As we previously reported here on eWn, Ole Anderson passed away at the age of 81 on Monday. Ricky Morton announced the sad news on his Instagram page.
As you’d expect, the tributes are beginning to come in. You can check out some reactions from the likes of Ric Flair, Tommy Dreamer, Dave Meltzer, and others below:
I Am Forever Thankful To Ole And Gene For Bringing Me In To Crockett Promotions As A Cousin. It Launched My Career. I Will Be Grateful Forever For You Giving Me The Opportunity To Become Who I Am Today. We Didn’t Always Agree With Each Other, But The Honest To God Truth Is You &… pic.twitter.com/bYinfeWhKp
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) February 26, 2024
I watched him wrestle thousands of times
He was great at his job
Heel or babyface
RIP Ole Anderson pic.twitter.com/d4A4pzMmyd— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) February 27, 2024
RIP Ole Anderson. #NWA #prowrestling #CrockettPromotions pic.twitter.com/lJakVnl2xN
— Baby Doll the Perfect 10 (@nicklaroberts) February 27, 2024
Ole Anderson had few peers in wrestling. He was tough as nails, could handle himself in any situation. Brutally honest, which offended some. Endeared him to others. An incredible mind for the wrestling business. I’m proud to say he was my friend, and I loved him for all the… pic.twitter.com/FjPhFFngPj
— NWALegends.com (@NWALegends) February 26, 2024
Sorry to hear about the death of Ole Anderson. One of the major characters in pro wrestling of the 70s and 80s. Excellent talker and great heel.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) February 27, 2024
Ole Anderson was one of the most influential figures in the entire industry at the peak of his power – booking both Georgia and the Carolinas concurrently, which was insane when you understand what that entailed
“Polarizing” doesn’t even begin to describe him
— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) February 27, 2024
Ole Anderson of the Four Horsemen has passed away.
RIP Ole 🥺 pic.twitter.com/VyDzaPPw2P
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) February 27, 2024
Ole Anderson has passed away at 81.
Famous tag team with his “brother” Gene and later with “cousin” Arn, The Four Horsemen, booked places like Georgia and WCW, created The Road Warriors.
Also, the guy who gave us The Black Scorpion passes away the week of Sting’s last match.
— Jim Valley (@JimValley) February 27, 2024
All of us at PowerTown are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ole Anderson. A founding member of the iconic stable, The Four Horsemen, Ole played a pivotal role in defining wrestling in the 1980s. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans. pic.twitter.com/xKm8A2cLzk
— PowerTown Wrestling (@_PowerTown) February 27, 2024
Ole Anderson, a legendary figure in the world of professional wrestling, has passed away at the age of 81. The news was announced by Ricky Morton on his Instagram page, and since then, tributes have been pouring in from fellow wrestlers and fans alike.
One of the first tributes came from Ric Flair, who expressed his gratitude to Anderson for giving him the opportunity to launch his career. Flair tweeted, “I Am Forever Thankful To Ole And Gene For Bringing Me In To Crockett Promotions As A Cousin. It Launched My Career. I Will Be Grateful Forever For You Giving Me The Opportunity To Become Who I Am Today.”
Tommy Dreamer, another wrestling veteran, shared his memories of watching Anderson wrestle and praised his skills in the ring. Dreamer tweeted, “I watched him wrestle thousands of times. He was great at his job, whether he was a heel or a babyface. RIP Ole Anderson.”
Dave Meltzer, a well-known wrestling journalist, also paid tribute to Anderson, describing him as an excellent talker and a great heel. Meltzer tweeted, “Sorry to hear about the death of Ole Anderson. One of the major characters in pro wrestling of the 70s and 80s.”
Anderson’s influence on the wrestling industry was recognized by many. John Pollock, a wrestling commentator, tweeted, “Ole Anderson was one of the most influential figures in the entire industry at the peak of his power.” Pollock also mentioned Anderson’s role in booking both Georgia and the Carolinas concurrently, which was a remarkable feat.
Fans also took to social media to express their condolences and share their memories of Anderson. Many highlighted his partnership with “brother” Gene and later with “cousin” Arn as part of The Four Horsemen stable. Anderson’s contributions to the creation of iconic tag teams like The Road Warriors were also acknowledged.
The passing of Anderson holds particular significance as it coincides with Sting’s last match, as Jim Valley pointed out in his tribute. Anderson was the man behind the infamous Black Scorpion storyline, which played a major role in Sting’s career.
PowerTown Wrestling, an organization in the wrestling industry, expressed their deep sadness over Anderson’s passing. They recognized his pivotal role in defining wrestling in the 1980s as a founding member of The Four Horsemen stable.
As the wrestling community mourns the loss of Ole Anderson, his legacy as a tough and influential figure in the industry will continue to be remembered. His contributions to wrestling, both in the ring and behind the scenes, have left an indelible mark on the sport. Anderson will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and fans.