Gary Hart

Professional wrestling career Early career (1960–1979) Gary Hart started wrestling in Chicago at the Marigold Arena in 1960. His uncle, Billy Gates, worked as a booking agent for Chicago promoter Fred Kohler. After working in Chicago, he worked in Detroit until 1964. He then worked on and off in Australia under Jim Barnett until 1974 when he relocated with Barnett to Atlanta becoming involved in Georgia Championship Wrestling. After Georgia, he worked in Florida in 1975 managing Pak Song Nam.

In the late 1960s, he retired from in-ring competition and transitioned into a managerial role, going under the name "Playboy" Gary Hart. During the late 1960s, he managed The Spoiler, as well as the tag team duo The Spoilers, which consisted of Spoilers #1 (Don Jardine) and #2 (Smasher Sloan). They won several tag team titles in 1968 and 1969 under Hart's guidance.

On February 20, 1975, Hart, along with Austin Idol and Bobby Shane, were passengers on a Cessna 182 flown by wrestler Buddy Colt that crashed into Tampa Bay while attempting to land at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, Florida. Shane was killed and the other three men suffered serious injuries. Hart was thrown from the plane into the water with a broken arm, wrist, knee, back, sternum, collarbone and vertebrae with his right eye knocked loose and his nose partially severed. Despite this, he managed to locate Idol and help him to shore, then swam back out to rescue Colt. However, Hart was unable to find Shane, who was later found still strapped into his seat in the submerged plane wreckage. Hart was reportedly plagued by the memory, and for decades wondered whether he had done everything he could to save Shane.

Championships and accomplishments Big Time Wrestling NWA American Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with The Spoiler National Wrestling Alliance NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2018) WWE WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)