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Ricky Hunter


Title History

  • NWA (Amarillo) Western States title defeating Pak Song ();
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight title -as The Gladiator- defeating Nick Kozak (November 23, 1968);
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight title -as The Gladiator- defeating Hans Mortier (June 13, 1969);
  • NWA Florida Brass Knucks title defeating Boris Malenko (April 3, 1969);
  • NWA Florida Tag Team titles w/Lester Welch defeating The Medics (Jim Starr & Billy Garrett) (April 29, 1969);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Tommy Siegler defeating Gene & Ole Anderson (1972);

Career Highlights

  • Rick Hunter, amung wrestling historians, is known more admirably, under the mask of the “Gladiator” gimmick..
  • Dory Funk Jr. wrestled The Gladiator (Rick Hunter) to a 60-minute draw, and the rematch was a 90-minute DQ finish!
  • November 23, 1968: The Gladiator defeated Nick Kozak to win the Florida title in Tampa, Florida..
  • June 13, 1969: The Gladiator defeated Hans Mortier to win the Florida title in Jacksonville, Florida..
  • April 3, 1969: The Gladiator defeated Boris Malenko to win the Brass Knucks title in Jacksonville, Florida..
  • April 29, 1969: The Gladiator & Lester Welch defeated The Medics (Jim Starr & Billy Garrett) for the Florida Tag Team titles..
  • 1972: The Super Gladiator & Tommy Siegler defeated Gene & Ole Anderson to win the Georgia Tag Team titles..
  • ~~~Ricky Hunter (as The Gladiator) was one of the first wrestlers to use the inverted suplex..
  • Ricky Hunter is sadly best remembered for his days as a regular jobber in the World Wrestling Federation..
  • ~~~He regularly lost matches to U.S. Express, Koko B. Ware, Jake Roberts, Don Muraco, Uncle Elmer, Rick Steamboat and more..
Updated: February 8, 2024 @ 8:45 am

Active Promotion Inactive

Trained By

Debut

Birthday

March 1, 1936

Hometown

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Retired to Clearwater, Florida

Gender

Male

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Inverted Suplex

Favorite Move(s)

Russian Legsweep
German Suplex
Knee Drop

Notable Feuds

Boris Malenko
Missouri Mauler
Hans Mortier

Status

Living