thanks ric you brought up a lot of memories. i grew up listening to gordon solie "hello from the sunshine state." i lived in florida growing up. many days i spent watching wrestling, circuses and other events at the old bayfront center, god rest its soul. also watched many baseball games at al lang stadium
I grew up in Florida, watching Gordon Solie host Championship Wrestling from Florida. I think he was the greatest "straight man" in the business. He was one of a kind, and I'll never forget him.
I was very young watching WWF & Vince McMahon, then the NWA and Gordon Solie thanks to cable TV & WTBS with Georgia Champion Wrestling. I was blown away with Gordon, Gordon did a excellent job at selling the believability of wrestling in his words during commentaries of matches and interviews, I loved the way how he would set up and inform you about a wrestler's character in a story sort of way so you would what to expect before you seen that wrestler wrestle in the ring. Good guys or Bad guys always seemed to show Gordon respect during the shows interviews by calling him " Mr." and by budding up and calling him Gordon. Gordon Solie made wrestling special to me.
Gordon knew all the moves. It talked you through it step by step. He told the story that even the wrestlers had a hard time explaining. Let's just say no one in the WWE couldn't hold a candle to Gordon Solely . He made the baby face an Icon. He made the bad guys meaner than they really were. Through the words of Gordon help made Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. Made Tommy Rich a Georgia favorite.
@@MattKeller I wouldn't put Jim Ross on Gordon's level. Mainly, because of his blatant hypocrisy in how he would describe something when a heel did it compared to when a babyface did the exact same thing. The situation that sticks in my memory most is how Ross would call tag team matches. If a heel and a face were in the ring, and the heel turned around and unexpectedly knocked the other babyface off the ring apron so he couldn't tag in, Ross would complain about the heel taking a "cheap shot" at the babyface. But when a babyface was the one taking the cheap shot against a heel waiting to tag in he wouldn't call it a cheap shot. He would say the babyface "caught his opponent sleeping" as if it was okay because the "good guy" did it. Gordon Solie was much more even handed in how he would call a match or interview a heel. He didn't blatantly cheer for the babyfaces or root against the heels during matches. And if he did have a problem with the words or actions of a heel it was usually a matter of a subtle facial expression or a tone in his voice during an interview.
The way Jesse said the name "McMahon" .... he would say "Mac-Man" and he was able to say it like Mac-Man was a Curse word , like he was calling Vince a "Fawker" every time he said "Mac-Man" lmao , I smile just thinking about it
I recall a Barry Windham interview where he stated Gordon Solie kept a Cup of Vodka and Water next to him at all times during the TV tapings and took a sip at the breaks 😄 Gordon Solie was the absolute best !
I met Gordon Solie years ago at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas the morning of a Clash of Champions, and it smelled like he had already taken a few sips out of that cup.That being said,he was still a pleasure to talk to.
He also smoked when the camera wasn't on him. There was one match on old Georgia Wrestling and the camera went over to him suddenly and you see him puffing away. Been trying to find that particular match and broadcast, but I was laughing when I saw it.
solie got me into wrestling as a kid in the early 80s..new york got Georgia wrestling on Turner network...solie was so great...the voice of the territory days
Allow me to Quote Ric Flair once said "The Greatest Wrestler of all time and The Greatest Sports Announcer of all time, Mr. Gordon Solie. side by side, styling and profiling... Wooo !!!"
Gordon Solie, Mean Gene Okerland, Lance Russell, Vince McMahon/Jesse Ventura, Bobby Henan, Jim Ross. These guys are probably more valuable than any one wrestler. They do the whole show, not one match. Plus, they can turn a B match to an A or vice versa depending on their talent.
Gordon Solie gave "rasslin" legitimacy. I used to love how he gave the background of each wrestler: where they went to school, what they studied....and how he explained the technical aspect of the sport. He made it seem real
I remember Gordon Solie from the Continental Championship Wrestling era in the 80s. He was a true professional who always made the storyline seem realistic.
Gordon Solie set the bar high for Wrestling announcers!! He's the 🐐 All the interviewers of the Four Horsemen and The Son of a plumber Dusty Rhoades!! 🤯 Those days were the best. NWA was the best Wrassling EVER!!
