Wrestling Families
Over the History of Wrestling there have been many great Families that have dazzled fans over generations with similarities to how the first generation operated. In this Blog series we will take a look at some of the greatest Wrestling families in the history of this great business.
For this next family I want to set the stage, this is before the days of the big promotions when the business was separated into different territories. What makes this family a great wrestling family is the roots they have in the business and this families roots start in 1963 when Larry "The Axe" Hennig entered the AWA under the tutelage of Verne Gage. Larry spent most of his career in a team with WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race they became multiple time AWA tag team champions. Also we can't forget the famous knee injury that Larry sustained which took him out of action. By the time Larry returned Harley was gone from the AWA as he left to join the NWA. In the early 1970's Larry was then in Florida where he teamed with another WWE Hall of Famer the named "Dirty" Dusty Rhodes. It wasn't to long though until he came back to the AWA but now Larry was a good guy instead of a bad guy like he was in his first run.
Also during Larry's second run in AWA his son debuted for the AWA his name "Cool" Curt Hennig. Hennig left the AWA after only two years to join WWE for years only to rejoin the AWA in 1984. It was during this run in the AWA that Hennig would win his only World Championship. Which he won on May 2nd 1987 from Nick Bockwinkle at the very first Superclash. He lost the title to Jerry Lawler in May 1988 and it wasn't after the title loss that Hennig would once again leave the AWA for the reason being that Verne was holding down the young talent. Once again Curt would return to the WWE and would not leave until 1996 for it was here in the WWF that he would develop the gimmick of Mr. Perfect which seemed like an extension of himself. In 1996 because of injury troubles the WWE wasn't letting Curt actively compete instead he was announcing and managing. But Curt still wanted to wrestle and for the that reason in 1997 he went to the WCW to wrestle. Over his tenure in the WCW Curt won the Tag Titles (Barry Windham), and held the United States title. But in 2000 Curt left WCW due to the nagging back injury and never returned to the WCW. A little about Curt, from the stories I have heard I have never heard anyone say a bad thing about Curt. I compare how people view Curt to how people view Owen Hart as well because they both were family men, good sense of humors, great ribbers, great men.
In 2002 Curt returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble but the run was short lived due to backstage problems on a overseas trip. Unfortunately, Curt passed away on February 10th 2003 this after a short feud with Jeff Jarrett in TNA. Curt was found dead in his hotel room in Florida. Both WWE & TNA aired video tributes for Curt on their next shows respectively. Nowadays the Hennig name is kind of still alive and well with Curt's son Joe carry on the legacy in WWE.
Even though Joe isn't under his real name of Joe Hennig and is named Michael McGillicutty he still carry on the legacy of his family. I believe Joe was given a different name when he came up because he was to green and didn't want him to be judged to soon. But well WWE never gives him TV time so who's fault is that in my opinion the Hennig's are one of the most respected families in wrestling.
10 years ago yesterday Curt passed away, I can't believe it's been 10 years since the Wrestling business lost the Perfect Wrestler. Curt is deeply missed by everyone in the business and all the fans who have seen him wrestle, cut a promo, or even heard his commentary. He wasn't just greatest, he wasn't just best, he was Absolutely Perfect!!!!!!
RIP "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcDGGDVgbC0
For this next family I want to set the stage, this is before the days of the big promotions when the business was separated into different territories. What makes this family a great wrestling family is the roots they have in the business and this families roots start in 1963 when Larry "The Axe" Hennig entered the AWA under the tutelage of Verne Gage. Larry spent most of his career in a team with WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race they became multiple time AWA tag team champions. Also we can't forget the famous knee injury that Larry sustained which took him out of action. By the time Larry returned Harley was gone from the AWA as he left to join the NWA. In the early 1970's Larry was then in Florida where he teamed with another WWE Hall of Famer the named "Dirty" Dusty Rhodes. It wasn't to long though until he came back to the AWA but now Larry was a good guy instead of a bad guy like he was in his first run.
Also during Larry's second run in AWA his son debuted for the AWA his name "Cool" Curt Hennig. Hennig left the AWA after only two years to join WWE for years only to rejoin the AWA in 1984. It was during this run in the AWA that Hennig would win his only World Championship. Which he won on May 2nd 1987 from Nick Bockwinkle at the very first Superclash. He lost the title to Jerry Lawler in May 1988 and it wasn't after the title loss that Hennig would once again leave the AWA for the reason being that Verne was holding down the young talent. Once again Curt would return to the WWE and would not leave until 1996 for it was here in the WWF that he would develop the gimmick of Mr. Perfect which seemed like an extension of himself. In 1996 because of injury troubles the WWE wasn't letting Curt actively compete instead he was announcing and managing. But Curt still wanted to wrestle and for the that reason in 1997 he went to the WCW to wrestle. Over his tenure in the WCW Curt won the Tag Titles (Barry Windham), and held the United States title. But in 2000 Curt left WCW due to the nagging back injury and never returned to the WCW. A little about Curt, from the stories I have heard I have never heard anyone say a bad thing about Curt. I compare how people view Curt to how people view Owen Hart as well because they both were family men, good sense of humors, great ribbers, great men.
In 2002 Curt returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble but the run was short lived due to backstage problems on a overseas trip. Unfortunately, Curt passed away on February 10th 2003 this after a short feud with Jeff Jarrett in TNA. Curt was found dead in his hotel room in Florida. Both WWE & TNA aired video tributes for Curt on their next shows respectively. Nowadays the Hennig name is kind of still alive and well with Curt's son Joe carry on the legacy in WWE.
Even though Joe isn't under his real name of Joe Hennig and is named Michael McGillicutty he still carry on the legacy of his family. I believe Joe was given a different name when he came up because he was to green and didn't want him to be judged to soon. But well WWE never gives him TV time so who's fault is that in my opinion the Hennig's are one of the most respected families in wrestling.
10 years ago yesterday Curt passed away, I can't believe it's been 10 years since the Wrestling business lost the Perfect Wrestler. Curt is deeply missed by everyone in the business and all the fans who have seen him wrestle, cut a promo, or even heard his commentary. He wasn't just greatest, he wasn't just best, he was Absolutely Perfect!!!!!!
RIP "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcDGGDVgbC0
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