Ox Baker

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Douglas A. Baker (April 19,1934-) better known professionally as Ox Baker, was an American professional wrestler, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch. He has also appeared in several movies including Escape from New York.

Contents

1 Early life and career
2 The Heart Punch Kills
3 Retirement
4 Championships and accomplishments

4.0.1
4.0.2
4.0.3
4.0.4
4.0.5
4.0.6 Iowa

5 External link

Early life and career

Ox Baker was an amateur high school wrestler in 1962 before getting thrown out of school. He played football for six years, 4 in high school and two in the service. In the early 1960's Ox approached Kansas City promoters about wrestling and was paid $300 for his first night. Following that night he went into training with Buddy "Killer" Austin, Pat O'Connor, and Bob Geigel. A couple of years later he was ready, standing 6-Foot 5-Inches and Weighing in at 342-pounds Ox began his Pro-Wrestling Career. First rolling over Frank Hickey in Kansas City, then destroying the Missouri Mauler. As time went on he was winning a majority of his matches by knock out caused by the Heart Punch which he borrowed from Stan Stasiak and adapted into his own ring arsenal.

In his career he would defeat "Cowboy" Bob Ellis for a version of the crown in Dick The Bruiser's Indianapolis territory, he would also defeat Carlos Colon for the WWC World Title in Puerto Rico. History shows that Ox Baker was a multi-time Tag Team Champion. He has teamed with the likes of Ole Anderson and Scandor Akbar to capture Tag Team Championships in the NWA and NWF. Baker teamed with Big John Stud (then known as Chuck O' Connor) to win the WWA Tag Team Title in 1976. He also teamed with Superstar Billy Graham to hold the NWA Florida Tag Team Title. Baker would go on to Heart Punch his way through The Sheik to win the American Heavyweight Title, he also won the World Class Championship and the World Class Texas Title several times.

In studying Baker's In-Ring Career it would appear that over 8,000 men have fallen to his feared version of the Heart Punch. Among them are Fritz Von Erich, David Von Eric, Kerry Von Eric, Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka, Verne Gagne, Ernie Ladd, Harley Race, Bulldog Brower, Mil Mascaras, and Hulk Hogan. Hogan's knockout came when he tried to wrestle the Florida Title away from Baker, Hogan would eventually get knocked out three nights in a row.

He has held numerous titles, many of them tag team belts, having teamed with the likes of Skandor Akbar, Ole Anderson, Superstar Billy Graham and Big John Studd. He has wrestled in numerous territories, inculding Calgary, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Georgia, Memphis and the pre-Vince McMahon WWE, then still called the World Wide Wrestling Federation.

The Heart Punch Kills

On June 13,1971, Ox and his partner the Claw were wrestling in a AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship tag team match against Alberto Torres and his partner Bob Ellis in Verdidge, Nebraska. Torres was injured during the match and died three days later. Though evidence indicated that Torres died of a ruptured appendix, Baker's Heart Punch was blamed and, though by his own account Baker was distraught over the death, he did "work" it as though he had killed Torres.

But the Torres death would not be the last. On August 1, 1972 in Savannah, Georgia Baker faced Ray Gunkel, who was a popular wrestler in (and part owner of) the Georgia promotion. Though it was claimed that Gunkel dropped dead in the ring from the Heart Punch, other accounts, most notably in the biography of Vince McMahon "Sex, Lies and Headlocks", state that Gunkel had suffered a heart attack apparently from over-indulging at a restaurant before the match. In both cases, Baker was blamed for the death.

Retirement

In 1988 Ox retired from wrestling and in following years he opened "Ox Baker's Wrestling School" becoming a well renowned trainer of future Stars and champions such as the Russian Brute and the Night Stalker (later known as Adam Bomb). He is now remarried with his wife Peggy Ann and living in the New England area. He has published a children's coloring Book, recorded a music CD and always a fan favorite, continues to make public appearances, most recently to promote his new cookbook.

Championships and accomplishments

WWA Heavyweight Champion August 10, 1974 - November 29, 1975
WWA Tag Team Champion with Chuck O' Connor (later called Big John Studd) March 13, 1976 - May 1, 1976

NWF North American Heavyweight Champion 1974

2 time NWA American Heavyweight Champion September 30, 1977 - December 12, 1977 and January 2, 1980 - January 12, 1980
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion 1977 - January, 1978
NWA Detroit United States Champion September 1977 - 1978
NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion 1977
2 time NWA Australasian Tag Team Champion with Butcher Brannigan October 27, 1978 - December 8, 1978 with King Kamaka 1981
NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team Champion with Carl Fergie 1981-March 1982
NWA Florida Tag Team Championwith Superstar Billy Graham early 1977 - June 1977
NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion 1982
NWA Georiga Tag Team Champion with Skandor Akbar September 15, 1972 - October 20, 1972
NWA Americas Tag Team Champion with Enforcer Luciano 1980

3 time AWA Midwest Tag Team Champion with Rock Rogowski (AKA Ole Andersen) early 1971 - May 1971, with the Claw August 1971 - August 11, 1971, and with the Great Kusatsu late 1971

WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion April 23, 1983 - May 14, 1983
WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Champion April 8, 1978 - May 6, 1978

Iowa

3 time Iowa Heavyweight Champion

External link

[Ox Baker's official website]

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