RIP "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd

[$heriff Tom]

Ernie Ladd has passed. I got to see some of his work in the Mid-South area. He was big and imposing, and a fun watch there from what I saw on tape many years later. Unfortunately, many will remember him from his awful work as an announcer in 80s WWF. His penchant for talk did not translate to wrestling color-commentating, thats for sure. Captain and 4Dogg, among others, I am sure have some things to say about Mr Ladd.

Rest in peace, Ernie Ladd.

The following was pulled from wrestleview.com


The Wrestling Observer is reporting that former football and pro wrestling star Ernie Ladd passed away last night as a result of cancer. Ladd was 68 years old.

According to reports, Ladd had been battling colon cancer for the past three years. The cancer spread to his stomach and bones, leaving him confined to a wheelchair for the last few years (he began to have serious knee problems).

Ladd is not only a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, but is also a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the San Diego Hall of Champions.

On behalf of the staff here at WrestleView.com, we would like to send out our condolences to the family and friends of Ernie Ladd during this very hard time.

[$heriff Tom]

ERNIE LADD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

thank you obsessedwithwrestling.com


In the Beginning

1960s: Ernie Ladd played professionally for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs..

Ernie Ladd was the first football player to make the transition to successful wrestler..

Ernie Ladd initially started to team with Bobo Brazil..

Ernie Ladd eventually turned on Brazil and started am impressive run as an arrogant outspoken heel..

1963: Ernie Ladd earned his first world title shot against NWA kingpin Lou Thesz..

August 14, 1970 - AWA Comiskey Park: Blackjack Lanza and Ernie Ladd fought to a Double Disqualification..

Mid-South Wrestling

1981-82: Ernie Ladd managed the Wild Somoans in Mid-South Wrestling..

~~~The Wild Somoans won the Mid-South Tag Team titles under Ernie Ladd's guidance..

~~~The Wild Somoans turned on Ernie Ladd and joined General Skandar Akbar's Devestation Inc..

~~~Ernie Ladd recruited the legendary Assassin to help him battle the Wild Somoans..

~~~The Assassin ALSO turned on Ernie Ladd and joined Devestation Incorporated..

~~~Ernie Ladd then recruited Iron Mike Sharpe as his new partner..

~~~1982: Ernie Ladd & Mike Sharpe drove the Samoans out of Mid-South Wrestling..

~~~Ernie Ladd defeated The Assassin in singles encounters..

Retirement

1984: Ernie Ladd retired from the squared circle..

Ernie Ladd briefly worked for the WWF as a broadcast announcer..

2000-01: Ernie Ladd helped out on the successful U.S. presidential campaign of George W. Bush..

August 23, 2003: Ernie Ladd is featured in the Cover Story of WWE Confidential along with Interviews from The Cat..

Ernie Ladd appeared in an episode of That 70s show, the same one where The Rock played his own father, Rocky Johnson..

February 2005: Ernie Ladd has fully recovered from colon cancer that at one point was expected to be terminal..

February 22, 2005: Ernie Ladd is honored in the San Diego Hall of Champions Hall of Fame..

September 2005: Ernie Ladd ministered to evacuees at the Astrodome who had been transported from New Orleans after the floods..

[4dogg]

very sad news....RIP to the true king of wrestling...back when the big cat was a major player,he was a true giant in the ring....i remember his epic battles with victor rivera for the americas title from the olympic auditorium....he used to call the TV commentators"mr TV announcer"during his promos...he always had his thumb taped and and refused to have the ref check it before a match and then proceed to bury it in his opponents throat...if you get a chance to view the highlight reel for super bowl IV,you can see the big cat helping carry coach stram off the field,even though he was retired from the NFL ,he was on the sidelines....no one wore the crown as king of wrestling better than the big cat ernie ladd

[thecaptain15]

I remember him from the old Olympic days as well as in the IWA in the early 70s where he was a top heel chasing around Mil Mascaras (IWA champ at the time).....May The Big Cat RIP...

[$heriff Tom]

Classy little tribute to Ernie Ladd tonight. Of course, it did not hurt they had a heap of classic footage/interviews from his Hall of Fame induction. Seeing Ladd at work made me realize how much I do miss him. The Mid-South stuff I saw including him, and that is the bulk of his work from my eyes, was fantastic.

[thecaptain15]

Hopefully we'll get something on 24/7 soon with regards to The Big Cat