Posted February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788765 I'll admit I was never a fan, but recently my eyes were opened by exposure to his crazed heel work in NYC in the 70s. At that time he was actually great in his role as a dangerous lunatic with not a single redeeming quality, a type of heel that simply doesn't exist anymore. If your only exposure to Steele is as a cartoon babyface in the 80s I recommend checking out some of his 70s work, such as the cage match with Bruno that was recently added to the network
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788767 Steele was nearing 50 when he had that WWF run. I feel a few of his generation are sullied because they had high profile runs at an advanced age and fans weren't around for their prime years. While Steele was no great shakes as a wrestler during that era, I think his feud with Randy Savage was absolutely essential in establishing the Savage/Elizabeth dynamic. I don't think the Megapowers works nearly as well without knowing that Savage is a near homicidal maniac when someone comes near his woman. And I can't see someone like Tito Santana playing the foil as well as Steele did in that regard.
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788769 I've just been watching his 80s stuff and even that is not as bad as reputation might suggest. He's certainly all in with the gimmick, and that hammerlock submission thing is actually pretty nasty. Sad to hear this. Also appeared in my favorite movie that features a wrestler, playing Tor Johnson in Ed Wood and doing a great job.
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788775 The old timers will remember the story (angle) of how Steele chipped his tooth on the arm of Gene Stanlee (boy I hope I am remembering that name correctly) because he tried to bite his bulging biceps.
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788783 Fuck, I start reading his book yesterday. He was a fun character. RIP.
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788791 He once faced a jobber who was able to pop his shoulder out, which made his flying hammerlock look like the most devastating move on the planet.
February 17, 20178 yr comment_5788826 I admit I haven't seem much of Steele in his prime, but watching Saturday Night's Main Event and the storyline with Savage and Elizabeth was one of my first wrestling memories and helped make me a lifelong fan. RIP
February 23, 20178 yr comment_5789405 Just browsing youtube and came across this video that George must have had someone release after he died.
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