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Mean Gene Okerlund began his career as a favourite son of Minnesota Broadcasting
and worked for the American Wrestling Association under Verne Gagne starting
in the early 1970s. Gene Okerlund gained the name "Mean Gene" during his
AWA days from Jesse Ventura, who kept calling him Mean Gene during interviews.
Mean Gene was also known for hosting the WCW Hotline and became parodied by the WWF during the "Billionaire Ted" skits. Mean Gene became a performer, of sorts, during the Vince Russo era of WCW programming and feuded with Pamela Paulshock and Mark Madden in a legend versus youth angle. Mean Gene stayed in WCW until it was purchased by Vince McMahon in 2001. Mean Gene returned to Wrestlemania for Wrestlemania XVII, teaming with Bobby Heenan for commentary of the Gimmick Battle Royal. Mean Gene stayed on as the host of WWE Confidential and hosted the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Mean Gene suffered a health crisis and successfully received a new kidney, missing some time, but he returned to host the 2005 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in Los Angeles. Gene appeared sporadically on WWE television, including doing an interview with Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels in preparation for their tag team bout. Mean Gene entered the WWE
Hall of Fame in April of 2006, inducted by Hulk Hogan, and gave one hilarious
speech, asking to be buried face down so that all his critics could kiss
his ass! Mean Gene is a feisty and legendary broadcaster who will go down
as the all time great voice of the classic World Wrestling Federation.
Without question, Mean Gene belongs here in the UWOW Hall of Fame!
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When Hulk Hogan joined the WWF in 1984, Vince McMahon Jr convinced Hogan
to help bring in some of the AWA's top draws and Mean Gene was among them.
He became a national and international phenomenan and one of the most recognizable
faces and voices in wrestling history. Mean Gene opened Wrestlemania I,
singing the Star Spangled Banner, and continued to be a fixture of Wrestlemania
up until Wrestlemania IX in 1993. During his WWF tenure, Mean Gene was
chiefly involved in helping wrestlers develop their interview style. Who
could forget the classic interviews with Hulk Hogan where the Hulkster
would always begin with "Well ya know, Mean Gene..." and carry on from
there. Mean Gene wrestled a series of comedic matches with partner Hulk
Hogan against Mr. Fugi and George Steele in 1985, as well, proving that
he wasn't afraid of mixing it up.
Gene's comedic brilliance continued in a very successful partnership with
Bobby Heenan and the two were called the Abbot & Costello of the WWF.
Mean Gene retired from the WWF for a lighter schedule in WCW, moving there
in 1993 as WCW's top interviewer.