May 18th 2024 05:25am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Bios

Danny Hodge

Danny Hodge

Nickname: Dynamite

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 220 lbs

From: Perry, OK

Birthday: May 13th

Pro Debut: October 7, 1959

Aliases: Dan Hodge

Feds Worked For: TSW, AACW, MStW, NWA, Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), TWWA, Mid-South Wrestling (AR)

Finisher: Oklahoma Roll

Signature Moves: Hodge Headlock, Abdominal Stretch, KO Punch

 

Career Highlights: -JWA International Tag Team Champion
-Nebraska Tag Team Champion (w/ Reggie Parks)
-NWA International Tag Team Champion (w/ Wilbur Snyder)
-NWA (Mid-America) United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Lester Welch)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (w/ Shag Thomas)
-NWA Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ Mario Milano)
-NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion (8x)
-TSW North American Champion (3x)
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (6x; 3 w/ Skandar Akbar, 1 each w/ Lorenzo Parente, Luke Brown, and Jay Clayton)
-TWWA Champion
-USA Tag Team Champion (3x; all w/ Skandar Akbar)

Affiliates: Roy Welch, Jay Clayton, Shag Thomas, Wilbur Snyder, Skandar Akbar, Dale Lewis, Slam Shady, Reggie Parks, Lester Welch, Mario Milano, Lorenzo Parente, Luke Brown

Notable Feuds: Tarzan Baxter, Soldat Gorky, Haru Sasaki, Duke Keomuka, Skandar Akbar, Buck Robley, Angelo Savoldi, Hiro Matsuda, Sputnik Monroe, Chuck Karbo, Karl Von Steiger, Mr. Ito, Lorenzo Parente, El Medico, Roger Kirby, Dr. X

Other Facts: -Began training for fighting because he felt he never fit in anywhere after his home burned down when he was 12. His mom was severely injured in that accident and required 52 blood transfusions and countless skin grafts.
-Was all state junior high school wrestling champion
-Was state champion in wrestling for Perry High School in 1951.
-Graduated from Perry High School
-Wrestled collegiately for the University of Oklahoma
-Was a 4 time National AAU Champion
-Was National AAU Champion for 174 lbs. from 1954-55
-Was National Intercollegiate Champion for 174 lbs. for 1955, 1956, and 1957.
-Boasts a Collegiate Record of 46 wins & 0 losses. He made 24 consecutive pins in his college career.
-Won 3 consecutive Big Seven Championships, pinning all opponents, with an average mat time of 1:33.
-Competed in freestyle wrestling in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, placing 5th due to a botched referee's call.
-Was National AAU Greco-Roman Champion for 191 lbs. for 1956
-Outstanding Wrestler National AAU in 1956 in both free-style and Greco-Roman Divisions. He pinned all his opponents.
-Won Silver Medal for U.S. Olympic Team in Greco-Roman Wrestling in 1956.
-Won NCAA Championship 3 times
-Was also a Golden Gloves compiling an 8-2 record
-The Danny Hodge Trophy named after him is virtually the wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.
-Trained for pro wrestling by Ed Lewis
-Defeated Sasha the Great in his pro debut.
-Only man to hold National Championships in Boxing and Wrestling at the same time.
-The first pro wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
-Has appeared in 3 movies, "The Wrestler" in 1974, "The Wrestling Queen" in 1975, and "One More Shot" in 1996"
-Career ended on March 17, 1976 following a car accident that broke his neck and nearly took his life
-Former commissioner of Mid-States Wrestling
-Even at his current advanced age, he still possesses incredible strength, capable of crushing apples with his bare hands. This strength came by pulling double sheets of newspaper into a ball with his fingers, reversing then repeating all day and night Monday through Friday.
-When CB radios were popular, Hodge used the handle "Ringmaster" on the long trips between shows and entertained truckers with his stories.
-Only pro wrestler to have his photo on the cover of his hometown phone book.
-Chairman of the Oklahoma Boxing Commission
-Was named one of the 15 greatest college wrestlers of all-time in March 2005
-Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1976
-Inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1994
-Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame in 2000
-On March 29, 2005, Danny Hodge was honored by Oklahoma state lawmakers as an "Oklahoma Sports Hero"
-Was honored on September 30, 2006 in Paris, AR where the city made it "Danny Hodge Day" to celebrate his life
-Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000
-Won the Cauliflower Alley Club's Lou Thesz Award in 2007
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2010
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Heroes in 2010
-Passed away December 25, 2020 at the age of 88. He had been suffering from dementia for several years and rarely made public appearances after 2014.
-Posthumously inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021

