Alan Rogowski, higher recognized within the wrestling world as Ole Anderson, has died at age 81. Rogowski had an expansive legacy within the wrestling trade however is greatest generally known as one of many members of the unique 4 Horsemen faction. Family and friends members shared the information of Rogowski’s passing on Monday.
Rogowski turned one of many “Anderson Household” and teamed along with his storyline brother Gene Anderson as The Minnesota Wrecking Crew in 1968 after Lars Anderson left the crew. Rogowski and Anderson received quite a few tag titles, with Rogowski additionally selecting up tag crew title wins with Lars Anderson as he was introduced again to the crew now and again.
Rogowski would finally kind a brand new model of The Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Arn Anderson. The pair had been once more a dominant pressure earlier than being paired with Ric Aptitude and Tully Blanchard — together with supervisor J. J. Dillon — as The 4 Horsemen in 1986.
The Horsemen turned one of the legendary teams in wrestling historical past, dominating Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and, finally, World Championship Wrestling.
Rogowski retired from wrestling in 1987, however would return to reform the group — this time with Arn Anderson, Aptitude and Sting — in 1989. He would retire once more shortly after, serving because the group’s supervisor.
Rogowski would take over the function of head of the WCW reserving committee in 1990, spearheading many well-known angles whereas additionally pitching a couple of notorious concepts like The Black Scorpion. Rogowski additionally voiced The Shockmaster, who tripped and fell whereas bursting by means of a wall in considered one of wrestling’s most well-known bloopers, a second that utterly sank a personality who was alleged to be a serious participant in WCW. Rogowski had prolonged stints as the top of WCW’s artistic, and was typically an unpopular determine backstage.
Maybe nothing speaks to Rogowski’s potential to get beneath the group’s pores and skin just like the evening of Could 24, 1976. After leaving the ring following a failed bid to regain the NWA tag crew titles whereas partnering with Gene Anderson, a fan stabbed Rogowski within the arm and chest with a knife, requiring Rogowski to endure surgical procedure to restore severed tendons.
In true professional wrestling trend, Rogowski would use a forged following the surgical procedure as a weapon, even utilizing the forged to hit Wahoo McDaniel and value McDaniel a Mid-Atlantic title match towards Aptitude.