RIP Lance Russell

[soup23]

RIP to the best wrestling announcer there ever was.

[El-P]

Indeed. After Heenan, that's yet another "THE greatest" that is going with Lance Russel. He was at least half the reason why watching old Memphis TV stuff was so fun.

[Boss Rock]

I only just recently got into classic Memphis, but Lance was great. My favorite moment of his will always be him arguing with Funk during the Empty Arena Match.

[Childs]

I really think he and Lawler were the co-MVPs of the territory, and I can't think of another announcer who was that essential.

[conker8]

Great announcer, great host and, by all accounts, was a super nice guy. RIP.

[Sean Liska]

For me, tied with JR as greatest announcer of all-time. And maybe gets an edge because he also was so great at conducting interviews and holding the show together.

 

One of my all-time favorite wrestling memories is driving from Chicago to Memphis for the sole purpose of shaking Lance's hand. Here's the pic - https://twitter.com/SeanReedy16/status/512937649431388160.

[KB8]

My favourite announcer ever. One of my favourite segments they ever ran in Memphis was when Curt Hennig had - I think - just lost the AWA belt to Lawler and came down to the studio demanding Lawler come out and face him. The longer it went without Lawler showing up the more aggressive Hennig got, and it reached the point where he even put his hands on Lance. The way Lance played his part in it was the perfect straight man performance and when he loses his own composure and calls Hennig a hoodlum I lose it every time. He was the very best. And I agree with Childs that he was as big a part of what made Memphis Memphis as Lawler or Dundee or anybody else.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Rest in Peace to the GOAT announcer and host. I can hear him saying Jerry now.

[Bigelow34]

RIP Lance, all time great.

 

Chad wrote up a great piece on Lance: http://placetobenation.com/an-ode-to-banana-nose/

[cheapshot]

He epitomised Memphis Wrestling. There will never, ever be another like him. In the sleazy world of Pro Wrestling, he shone like a beacon of truth, believability and trust. RIP Banana Nose.

[...TG]

The best ever, and by all accounts a wonderful man. RIP

[JHawk]

I'm glad I had a chance to meet him at Cauliflower Alley last year. His memory was still sharp as a tack.

[Zoo Enthusiast]

RIP to the GOAT. Wonderful man.

[The Chief]

When Heenan passed, I was thinking of all the old timers we still have and I thought of Lance. I can't believe he was in his 90's. As mentioned, he was still sharp. And if you had the pleasure of meeting him, he was one of the nicest guys you'll ever talk to.

 

I'm paraphrasing here, but the 605 Podcast mentioned how the Memphis TV show wasn't just a wrestling show, It was Lance's show. This normal guy was dropped into an insane world and part of the appeal was how he reacted to the weekly chaos. And his reactions were priceless.

 

We will miss you Lance!

[Al]

I only just recently got into classic Memphis, but Lance was great. My favorite moment of his will always be him arguing with Funk during the Empty Arena Match.

He's so wonderfully condescending through all that

[Sean Liska]

When Heenan passed, I was thinking of all the old timers we still have and I thought of Lance. I can't believe he was in his 90's. As mentioned, he was still sharp. And if you had the pleasure of meeting him, he was one of the nicest guys you'll ever talk to.

 

I'm paraphrasing here, but the 605 Podcast mentioned how the Memphis TV show wasn't just a wrestling show, It was Lance's show. This normal guy was dropped into an insane world and part of the appeal was how he reacted to the weekly chaos. And his reactions were priceless.

 

We will miss you Lance!

I believe one of our fellow posters here (or maybe at DVDVR) compared him to Kermit trying to maintain order during an episode of the Muppets. I've spent hundreds of hours watching Memphis TV and never did it feel like a waste of time if Lance and Dave were announcing, even 1980 stuff which was a weird year creatively. They were the most warming and welcoming figures, poor guys always just wanted a nice clean morning of pure wrestling matches, and it never seemed to work out that way. Memphis is my favorite TV show ever and so much of it was Lance and Dave, there's never been an announce team that was as important.

[Jmare007]

He was great at everything he did in wrestling. I'm happy he was able to live into his 90's with a sharp mind. RIP Lance.

[peachchaos]

I'm devastated to hear of another legend lost.

Goodbye Lance Russell, the Greatest Wrestling Announcer of All Time, hands down. A broadcaster and TV station head for nearly 30 years. Called the action in Memphis, Louisville, and Lexington. An absolute fixture of Tennessee rasslin' and someone who brought a new level of dignity to everything he touched. Some of my favorite wrestling lines are Lance Russell lines. He was the cornerstone of every great TV angle, every Tupelo Consession Stand Brawl, every Jerry Lawler strap-down comeback. He was basically the best Grandfather a Wrestling Kid could have.

RIP BANANA NOSE

[MoS]

I'll echo the other comments here. Memphis is some of my favourite wrestling to watch, and Lance Russell was a huge part of that. Undoubtedly one of the absolute best ever. RIP.

[khawk20]

One of the ways I try to think of announcers in a comparative light is to imagine one calling matches in other areas outside of their home or most familar territories. Lance Russell is one of the few that would I think enhance a match in any area he was in and making the call.

 

RIP to him and codolences to his family.

[Sean Liska]

Dave Meltzer just put up a show on Lance - if you're a subscriber it's great stuff. His affection for Lance is touching, it's so cool that the guy we loved on TV was just as great in real life, that's pretty rare.

[ohtani's jacket]

I'm happy he lived to a ripe old age and that he got to hear from a younger generation how much they appreciated his work. He was always such a gentlemen when he'd appear on a podcast and completely down to earth. He may have been a performer on Memphis television but he had no gimmick other than being himself. He had a wonderful voice and thankfully his work will always be there for people to enjoy.

[Ricky Jackson]

Much like Bruno, there was nothing fake about Lance Russell in the fake world of wrestling, and that's what made him great. RIP

[sek69]

Is there anything better in wrestling than Lance's exasperated reaction to Memphis heels? He managed to sound like both a disappointed dad and a substitute teacher that's completely lost control of their class.

[ButchReedMark]

Lance Russell never spoke at us, or even to us, he spoke with us. He commentated like he was sat next to us on the settee, like watching with a friend. The best of all time.