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Ox Baker

Nickname: The Fabulous; The Great Heart Puncher; The Babe

Height: 6' 5"

Weight: 342 lbs.

From: Waterloo, IA

Birthday: Apr 19th

Pro Debut: 1962

Aliases: The Ox, Doug Baker, Bob Baker

Feds Worked For: MSW, NWA-West, TSW, WCCW, AWA, NWA, WWWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All Star Wrestling (NE/SD), All-South Wrestling Alliance (GA), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Georgia (GA), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Eastern Sports Association (Canada), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Association, International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan), M & M Promotions (NM/AZ), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mike London Sports (AZ/CO/NM), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA/DC), National Wrestling Superstars (NJ), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Big Time Wrestling (CA), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA Mid-America (AL/TN), Southeast Championship Wrestling (AL/TN), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Top Rope Promotions (MA), Ultimate Championship Wrestling (FL), United States Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling (Australia), World Wrestling Alliance (IN), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico)

Finisher: The Hurt Punch (Heart Punch)

Career Highlights: -ASWA Georgia Television Champion
-ASWA United States Champion
-AWA Midwest Tag Team Champion (3x; 1 each w/ Rock Rogowski, The Great Kusatsu, and The Claw)
-IWA North American Champion
-NWA American Champion (2x)
-NWA Americas Tag Team Champion (w/ Enforcer Luciano)
-NWA Australasian Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ King Kamaka, 1 w/ Butcher Brannigan)
-NWA (Calgary) Canadian Champion
-NWA (Central States) North American Tag Team Champion (w/ Luke Brown)
-NWA (Detroit) United States Champion
-NWA (Florida) Southern Champion
-NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (w/ Billy Graham)
-NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (w/ Skandar Akbar)
-NWA Gulf Coast Champion
-NWA (Los Angeles) World Tag Team Champion (w/ Enforcer Luciano)
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (w/ Carl Fergie)
-NWA (New Zealand) British Empire/Commonwealth Champion
-NWA Southeastern Champion
-NWA Texas Champion
-NWF North American Champion
-Stampede North American Champion
-WWA Champion
-WWA Tag Team Champion (w/ Chuck O'Connor)
-WWC Universal Champion
-WWC Puerto Rican Champion

Affiliates: The Russian Brute, John Walters, Rock Rogowski, The Claw, The Great Kusatsu, Arman Hussein, Butcher Brannigan, Billy Graham, Skandar Akbar, Luke Brown, Chuck O'Connor, Jimmy Hart, Oliver Humperdink, King Kamaka, Enforcer Luciano, Carl Fergie, Fala, Koko B. Ware, The World Famous TV Clown, Brandon Webb

Notable Feuds: Harley Race, Bob Ellis, Bruiser Brody, John Studd, Dusty Rhodes, Ernie Ladd, Mongolian Stomper/Archie Gouldie, Rusher Kimura, Jos LeDuc, Dick the Bruiser, Ray Candy, Ronnie Garvin, The Assassin, Argentina Apollo, Johnny Weaver, S. D. Jones, El Mongol, Jack Brisco, Black Jack Daniels/Mr. Robust/Newton Tattrie/Geto Mongol, André the Giant, Kevin Sullivan, Jimmy Hart, Bobby Eaton, Koko Ware, Jim Neidhart, Iron Sheik, King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude, Eddie Gilbert, Randy Savage, Dream Machine, Porkchop Cash, Tommy Rich, Kendo Nagasaki, Kamala, Larry Latham, Lanny Poffo, Masao Ito, Austin Idol, Norvell Austin, Dennis Condrey, Sabu the Wildman, Chick Donovan, Wayne Ferris, Buddy Landel, Andy Kaufman, Len Denton, Jim Cornette, Hugo Savinovich, The Grand Wizard

Other Facts: -Real name was Douglas Baker
-Father of pro wrestler Ox Baker, Jr.
-Trained for pro wrestling by Bob Geigel, Buddy Austin, and Pat O'Connor
-As Doug Baker, he used the nickname "Ox"
-Sometimes billed from Death Valley, CA
-Alberto Torres and Ray Gunkel both died during matches with Baker. Publicly, the Heart Punch was credited with their deaths, but in reality, neither death was due to Baker.
-Baker changed the name of The Heart Punch to The Hurt Punch out of respect to Stan Stasiak, the originator of The Heart Punch
-Was a major part of Hulk Hogan's first face turn.
-Former member of The First Family (CWA version)
-Former member of Neidhart's Raiders
-In 1988, Baker retired from pro wrestling and in following years he opened "Ox Baker's Wrestling School" becoming a well renowned trainer of future Stars and champions such as The Russian Brute and The Night Stalker (later known as Bryan Clarke).
-Worked at U. S. Security Associates in Connecticut after retirement
-Published a cook book in which each recipe is accompanied by a story about an old time wrestler
-Has also published a children's coloring book and recorded a music CD
-Appeared on the game show "The Price Is Right" in 1981.
-Appeared in the movies "The Big Brawl" in 1980, "Escape from New York" in 1981, "Blood Circus" in 1985, "I Like to Hurt People" in 1985, and "Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear" in 2013. Footage of Baker appeared in the movie "360 Days" in 2018.
-"I Like to Hurt People" was an extensive documentary on Baker's life and career was filmed and directed by Billy Gram, and shot by Robert Lucas. At last word the film is still in post production with a working title of "I Love the People I Hurt-The Life and Legend of the Mighty Ox Baker". Also filmed during this time was a short comedy feature titled "My Smorgasbord with Ox", co-written and co-starring Ox and Gram. A very crude, rough cut of this film exists, Ox sold copies at personal appearances.
-Inducted into the EWF Hall of Fame in 1997
-An Ox Baker action figure was created by Figures Toy Company for their Legends of Professional Wrestling series in 2001
-Passed away October 20, 2014 due to complications from a heart attack at the age of 80.
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2014
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Heroes in 2014