Gary Hart (wrestler)
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| Gary Williams | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Gary Hart "Playboy" Gary Hart |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Billed weight | 239 lb (108 kg) |
| Born | January 24, 1942 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | March 16, 2008 (aged 66) Euless, Texas |
| Debut | 1963 |
| Retired | 1999 |
Gary Hart, birthname Gary Richard Williams[1], (January 24, 1942 – March 16, 2008) was a former professional wrestling manager, as well as a professional wrestler in his early career. Hart was one of the pivotal driving forces behind what is considered to be World Class Championship Wrestling's "golden years" in the early 1980s.
[edit] Career
[edit] Early career
Gary Hart started out as a wrestler in 1963 in the Illinois and Wisconsin territories.[2] In the late 1960s, he became a manager called "Playboy" Gary Hart.
[edit] World Class Championship Wrestling (1979-1987)
Gary Hart became the booker for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW; then known as Big Time Wrestling) in 1979, a position he held on and off until 1987. Hart is largely credited (alongside Bill Mercer, Fritz and David Von Erich) with the success of WCCW, as 1982-1985 are largely considered to be the "Golden Years" of the promotion. Hart created the classic feud between the Von Erichs and the Fabulous Freebirds, as well as introducing memorable characters like the Great Kabuki, Great Muta, King Kong Bundy, the One Man Gang and the Samoan Swat Team. Hart additionally discovered talent such as Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams. Along with booking, he also managed Nord the Barbarian, Abdullah The Butcher, Al Perez and Jeep Swenson under the stable "New Age Management", and always feuded with the top faces of the promotion. In 1984, Hart managed Gentleman Chris Adams, who turned heel and engaged in a major feud with Kevin and Kerry Von Erich. As a result, Adams was propelled to the top of the wrestling world and eventually won the NWA American title in 1985.
[edit] Hart in the Georgia and Mid-Atlantic regions of the NWA
During World Class' golden era, Hart was also a manager in the Georgia and Mid-Atlantic regions of the NWA; joining these two areas exclusively in 1983 shortly after the start of the Freebirds-Von Erichs feud, when he left World Class due to a pay dispute. Hart returned to Texas in the summer of 1984 and following a short hiatus in 1986; stayed with the federation until 1988. Hart was also a promoter and manager in San Antonio for Texas All-Star Wrestling, the successor of Joe Blanchard's Southwest Championship Wrestling group; and featured most of the SCW wrestlers, as well as a handful of World Class names (including Chris Adams, Scott Casey and Bruiser Brody).
[edit] Hart looking after all of the wrestlers, face or heel
Despite being a heel manager, Hart always looked after all of the wrestlers, face or heel. During one instance, when Adams smashed a wooden chair onto the head of Kevin Von Erich during the 1984 Cotton Bowl event, he noticed blood coming out of Kevin's head. Hart immediately told Adams to exit the ring and return to the dressing room, and advised ring announcer Ralph Pulley that medical aid may be needed. During another bout in 1985, he revived Iceman King Parsons following a sleeperhold applied on him by Mark Lewin.
[edit] Noteworthy interviews
Hart, who was known for delivering excellent ringside interviews, participated in one of World Class' most famous outside the ring interviews, when he sat down with Bill Mercer in a 1985 interview outside of Hart's home to talk about his rift with Chris Adams. The interview, which was done on one take, featured Hart pounding the glass table continously with his fist, calling Adams an egotistical maniac but a very bright young boy, then berating Gino Hernandez calling him a moron and a young punk that is nothing in the wrestling business. As the interview wound down, Hart went on a tirade, vowing revenge against Adams while shoving the tableware and ice tea away and then throwing the table in disgust.
[edit] Fueds with fellow heel managers
During his time in World Class, Hart was involved in feuds with fellow heel managers Skandor Akbar and Percy Pringle.
[edit] Jim Crockett Promotions
Shortly after the folding of WCCW, Hart continued to manage Al Perez in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988, along with Larry Zbyszko. In 1989, he managed the stable J-Tex Corporation, which included Terry Funk, Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer, The Dragonmaster, and The Great Muta. They feuded primarily with Ric Flair and Sting, but Ole and Arn Anderson later teamed up with Flair and Sting to even the sides up (and thus bringing back The Four Horseman briefly). J-Tex disbanded in early 1990.
[edit] Later career
During the 1990s, following the demise of the Global Wrestling Federation, Hart and Chris Adams were involved in many Texas-based wrestling promotions, including an ill-fated attempt to revive World Class (billed as World Class II: The Next Generation) at the Dallas Sportatorium. Hart retired in 1999, but made a surprise return in Major League Wrestling, during the promotion's Reloaded Tour on January 9-10, 2004. Hart appeared following the main event (on January 9) pitting Low-Ki against Homicide, where the three laid out several wrestlers from the locker room, as well as MLW president Court Bauer.
During the tour, Hart's son Chad (who was trained by Chris Adams, Skandor Akbar and Gary Hart) debuted and wrestled on both events. On January 10, Chad Hart attacked Terry Funk immediately after his barbed-wire "I Quit" match with Steve Corino. It would prove to be MLW's final show, as the promotion folded in February of the same year.
[edit] Personal relationship with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez
Hart was close to both Adams and Gino Hernandez; and was very strong in encouraging wrestlers and fellow fans alike not to use controlled substances such as cocaine, GHB, marijuana and alcohol; substances that resulted in the deaths of both Adams in 2001 and Hernandez in 1986. Regarding Hernandez, Hart was not able to place a picture of Gino on the wall alongside other wrestlers he managed, due to the failure in encouraging Hernandez to kick the habit.
[edit] Death
Hart died on March 16, 2008, following a heart attack at his home in Euless, Texas after returning from an autograph session.
On April 5, 2008; Peach State Pandemonium, a internet wrestling program; aired a two-hour tribute program in the memory of Gary Hart. Bill Watts, Jack Brisco, James Beard, Abdullah the Butcher, Michael Hayes, Kevin Sullivan, George Steele, Skandor Akbar and Jim Ross were among those who attended.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
[edit] Wrestlers managed by Hart
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