Supplemental Information

Polling Booth

Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

You must be logged in to cast votes

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1979 Mark Lewin became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Champion

Week of Sun 05-12 to Sat: 05-18

  • 05-12 2002 Rocco Valentino became the OCW Oklahoma Television Champion
  • 05-12 2012 The New Era [2nd] (Richie Adams & Goldeneye) def. The Dramatic Athletes (Jake McCoy & X-Cal) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-12 2012 Venus became the IZW Queens Champion
  • 05-12 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Bobby Starr for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-12 2013 Impact, Inc. (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Shawn Sanders & Tyson Jaymes for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Garrett Murphy became the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Big Smooth def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Brayden def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Gavin Dixon def. Mikey [2nd] for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2023 Ronnie Morton def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-13 1979 Wahoo McDaniel def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 1984 Magnum T. A. def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2006 Justin Lee def. Gary Gram for the NWA-U X Division Champion
  • 05-13 2012 Les Mayne became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-13 2016 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-13 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 05-13 2017 Garrett Murphy def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Lunchador def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Rush Freeman became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 05-14 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 1975 Danny Miller def. Skandor Akbar for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Butch Dalton def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Devon Monroe def. Mitch Carter for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2005 John O'Malley became the IZW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-14 2005 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Dory Funk for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 1962 Bull Curry def. Jack Dalton [1st] for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-15 2010 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Bobby Star) def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2015 Charlie Haas def. Jerome Daniels for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2021 Killbane def. The Canadian Red Devil for the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-16 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Akbar Army (Jerry Brown & Ron McFarlane) for the TSW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 1983 Chris Adams def. Terry Gordy for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-16 2009 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Team Bull (Aaron Neil & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 Clint Cassidy def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Brett Stopp def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brett Stopp for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 1965 Bull Curry def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-17 1986 Bruiser Brody def. Rick Rude for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-17 1987 The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) def. Rick Steiner & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 1996 The Bad Boyz (Krull Danzig & Brett Knight) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) for the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 2008 El Super Colibri def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York def. Brett Taylor for the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-17 2009 Kevin Morgan became the AWFUL Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2014 The Sexy Camachos (Angel Camacho & Roberto Camacho & Vinnie Camacho) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1979 Mark Lewin became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-18 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 05-18 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 05-18 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Champion
05-18
  • J. R. Wind May 18th Today!
  • Akuma Jones May 18th Today!
  • Kristopher Haiden May 18th Today!
  • Jimmy Snuka May 18th Today!
  • Luna Nightshade May 18th Today!
  • Gajo May 18th Today!
  • Matt Riviera May 18th Today!
  • Dick Slater May 19th
  • Andre the Giant May 19th
  • Bateman May 19th
  • Will Chambers May 19th
  • Buzz Markley May 19th
  • Mongol May 19th
  • Dale Veasey May 20th
  • Chuey Martinez May 21st
  • Ivan Kalmikoff May 21st
  • Babyface D'Amanti May 23rd
  • Donna Christanello May 23rd
  • Slash May 23rd
  • Santana Jackson May 23rd
  • Shane Rawls May 24th
  • Gemini [2nd] May 24th
  • Ricky Romero May 24th
  • Lucas May 24th
  • Dominique Lereaux May 25th
  • Quarky Storm May 25th
  • Dark Journey May 25th
  • Michael York May 25th
  • Guy Atticus May 25th
  • Reggie Lincoln May 26th
  • Tank Bryson May 26th
  • Michael Duplanti May 26th
  • Justin Adams May 26th
  • Crucifer May 27th
  • Kelly Kiniski May 27th
  • Jim Thorpe May 28th
  • Edge Stone May 28th
  • Kamala May 28th
  • Maria Star May 28th
  • Dean Lambert May 28th
  • Psycho Mike May 29th
  • Max McGuirk May 29th
  • Samu May 29th
  • Jimmy Kane May 29th
  • Boss Hardzog May 30th
  • Jesse Storm May 30th
  • Jake Roberts May 30th
  • Mascara Purpura May 31st
  • Fuel May 31st

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1

Top Viewed Bios

Dances With Dudley Jake Hager Ky-Ote Brent Albright Brandon Groom