Gary Hart (wrestler)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gary Hart is a former professional wrestling manager and was also a professional wrestler.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Gary Hart (born Gary Williams) started out as a wrestler in 1963 in the Illinois and Wisconsin territories. In the late 1960's, he became a manager called "Playboy" Gary Hart.
Gary Hart booked World Class Championship Wrestling's golden years (1979-1987), which featured classic feuds including: Von Erichs vs. Freebirds, creating memorable big money gimmicks like Great Kabuki, Great Muta, King Kong Bundy, the One Man Gang, the Samoan Swat Team, etc. Hart also discovered Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams and countless others.
He stayed primarily in the Texas territories and he really made a name for himself in World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s. He managed Nord the Barbarian, Abdullah The Butcher, Al Perez and Jeep Swenson under the stable name of "New Age Management" while there. They always feuded with the Von Erich family and the other top faces.
In 1984, Hart managed Gentleman Chris Adams, who turned heel and engaged in a major feud with Kevin and Kerry Von Erich. This feud sent Adams to the top of the wrestling world and eventually won the NWA American (later World Class title) in 1985.
In 1987, Hart went to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Jim Crockett Promotions where he continued to manage Al Perez but added Larry Zbyszko. In 1989, he managed a group called J-Tex Corporation that included Terry Funk, Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer, The Dragonmaster, and The Great Muta. They feuded with Ric Flair and Sting in the beginning, and later Ole Anderson and Arn Anderson teamed up with Flair and Sting to even sides up bringing back The Four Horseman briefly. This feud with J-Tex lasted until they disbanded in early 1990.
Hart went back to Texas and managed until 1999, when he retired. He made a surprise return in Major League Wrestling in 2004 to manage Lo Ki and Homicide, but the promotion folded. During the 1990s, following the demise of the Global Wrestling Federation, Hart and Adams were involved in many Texas-based wrestling promotions, including an ill-fated attempt to revive World Class (billed as World Class II: The Next Generation) at the Dallas Sportatorium.
He has a son named Chad Hart that wrestles in Texas and abroad. Chad was trained by his father, Adams and Skandor Akbar.
Gary also has a nephew, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) booker/writer Court Bauer.
[edit] Profile
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Weight: 239 lb (108 kg)
- Birthday: 1940
- Hometown: Chicago
- Trainer:
- Other Gimmicks: "Gay" Gary Hart, "Playboy" Gary Hart
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- 3-Time WCCW American Tag Team Champion (with The Spoiler)
[edit] Wrestlers managed by Hart
- Low Ki
- Homicide
- Great Kabuki
- Bruiser Brody
- Brian Adias
- Chris Adams
- Toru Tanaka
- Don Kernodle
- Buzz Sawyer
- Mark Lewin
- Big John Studd
- One Man Gang
- Al Perez
- Nord the Barbarian
- Jeep Swenson
- Kendo Nagasaki
- Abdullah The Butcher
- Ivan Koloff
- Bob Orton, Jr.
- Killer Tim Brooks
- Dingo Warrior
- Dick Slater
- Terry Funk
- The Great Muta
- Rod Price
- John Tatum
- Ron Garvin
- Kevin Sullivan
- Larry Zbyszko
- The Spoiler
- Pak Song
- Dusty Rhodes
- The Magic Dragon