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Post by slappy on Oct 20, 2014 6:59:35 GMT -5
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Post by marino13 on Oct 20, 2014 10:58:44 GMT -5
I've never seen him wrestle, but I'm quite familiar with his name. Sympathies to his family & friends.
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Post by drifter on Oct 20, 2014 11:00:13 GMT -5
I just read this, and it sucks. I actually got to meet him twice at autograph signings, and he was entertaining as hell. He would put on the big show, with his booming voice, acting like the big tough guy, cracking jokes. Once you were done, and about to go, he would flip the switch, and act just like a normal guy, and thank you for coming out. He definitely made a mark too, with his role in Escape From New York, to during his wrestling career, when they tried to connect two opponents' deaths to him. The When I got to meet him, he was 79, and even with that age, standing near him, and shaking his hands, you just got the feeling, he could still have the strength to rip you apart if you wanted. One thing though I took away from the two times I met him, was he genuinely seemed to enjoy meeting fans, and getting to just joke around him. It's too bad to see him go, but one things for sure, he lived, in those 80 years of his life.
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Oct 20, 2014 11:45:44 GMT -5
He was like that one uncle who would tell you dirty jokes or do the "pull my finger" trick. Even at 66 (when I first met him), he still had a powerful handshake. Once a year for the past 14 years, I proudly wear my Ox Baker shirt when a group of us go river rafting. It always gets a laugh. Rest easy, Ox. You will be missed.
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Post by drifter on Oct 20, 2014 11:50:40 GMT -5
He was like that one uncle who would tell you dirty jokes or do the "pull my finger" trick. Even at 66 (when I first met him), he still had a powerful handshake.Once a year for the past 14 years, I proudly wear my Ox Baker shirt when a group of us go river rafting. It always gets a laugh. Rest easy, Ox. You will be missed. When I met him, he was 78, and his handshake was still powerful then too. You're definitely spot on about him being like the funny uncle. From the different signings I've gone to, all the wrestlers I've met were nice, and seemed to enjoy meeting fans, but Ox definitely seemed like he loved getting to be around fans, and just joking around with them. He quickly made you feel like you were talking with someone you've known for years, even if it was the first time you met him. The first time I met him, the picture I got him to sign, was from his scene in Escape from New York, and he was joking about, it being the movie he beat up Kurt Russell in.
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Oct 20, 2014 12:26:42 GMT -5
The photo is from our first meeting in 1995(ish). He was having a blast! I met him again many years later & handed him this picture. He looked at it & said (in his booming voice) "Whoa! Look how good looking I am! Who's the geek next to me?" I got such a laugh out of that.
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Post by Himmy! on Oct 20, 2014 12:33:08 GMT -5
RIP Ox Baker. Would like to have seen more of his stuff but he's definitely a name I'm familiar with.
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Post by drifter on Oct 20, 2014 12:40:38 GMT -5
The photo is from our first meeting in 1995(ish). He was having a blast! I met him again many years later & handed him this picture. He looked at it & said (in his booming voice) "Whoa! Look how good looking I am! Who's the geek next to me?" I got such a laugh out of that. Lol sounds like the man, I got lucky to meet too. The second time I got to meet him, they also had Marty Jannetty, Austin Aries, Maria and Rosita signing. Baker's table was at the end of the set up, and Jannetty was in the middle. When I got my picture with Jannetty, he stood on a chair, joking around, because I'm 6'3". As the guy was about to take the picture, you hear the booming voice, "Geez, would you look at the size of that guy!" which got laughs from people around there.
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Post by Mr. Old School™ on Oct 20, 2014 13:55:44 GMT -5
Very sad news for sure. He lived a long life for a wrestler, that's for sure. Many of these guys goin' today certainly won't see 80, no way man. He's one of the few that make it to old age like 80.
I haven't seen a lot of him over the years, but did see him in Escape From New York and definitely know his name for sure.
TMZ has posted the news of his passing and also posted a few clips, including this one where he appeared in 1981 on The Price is Right. Classic clip right here:
He seemed like such a friendly guy. Only wish I could've met him while he was here.
R.I.P. Ox Baker
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Deleted
Joined on: May 17, 2024 16:02:48 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2014 14:54:40 GMT -5
one of the great ones and one of the ones I never got to meet. Damn. RIP Ox. And yes, you are a good looking man!
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Post by The Natural Eddy Valintino on Oct 20, 2014 15:53:51 GMT -5
I've only read about Ox Baker. I've even read the Heart Punch conspiracy theories that he killed a few wrestlers with the Heart Punch. I probably will search some of his matches later. RIP Ox Baker
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Deleted
Joined on: May 17, 2024 16:02:48 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2014 17:58:10 GMT -5
Sad news indeed.....I loved him in Escape From New York.
R.I.P. Ox
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Post by drifter on Oct 20, 2014 19:20:32 GMT -5
WWE's statement: WWE is saddened to learn that Ox Baker, a feared villain of the ring for more than three decades, passed away Monday morning at age 80. A 6-foot-5 behemoth from Waterloo, Iowa, Baker originally competed in WWWF in the late 1960s and became one of the most intimidating forces known inside the squared circle — both due to his unique look and devastating heart punch. Over the span of an impressive career, the big man traded blows with the likes of WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes and Harley Race.
Outside the ring, Baker also put the hurt on actor Kurt Russell as the brute played an appropriately savage warrior in the post-apocalyptic world of John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi classic, “Escape from New York.”
WWE extends its condolences to Baker’s colleagues, friends and family.
Other wrestlers commenting too:
Howard Finkel: "Sad to hear of the passing of Ox Baker.Met him on a few occasions; great guy.He had such a unique persona,and could deliver on the mike! RIP."
Tazz: "Sorry to hear of the passing of the legendary Ox Baker. He "set the table" for big nasty heels w/great promo skills. Met him once, good man."
Tommy Dreamer: "Sad to hear the passing of OX Baker. A perfect looking villian w/a deep loud voice. Watch Escape from New York to see. RIP."
Matt Striker: "Was just told that Ox Baker passed away. Legitimately scared me as a kid n was a sweet, kind man to me as I got to know him later. Rest well."
Eric Bischoff: "RIP Ox Baker. One of the great characters in the industry."
The piece I originally saw, about his passing had a quote Terry Funk once made about Baker: "the toughest man I ever shared a four corner ring with." That's saying something, when someone like Terry Funk calls you the toughest he's been in the ring with, then you're tough.
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jason1980s
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 30, 2009 14:58:56 GMT -5
Posts: 2,311
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Post by jason1980s on Oct 23, 2014 15:45:36 GMT -5
Glad he's getting some tributes. I would've thought, since he wasn't a WWF guy, that maybe he would've been forgotten about but glad I was wrong.
He did the independent shows up to just a few months ago but just a few weeks ago it was noted his health was declining or he was hospitalized. Unfortunately, it seems like when older people get sick it isn't something they bounce back from quickly, if at all. Sorry to see that with Ox, especially.
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Post by Halloween King on Oct 23, 2014 16:04:54 GMT -5
I saw him in Escape from New York. For years I thought he was just some actor in that movie. Then I saw he had a shoot interview on a wrestling website. It blew my mind. Then I wondered why I never saw him in any of the major promotions.
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