Ox Baker

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Ox Baker
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Doug Baker Ox Baker The Ox
Billed height	6 ft 5 in
Billed weight	340 lb
Born	April 19, 1934 Sedalia, Missouri
Resides	Connecticut
Billed from	Waterloo, Iowa
Debut	1962
Retired	1988

Douglas A. Baker (April 19, 1934-) better known professionally as Ox Baker, was an American professional wrestler, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I LOVE to hurt people!" He has also appeared in several movies including Escape from New York.

1 Early life and career
2 The Heart Punch Kills
3 Retirement
4 Trivia
5 Championships and accomplishments
6 External link

[edit] Early life and career

Ox Baker was a professional wrestler, known for his unique look with his shaved head and dark black bushy moustache and eyebrows. He was one of the better wrestlers at giving interviews in the 1970's. His heart punch was one of the most feared moves of its time. Any criticism of Ox Baker's wrestling career is based on his lack of technical ability. It is believed that Ox Baker's short 1980 stay in the WWWF (he did one television taping) was aborted because Vince McMahon Sr. was unimpressed with his ringwork (some rumors have Baker initially planned to challenge then heavyweight champion Bob Backlund).

Ox Baker began as an amateur high school wrestler, boxer and football player in his adopted hometown of Waterloo, Iowa in 1962 before getting thrown out of school. He also played football for two years in the armed forces. In the early 1960's Ox approached Kansas City, Missouri promoters about wrestling and was paid $300 for his first night. Following that night he went into training with Buddy "Killer" Austin, Pat O'Connor, and Bob Geigel. A couple of years later he was ready, standing 6-foot 5 inches and weighing in at 342 pounds (hence the nickname "Ox"). He began his pro wrestling career by defeating Frank Hickey in Kansas City, and later the Missouri Mauler as well. As time went on he was winning a majority of his matches by knock out caused by the Heart Punch (which he borrowed from Stan Stasiak) and adapted into his own ring arsenal. He would later rename the move the Hurt Punch after Stasiak objected.

In his career he would defeat "Cowboy" Bob Ellis for the World Wrestling Association belt in Dick The Bruiser's Indianapolis territory, he would also defeat Carlos Colon for the WWC World Title in Puerto Rico. Ox Baker was a multi-time Tag Team Champion; he has teamed with the likes of Ole Anderson and Skandor Akbar to capture Tag Team Championships in the NWA and NWF. Baker teamed with Big John Studd (then known as Chuck O' Connor) to win the WWA Tag Team Title in 1976. He also teamed with Superstar Billy Graham to hold the NWA Florida Tag Team Title. Baker would go on to Heart Punch his way through The Sheik to win the Detroit version of the US Heavyweight Title, he also won the World Class Championship and the World Class Texas Title several times.

An estimated 8,000 men have fallen to the Heart Punch. Among them are Fritz Von Erich, David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka, Verne Gagne, Ernie Ladd, Harley Race, Bulldog Brower, Mil Mascaras, and Hulk Hogan. Hogan's knockout came when he tried to wrestle the Florida Title away from Baker, Hogan would eventually get knocked out three nights in a row.

Late in his career, Baker appeared with Central States Wrestling as a face and feuded with hated heel Rip Rogers.

[edit] The Heart Punch Kills

On June 13, 1971, Ox and his partner the Claw were wrestling in a AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship tag team match against Alberto Torres and his partner Cowboy Bob Ellis in Verdidge, Nebraska. Torres was injured during the match and died three days later. Though evidence indicated that Torres died of a ruptured appendix, Baker's Heart Punch was blamed and, though by his own account Baker was privately distraught over the death, he did "work" it as though he had killed Torres.

But the Torres death would not be the last. On August 1, 1972 in Savannah, Georgia Baker faced Ray Gunkel, who was a popular wrestler in (and part owner of) the Georgia promotion. Though it was claimed that Gunkel dropped dead in the ring from the Heart Punch, other accounts, most notably in the biography of Vince McMahon "Sex, Lies and Headlocks", state that Gunkel had suffered a heart attack apparently from over-indulging at a restaurant before the match. The truth is that Gunkel won the match and died in the dressing room after the match. In both cases, Baker was "blamed" for the death.

[edit] Retirement

In 1988 Ox retired from wrestling and in following years he opened "Ox Baker's Wrestling School" becoming a well renowned trainer of future Stars and champions such as the Russian Brute and the Night Stalker (later known as Adam Bomb). He is now remarried with his wife Peggy Ann and living in the New England area. He has published a children's coloring Book, recorded a music CD and always a fan favorite, continues to make public appearances, most recently to promote his new cookbook.

Baker made an appearance in Ring of Honor in 2004 during their At Our Best show, confronting Dusty Rhodes before the show started and again during the main event.

[edit] Trivia

In 1982, Baker was a contestant on the game show The Price Is Right. He appeared on stage but lost in the Showcase Showdown.

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

American Wrestling Association

AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Rock Rogowski (AKA Ole Andersen) (1), the Claw (1), and the Great Kusatsu (1)

National Wrestling Alliance

National

NWA American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Enforcer Luciano
NWA Australasian Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Butcher Brannigan (1) and King Kamaka (1)
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit Version) (1 time)