Stan Hansen
| Stan Hansen | |
|---|---|
Hansen at the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony
|
|
| Birth name | John Stanley Hansen II |
| Born |
August 29, 1949 Knox City, Texas, United States |
| Residence |
Waco, Texas, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Arlington |
| Children | 4 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Stan Hansen |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Billed weight | 321 lb (146 kg; 22.9 st) |
| Billed from | Borger, Texas |
| Trained by |
Dory Funk Dory Funk Jr. Terry Funk |
| Debut | January 1, 1973 |
| Retired | January 28, 2001 |
John Stanley "Stan" Hansen II (born August 29, 1949) is an American actor, author and retired professional wrestler. Hansen is renowned for his stiff wrestling style, which he attributes to his poor eyesight. He is also known for his gimmick as a loud, violent cowboy who wanted to fight everybody, which he further emphasized by appearing in interviews with a cowboy hat, leather vest and bullrope while often chewing on tobacco. Considered to be the most successful and popular gaijin in professional wrestling history, Hansen became more well known and revered in Japan than in his native United States. Despite this, Hansen still found championship success in both countries.
After playing college football as a part of the West Texas State Buffaloes, Hansen made his professional wrestling debut in 1973. Initially taking up wrestling as a part-time job while trying out for the Detroit Wheels, Hansen began wrestling full-time when the team folded. In 1975, Hansen first teamed with future partner Frank Goodish, who later adopted the ring name Bruiser Brody, while competing in Leroy McGuirk's Tri-State territory.
In 1976, Hansen made his debut for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and only two months after he began competing for the company, he began feuding with the WWF Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino over the title. During a title match, Hansen broke Sammartino's neck while they were wrestling and it was from this incident that both Hansen and promoters claimed that Sammartino's injury came about from the enormous power of his lariat. However, a botched powerslam is what actually caused Sammartino's injury. After Sammartino recovered, Hansen faced him for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship once again, but was unsuccessful. He left the promotion soon after. He returned in 1980, rekindling his feud with Sammartino and facing Pedro Morales and Andre the Giant on several occasions. He also developed a heated feud with then-WWF Champion Bob Backlund which culminated in a steel cage match at Madison Square Garden.
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