21 Facts About Gordon Solie

Gordon Solie is best known for working for Georgia Championship Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA Championship Wrestling, Continental Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling.

Gordon Solie is regarded by many as one of the greatest and most influential wrestling announcers.

Gordon Solie attended Southwest High School in Minneapolis, where he chose radio as a major and went by the nickname "Josie".

Gordon Solie ran the school PA system and participated in several high school productions and drama workshops at local radio stations.

Gordon Solie moved to Tampa, Florida, in the 1950s after completing military service in the United States Air Force.

Gordon Solie learned about stock car racing by competing as an amateur chauffeur on Florida's Suncoast and announcing outdoors at tracks around the United States.

Gordon Solie conducted radio interviews with other stock car drivers and boxers, and in his spare time, visited libraries to learn about the human anatomy.

Gordon Solie began his pro wrestling career as a ring announcer, making $5 a night emceeing weekly shows in the Tampa Bay area, learning about the sport from John Heath, Eddie Graham, and Don Curtis.

Gordon Solie soon began working for Championship Wrestling from Florida, and in 1960, he moved into the broadcast booth to become the lead announcer for CWF's Saturday morning television shows, a spot he would occupy for the next quarter-century.

Gordon Solie rose to national prominence when Superstation WTBS began broadcasting pro wrestling, and the exposure helped him branch out, leading to Gordon Solie working for promotions in Georgia, Alabama and Puerto Rico.

In 1987, a board game, Gordon Solie's Championship Wrestling Trivia Game, was released by Sports Entertainment International, Inc Solie eventually entered wrestling myth, and often stayed out of angles, but lots of them became historic once he was involved; one such angle was in Georgia when the Magnificent Muraco confronted Solie, threatening to hurt him.

Gordon Solie made a point to never learn a wrestler or manager's real name because he wanted to avoid making the mistake of calling someone by any name other than the persona in which they were working.

Gordon Solie was once asked to join the World Wrestling Federation but declined the offer as the company wanted him to wear a tuxedo.

Gordon Solie worked for the Continental Wrestling Federation and USA Championship Wrestling based out of Knoxville.

Gordon Solie remained there until his eventual retirement in 1995; the last event he appeared in was the 1995 Slamboree.

Gordon Solie had worked for New Japan Wrestling as a commentator for overseas tapes and videos.

Gordon Solie's last announcing job was to be the Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view in 1999, but he could not attend due to failing health.

Gordon Solie was diagnosed with cancer soon after his retirement, and in the late-1990s, his vocal chords were removed due to throat cancer.

Gordon Solie died of the disease on July 27,2000, at the age of 71.

Gordon Solie was survived by his five children Pam, Jonard, Denise, Greg, and Eric.

Later the same year WWE's WWE Classics on Demand video service began offering The Film Room with Gordon Solie, hosted by Ross, focusing on Solie's announcing and interviewing of a specific wrestler or group of wrestlers involved in a feud.