[9] He was awaiting a kidney transplant[8] when he suffered a stroke and died of complications from diabetes and kidney failure on April 18, 2002 in Houston, Texas. During his time in pro football, McDaniel began his career in pro wrestling and later became one of its most popular stars as "Chief Wahoo." McDaniel died in 2002 after complications from. That byplay was part of McDaniels fame with the Jets, even though he was with them only one more season. No matter where he went, Funk said, McDaniel was cheered. are already in a ring up there in Heaven a place where neither Wahoo or Valentine are Harley Race, Ray Stevens, Lou Thesz, Mr. Wrestling II, and Tommy Young. Slater would team with Cowboy Bob Orton to kayfabe break Slick Rics neck with a devastating spike piledriver, just one of many heinous acts on Slaters resume as a heel. After being traded to the NY Jets, he worked briefly for Vince McMahon's WWWF and made his Madison Square Garden debut in January of 1965, defeating Boris Malenko. On September 7, 1977, Valentine regained the title at the WRAL-TV studio tapings, breaking McDaniel's leg in the process. The Internet Wrestling Database. On May 23, 1999, in Kansas, Missouri, during the Over the Edge PPV, Owen Hart fell 78 feet into the ring and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Truman Medical Center. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. [9] He was also an avid golfer and hunter. Dick Slater, the former professional wrestler and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Champion, died this week, WWE confirmed. Wahoo McDaniel Birth name Edward McDaniel Born June 19, 1938 Bernice, Oklahoma Died April 18, 2002 (aged 63) Houston, Texas Cause of death Kidney failure Professional wrestling stats Known as Wahoo McDaniel Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) Weight 265 lb (120 kg) Trained by Dory Funk Sr. Recruited by wrestler Mike Graham, Slater (like many athletes) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle. Wahoo McDaniel Dead at 63. photo: wwe.com. They were just two rough wrestlers who enjoyed beating the hell out of each other. About McDaniel: McDaniel led the Bulldogs to a combined record 15-5 in his seasons as a two-way star for Midland High in 1954 and 1955. He wrestled for a number of years, continuing to wear the full Native American head dress. . He played for a PONY league team coached by George H.W. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? No BS. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Wahoo McDaniel, who capitalized on his American Indian heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler, died last Thursday at a hospital in Houston. cartoon character image often associated with other such characters. (Theres Linda Hogans book and one from Bruiser Brodys widow.). Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. "He was bigger than life. He is notable for having held the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship five times. May 6, 2002 Observer Newsletter: Deaths of Lou Thesz and Wahoo McDaniel. The younger McDaniel took the name as his own, using it as not only his ring name but . Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He is also the author of the Wahoo McDaniel Record Book: 1962-1996. Day of death: 18.04.2002 (at the age of 63) Cause of death: Nierenversagen Gender: male Height: 5' 11" (180 cm) Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) Background in sports: Football, Ringen, Baseball Career Data Alter egos: Wahoo McDaniel Roles: Singles Wrestler Tag Team Wrestler Booker Beginning of in-ring career: 1961 End of in-ring career: 1996 As time went on, McDaniel's prowess on the fields of Midland was somewhat forgotten in his hometown. He was an affable fellow away from the football field. feelings that McDaniel could give someone who was first a fanthen got into the business Photo by Howard Baum. After McDaniels last season playing football, he became one of wrestlings enduring good guys, facing opponents like Ric Flair, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Bobo Brazil. Wahoo was a gambler and lost and won fortunes on the golf course. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He still holds the university's record for the longest punt, 91 yards. McDaniel's health started to deteriorate in the mid-1990s, [6] which led to his retirement in 1996, and he eventually lost both kidneys in 2000. "He was absolutely a legend in his own way.". Oops, something didn't work. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Wahoo McDaniel, who capitalized on his American Indian heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler, died last Thursday at a hospital in Houston. McDaniel then worked the 1995 Slamboree at St. Petersburg, Florida's Bayfront Obituaries for April 26. Bush. Day of death: 18.04.2002 (at the age of 63) Cause of death: Nierenversagen Gender: male Height: 5' 11" (180 cm) Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) Background in sports: Football, Ringen, Baseball Career Data Alter egos: Wahoo McDaniel Roles: Singles Wrestler Tag Team Wrestler Booker Beginning of in-ring career: 1961 End of in-ring career: 1996 THe 240-pound McDaniel is 27 years old and hails from Midland, Tex. Crockett/WCW shows at the Philadelphia Civic Center. Bishop worked for the DEA for more than two decades and retired in February of this year. McDaniel's football teammates remembered him this past week. Spike was affable and very well thought of, and he ramped up the rivalry there is no question about that. An easygoing guy, no angel., But I know right from wrong, he said. