Ib Solvang Hansen

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Ib Solvang Hansen
Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark
DiedNovember 16, 1978(1978-11-16) (aged 44)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Eric the Red
Eric the Animal
Eric Hansen
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight300 lb (140 kg)
Billed fromDenmark
Debut1968

Ib Solvang Hansen (1 August 1934 – 16 November 1978) was a Danish professional wrestler, known by his ring name Eric the Red, who competed in North American and international regional promotions during the 1960s and 70s, including Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling and National Wrestling Federation.

One of the major stars in the short-lived International Wrestling Association, he was one of the few to find success in the National Wrestling Alliance following the IWA's closure, forming a successful tag team with Pak Song in Championship Wrestling from Florida before his death in 1978.[1]

Career

Early career (1968–1974)

Born in

Viking, Hanson faced veterans such as Dutch Momberg, The Assassin, Wild Bull Curry and Tiger Jeet Singh during his first year and also formed a short-lived tag team with Whipper Billy Watson
.

After becoming a "

Baron Mikel Scicluna to defeat WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino & Johnny DeFazio in Hubbard, Ohio
on November 1, 1974.

National Wrestling Federation (1970–1975)

Hansen soon began wrestling for the

Victor Rivera
in memorable matches.

Briefly returning to Toronto to face

foreign object. Feuding with NWF North American Heavyweight Champion Johnny Powers defeating him for the title in Buffalo on February 17, 1973 although he would lose it back to him within several weeks. He would also be involved in a controversial storyline violently attacking Jacques and Raymond Rougeau
with his bone and subsequently resulting in a feud between the two for several weeks.

After a brief tour of

Ed Farhat losing to Dick the Bruiser on April 27, 1974. Facing Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil on the Cleveland-Buffalo circuit during the year, he also toured Japan during February–March including facing Antonio Inoki and, returning to Ontario, faced Luis Martinez and Dewey Robertson
later that year.

In early 1975, Hansen began his first tour of the southeastern United States competing for

Atlanta, Georgia where he very quickly becoming one of the promotions top "heels". However, he was soon hired by Pedro Martinez to return to Cleveland to compete in the newly established International Wrestling Association which Martinez and TV sports mogul Eddie Einhorn were organizing to compete directly against the National Wrestling Alliance
as the first national professional wrestling promotion in the United States.

Remaining one of the top stars in the promotion under manager

Mil Mascaras throughout the country as the promotion toured the United States. During the tour, Hansen faced Lou Thesz losing to the then 59-year-old former NWA World Heavyweight Champion at the Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey
on August 7, 1975.

By the end of the year however, following the takeover of Johnny Powers after Eric Einhorn pulled out, Hansen remained with the IWA as it attempted to survive as a regional promotion in the Carolinas. He would also travel to Canada several times where his former manager George Cannon was a

booker for the Eastern Sports Association
.

From San Juan to Tulsa (1975–1978)

Like many other wrestlers who competed for the IWA, Hansen found little work in the

Carlos Colon
which would result in several riots during late 1976.

Leaving the WWC in April 1977, Hansen returned to Toronto for a short while before moving on to

Tri-State area in his feud with Randy Tyler during the spring on 1978. His allies soon turned against him however, when The Assassin and The Brute
attacked him during a television taping in early July.

Teaming with

New Orleans, Louisiana
on July 22, 1978 with a record 31,000 in fans in attendance.

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1978)

On October 4, Hansen made his debut in

West Palm Beach on October 9, Hansen would be disqualified in matches against Steve Brody and Jimmy Garvin
the following week.

He soon began teaming with Pak Song and, only two weeks after Hansen's debut, they captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship from

Bobby Duncum was pinned during a tag match in West Palm Beach two days later, he and Pak Song would retain the tag team titles defeating Eddie Graham & Killer Karl Kox in Tampa, Florida on October 17. The following night, he and Pak Song would defend their titles twice in one night defeating Rick Oliver and Prince Tonga in Tampa, Florida
and Killer Karl Kox & Steve Keirn in Miami later that night. Breaking his leg during the match, Keirn's injury was written into the storyline as Keirn later claimed he had been attacked by Hansen and other members of Sonny King's stable while training at a local gym with Graham.

Hansen and Pak Song continued their winning streak, continuing to feud with Mike Graham & Killer Karl Kox in tag team and singles matches during the next several weeks. On October 25, they again wrestled to matches in one night defeating

Prince Tonga & Sonny Driver
at a television taping in Tampa and, later that night, teamed with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum losing a 6-man tag team match against Jerry Brisco, Jim Garvin and Dusty Rhodes in Miami.

After losing Killer Kox & The Grahams a 6-man tag team elimination match with Pak Song and Sonny King in St. Petersburg three days later, he later interfered in the main event helping NWA Heavyweight Champion Harley Race defeat Dusty Rhodes. Facing Rhodes in a non-sanctioned "Lights Out" match in Tampa on October 31, he nearly defeated Rhodes with outside interference by his manager Sonny King however Killer Kox would also interfere in the match knocking out Hansen and allowing Rhodes to pin Hansen to win the match.

Despite this loss, he and Pak Song would continue defending their titles during October and early-November. On November 7, he and Pak Song would face Killer Karl Kox & Dusty Rhodes, both longtime rivals, later defeating the challengers via disqualification after Killer Kox attempted to hit Hansen with a steel chair.

Death

On November 8, he and Pak Song defeated Jimmy Garvin & Prince Tonga at a television taping in Tampa. Later that night at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, he and Pak Song would face Mike Graham & Dusty Rhodes defeating them by disqualification. Following the match, Hansen flew back to the Tampa International Airport and was driving through the Town ‘N Country area when his car stalled on West Hillsborough Boulevard. After telephoning for assistance, Hansen was struck by a car while crossing the median. His head hitting the windshield of the car, he suffered severe brain damage as well as numerous bodily injuries. Taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, Hansen remained in a coma for a week before he died from his injuries on November 16, 1978.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ Will, Gary (June 2000). "Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame: Eric the Red". GaryWill.com.
  2. ^ Will, Gary (February 2004). "1973 Results: Local debuts for Brisco, Race, Bravo". Gary Will's Toronto Wrestling History.
  3. ^ "Records of N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship Matches: 1972-73". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  4. ^ "Records of N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship Matches: 1974-75". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  5. ^ Rose, Barry (December 2002). "The Invasion Of Eric The Red And The Tragedy That Followed". KayfabeMemories.com.
  6. ^ "Florida Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  7. ^ "N.W.F. North American Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  8. ^ a b "Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

External links

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