While he didn't have JR's energy, Solie had the voice and storytelling that made a storyline sound real. Gordon Solie or Lance Russell are among the best (Sorry, Jim Ross).
Any fan of Gordon Solie should try to get a copy of his biography 'Master of the Ring.' Many years ago, as a teen, I was lucky enough to stumble across ONE copy at a little bookstore on the Cape May, NJ boardwalk. Then, years later, I was fortunate enough to meet him in person to get it autographed at the WCW Legends Reunion weekend during the dinner at the CNN Center in Atlanta. I can verify from that weekend what Ric was saying about Gordon's reputation as a drinker. When I arrived for the early part of the weekend, with legends such as Blackjack Mulligan signing autographs, I asked several wrestlers and WCW staff if they had seen Gordon. Every person gave me some kind of answer involving drinking. Like "He's either at the bar, or in his room sleeping it off." I did eventually run into him and his wife as they were arriving at the event, and he graciously signed his book for me. The weekend consisted of the autograph meet and greet on Saturday morning. A dinner with 1 or 2 legends at each table, for the VIP ticket holders on Saturday night, at the CNN Center--with live segments from the dinner being used as part of the WCW Saturday night TBS show. And then the pay per view on Sunday. The BEST part of the whole weekend came at the end of the dinner, as the TBS show was ending at 8:05. I wanted to grab 1 final mixed drink for the night from the temporary bar that WCW had set up for the dinner guests, on the other side of the room from the dinner. I walk over to the bar to order my drink and the bartender informs me that he had orders to close up at 8pm.and he can't serve any more drinks. As I am about to turn and walk away Gordon walks up to the bar and says, "I'll have another, and get this young man his drink, too." The bartender says, "Yes sir, Mr. Solie" and got our drinks. To make it even more awesome, for a Gordon Solie fan like myself, we actually sat down together under some indoor trees and talked while we finished our drinks. When I mentioned how cool I thought it was that he frequently wore gold pinkie rings, he showed me the custom made one that he was wearing. He told me about his jeweler in Tampa, and how he would take old gold jewelry that he was bored with to the jeweler and have him melt it down to make something new. My mind was blown that I actually was sitting there having a drink and conversation with Gordon Solie!!!
On WTBS Saturday night shows Gordon would sometimes show clips from the Omni. He made you really want to have your ass in attendance for the next card. Phenomenal.
Gordon Solie was a great commentator. His real name was Francis Jonard Labiak. Did anyone ever refer to him as Francis? Later his name was changed to Jonard Pierre Sjoblom, did anyone ever refer to him as Jonard? Why did he have two different names in reality outside the business? & did everyone just call him by his gimmick name of Gordon Solie? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Right on Ric! Nobody could call a match move for move during a live match and follow up with a strong interview. Gordon was the greatest ringside match mc ever. There were other more colorful announcers, but Gordon made you understand that it was also a technical sport. Amen
To me, that was one of the great things about Solie. He made seem credible and real, like a legit sport. He didn't try to become the show,but he made the show so much better. While I didn't grow up listening to him, I have watch Georgia online and was very impressed with the Wrestling and the way Solie called the match. He wasn't some goofy high school drama queen on the mic, but he would draw people into each and every match and made it FEEL like a real Wrestling match.
After listening to Gordon solie talk wrestling that was nobody gonna convince me that it wasn't a hundred percent real that's what makes a great wrestling announcer there are a lot of greats but Gordon was by far the best had the privilege of being at wwe hof to see not only ric induction but Gordon also what a privilege and that's all I'm going to say about that
To me Gordan Solie was the best cause he seemed credible, seemed to know Wrestling and seemed to have some maturity about him. He had a way of explaining what was happening in the Ring in a way that seemed to make sense. And he drew you into the Wrestling and what was happening at that time. Something that I find annoying is when the commentators talk about stuff other than the match that's actually happening. Solie made it FEEL real. Even when you knew it wasn't.
