Who was wrestling legend Ole Anderson who passed away?

With a career that spanned decades and an effect that shaped the sport we know and love today, it’s not hard to understand why wrestling fans the world over will likely be taking a moment to reflect on the passing of Ole Anderson.

A look back at Ole Anderson?

According to reports this week, Alan Rogowski, better known in the wrestling world as Ole Anderson, has died at age 81. Rogowski of course had a long-lasting career in wrestling, but will almost certainly be best remembered as one of the original members of the infamous Four Horsemen faction. It was Rogowski’s friends and family who shared news of his passing on Monday. Where the origins of his path are concerned, fans will recall when he became one of the “Anderson Family”, teaming up with his storyline brother, Gene Anderson, as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew back in 1968 after the departure of Lars Anderson.

What followed was a highly successful period during which the pair won several tag titles, with Rogowski also winning titles with Lars Anderson who would occasionally return to the team. Interestingly, Rogowski would then go on to form a new version of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, incorporating the help of Arn Anderson. Once again, success followed as the duo won numerous titles before finally making the move that we will all remember them for. In 1986, along with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, and manager J.J. Dillon, they formed the Four Horsemen, a move that would see the group become arguably the most famous one in wrestling history, as they dominated Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and, eventually, World Championship Wrestling.

Just one year after taking the wrestling world by storm with the Four Horsemen, Rogowski actually retired from the sport in 1987 but would return just one year later to reform the group in 1989, only this time it was with Arn Anderson, Flair, and Sting -- in 1989. Yet, it would be a brief stint as he retired not long after, eventually becoming the group’s manager. Indeed, one could say that’s where Rogowski’s corporate adventure began. By 1990 he had taken on the role of head of the WCW booking committee, a position that saw him leading a number of famous angles while also promoting several now infamous ideas such as the Black Scorpion.

There was also his memorable voicework as The Shockmaster in one of wrestling’s most famous blooper moments which saw the character trip and fall while bursting through a wall. Fortunately, Rogowski’s career didn’t stumble there as he went on to become WCW’s head of creative, though it’s understood he was not loved backstage. Perhaps the most memorable example of that was the night of May 24th, 1976. Indeed, Following a failed attempt to reclaim the NWA tag team titles with Gene Anderson, a fan stabbed Rogowski in the arm and chest with a knife as he left the ring. Rogowski would require surgery to repair several of his severed tendons. As was his way, he would later use a cast following his operation as a weapon, even hitting Wahoo McDaniel with it. Ultimately, he will be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers in the sport’s history, if not its most divisive.