Wrestling legend Ole Anderson, original Four Horsemen member, dies at 81

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Ole Anderson, a founding member of The Four Horsemen, has died at age 81.

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Anderson passed away Monday at his home in Monroe, Ga., his family announced.

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Born Alan Rogowski, Anderson had a long, storied professional wrestling career that spanned several decades in the United States.

Rogowski began his career in 1967 working for the American Wrestling Association under the name Rock Rogowski. A year later, Rogowski joined Jim Crockett Promotions where he changed his name to Ole Anderson, becoming a member of the Anderson wrestling family, where he formed a tag team with his storyline brother, Gene Anderson, as The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, CBS Sports reported.

The Minnesota Wrecking Crew would primarily wrestle in the Carolinas, joining Georgia Championship Wrestling, where Ole would be a wrestler and a matchmaker.

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In the 1980s, Ole would go on to work in Jim Crockett Promotions, where he would become a founding member of The Four Horsemen faction alongside Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, J.J. Dillon and Tully Blanchard.

The Four Horsemen would become a dominant force in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and later World Championship Wrestling, famously feuding against the likes of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warriors and The Rock ‘N Roll Express.

Anderson would retire from in-ring competition in 1987 and would serve as a manager for the Horsemen.

Behind the scenes, Anderson became a member of WCW’s booking committee in 1990, where he was the brainchild of such storylines as The Black Scorpion, according to POST Wrestling.

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Anderson retired from professional wrestling in 1996. He remained largely out of the spotlight in the remaining years and had battled several health ailments.

The wrestling world paid tribute to Anderson upon learning of his passing.

“I am forever thankful to Ole and Gene for bringing me into Crockett Promotions as a cousin. It launched my career,” said Ric Flair on X. “I will be grateful forever for you giving me the opportunity to become who I am today. We didn’t always agree with each other, but the honest God truth is you and Gene started me. Rest in peace my friend!”

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“I watched him wrestle thousands of times,” said ECW legend Tommy Dreamer. “He was great at his job. Heel or babyface. RIP Ole Anderson.”

“I just heard Ole Anderson passed away. I loved working for him,” said wrestling legend Rip Rogers.  

Wrestling historian Dave Meltzer posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Anderson was “one of the major characters in pro wrestling of the 70s and 80s. Excellent talker and great heel.”

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Anderson is survived by his partner, Marsha Cain, seven children and a number of great-grandchildren.

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