Gordon, talking with any one. Lance with Jerry Lawler Bill Dundee . Mean Gene with Hulk. Tony, with the horseman. Bobby the brain with Kirk Henning. Jim Ross with Dr. Death Steve Williams.
imo, solie was the best because he didn't try to become the show with he excitement, which is a mistake many make. he set a black and white news program format level of credibility, for others to display their color. a lot of people to this day refer to those old programs as "that gordon solie wrestling" weird question to ask him to assess you as an announcer, sort of like forcing flair to work his answers imo
Solie is the greatest play by play man of all time, Ventura is the best color commentary and Mean Gene is best on interviews. Thats the dream team for me. Respect to the OG Russ Davis in the '50s doing commentary at the Chicago Amphitheatre. Loved listening to him call Buddy Rogers and Thezs matches.
Top 5 Solie , Ross, Bobby the brain....Tony S....Jerry Lawler .....Interview... MEAN BY GOLLIE GENE. Gorilla and I LOVED and hated David Crock. Oh and Let me not leave Gertner!
I grew up on Florida Championship Wresling with Gordon Solie, he was as much a hero as some of the wrestlers, definitely the GOAT! Years ago his son Jonard sold a few of Gordons personal effects on ebay, i won a lighter with his name engraved on the side and a coffee cup from the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch with Gordon's signature on the side! 👍
Gordon was old school. From the days when wrestling angles would not drown out the official decision of a TV match (Time, official decision, method of victory, etc.). Even the first match jobber was treated like a serious contender by Gordon.
Met Gordon in Tarpon Springs at the Aepha Center where a wrestling event was held one evening. He said he was going to Topsiders Bar after the matches. Located above Captain Jack's restaurant on the Anclote River. Wish I had tagged along. First time I saw a very young Dustin Rhodes wrestle live. Also there was Sir Oliver Humperdinck managing Bugsy Mcgraw at the time. Dusty ( Sr.) was calling Sir Oliver "Rooster" at the time. We had brought a big sign that said Rooster and Oliver screamed at us NO SIGNS ALLOWED !!!. Hobbs and Knobbs were there as the Nasty Boys. Also Norvelle Austin and Koko B. Ware as the Pretty Young Things. Barry Wyndham there too with young Kendall Wyndham. Good memories.
Gordon Solie made me such a mark. I was so sure he was nervous and worried that the person he was interviewing was going to go bat-shit crazy. I was worried for him; that's how talented he was. He would always say, "NOW... Wait a minute". Georgia Championship Wrestling, Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you saw Gordon on Championship Wrestling of Florida, the local promos he would do for any card, be it at a high school, skating rink, or big arenas like the Sun Dome or Bayfront Center, would sell tickets.
Jim Ross and Gorden Solie created two category's of wrestling announcers. They both were at the top of the list on the category they created. Gordon set the standard for what a great wrestling announcer had to be. Jim Ross was the only other person that really reached that plateau. Tony Schiavone came close. These three were the best ever. No one else can claim this. Everyone else was second tier. Gene Okerlund, Gorilla Monsoon, Jerry Lawler, Bobby Heenan, Lance Russell, Bob Caudle, Mike Tenay and all of the wreslers who tried never attained the upper echelon of greatness in the sport. Some were very good but none were great. Now, I have spoken and what I have said will be recognized by all wrestling fans as cannon and law. I declare my words here to be the final word on who was the greatest announcers. Thank you for reading my post and declaration.
Gordon Solie was outstanding. I also feel Vince McMahon was very good back in the 70s. I grew up with Sam Menacker. "Dick the Bruiser has incredible recuperative powers!"
Top 10 in NO order, they all brought something to the table: Solie, Lance Russell, Heenan, Jesse the Body, Mean Gene, Gorilla, Bob Caudle, Good Ole J.R., Jerry Lawler, & probably Schiavone or Crockett maybe Lord Alfred
One more thing about Gordon Solie. He was never a wrestler. It wasn't about him. It was about selling the wrestlers and the match. It was never about him.
