Rip Oliver
Birth nameLarry Richard Oliver
Born(1952-10-06)October 6, 1952
Homosassa, Florida, United States
DiedMarch 5, 2020(2020-03-05) (aged 67)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Rip Oliver
Super Ninja
The Gestapo
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]
Billed weight209 lb (95 kg)[1]
Debut1975
RetiredOctober 12, 1991

Larry Richard Oliver (October 6, 1952 – March 5, 2020) was an American professional wrestler, known as "Crippler" Rip Oliver, who had success in Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW).

Early life

Oliver was born in Florida. His father was Dennis Lee Oliver (December 1922 – August 1980) and his mother was Sadie Lenore Head Oliver. His parents owned Independent Fish Company, located on Seminole Place on the Homosassa River. His parents are buried in Stagestand Cemetery in Homosassa.

Professional wrestling career

In Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW), he set a record for holding the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship more than anyone.[2][3] Oliver also had many titles in tag team competition, holding the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship and the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship a combined 18 times.[4][5] In 1985, Oliver went to World Class Championship Wrestling in Dallas, where he was managed by Jim Cornette. Oliver was involved in a story line with Mike Von Eric where he broke Von Eric's arm which led to their big match at Texas Stadium. In 1985 Chris Adams allowed his tag team partner Gino Hernandez to defend the WCCW Television Championship against Billy Jack Haynes, where he lost that title, but Oliver defeated and severely injured Billy to win the television title soon thereafter.[6]

After wrestling in PNW, Oliver began to wrestle for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and worked mainly as a jobber. During his run, Oliver appeared once on Saturday Night's Main Event XVIII, going by the name of Super Ninja, challenging The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship.[7] During his many title reigns Oliver faced many wrestlers such as Rocky Johnson, Brett Sawyer, Billy Jack Haynes, Buddy Rose, Bobby Jaggers, Stan Stasiak, Larry Hennig, Curt Hennig, Brian Adams, Jay Youngblood, Steve Regal, Roddy Piper, Tom Zenk, and Buzz Sawyer. After leaving the WWF Oliver would return to PNW in 1990.[3] He wrestled his last match on October 12, 1991, losing the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship to Demolition Crush.[8]

Lawsuit

In July 2016, Oliver was part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[9] US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.[10]

Death

In early 2020, it was revealed that Oliver had entered into hospice care due to end-stage heart failure.[3] He died on March 5, 2020, surrounded by his family.

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 "Rip Oliver OWW profile". OnlineWorldofWrestling.
  2. 1 2 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title [Owens]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 315–317. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  3. 1 2 3 Meltzer, Dave (February 26, 2020). "PACIFIC NORTHWEST STAR RIP OLIVER ENTERS HOSPICE CARE". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "(Oregon & Washington) Portland: NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title [Owens]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 317–320. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. 1 2 Tanabe, Hisaharu. "N.W.A. Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  6. 1 2 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: WCWA Television Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ↑ "Saturday Night Main Event – Nov. 26, 1988". WWE. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ "NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  10. ↑ Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018). "Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ Hoops, Brian (January 12, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/12): The Outsiders win WCW Tag team titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  13. ↑ "NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ Hoops, Brian (January 17, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ Hoops, Brian (January 16, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  16. 1 2 Rodgers, Mike (2004). "Regional Territories: PNW #16 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
  17. ↑ "World Class Television Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
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