sek69 Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 From the WO site: Judo Gene LeBell, best known for his catch wrestling technique that later became an influence in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts, has passed away at 89 years old. Bas Rutten wrote on Facebook that LeBell had passed away. “My deepest condolences to his lovely wife Midge, his kids and all his other family members and friends,” he wrote. “You will be greatly missed Gene, I love you my friend, till we meet again!” LeBell started catch wrestling at the age of 7, training under Ed “Strangler” Lewis and later trained in judo. He was also trained by the likes of Karl Gotch and Lou Thesz. In 1963, he accepted a challenge to fight boxer Milo Savage in an early mixed martial arts bout that saw LeBell score the win with a rear naked choke. In pro wrestling, he helped ran NWA's Los Angeles territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, from 1968 through 1982. The territory was owned by Mike LeBell, Gene's brother. He also served as the referee for the Muhammad Ali/Antonio Inoki match that took place in 1976. He wrestled his final pro wrestling match in 1981, against Peter Maivia in NWA Hollywood Wrestling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Jackson Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 RIP. The Observer bio should be epic, as he was involved in all kinds of interesting things inside as well as outside of wrestling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 I actually heard more about him from the MMA side of things than I ever did in Pro Wrestling. I learned a ton about him from a book I read by Clyde Gentry years ago, tracing the roots of NHB to MMA. Gene LeBell really was one of the forefathers of Mixed Martial Arts and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for that. He did English commentary on the early Pancrase shows, which I loved. Plus, there’s that whole urban legend about him making Steven Seagal shit his pants…which is awesome. RIP. The man was a warrior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragemaster Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 Isn't he also the one who put Bruce Lee in his place when he was taking liberties with the stuntmen on the Green Hornet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted August 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 1 hour ago, The Thread Killer said: I actually heard more about him from the MMA side of things than I ever did in Pro Wrestling. I learned a ton about him from a book I read by Clyde Gentry years ago, tracing the roots of NHB to MMA. Gene LeBell really was one of the forefathers of Mixed Martial Arts and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for that. He did English commentary on the early Pancrase shows, which I loved. Plus, there’s that whole urban legend about him making Steven Seagal shit his pants…which is awesome. RIP. The man was a warrior. Says a lot that his pro wrestling career (which would be the highlight section of most people's lives), is not even in the top three most interesting things about him. Since he was Ronda's mentor as well, it's mindblowing to think a current pro wrestler was taught by a direct student of Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Crackers Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 The murder of Robert Duke Hall is an extremely crazy story that involves Gene LeBell (he was charged with the murder, then as an accessory, and later aquitted) and I'd love to see it explored in greater detail. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822204255/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/13/archives/los-angeles-stirred-by-detectives-mysterious-death.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted August 11, 2022 Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 1 hour ago, ragemaster said: Isn't he also the one who put Bruce Lee in his place when he was taking liberties with the stuntmen on the Green Hornet Damn you’re right, that was also him. Cornette told that story years ago on his podcast but I’d totally forgotten it. Dude was badass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Bologna Posted August 11, 2022 Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 He was the ref in the match Ed Wood watched before he recruited Tor Johnson (George Steele). One of the great pro wrestling movie moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted August 11, 2022 Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 5 hours ago, The Thread Killer said: Plus, there’s that whole urban legend about him making Steven Seagal shit his pants…which is awesome. It should be noted that seemed a lot more impressive back before everyone knew that aikido was a fake martial art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted August 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 I never knew he was the ref in the Ali-Inoki match, I suppose he'd be the best guy to have in there if shit went down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dav'oh Posted August 11, 2022 Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 The first wrasslin' book I ever bought was Judo Gene's book on wrestling holds. Liger's surfboard was the rolling-upside-down-double-knee-and-shoulder-lever, iirc, among many tricked-out holds. By all accounts a gentleman and a legend. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted August 11, 2022 Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 11 hours ago, sek69 said: I never knew he was the ref in the Ali-Inoki match, I suppose he'd be the best guy to have in there if shit went down. Like someone trying to win? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted August 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2022 3 hours ago, Al said: Like someone trying to win? My personal theory is Inoki thought he could lure Ali to Japan by promising a worked match but having it be real in the ring, but quickly realized even half washed 1976 Ali would still starch him with ease. Ali's camp was afraid he was going to shoot in the match, which would explain having someone who could handle business as a ref in case that happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohtani's jacket Posted August 12, 2022 Report Share Posted August 12, 2022 On 8/11/2022 at 7:32 AM, Graham Crackers said: The murder of Robert Duke Hall is an extremely crazy story that involves Gene LeBell (he was charged with the murder, then as an accessory, and later aquitted) and I'd love to see it explored in greater detail. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822204255/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/13/archives/los-angeles-stirred-by-detectives-mysterious-death.html According to this article, Hall had some dirt on LeBell -- https://www.covertbookreport.com/judo-gene-lebell-was-once-charged-with-murder-intrigue/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Crackers Posted August 12, 2022 Report Share Posted August 12, 2022 44 minutes ago, ohtani's jacket said: According to this article, Hall had some dirt on LeBell -- https://www.covertbookreport.com/judo-gene-lebell-was-once-charged-with-murder-intrigue/ Great link, thanks! I follow Covert Book Report but I hadn't seen this story shared yet. The mix of unsavory Hollywood types and California conservative figures feels like the kind of thing that'd be mentioned in Rick Perlstein's Invisible Bridge but I don't remember it showing up in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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