I know Ric is being nice and working with mark but he doesn’t even come close to the other names mentioned here. Not knocking him but those other guys are in a different category of greatness
Gordon Solie would put everyone from the main event guys to the jobbers over,as well as the angles and matches, that is why he was the GOAT to many announcers today,try to get themselves over instead of calling the action in a serious manner.
Gordon made you believe....he drew you into it. He was a class act.
Gordon Solie was not only the greatest wrestling announcer...he was a great sports announcer. He made wrestling legitimate.
Yes! That’s it. Gordon announced wrestling just like any other sport. He made 12 year old me believe
Solie started out calling dirt track stock car racing around Tampa 1950s, early 60s
I actually almost believed in RoboCop because Gordon was that good. 😂
You got it 100% right when you said he made wrestling legitimate. Thats it.
bingo brother...you nailed it
Finally Ric Flair said it. Gordon Solie is the GOAT of announcers.
Solie & JR will always be 1A and 1B
Yes sir! Flair declared it!
Gordon Solie, the GOAT and it ain't close. He sold like no one else ever. Heenan the same as color.
I want my "Gordon Solie wrestling" back!!
Absolutely
thanks ric you brought up a lot of memories. i grew up listening to gordon solie "hello from the sunshine state." i lived in florida growing up. many days i spent watching wrestling, circuses and other events at the old bayfront center, god rest its soul. also watched many baseball games at al lang stadium
I grew up in Florida, watching Gordon Solie host Championship Wrestling from Florida. I think he was the greatest "straight man" in the business. He was one of a kind, and I'll never forget him.
That's why we called it Gordon Solie wrestling 👍💯
With Gordon it wasn’t a “suplex”, it was a “suplay”.Classic!
Was it 'suplay'? I thought it was 'souffle' (since you have to flip them). Ha! Who knows?
I agree with Ric, Gordon was the greatest! We have a peir six brawl!!!!
And "His face is a crimson mask."
Solie was the best
Ric Flair is 100% Correct! Gordon Solie was by far the Greatest Wrestling Announcer of All Time!!
I was very young watching WWF & Vince McMahon, then the NWA and Gordon Solie thanks to cable TV & WTBS with Georgia Champion Wrestling. I was blown away with Gordon, Gordon did a excellent job at selling the believability of wrestling in his words during commentaries of matches and interviews, I loved the way how he would set up and inform you about a wrestler's character in a story sort of way so you would what to expect before you seen that wrestler wrestle in the ring. Good guys or Bad guys always seemed to show Gordon respect during the shows interviews by calling him " Mr." and by budding up and calling him Gordon. Gordon Solie made wrestling special to me.
Gordon was an inspiration.
Gordon knew all the moves. It talked you through it step by step. He told the story that even the wrestlers had a hard time explaining. Let's just say no one in the WWE couldn't hold a candle to Gordon Solely .
He made the baby face an Icon.
He made the bad guys meaner than they really were. Through the words of Gordon help made Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. Made Tommy Rich a Georgia favorite.
Gordon was Would have made School more interesting as in Knowing and familiarizing what curtain Body parts are effected by various movements!!
Ric Flair is going to disrespect Bob Coddle??? What the Hell over???
Gordon was the king of announcing. He was the voice of CWF.
Master of the Ring!!! Just like the name of is biography.
Ross and Schiavone better than Gordon Solie?!!? No way Madden, you are nuts
Right?!? Though you could make a case for Ross but Tony isn't in the same league.
@@MattKeller I wouldn't put Jim Ross on Gordon's level. Mainly, because of his blatant hypocrisy in how he would describe something when a heel did it compared to when a babyface did the exact same thing. The situation that sticks in my memory most is how Ross would call tag team matches. If a heel and a face were in the ring, and the heel turned around and unexpectedly knocked the other babyface off the ring apron so he couldn't tag in, Ross would complain about the heel taking a "cheap shot" at the babyface. But when a babyface was the one taking the cheap shot against a heel waiting to tag in he wouldn't call it a cheap shot. He would say the babyface "caught his opponent sleeping" as if it was okay because the "good guy" did it.
