Gene Petit
Gene Petit | |
---|---|
Born | May 19 c. 1949 Humphreys County, Mississippi |
Died | September 29, 2013 (aged approximately 65)[1] |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Cousin Luke The Mongol Gene Lewis Texas Red Bloody Ox Brody Kharma Tom Steele |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Billed weight | 301 lb (137 kg) |
Trained by | Dale Lewis |
Debut | 1973 |
Retired | 2002 |
Gene Petit (c. May 19, 1949 – September 29, 2013) was an American
Career
Early career
Petit attended the University of Tampa, where he played for the football team. While there, he met former Olympic wrestler Dale Lewis. They became friends, and Lewis paid Petit to drive him to his bookings at professional wrestling events.[3] Petit stated that he began wrestling after spending a couple of weeks practising in a gym.[4] At one of Lewis' events, the company did not have enough wrestlers and Petit was asked to fill in. He teamed with Lewis and Gypsy Joe Rosario in a six-man match. After his first match, in which he wrestled under his real name, he competed with the ring name Gene Lewis. He and Dale Lewis competed as kayfabe (storyline) brothers due to their similar appearance.[3]
While wrestling in Florida in the 1980s, Petit joined a stable named the Army of Darkness. As a member of the group, which used a devil-worshipping gimmick, he used the ring name Kharma.[5][6]
World Wrestling Federation
During a conversation with George Scott, a
Petit explained the nature of his departure from the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 to SLAM! Wrestling: "Vince [McMahon] told me that they would keep me until the end of the year, leave me off for a few months, and then figure out another gimmick, because they were just going to keep Hillbilly. There was too much back and forth with Hillbilly and he got hurt; they brought Elmer in, and he got fired; Junior left; then I came in, and Hillbilly had a little disagreement with the office, so he took off for a few weeks. We had lost the steam that we had. I finished the year with them, and then started working the independents."[8]
Later career
After leaving WWF in 1987, Petit went to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Texas Red. For the rest of his career he worked in the independent circuit mainly in New Jersey and the New York City area. His last match was in 2002.
Retirement and death
In 2000, Petit retired from wrestling due to back problems.[9] Petit lived in Bernardsville, New Jersey and was a member of the board of directors for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.[10] He died on September 29, 2013.[9] and was believed to be in his mid 60s when he died.[1] He had had multiple sclerosis and diabetes in his later years and was residing in a long-term health facility when he died.[11]
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling Alliance
- World Class Championship Wrestling
- WCCW Television Championship (1 time)
References
- ^ a b Oklafan.com: Wrestling By The Numbers: Gene 'Cousin Luke' Petit Archived 2014-01-13 at archive.today, October 1, 2013
- ^ "Cousin Luke". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (2008-05-14). "Cousin Luke made a lasting impression". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ISBN 0-8223-3438-0.
- ^ Oliver, Greg. "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Luna Vachon". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Oliver, Greg. "Olympics just another step for Bob Roop". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Gene Petit". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- Canadian Online Explorer.
- ^ a b "GENE 'COUSIN LUKE' PETIT PASSES AWAY".
- ^ "About PWHF". The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 2007-08-04. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ "Gene 'Cousin Luke' Petit Passes Away". PWInsider.com. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
- ^ "Titles. Cousin Luke". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2023-02-13.