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Spotlight on Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert

Posted: Jan 21st 2025 By: Robert Segedy - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com

Born Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr, on August 4th, 1961, he was the son of a Memphis superstar Tommy Gilbert. Eddie Gilbert was a natural in the ring. Growing up he was exposed to watching local stars like Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett, however it was one individual that particularly caught his eye: Jerry “The King” Lawler. Years later Gilbert and Lawler would set Memphis on fire featuring one of the longest running and easily the most violent feuds ever witnessed. Starting out his career as a babyface, it wasn’t until Gilbert embraced his dark side and became a full-fledged heel that his greatness began to shine through.

The feud with Lawler included such extreme measures as head shaving, fireball throwing and sneak attacks that often led to his opponent to being stretchered out of the ring. Such over the top madness ultimately led to an angle where Gilbert lured Lawler out to the parking lot so he could hit him with a car. Gilbert was completely bad to the bone and the fans hated him with a fury that was uncommon. While wrestling in Mid-South Wrestling, Gilbert was constantly needled promoter and wrestler Cowboy Bill Watts. All of Gilbert’s actions were calculated for one ultimate result: to gain as much heat as humanely possible.

Later on, when Mid-South became the Universal Wrestling Federation, Gilbert would be paired with Missy Hyatt and they in turn formed the stable of Hyatt International and the duo became a force to be reckoned with. Later Gilbert would sign a pair of up-and-coming young stars named Rick Steiner and Sting and the rest is merely history.

Gilbert made his way through various organizations including the Global Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling for a couple of years before landing in and eventually becoming the booker for what was known as Eastern Championship Wrestling prior to being re-named Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Gilbert was an excellent athlete, but his true talents were his mind and his vast knowledge of angles when it came to booking. Gilbert was a true student of the game, and he had an acute understanding of crowd psychology and how to manipulate them to bring out the best from his fellow performers.

Gilbert debuted in the WWF in October 1982. He started out as enhancement talent but then was promoted to mid-card status; he was promoted as being the protégé of then WWF champion Bob Backlund.

In May 1983, Gilbert suffered a serious injury in a car accident including injuries to his neck, back, arms and chest. He actually ended up enduring plastic surgery to his face, which he concealed by growing a beard to hide the scars.

Gilbert returned to the ring in August 1983. He publicly stated on television that Backland had been a tremendous inspiration to him while he was in recovery. At a September 1983, TV taping Gilbert’s neck was reinjured (kayfabe) by the Masked Superstar who executed two neck breakers to Gilbert followed by a third on the cement floor ringside afterwards, resulting in Gilbert being stretchered to the back and then taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Gilbert continued wrestling for the WWF until March 1984.

n 1984-1986, Gilbert began wrestling in the CWA in Memphis, Tennessee, teaming up with his father and Ricky Morton. He also formed a team with Tommy Rich known as “Fargo’s Fabulous Ones” in an attempt to cash in on the fame of the previous incarnation of the Fabulous Ones, Steve Kern and Stan Lane, who lad left the territory after a dispute. Rich and Gilbert had held the AWA Southern Tag Team Titles in 1984, ultimately dropping the belts to Phil Dickerson and The Spoiler (Frank Morrell). Ultimately the duo broke up even after being awarded the “Tag Team of the Year” award by announcer Lance Russell. All of this resulted in a bloody angle between the two wrestlers as they repeatedly rammed each other’s head into the ring post.

UWF (1985-1987)

In 1985, Gilbert joined Bill Watts at the Universal Wrestling Federation (formerly known as Mid-South Wrestling). Gilbert had adopted the nick name of “Hot Stuff” and he started managing a heel group of wrestlers called “Hot Stuff International” consisting of Sting, Ultimate Warrior and Rick Steiner. In true heel fashion, Gilbert ultimately stole Missy Hyatt from John Tatum in 1986 and his stable was re-named as “H and H International Inc.” Additional members to be included were Iceman King Parsons and Dick Murdock.

As a booker Gilbert devised the infamous Battle of New Orleans angle in late 1987, which involved Chris Adams. Terry Taylor, Sting and Gilbert. The angle concluded with a huge brawl that spilled outside the ring into the concession stand and featured beer kegs, chairs, trash cans, tables and a popcorn machine. Gilbert was awarded Best Booker of 1988 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter; he would remain with the UWF until its purchase by Jim Crockett Promotions in April 1987.

JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS/NWA World Championship Wrestling (1987-1990).

In May 1987. Gilbert started wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) which had purchased UWF. He brought Hyatt, Paul Heyman, and his brother Doug Gilbert with him. Eddie teamed with Rick Steiner as the “first family” and he began a feud with Kevin Sullivan and his Varsity Club. He also became involved in a feud with Ric Flair and Barry Windham; he teamed with Ricky Steamboat and Lex Luger. Sources have it that Gilbert was told that he would be a future member of the Four Horsemen, but it did not materialize. It is most unfortunate that this event did not occur because Gilbert would have made an excellent choice to join the heel group. JCP was ultimately renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Gilbert saw the writing on the wall and departed in April 1990.

In May 1988, Gilbert started working for Alabama’s Continental Wrestling Federation (CWF) when he reformed Hot Stuff, Inc. Gilbert also served as a booker with Paul Heyman as his assistant.

Various Promotions 1990-1993

Gilbert left WCW in April 1990, and he also received a divorce from Missy Hyatt. Gilbert wanted to be the booker once again. He worked for the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) in Memphis and the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF) as well as Philadelphia’s Tri-State Wrestling Alliance promotion.

NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling (1993)

In 1993, Gilbert wrestled for the NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling alongside brother Doug. He acted as the head booker for nearly six months but vacated his position in September 1993 to Paul Heyman. At one point Gilbert owned 49% of the company.

Eddie Gilbert would continue to wrestle but would sadly pass away on February 18, 1995, from a fatal heart attack at the young age of 33. Gilbert was a true talent in the sport. Possibly not the biggest man in the ring but he surely had the biggest heart in the business.