Gordon Solie was much more even handed in how he would call a match or interview a heel. He didn't blatantly cheer for the babyfaces or root against the heels during matches. And if he did have a problem with the words or actions of a heel it was usually a matter of a subtle facial expression or a tone in his voice during an interview.
Jesse Ventura! The way he belittled McMahon was absolutely 💯 GOLD
Jesse and Gordon where the best.
@@jeffjackson9679 Jesse and Vince on Saturday Night's Main event were gold. To me, Jesse and Gorilla had the best voices for calling a match
The way Jesse said the name "McMahon" .... he would say "Mac-Man" and he was able to say it like Mac-Man was a Curse word , like he was calling Vince a "Fawker" every time he said "Mac-Man" lmao , I smile just thinking about it
Loved Gordon solie. He was awesome
I recall a Barry Windham interview where he stated Gordon Solie kept a Cup of Vodka and Water next to him at all times during the TV tapings and took a sip at the breaks 😄 Gordon Solie was the absolute best !
I met Gordon Solie years ago at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas the morning of a Clash of Champions, and it smelled like he had already taken a few sips out of that cup.That being said,he was still a pleasure to talk to.
Which Clash of Champions?
He also smoked when the camera wasn't on him. There was one match on old Georgia Wrestling and the camera went over to him suddenly and you see him puffing away. Been trying to find that particular match and broadcast, but I was laughing when I saw it.
I was loved when he was in Florida and every time the show was over he'd say so long from the sunshine state
And for the Georgia shows he would say "Good night (or maybe it was "So long") from the peach state of Georgia"
solie got me into wrestling as a kid in the early 80s..new york got Georgia wrestling on Turner network...solie was so great...the voice of the territory days
solie was the goat!
Allow me to Quote Ric Flair once said "The Greatest Wrestler of all time and The Greatest Sports Announcer of all time, Mr. Gordon Solie. side by side, styling and profiling... Wooo !!!"
That’s wild, I had a recording of that exact promo back in the ‘80’s. Word for word that’s what Ric said.
@@AdventuresWithMe00 That's right ! I think I saw that promo on Gordon Solie's WWE Hall of Fame induction reel. (2008)
@@v4victory665 this would have been 1984 when I heard that promo.
Gordon Solie, Mean Gene Okerland, Lance Russell, Vince McMahon/Jesse Ventura, Bobby Henan, Jim Ross.
These guys are probably more valuable than any one wrestler. They do the whole show, not one match. Plus, they can turn a B match to an A or vice versa depending on their talent.
Ric's Royal rumble win wouldn't be as legendary without Bobby heenen on commentary.
Gordon Solie gave "rasslin" legitimacy. I used to love how he gave the background of each wrestler: where they went to school, what they studied....and how he explained the technical aspect of the sport. He made it seem real
For me, Gordon Solie and Lance Russell are the greatest ever.
Lance Russell then Gordon Solie
I remember Gordon Solie from the Continental Championship Wrestling era in the 80s. He was a true professional who always made the storyline seem realistic.
Ric flair finally observes Gordon solie
Bob Caudle ruled!
Madden: "Was I good too Ric?"
Flair: "You were the shits Madden. Woooo!"
Wish Flair would have been honest on that one.
Gordon Solie set the bar high for Wrestling announcers!! He's the 🐐 All the interviewers of the Four Horsemen and The Son of a plumber Dusty Rhoades!! 🤯 Those days were the best. NWA was the best Wrassling EVER!!
When did Gordon Solie interview the Four Horsemen?
While he didn't have JR's energy, Solie had the voice and storytelling that made a storyline sound real.
Gordon Solie or Lance Russell are among the best (Sorry, Jim Ross).
@@thomasedwinthomas NWA wrestling and Georgia Championship wrestling on the ted turner TBS early days
Any fan of Gordon Solie should try to get a copy of his biography 'Master of the Ring.' Many years ago, as a teen, I was lucky enough to stumble across ONE copy at a little bookstore on the Cape May, NJ boardwalk. Then, years later, I was fortunate enough to meet him in person to get it autographed at the WCW Legends Reunion weekend during the dinner at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
I can verify from that weekend what Ric was saying about Gordon's reputation as a drinker. When I arrived for the early part of the weekend, with legends such as Blackjack Mulligan signing autographs, I asked several wrestlers and WCW staff if they had seen Gordon. Every person gave me some kind of answer involving drinking. Like "He's either at the bar, or in his room sleeping it off." I did eventually run into him and his wife as they were arriving at the event, and he graciously signed his book for me.
