Downhome 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 From PWInsider: ARNOLD SKAALAND PASSES AWAY by Mike Johnson @ 1:50:00 PM on 3/14/2007 World Wrestling Entertainment announced this afternoon that "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland passed away. Although he wrestled for the WWWF and held the Tag Team championship with Spiros Arion, Skaaland was best known for his role as a manager of both Bob Backlund and Bruno Sammartino during their Heavyweight championship reigns. Skaaland is perhaps most remembered for throwing in the towel when Backlund was trapped in the Iron Sheik's camel clutch, giving up the championship and paving the way for Hulk Hogan to win the title from the Sheik. Skaaland worked in the WWF's front office for years, as a partner to Vince McMahon Sr. and as a handler for Andre the Giant, helping Andre when he was working in the Northeast. Skaaland and his long-time wife Betty had remained involved with WWE until the time of his passing. The then-WWF inducted Skaaland into their Hall of Fame in 1994, making him a member of their first Hall of Fame class. On behalf of everyone involved with PWInsider.com, we'd like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Arnold Skaaland. So far for 2007: -Bam Bam Bigelow -Mike Awesome -Bad News Allen/Brown -Ernie Ladd -Arnold Skaaland Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheech Tremendous 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 They're dropping like flies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 If there a good side to it, it's that the last three guys were all fairly old, and didn't die from drugs and shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KanadianKrusty 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 At this rate we're losing one wrestler every 14,4 days. Which means there would be 25,34 dead wrestlers by the end of the year. That's 15 old guys, 10 overdoses/suicides, and a couple of amputations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Wow, another one. But as Chris said, at least these are regular deaths instead of guys dropping too young Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 How old was Mr. Skaaland? He must've been in his 70s or 80s, I assume. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 How old was Mr. Skaaland? He must've been in his 70s or 80s, I assume. 82 according to WWE.com Don't think we've had someone that died recently that reached that age since Blassie and Stu Hart passed on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darth Vader 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 RIP Arnnie. Backlund was a real bastard for putting you in the chicken wing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Where is Kurt Angle in the death pool? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheech Tremendous 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 Where is Kurt Angle in the death pool? I wish I would have had him in the "get caught buying HGH" pool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hasbeen1 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 Where is Kurt Angle in the death pool? Are you hoping, or guessing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 And Jim Neidhart still lives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2007 Man...another one. RIP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DogOn Report post Posted March 16, 2007 This reminds me of when the IWC was freaking out over all of the deaths in 2003. This could be another golden year for the grim reaper. I love reading about all of the 1930's and 1940's wrestlers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2007 Well, at least no currently active wrestlers have died yet this year (assuming Bigelow and Awesome don't count). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2007 This reminds me of when the IWC was freaking out over all of the deaths in 2003. This could be another golden year for the grim reaper. I love reading about all of the 1930's and 1940's wrestlers. 02 was a bad year too- Wahoo, Lou Thesz, Davey Boy, the Mass Transit fatass all died within a few weeks of each other. 03 was Hennig, Hawk and Crash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2007 He finally threw in the towel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
