20 Facts About Rip Hawk

1.

Rip Hawk began his wrestling career in the Mid-Western United States before joining Jim Crockett Promotions in the early 1960s.

2.

Rip Hawk began as an amateur in Ohio and was discovered by professional boxer Jack Dempsey, who convinced him to wrestle professionally.

3.

Rip Hawk began wrestling professionally in Ohio around his 18th birthday, and later moved to Chicago, where he trained for a year with Karl Pojello.

4.

Rip Hawk joined the United States Marine Corps and continued to wrestle during his service.

5.

Rip Hawk was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1954, believing he could make a better living from wrestling.

6.

Rip Hawk competed in several territories after returning to the United States, including Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia, Iowa.

7.

Rip Hawk later moved to Missouri, where he competed in St Joseph and St Louis.

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8.

Rip Hawk continued to move around and held his first championship, the NWA Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship, while wrestling for NWA Western States Sports in 1958.

9.

Rip Hawk moved to North Carolina in the early 1960s, where he began competing for Jim Crockett Promotions, an organization run by Jim Crockett Sr.

10.

Rip Hawk met fellow wrestler Swede Hanson and approached Crockett about forming a tag team with Hanson.

11.

Rip Hawk approached Crockett and convinced him to bring Hart to the Carolinas to manage Hawk and Hanson.

12.

Rip Hawk wrestled in other territories, including Texas, where he held the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship and the Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

13.

Rip Hawk collaborated with Johnny Ringo to design the National Wrestling Alliance logo.

14.

Rip Hawk competed as a singles wrestler and feuded with the Brisco brothers.

15.

Rip Hawk was then paired with Ric Flair, who was billed as his nephew.

16.

Rip Hawk left Jim Crockett Promotions permanently in 1975 due to differences with booker George Scott.

17.

Rip Hawk then took on a new partner, Roger Kirby, with whom he held the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship twice over the next two years.

18.

Rip Hawk returned in 2008 to posthumously induct long-time rival and real-life friend Johnny Weaver.

19.

Rip Hawk worked as a personal trainer and wrestling coach at the YMCA in Hereford until 2011.

20.

Rip Hawk had suffered from cardiac problems prior to his death.