'Mean' Gene Okerlund dies at 76, WWE announces
Cast members Gene Okerlund and Hillbilly Jim attend the WWE screening of 'Legends' House' at Smith & Wollensky on April 15, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for WWE)
FOX NEWS - Legendary wrestling announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund died at the age of 76, WWE announced Wednesday.
Okerlund was one of the more recognizable names in sports entertainment with his career spanning the American Wrestling Association, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Okerlund rose to prominence with his interviews with Jesse “The Body” Ventura, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan. He would conduct backstage and in-ring interviews as well as provide commentary at the broadcast announce table.
Ventura gave Okerlund the moniker “Mean Gene” though he was widely considered one of the friendliest people in the wrestling business.