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Hot Stuff: Remembering the genius of Eddie Gilbert

Posted: Dec 25th 2021 By: Ryan K. Boman - Sportskeeda.com

Eddie Gilbert was a pure and natural fit for the professional wrestling business from the very day he was born.

Born Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr. in 1961, he was the son of Tommy Gilbert, a legend in the Memphis territory. Young Eddie Gilbert grew up watching local stars like Jackie Fargo, Jerry Jarrett and Tojo Yamamoto command the ring. But one star in particular -- Jerry 'The King' Lawler -- really caught his eye.

Years later, he engaged in one of the longest-running and most violent feuds in Memphis wrestling history with Lawler, the man he idolized as a young grappler just getting started in the ring.

Even then, Gilbert showed an aptitude for commanding the crowd. Despite wrestling his first few years as a babyface, it was his eventual foray into the world of heeldom where he really blossomed.

Turns out, Eddie Gilbert really knew how to get under people's skins

During the feud with Lawler, there was head shaving, fireball throwing, and sneak attacks that led to an opponent being taken out of action for a while. At one point, Eddie Gilbert lured The King out to the parking lot so he could hit him with a car!

These days, with the use of stunt men and special effects, angles like this are now much more commonplace. But in the 1980s they caused fans to nearly riot.

Gilbert pulled similar hijinks in Mid-South Wrestling, where he constantly agitated promoter and legendary wrestler Cowboy Bill Watts.

At one point, Hot Stuff came out and apologized to Watts for associating with the Russian team during the height of the Cold War. Watts accepted his explanation, only to have Gilbert turn the tables, attacking Watts and draping the Soviet flag over his prone body.

Later, when Mid-South became the Universal Wrestling Federation, he would form the stable Hot Stuff & Hyatt International with his main squeeze, Missy Hyatt. She was as irritating as he was, and this dastardly duo wreaked havoc on the promotion. They soon signed a couple of promising young stars named Rick Steiner and Sting. The rest, as they say, is history.

Gilbert bounced around the Continental area, the Global Wrestling Federation and WCW for a few years, finding success (albeit briefly) at every stop. Eventually, he became the booker with Eastern Championship Wrestling, before it went to the Extreme.

Eddie Gilbert was a great athlete, but his most valuable asset was his mind and acumen for the wrestling industry

One of Gilbert's dreams was to eventually become the head booker for a major pro wrestling company, and he got very close to that opportunity. Given the right time and the right talent, Hot Stuff could have been a force for any federation in the world.

His acute understanding of crowd psychology and his willingness to push the envelope just enough would have rubbed off on his performers, and he surely would have been one of the most innovative minds of the 90s and beyond.

But it didn't exactly work out that way.

On February 18, 1995, Gilbert was found dead in his apartment in Puerto Rico. The cause of death was officially listed as a heart attack. With Hot Stuff's passing, the world lost one of the true talents of his era.

Although Eddie Gilbert wrestled for a couple of years with WWE very early in his career, it's possible that he will never be inducted into their Hall of Fame. If he is, it will likely be as part of the Legacy Wing and he'll get about a 30-second photo collage on the broadcast.

That's a shame because Eddie Gilbert should be recognized for the genius he was. Whether it was coming up with something diabolical for his own character, or scripting out an angle for other performers, he had a bit of a magic touch.

Eddie Gilbert possessed a gift that just can't be taught

It was a gift of burning passion for pro wrestling. And in some ways, Hot Stuff's flame still burns brightly today.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

Week of Sun 11-08 to Sat: 11-14

11-08 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
11-08 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
11-08 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
11-08 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-08 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
11-08 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
11-08 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title
11-09 1960 Danny McShain became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
11-09 1976 The Spoiler def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
11-09 1978 Ron Bass became the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
11-09 1986 One Man Gang def. Terry Gordy for the UWF Heavyweight Title
11-09 1986 Savannah Jack def. Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Title
11-09 1986 Bill Irwin & Leroy Brown def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the UWF Tag Team Titles
11-09 2002 Sonny C def. Butch Dalton for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
11-09 2002 Dexter Hardaway def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-09 2012 Kyle Kelly def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-09 2012 The Swamp Men (Amphibian & Reptile) def. The Legion of Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
11-09 2013 Michael Wolf def. Kidd Krash for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
11-09 2013 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Richard Sharpe) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
11-09 2013 Kidd Krash def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
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11-09 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) def. The Grudge (Dr. Corvus & Giganto) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
11-10 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
11-10 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
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11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
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11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Title
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11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
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11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez (subbing for Big Smooth) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
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11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
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11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
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11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
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11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
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11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Title
11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Title
11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Title
11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title

11-08

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1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

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Oklafan.com v5 Beta

Hot Stuff: Remembering the genius of Eddie Gilbert

Posted: Dec 25th 2021 By: Ryan K. Boman - Sportskeeda.com

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