The weekend consisted of the autograph meet and greet on Saturday morning. A dinner with 1 or 2 legends at each table, for the VIP ticket holders on Saturday night, at the CNN Center--with live segments from the dinner being used as part of the WCW Saturday night TBS show. And then the pay per view on Sunday.
The BEST part of the whole weekend came at the end of the dinner, as the TBS show was ending at 8:05. I wanted to grab 1 final mixed drink for the night from the temporary bar that WCW had set up for the dinner guests, on the other side of the room from the dinner. I walk over to the bar to order my drink and the bartender informs me that he had orders to close up at 8pm.and he can't serve any more drinks. As I am about to turn and walk away Gordon walks up to the bar and says, "I'll have another, and get this young man his drink, too." The bartender says, "Yes sir, Mr. Solie" and got our drinks. To make it even more awesome, for a Gordon Solie fan like myself, we actually sat down together under some indoor trees and talked while we finished our drinks. When I mentioned how cool I thought it was that he frequently wore gold pinkie rings, he showed me the custom made one that he was wearing. He told me about his jeweler in Tampa, and how he would take old gold jewelry that he was bored with to the jeweler and have him melt it down to make something new. My mind was blown that I actually was sitting there having a drink and conversation with Gordon Solie!!!
Awesome story Jon. Those are the moments in life that are just magic.
Solie was so believable
Yeah he was
On WTBS Saturday night shows Gordon would sometimes show clips from the Omni. He made you really want to have your ass in attendance for the next card. Phenomenal.
Lance Russel, Gordon Solie & Bill Mercer would be my top three announcers of all time. Bob Caudle gets an honorable mention.
Bill Mercer? Ummm no
Gordon Solie was a great commentator. His real name was Francis Jonard Labiak. Did anyone ever refer to him as Francis? Later his name was changed to Jonard Pierre Sjoblom, did anyone ever refer to him as Jonard? Why did he have two different names in reality outside the business? & did everyone just call him by his gimmick name of Gordon Solie?
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Loved seeing Bobby and Gene banter back and forth.
Right on Ric!
Nobody could call a match move for move during a live match and follow up with a strong interview.
Gordon was the greatest ringside match mc ever.
There were other more colorful announcers, but Gordon made you understand that it was also a technical sport. Amen
To me, that was one of the great things about Solie. He made seem credible and real, like a legit sport. He didn't try to become the show,but he made the show so much better. While I didn't grow up listening to him, I have watch Georgia online and was very impressed with the Wrestling and the way Solie called the match. He wasn't some goofy high school drama queen on the mic, but he would draw people into each and every match and made it FEEL like a real Wrestling match.
There was lots of fantastic play by play announcers in wrestling!
After listening to Gordon solie talk wrestling that was nobody gonna convince me that it wasn't a hundred percent real that's what makes a great wrestling announcer there are a lot of greats but Gordon was by far the best had the privilege of being at wwe hof to see not only ric induction but Gordon also what a privilege and that's all I'm going to say about that
Mark Madden Is Like 24th
Outta 25 Announcers.
He Saying JR & Tony
Being Better Than Gordon.
Holds No Leverage.
Nothing Madden says should be taken seriously. Try listening to his radio show. I bet you can't do it without turning it off.
@@HeilwoodBeagles Madden Was In WCW While I Was There. He Couldn't Hang
Then. He Can't Hang Now.
Gorilla Monsoon was a darn good announcer to.
Cool,rick
I'm a Floridian. Grew up listening to Gordon Solie. Saturday morning wrestling with Gordon was the best. I miss those days.
Gordon Solie presented professional wrestling as a shoot in a fashion that made you suspend disbelief and believe it was a straight up shoot!