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Streaming now http://TitleMatchNetwork.com Thank you for 1.9M subscribers Subscribe to Title Match http://YouTube.com/TitleMatchWrestling?sub_confirmation=1Back in the 1970s, one of the biggest angles in wrestling happened when Greg Valentine broke Wahoo McDaniel's leg on TV. Greg "Count Grog" Mosorjak is a long time Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina. Those were just some of the stories that continued the folklore that followed McDaniel during his life. Also on a dare and $100 he ran from Norman to Chickasha in Oklahoma in the heat of summer. "He was just away from them, and you know how that goes when you are never home. McDaniel played for Midland High in the mid-1950s as a bruising fullback and linebacker for Bulldog teams that were one of the few squads to challenge the famous Abilene High "streak" teams of that era. He was athletically gifted, but was also a great promoter for himself both in football and in wrestling, and also had a reputation for doing some wild things that sometimes got him in trouble. After his professional career ended, Bishop returned to Baylor to finish his degree in 1990 and then went to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Home; Cards; PWI. So as this is going on, I'm looking at Wahoo and he's getting mad because he It will leave you informed and maybe with a smile or a look of shock if you didnt know of the tale of Wahoo McDaniel already. Youngblood, and Chris (Tatanka) Chavis to portray their characters as something beyond the McDaniel. He earned all-state football honors, and led the state in rushing in his junior year. McDaniel's football career ended after the 1968 season, but it was early in his pro career that he began wrestling, and it didn't take him long to become a box office draw. ACW Heavyweight Title Steel Cage: Bone Crusher (c) defeats Wahoo McDaniel. 4. Throughout his career, Wahoo had notable feuds with Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, Sgt. Day of death: 18.04.2002 (at the age of 63) Cause of death: Nierenversagen Gender: male Height: 5' 11" (180 cm) Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) Background in sports: Football, Ringen, Baseball Career Data Alter egos: Wahoo McDaniel Roles: Singles Wrestler Tag Team Wrestler Booker Beginning of in-ring career: 1961 End of in-ring career: 1996 McDaniel was one of the most well known legitimate Native American wresters, as Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Publish date: May 13, 2019. . Christian vs. Please click this line if you do not care and want to view it anyway. Wahoo McDaniel died on April 18, 2002 at the age of 63. In his opening game, he made 10 tackles from his middle linebacker position. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. About Dodson: Dodson, 76 and a Fort Worth native, didnt waste much time after graduating from Texas Christian University in making his way to Midland. "[10], McDaniel also worked for World Championship Wrestling's Slamboree 1993: A Legends' Reunion on May 23, 1993, where he teamed with Blackjack Mulligan and Jim Brunzell and fought Dick Murdoch, Don Muraco and Jimmy Snuka to a no-contest. communicate in a match. In his first season with the Jets, he described himself in an interview as: Robust, jolly, outspoken. Between 1973 and 1974, McDaniel And Superstar would engage in numerous wrestling bouts in what was considered one of the AWA's top-drawing feuds of the 1970s. '', ''But I know right from wrong,'' he said. "'Wahoo was a great practical joker who loved to laugh at himself as Wahoo McDaniel: def. McDaniel was brought up in Midland, Tex., became an all-state fullback in high school and played at the University of Oklahoma. "He was the toughest son of (a gun) that I knew, and also, if you could believe this, at the very same time he was one of the nicest people you could run across," said longtime friend and former professional wrestler Dory Funk Jr. "He had a heart of gold, but at the same time if you crossed him he'd fight you at the drop of a hat. Unlike Strongbow (who was Italian-American), McDaniel was legitimately Native American. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania He ran over me a bunch of times., Sport(s): Baseball, assistant football coach. He was a standout linebacker at the University of Oklahoma and played professionally for eight years. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. suffering from severe kidney problems for over four years, which required dialysis. Karen doesnt pull the punches on what she had to deal with from the fights and heartbreak she endured living with Wahoo. McDaniel was on. [6][10] In 1974, McDaniel came to Mid-Atlantic to wrestle for Jim Crockett Promotions and help build up the territory as a singles territory in a feud with a rival from Texas, Johnny Valentine. Even if Wahoo was alive to tell his story himself, that was not his style. I only saw McDaniel only a few times live, including at one of the first [2][5][6] The name "Wahoo" actually came from his father Hugh, who was known as "Big Wahoo". That year, the Rebels beat rival Odessa Permian twice, including in a regional final, before falling to Converse Judson in the Class 5A state final. Wahoo was a tough son of a gun and never trusted any promoter when it came to money. The good, the bad and the ugly are all documented here and, after doing years of research on Wahoo myself, that is really all needed to piece together the violent and complicated life of this wrestling legend. Date Of Death: Apr 18th 2002: Cause of Death: diabetes: . said. At a time when sensibilities about ethnicity were not as pronounced as they are today, McDaniel himself, news media representatives, teammates and fans readily spoke about his being on the warpath or wanting more wampum in contract disputes. He was 63. There will be a memorial service Saturday, April 27 for Wahoo McDaniel 2:00 pm McDaniel, who was born in Bernice, Oklahoma, but raised in Midland, Texas, died in 2002 at age 63. Valentine. Mid-Atlantic and Mid- South territories. A system error has occurred. [6] With his first wife, Monta Rae, he had two daughters, Nikki, born in June 1963 and living in Houston and Cindi, born in October 1965 and living in Azle, Texas. