconic, intelligent commentary, and he tried to impart a seriousness to ring action that many of his coworkers eschewed for the loud, bombastic style more common today. One of his trademarks was his pronunciation of "suplex" as "su-play," a term later used by the AWA's Rod Trongard and wrestler/announcer Terry Taylor and, more recently by Mauro Ranallo, during Pride FC broadcasts. Other famous Solieisms include: "he's not fast, he's sudden", "He'd fight a buzzsaw and give it the first two rounds", "five letters, two words, I Quit", "his face is becoming a crimson mask", "They're going at it hammer and tongs", "Pier 6 brawl" and "Exit Jerry Stubbs...Enter Mr. Olympia".
World Championship Wrestling
Gordon Solie called WCW Pro from March 12, 1994 to July 1, 1995, alongside Dusty Rhodes and Larry Zbyszko.
In 1995, "Macho Man" Randy Savage pushed for World Championship Wrestling to place his father, Angelo Poffo, in its Hall of Fame. Solie opposed this decision,[2] because he felt wrestlers (or in this case, family of wrestlers) should not be asking for spots in the Hall — in this case, especially, since Poffo did not have much of a career in WCW and was not a notable wrestler.[2] Gordon Solie was involved in the selection of the 1993 and 1994 inductees but was not consulted in regard to the 1995 inductee class. Although Solie was also inducted in the 1995 WCW Hall of Fame, he had already given his notice of termination. Poffo's induction went on and Solie left the company shortly after.
Death and memoirs
Solie's last announcing job was to be the Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view in 1999, but he could not attend due to failing health. He died of an aneurysm on July 27, 2000.
In 2005, Florida Media, Inc. published a collection of Solie's short stories and poetry in a book entitled Gordon Solie...Something Left Behind.
On March 29, 2008, Jim Ross posthumously inducted Solie into the WWE Hall of Fame in the Class of 2008. Later the same year WWE's WWE Classics on Demand video service began offering The Film Room with Gordon Solie, hosted by Ross, focusing on Solie's announcing and interviewing of a specific wrestler or group of wrestlers involved in a feud.
On August 11, 2009 Solie's biography, The Solie Chronicles was released by Crowbar Press.
Solie is featured in the closing of WWE's FCW television program as a tribute to CWF and himself.
Championships and accomplishments
- Other honoree (1996)
- PWI Announcer of the Year (1977)
- PWI Editor's Award (1989)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
References
- ^ a b c Magee, Bob (2003-10-27). "AS I SEE IT 10/28: Wrestling loses two of its best". WrestleView.com. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
- ^ a b http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/Latest_On_Randy_Savage_In_The_WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Former_Diva_On_Dog_Whisperer.html
External links
- [1]
- The Gordon Solie Website
- WWE Hall of Fame profile of Gordon Solie
- GORDON SOLIE: LEGENDARY ANNOUNCER
- Solie's Vintage Wrestling
- Gordon Solie feature from SLAM! Wrestling
- Pick My Brain interview with Bob Allyn, author of "Gordon Solie... Something Left Behind"
- Gordon Solie at Find a Grave
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