The local pro wrestling community is remembering a legend in the business. “Mene” Gene Okerlund passed away today at the age of 76. Okerlund is best remembered for the interviews he conducted between matches for World Wrestling Entertainment (then known as World Wrestling Federation) in the 1980s and 1990s.
Scott Leslie is Promoter of Lakeland Pro Wrestling. He calls Okerlund “an icon”.
“One of the greatest interviewers of all time. Everybody knows Mene Gene, especially all the interviews he had done with Hulk Hogan.”
Okerlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. His cause of death has not yet been released. Leslie says the January 12th LLPW show will feature a tribute to the Okerlund.
“A lot of the guys here have met Mene Gene. Even if we didn’t work with him personally, he’s part of the wrestling family. That’s what we call it.”
Lakeland Pro Wrestling Chapter 2: Retribution is scheduled for January 12th at 7:30 pm at the Beaver River Fish and Game Building in Bonnyville. Leslie says tickets are still available. More information about LLPW is found on their Facebook page.