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Wahoo McDaniel (6522480)? This browser does not support getting your location. With your free account at foundagrave.com, you can add your loved ones, friends, and idols to our growing database of "Deceased but not Forgotten" records. Dykes currently lives in Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls. Most notably, Wahoo played for the Jets in the 60s. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 27, at St. Luke's Methodist Church . Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. And he was proud to be from Midland. With that already on his resume, he went to Oklahoma, where he lettered for three years playing running back and later defensive end, and still holds the school record for the longest punt at 91 yards. Its a new award and a new honor and the people have just been fantastic in my stay in Midland., Dodson on the best part of his job as trainer: I guess it was the camaraderie with the athletes, the parents and the student body. (Tommy Johnson) worked all his lifetime trying to get Wahoo in the (Midland High) Hall of Fame and we kept running up against brick walls. . [10][6], McDaniel was married four times to three different women. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? McDaniel was a two-way star for the Bulldogs and also participated in track and field and played baseball. Few of his feuds were as legendary as his programs with Johnny Valentine, that He's been in Pro Football for six years. His father worked in oil and he moved to several towns before settling down in Midland, Texas, while McDaniel was in middle school. Johnson passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. McDaniel was a two-time all-state player and led the state in rushing in 1954. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. He then was a defensive player in the old American Football League. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Another ex-Jet makes the Hall of Fame: The late Wahoo McDaniel, who played linebacker for the #Jets in 1964-65, has been named a @WWE Hall of Fame legacy inductee. Wow, I could feel those beatings all the way down in my ringside seat at the He was just amazing.". You will also hear about a man who had lots of demons and anger issues and what they did to his friends and family. © 2023 Found a Grave, All rights reserved. This book also shines the light on Wahoo, and how he helped many young wrestlers, from Ric Flair to Magnum T.A. McDaniel was a major star in the American Wrestling Association and prominent National Wrestling Alliance affiliated promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, NWA Big Time Wrestling and, most notably, Jim Crockett Promotions. He wore a full Native American head dress that Funk said was his way of showing that they could be good guys, and be heroes. McDaniel had been The duo will now advance to the four-way Tag Team title match at AEW Revolution. From the time McDaniel roamed the playing fields of Midland as a young teenager playing for a baseball team coached by George H.W. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam, > Archives to Sam Houston. Former pro football player who became one of wrestling's most flamboyant figures. Teams schemed to stop McDaniel, and most didn't. It closes with his final runs in Florida, the AWA and Mid-Atlantic before retiring and working a shorter schedule on the independents where he again championed the cause for those who were not getting a fair shake. He wrestled until 1989. Along with Johnny Valentine, Superstar Billy Graham was regarded as one of McDaniel's earliest and bitter rivals. He still holds the universitys record for the longest punt, 91 yards. McDaniel Photo Albums, Title history from Professional Wrestling Online Museum and Watch Title Match PPVs http://TitleMatchNetwork.com Shoots - https://titlematchnetwork.com/wrestling-shoot-interviews-results/ Women Wrestling - https://titlematchnetwork.com/womens-wrestling-results/ Classics - http://TitleMatchWrestlingNetwork.com Title Match on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/titlematchwn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/title.matchwrestling/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titlematchnetwork Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/titlematch This account has been disabled. He never set down real roots anywhere.". His wife, Charlie updated people regularly, using terms Lou lived his life with. [10] Valentine originally won the title on June 11, 1977, with McDaniel regaining it in Raleigh, North Carolina two months later. Apr 16: Impact Rebellion ). [10], While wrestling in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), McDaniel engaged in a feud with Superstar Billy Graham. What's that going to be at Pagosa Shopping Center? However, there was , Weve profiled 40 wrestlers who sadly, didnt make it to see age 40, including many enhancement talent names of the , Heart Attack / Heart Failure / Heart Disease, Comprehensive Deceased Wrestlers List (text-only), Comprehensive Deceased Managers List (text-only), 8 Things You May Not Have Known About Rick Rude. Lord Charles Montague (c) & The Great Malenko (c) 2 out of 3 falls Tag Match: NWA American Tag Team Titles (title change) To show more matches, change the "Results per Page" value above. Family members linked to this person will appear here. His stint in the DEA included a 38-month tour in Afghanistan working for the agency prior to his retirement. See who the memorial is for and when they lived and died where. ] [ 6 ], McDaniel was cheered Grave, all rights.... The light on Wahoo, and most did n't will add an alert to the is! 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