To me Gordan Solie was the best cause he seemed credible, seemed to know Wrestling and seemed to have some maturity about him. He had a way of explaining what was happening in the Ring in a way that seemed to make sense. And he drew you into the Wrestling and what was happening at that time. Something that I find annoying is when the commentators talk about stuff other than the match that's actually happening. Solie made it FEEL real. Even when you knew it wasn't.
What a great way to spend Saturday afternoon as a kid in the 70's with Gordan and Wrestling
Gordon the best
Bob Caudle was my guy as a Mid-Atlantic kid, but also Solie watching Florida. Both were authentic and made me believe.
Lance was great because he painted the picture so eloquently. He also could bring the interview to the wrestler. Lance was Memphis Wrestling.
Being from Tampa, I used to talk to Gordon after the TV tapings at 106 N. Albany.
He would chain smoke as he was talking to us kids.
I loved Gorilla Monsoon, Hardly any mention lol.
"Let me tell u somthin Gorilla " In my Jesse the body voice
I grew up on Gordon Solie and Lance Russel. I had the greatest childhood ever.
Gordon, talking with any one.
Lance with Jerry Lawler Bill Dundee .
Mean Gene with Hulk.
Tony, with the horseman.
Bobby the brain with Kirk Henning.
Jim Ross with Dr. Death Steve Williams.
I remember Solie in Birmingham doing CCW. What a great time in wrestling
imo, solie was the best because he didn't try to become the show with he excitement, which is a mistake many make. he set a black and white news program format level of credibility, for others to display their color. a lot of people to this day refer to those old programs as "that gordon solie wrestling"
weird question to ask him to assess you as an announcer, sort of like forcing flair to work his answers imo
Nomeber,1,the,man
Solie is the greatest play by play man of all time, Ventura is the best color commentary and Mean Gene is best on interviews. Thats the dream team for me. Respect to the OG Russ Davis in the '50s doing commentary at the Chicago Amphitheatre. Loved listening to him call Buddy Rogers and Thezs matches.
I remember a TBS show where the camera cut to Gordon doing the announcing and caught him Smoking. They quickly went back to the ring.
Gordon was on AWA wrestling in the seventies if I'm not mistaken.
Roger Kent did the AWA matches in the ‘70s…Marty O’Neill did the interview…both were classic…
@@benhunt3362 Thanks for clarifying that for me , I used to watch AWA when I lived in Fla when I was a kid .
Top 5 Solie , Ross, Bobby the brain....Tony S....Jerry Lawler .....Interview... MEAN BY GOLLIE GENE. Gorilla and I LOVED and hated David Crock. Oh and Let me not leave Gertner!
you may read Gordon Solie's book "something left behind"
I have an autographed copy of 'Master of the Ring.'
I didn't know he had another book.
I grew up listening to Gordon solie he was the best
Jesse ventura needs a mention also and vince mcmahon was good.
Bobby H was hilarious and Jesse V was gold too. Joey Styles was in a class by himself.
I grew up on Florida Championship Wresling with Gordon Solie, he was as much a hero as some of the wrestlers, definitely the GOAT!
Years ago his son Jonard sold a few of Gordons personal effects on ebay, i won a lighter with his name engraved on the side and a coffee cup from the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch with Gordon's signature on the side! 👍
Championship Wrestling from Florida not Florida Championship Wrestling.
Gordon is the king of announcer Freddy was his side kick. BE THERE!.
Gordon was old school. From the days when wrestling angles would not drown out the official decision of a TV match (Time, official decision, method of victory, etc.). Even the first match jobber was treated like a serious contender by Gordon.
Met Gordon in Tarpon Springs at the Aepha Center where a wrestling event was held one evening. He said he was going to Topsiders Bar after the matches.
Located above Captain Jack's restaurant on the Anclote River.
Wish I had tagged along.
First time I saw a very young Dustin Rhodes wrestle live.
Also there was Sir Oliver Humperdinck managing Bugsy Mcgraw at the time.
Dusty ( Sr.) was calling Sir Oliver "Rooster" at the time.
