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WWE’s First Female Ring Announcer Was an Oklahoma State Graduate

WWE’s First Female Ring Announcer Was an Oklahoma State Graduate

Posted: Apr 8th 2021 By: Seth Duckworth - PistolsFiringBlog.com

An interesting footnote in Oklahoma State history

WrestleMania is the biggest event of the year for WWE, and it takes place this weekend in Tampa, Florida. As the opportunity arises, I always like to connect unique stories to Oklahoma State, and here is one of those opportunities.

It’s somewhat rare that I come come across historical stories related to Oklahoma State wrestling that I don’t already have some level of knowledge on. In covering Oklahoma State for years, I’d never stumbled across this one and thought it was worth sharing.

I wrote a few months ago about the Oklahoma State legacy in professional wrestling. It’s quite impressive and includes a number of Hall of Famers in the industry.

One of the most notable Oklahoma State grads in pro wrestling was Leroy McGuirk. He wrestled for Ed Gallagher and was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma A&M and a NCAA champion in 1931. He ended up as the NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion and a wrestling promoter in Tulsa for years. Famed announcer Jim Ross even recently credited him on Twitter for giving him his start in professional wrestling.

Mr. McGuirk had a daughter in 1955, Michael Kathleen McGuirk, and seemingly passed on a bit of his professional wrestling acumen to her, though it’s said he never actually wanted her to go into a career for it.

Mike McGuirk grew up in Tulsa and later attended William Woods University then Oklahoma State from 1974 to 1978 and graduated from OSU with a degree in broadcasting. She did some indirect work with the WWE, at the time WWF, lending them some of their families’ wrestling rings when they worked in the Oklahoma area.

This story, written in 2017 by Kari Williams, details her career in the WWF and the barriers she broke as she became the first female WWF ring announcer and the first female commentator in the industry.

Extending beyond the significance of being the first female ring announcer in the WWF, she was also the announcer for some huge moments in the industry. In a debut for the Undertaker, before his actual debut a few days later, she announced one of his first entrances ever.

Not only was she the first female ring announcer, but she also was one of the first women to do ringside commentary for the WWE.

She did her last show on Halloween in 1993.

In a 2017 interview, McGuirk credits her experience at Oklahoma State for the positive impact it had on her career.

“I believe watching all those years and hearing various announcers, some really good, and the voice training I had at William Woods and at Oklahoma State University in broadcasting had an impact on my presentation and timing,” McGuirk said.

It’s just a really interesting footnote in all of the stories regarding Oklahoma State, to learn that such a significant person in the professional wrestling industry has ties to the school, and via her father, also to the wrestling program.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title

Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07

  • 11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
  • 11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
  • 11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
  • 11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
  • 11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
  • 11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
  • 11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
  • 11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
  • 11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
  • 11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
  • 11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
  • 11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions
11-05
  • Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th Today!
  • David Jason Rose Nov 5th Today!
  • Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th Today!
  • Chris Chaos Nov 5th Today!
  • Bill Decker Nov 5th Today!
  • Darin Matthews Nov 6th
  • Brian Faith Nov 6th
  • Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
  • Lu Kim Nov 6th
  • Ken Patera Nov 6th
  • King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
  • Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
  • Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
  • Keith Watkins Nov 7th
  • Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
  • Joey Ryan Nov 7th
  • Silverado Nov 7th
  • Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
  • Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
  • Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
  • Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
  • Nick Patrick Nov 9th
  • Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
  • Lance Osburn Nov 9th
  • Kolossus Nov 9th
  • Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
  • Joyce Grable Nov 9th
  • Gil Knutson Nov 9th
  • Prince Tapu Nov 10th
  • Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
  • Danny Savich Nov 10th
  • Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
  • Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
  • Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
  • Green Dragon Nov 11th
  • Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
  • Alex Perez Nov 11th
  • Little Cloud Nov 11th
  • Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
  • Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
  • Gary Tool Nov 12th
  • Thud Powell Nov 12th
  • Varik Vayne Nov 12th
  • Ty Thunder Nov 12th
  • Austin Tacious Nov 12th
  • Brett Taylor Nov 12th
  • L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
  • Big Smooth Nov 13th
  • Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
  • Shane Sanders Nov 14th
  • Tiny Bell Nov 14th
  • Kirk Castle Nov 14th
  • Killer Cross Nov 15th
  • Killer Cross Nov 15th
  • Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
  • Super Beast Nov 15th
  • Sean Pearl Nov 15th
  • Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
  • Kenny K Nov 17th
  • Johnny Graves Nov 17th
  • Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
  • Drake Gallows Nov 17th
  • Snowman Nov 17th
  • Josh Hogan Nov 17th
  • Chase Bristow Nov 17th
  • Kikutaro Nov 17th
  • Brent Wall Nov 17th
  • Reaper Nov 18th
  • Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
  • Chris Russo Nov 18th

More Look Back In History

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Michael HayesJerry LawlerJay StrongbowTed DiBiaseJunkyard DogWWEDanny HodgeBill WattsNWAJim RossUWF