Gene Okerlund

Early life; radio career Eugene Arthur Okerlund was born on December 19, 1942, in Brookings, South Dakota to Arthur and Helen Okerlund. He graduated from Sisseton High School in 1960.

Professional wrestling career

American Wrestling Association (1970–1983) In 1970, Okerlund left the radio industry for a position at the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he occasionally filled in for ailing ring announcer and interviewer Marty O'Neill, eventually becoming O'Neill's permanent replacement by the end of the decade. While there, Jesse "The Body" Ventura gave him the moniker "Mean Gene". His first interview was with Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan, acting terrified when both were jumped from behind. At Survivor Series 1990, Okerlund hosted the hatching of the Gobbledy Gooker (played by Héctor Guerrero). As fans in attendance started to boo, a rock and roll rendition of "Turkey in the Straw" began to play and Okerlund and the Gooker danced in the ring. He hosted WWE Confidential in 2002, which lasted for two years. by Hulk Hogan. In June 2008, Okerlund began hosting WWE Vintage Collection, a program which showcases archive footage from the extensive WWE video library. In November 2016, Okerlund became the narrator for the WWE Network original animated series WWE Story Time, keeping that spot until his death with Jerry Lawler taking over the voiceover work for the show.

On January 22, 2018, at WWE Raw 25 Years, Okerlund made his final WWE appearance where he interviewed the then WWE Champion, AJ Styles.

Other media On November 12, 1985, Okerlund, along with Hulk Hogan, Bobby Heenan, Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith, Corporal Kirchner, Dynamite Kid and Big John Studd, appeared on The A-Team. That same year, Okerlund even interviewed Liberace (one of the highest paid entertainers at the time) at his penthouse at Trump Tower.

In 2018, Okerlund appeared in a Mountain Dew Kickstart commercial featuring Kevin Hart who during the commercial semi-impersonated Randy Savage.

He made an appearance at the WrestleCade 2018 weekend event that took place November 23–25, 2018 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In contrast to his nickname "Mean Gene", Okerlund throughout the years was considered the friendliest person in the game by many wrestlers and promotion staff.

Awards and accomplishments Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2019 New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2005 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2016 World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)