On Friday, December 25th, the wrestling world mourned the loss of NWA Tri-State star, Danny Hodge. During his career, Hodge’s wrestling accomplishments in the National Westling Alliance Tri-State promotion include capturing the NWA North American Heavyweight title on three separate occasions, the NWA United State Tag Team Championship on five separate occasions, and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship an astounding seven times. Hodge’s in-ring career first began with his early training by Ed ‘The Strangler’ Lewis and Leroy McGuirk in 1959. Throughout the earlier part of his career, Hodge and his top rival Angelo Savoldi would battle time and time again.
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A former Olympian, Hodge won the Silver medal at the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia, for the United States. His contributions to combat sports aren’t relegated to wrestling alone. Danny Hodge also boxed. During his amateur career, Hodge was undefeated winning twelve of his seventeen contests by knockout. Upon the encouragement of Art Freeman, Hodge competed in the 1960 Olympics in both wrestling and boxing. His professional boxing career wouldn’t see the same success as his amateur career.
Saddened to learn of the passing of the incomparable Danny Hodge. Was my great honor to have Mr. Hodge take part in a couple of our #Charlotte Fanfests and, in 2010, induct him into our Hall of Heroes. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans around the world. pic.twitter.com/BSpN6whnOc
— NWALegends.com (@NWALegends) December 26, 2020
Danny Hodge, NWA Tri-State Star, Passes Away at 88
Hodge wrestled nearly two decades but it was his contributions outside the ring that are equally as telling. A multiple-time Hall of Famer, Hodge had the admiration and respect of those in the industry. Whether or not fans today have seen him compete there is no denying his career accomplishments.
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