Eugene “Mean Gene” Okerlund (born November 29, 1942 in Sisseton, South Dakota), is a professional wrestling interviewer and announcer.

Okerlund got his start at Am talk station KOIL-AM 1280 in Omaha Nebraska as a DJ. In the 1970s he segued out of radio into a position at the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the early 1970s when he occasionally filled in for ailing ring announcer and interviewer Marty O'Neill, eventually becoming O'Neill's permanent replacement by the end of the decade. He would stay with the AWA until 1984, when he was one of many AWA personnel to join the expanding WWF. He would stay with the WWF for nine years as their top interviewer, and was host of such WWF shows as All American Wrestling. In 1993, he left the WWF, and would become an interviewer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was with WCW until it was sold in 2001 to the WWF.

Okerlund then returned to WWF (renamed WWE in 2002), as his first post-WCW assignment for the company was as a commentator for the Gimmick Battle Royal during WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001, along with Bobby Heenan. He would go on to host WWE Confidential in 2002, and was there during its entire two-year run. In 2004, he received a kidney transplant, and fully recovered from the operation. As of 2005, he still makes occasional appearances for WWE.

Okerlund is perhaps most famed for interviewing Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. During the interview, Hogan would get all fired up and say, “Well you know something, Mean Gene!” and Flair would often say “Meeeean, Gene” or “‘Mean,’ by God, Gene!”. The Iron Sheik referred to Okerlund as "Gene Mean."

On February 27, 2006, WWE announced Okerlund as the third member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Hulk Hogan inducted Mean Gene on April 1, 2006 in Chicago, the night before Wrestlemania 22. It was at that night where he requested to, when he died, be buried face first, so all his critics can "kiss my ass."

Profile

• Height: 5 ft 9 in
• Weight: 213 lb
• Hometown: Robbinsdale, Minnesota
• Professional Debut: 1974

Trivia

• He was given the nickname “Mean Gene” from good friend Jesse Ventura.
• He sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the first WrestleMania.
• His name has been associated with fast food chain, Mean Gene’s Burgers, and a chain of pizzerias located within bowling alleys, Mean Gene’s Pizza. These are owned by Hot Stuff Foods, which was headed by two of his nephews. Early in 2006, Okerlund and Hot Stuff split. Okerlund and one of the nephews were planning to start their own food company on the brands, but Hot Stuff sued, claiming they had "Mean Gene" trademarked. Litigation is pending.
• His son, Todd, made the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1988.
• In 1984 Okerlund was a one-time wrestler thanks to his great friend Hulk Hogan as he and Hogan faced Mr. Fuji and George Steele in Minneapolis. The result: Okerlund pinned Mr. Fuji for the victory.
• Okerlund was also part of one of the most infamous bloopers in pro wrestling history at WWF SummerSlam '89. Okerlund was set to interview then-WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude and Rude's manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan prior to Rude's title defense against The Ultimate Warrior when the SummerSlam backdrop fell backwards. An off-camera Vince McMahon could be heard saying "Nice move", followed by Okerlund yelling "Fuck it". The cameras immediately cut away to a live shot of the crowd, with play-by-play announcer Tony Schiavone and color commentator Jesse "The Body" Ventura attempting to restore order. After a short while, Okerlund's interview with Rude and Heenan proceeded without incident.

External links

1942 births | AWA alumni | Living people | People from Minnesota | Professional wrestling announcers

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