We had brought a big sign that said Rooster and Oliver screamed at us NO SIGNS ALLOWED !!!.
Hobbs and Knobbs were there as the Nasty Boys.
Also Norvelle Austin and Koko B. Ware as the Pretty Young Things.
Barry Wyndham there too with young Kendall Wyndham.
Good memories.
Gordon was the greatest, and for my money Gorilla Monsoon was second. My wife and I used to go to the TBS Saturday tapings often in those days.
Gordon could call a match or do an interview...and master both..the goat
Original Malios Tampa getting shout out from Ric Flair. It was the place to be. Lot of who’s who. Lunch, dinner, and a night club.
Gordon Solie made me such a mark. I was so sure he was nervous and worried that the person he was interviewing was going to go bat-shit crazy. I was worried for him; that's how talented he was. He would always say, "NOW... Wait a minute". Georgia Championship Wrestling, Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gordon Solie is the greatest wrestling announcer period.
Two legends!
I sat in the pub drinking with him at the CNN Center awesome guy
When you saw Gordon on Championship Wrestling of Florida, the local promos he would do for any card, be it at a high school, skating rink, or big arenas like the Sun Dome or Bayfront Center, would sell tickets.
Solid the best ever!
Jim Ross and Gorden Solie created two category's of wrestling announcers. They both were at the top of the list on the category they created. Gordon set the standard for what a great wrestling announcer had to be. Jim Ross was the only other person that really reached that plateau. Tony Schiavone came close. These three were the best ever. No one else can claim this. Everyone else was second tier. Gene Okerlund, Gorilla Monsoon, Jerry Lawler, Bobby Heenan, Lance Russell, Bob Caudle, Mike Tenay and all of the wreslers who tried never attained the upper echelon of greatness in the sport. Some were very good but none were great.
Now, I have spoken and what I have said will be recognized by all wrestling fans as cannon and law. I declare my words here to be the final word on who was the greatest announcers. Thank you for reading my post and declaration.
Heenan & Monsoon were the funniest 2 man announce team of all time(R.I.P.)
Gordon Solie was outstanding. I also feel Vince McMahon was very good back in the 70s. I grew up with Sam Menacker. "Dick the Bruiser has incredible recuperative powers!"
Top 10 in NO order, they all brought something to the table: Solie, Lance Russell, Heenan, Jesse the Body, Mean Gene, Gorilla, Bob Caudle, Good Ole J.R., Jerry Lawler, & probably Schiavone or Crockett maybe Lord Alfred
I grew up watching chsmpionship wrestling from Florida best wrestling announcer of all times R.I.P ,Gordon solie.
One more thing about Gordon Solie. He was never a wrestler. It wasn't about him. It was about selling the wrestlers and the match. It was never about him.
I loved Bobby. But I also liked Bob Caudle as well. He was the voice of my childhood.
I grew up with Gordon . The Walter Cronkite of Wrestling
...and Master of the Ring. (The name of his biography.)
Gordon Solie in Florida and Georgia and Bob Caudle in Mid-Atlantic.
Good job Nature Boy! Gordon Solie is the GOAT of announcers. Agree, Mean Gean is one of the greatest as well.
Gordon Solie & Lance Russell wouldve been a great duo...
I miss The Great Malenko calling Gordon Mr. Television Announcer on CWF.
Schiavone, Lance Russell, Bob Caudle, Gordon Solie. My Mt. Rushmore of wrestling announcers.
Imagine an In Their Primes Gordon & the Brain Doing PbP & Color, Respectively?
I know Ric is being nice and working with mark but he doesn’t even come close to the other names mentioned here. Not knocking him but those other guys are in a different category of greatness
Gordon Solie would put everyone from the main event guys to the jobbers over,as well as the angles and matches, that is why he was the GOAT to many announcers today,try to get themselves over instead of calling the action in a serious manner.
Gordon was the MAN!!! Classic!!
It's too bad there isn't any footage of NWA Detroit with Lord Layton because he was very good.
Wow no repeat clip. Bout time!
Flair is talking about Gordon... Madden is talking about Madden.