Arnold Skaaland

Early life Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he decided to become a professional wrestler.

Managerial appearances Skaaland managed Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund, with both men winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship under his tutelage. In 1978, Skaaland retired from regular wrestling, though he occasionally appeared as a late substitute for wrestlers that couldn't make a show. Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Skaaland Manager of the Year for 1978 and 1979. Backlund's lengthy reign ended on December 26, 1983, when Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was trapped in the camel clutch, the finishing move of challenger The Iron Sheik.

Skaaland appeared in the 1987 music video for the title track from Piledriver - The Wrestling Album 2, "Piledriver" by Koko B. Ware as the foreman of a construction site. In 1994, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1994 for managing both Sammartino and Backlund to the (W)WWF World Heavyweight Championship. He appeared on WWF television later that year, with Backlund attacking him in order to consolidate his heel turn.

Personal life Skaaland was married to Betty Skaaland. They had three sons: Edward Patrick, James Allen, and George (the last of whom briefly competed as a wrestler in the mid-1980s).

Death Skaaland died on March 13, 2007, at the age of 82, with his wife by his side. He had been sick for some time. He is interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Championships and accomplishments Cauliflower Alley Club Other honoree (1994) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Manager of the Year (1978, 1979) World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Spiros Arion WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1994) Slammy Award (1 time) Lifetime Achievement Award (1997)