It is fitting that this year’s Hall of Fame class has been rounded out by none other than Stan “The Lariat” Hansen. Possibly no other wrestler embodies the spirit of Texas than Hansen. A bruiser who loves to fight and spit his tobacco that carried trademark bull rope everywhere he went. Hansen is a worldwide phenomenon as he is easily the most successful American wrestler to hit the country of Japan.
Hansen’s career in wrestling began in 1973 after he left college. Stan played football at the legendary West Texas State University, whose football team is primarily known for producing outstanding professional wrestlers. After a couple of years in the business Stan began teaming with another member of that storied football Frank Goodish who we all know as Bruiser Brody. Hansen and Brody were a legendary tag team that was tough as nails and specialized in brawling.
Everywhere Hansen went he was a major star. Whether it was his early run in the then WWWF where main evented with the great Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant and Petro Morales. Stan also was a star in the AWA becoming its world champion in 1985 defeating Rick Martel. His run ended in the AWA after disputes with Verne Gagne got a to a point where Hansen actually hog tied Gagne’s son Greg in a match and made him squeal like a pig.
His most notable success in the wrestling business came over his years in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Hansen is the only man to hold pinfall victories of Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. He was an outstanding tag team wrestler winning titles with Brody, Terry Gordy, Dan Spivey, Big Van Vader and a few others. Hansen’s reputation as a dangerous man only got enhanced during a match with Vader where Stan represented AJPW and Vader was on the side of NJPW. The match got really stiff and the men started throwing hard blows until Hansen unintentionally poked Vader’s right eye out of socket.
Hansen would back and forth between the United States and Japan up until 1991 where he finished the final 10 years of his storied career in the land of the rising sun. This brawling Texan definitely earned his spot in the Hall.
Written By
Keith B. Holt
Follow on Twitter @Kholtjr
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