The WWE has a few hours ago, announce the passing away of world most recognizable interviewer in Sports entertainment history, Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund at the age of 76.
In a statement released a few hours ago, WWE put out this words to mourn the death of Gene Okerlund:
“Mean Gene”, as he was named by fellow Minnesotan, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, first came to prominence as an interviewer in the American Wrestling Association. In 1984, Okerlund made the move to WWE where he became as recognizable as the Superstars he asked the tough questions to, including “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior and, perhaps Okerlund’s greatest guest, Hulk Hogan. Countless Hulkster interviews included the indelible phrase, “Well you know something ‘Mean’ Gene!”
As the respected and reliable man behind the microphone in WWE, Okerlund branched out from interviewing and provided ringside commentary and hosted several shows, including All-American Wrestling, Tuesday Night Titans, Wrestling Challenge and Prime Time Wrestling
Announcing wasn’t all that Mean could do with a microphone, as he performed the National Anthem at the first WrestleMania in 1985. Later that year, would sing “Tutti Frutti” on WWE’s The Wrestling Album.
In 1993, he joined WCW where he continued to interview many of the legends he had worked with in the AWA and WWE as well as WCW stalwarts like Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, Goldberg and others.
Okerlund returned to WWE in 2001 to call the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17 along with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and continued to appear on WWE television programming, including as a cast member on WWE Network’s Legends’ House.
WWE extends its condolences to Famer family, friends and fans.