WWE Hall of Famer Ole Anderson, founding member of the Four Horsemen around icon Ric Flar, has passed away
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of a legend who had a major impact on the recent history of the show sport: Ole Anderson has died.
Anderson, founding member of the legendary Hall-of-Fame group “The Four Horsemen” around the icon Ric Flair, died at the age of 81, as was announced on Monday. WWE confirmed the death, with commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee offering their condolences during the latest edition of the Monday Night RAW TV show.
Ole Anderson was part of the original Four Horsemen
Anderson – real name Robert Rogowski – was a tag team legend of the late sixties and seventies: he rose to fame in the regional league Jim Crockett Promotions – forerunner of former WWE rival WCW – as part of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with scripted brother Gene Anderson.
The two established the fame of the fictional Anderson dynasty, later continued by Ole’s Marty Lunde aka Arn Anderson, the great constant of all Horsemen generations alongside Flair.
The original Horsemen formed in 1986 with Flair, Ole and Arn as well as Tolly Blanchard, who in turn formed a legendary team with Arn. Ole was involved with the Horsemen into the early nineties and was part of major feuds and storylines with other legends such as Dusty Rhodes (Cody’s father), Sting, Lex Luger, Magnum T.A. and the Road Warriors.
Ric Flair with acknowledgements
Ole Anderson also played a major role behind the scenes of Crockett/WCW during and after his career, serving as the league’s head booker in the early nineties before Eric Bischoff took over and turned the league into a (fading) global brand with Hulk Hogan and Co.
Before that, Anderson secured his place in the history books by bringing the young Flair to Crockett and helping him break through. Flair took to social media to thank Anderson “for giving me the opportunity to become who I am today” – not without mentioning that “we didn’t always see eye to eye.”
I Am Forever Thankful To Ole And Gene For Bringing Me In To Crockett Promotions As A Cousin. It Launched My Career. 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 To God Truth Is You &… pic.twitter.com/bYinfeWhKp
– Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) February 26, 2024
Anderson, who was known as a feisty character, had many enemies in the industry, including the now ousted WWE founder Vince McMahon due to serious allegations. The relationship was permanently damaged at the latest after the infamous “Black Saturday” in 1984, when McMahon took over the regional GCW league in Georgia, in which Anderson had shares, against Anderson’s will.
Wrestling historian Mike Mooneyham also referred to Anderson’s controversies, but concluded: “You can say what you want about him, but he was a giant of the wrestling industry. “
