Nickname(s): The
Man, The Lariat, The Bad Man from Borger
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 322 lbs
From: Borger, TX
Birthday: Oct 12
Pro Debut: November 1974
Feds worked for: TSW,
NWA, WWWF,
AWA, Eastern Championship Wrestling (PA), All-Japan, Pacific Wrestling Federation (Japan), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico)
Finisher: Western Lariat
Signature Moves: Brazos Valley Backbreaker (Boston Crab), Elbow Drop
Career Highlights: -AWA International Champion
-AWA Mid-American TV Champion
-AWA World Champion
-AJPW International Tag Team Champion (w/
Ron Bass)
-AJPW Triple Crown Champion (3x)
-AJPW Unified Tag Team Champion (9x; 3 each w/
Terry Gordy and Genichiro Tenryu; 1 each w/ Gary Albright, Dan Spivey, and
Ted DiBiase)
-AJPW United National Champion
-NWA Columbus Champion
-NWA Georgia Champion (2x)
-NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (3x, 2 w/ Tommy Rich, 1 w/ Ole Anderson)
-NWA International Champion
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion (w/ Ole Anderson)
-NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (w/
Tim Brooks)
-NWA United States Champion
-NWF Champion
-PWF Champion (4x)
-PWF Tag Team Champion (4x; 2 w/ Ted DiBiase; 1 each w/
Bruiser Brody & Austin Idol)
-TSW North American Champion
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (w/
Frank Goodish)
Affiliates: Ole Anderson, Bruiser Brody, Ted DiBiase, Freddie Blassie,
Buck Robley, Larry Sharpe
Notable Feuds: Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Bob Backlund, Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kaboshi,
Steve Williams, Lex Luger, Tommy Rich
Other Facts: -Was stripped of the AWA World Title when he left the arena and refused to defend against Nick Bockwinkel because he felt that Bockwinkel was not worthy. AWA officials claimed he was stripped of the title because he defended the title in Japan without permission.
-Paved the way for American Heavyweights who would make their marks in Japan, such as
Vader,
Bam Bam Bigelow, "Dr Death" Steve Williams, Terry Gordy and Gary Albright.
-Was the first gaijin wrestler (foreigner) to have beaten Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba
-Was the top gaijin to have dominated New Japan and All Japan
-On February 10, 1990, during the course of a match between Hansen and
Big Van Vader, Hansen knocked Vader's eye out of its socket
-Played a role in the movie No Holds Barred, starring Hulk Hogan and Zeus (Tiny Lister)
-Hansen remained loyal to Giant Baba and All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1982 until his retirement
-Inducted into the Puroreso Hall of Fame in 1997.
-Was well known for breaking Bruno Sammartino's neck
-During his run in
WCW, would often wrestle his match while chewing his chewing tobacco and would then spit some of the tobacco on the chest of his defeated opponent.
-Currently living in Colorado and teaching Driver's Education.
-Voted Most Hated Wrestler by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1976
-Won the Match of Year Award as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1976 (vs. Bruno Sammartino)
-Ranked # 24 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 48 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 31 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 77 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 69 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked # 66 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked # 62 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked # 89 in the 1998 PWI 500
-Ranked # 214 in the 1999 PWI 500
-Ranked # 239 in the 2000 PWI 500
