CWF #16 Page #2

Eric spent the summer of 1972 working indies in and around Toronto for Gene "The Canadian Wildman" Dubois and faced such talent as ex-CFL star Angelo Mosca, Vic Rossitani, and Prince Pullins. By October he was back with Martinez full-time, and with cigar-chomping Tony Angelo as his manger, his biggest push to date began under the moniker Eric The Animal.  On February 17, 1973, Eric scored a huge victory when he defeated Johnny Powers for the NWF North American Title in Buffalo. In a controversial and bloody TV angle, Eric blasted both Jacques and Raymond Rougeau with his whalebone, resulting in a string of title defenses against Jacques. He made a short trip to the Maritimes in June, and was also headlining Toronto shows, which culminated with an NWA Title match against Jack Brisco on September 23. Eric also made several mid-card appearances for Ed Farhat in Detroit, his most memorable bout being a loss to Dick the Bruiser on April 27, 1974. 

Eric continued to work the Cleveland-Buffalo circuit through 1974, wrestling legends such as Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil. He toured Japan during February and March as a top heel, losing to Antonio Inoki in several NWF Title matches.  Eric also worked several indies in the Ontario, Canada area, wrestling familiar names like Luis Martinez and Dewey Robertson. In early 1975, Eric made his first trip to the south, wrestling for an independent promotion based out of Columbus, Georgia. “When Gunkel Enterprises got torpedoed by one of its members,” recalled wrestler Dick Steinborn, “I was left holding the bag as the promoter in Columbus Georgia. Now, with no men supplied to me from Atlanta, I decided to go independent. After 2 weeks of this being on the grapevine, Ernie Ladd called me from Houston and offered his partnership on what was to be a new promotion starting from scratch. I had met TV production companies in Atlanta, and made arrangements to film my matches in the surrounding towns. I had Ed Capral on my payroll, and Ladd wanted in.  Unbeknownst to me, Ernie sent Eric the Red to my doorstep. I paid him $550 a week, because I could see a future with him and Ernie doing great business wherever our TV show went. Unfortunately it was the wintertime and too many hands were out looking for a payday and I could see where it would be a struggle and a financial loss up front. Just about that time, Pedro Martinez called me, wanting to use my building to film 5 hours of tapes. I agreed, and made $3,200 for my effort. Martinez and Einhorn hired Eric away from me and I lost my heel. So I joined the IWA also. What a story that was. I believe Eric left because he found out how everyone else was on tremendous guarantees and he could only see where he was a fill in. At least that is what I presumed.” 

Eric was a main event heel for the fledgling IWA promotion, a joint effort between Pedro and Ron Martinez and wealthy sports magnate Eddie Einhorn. Managed by George “Crybaby” Cannon, Eric wrestled IWA Champion Mil Mascaras in several cities during the 1975 tour that promoted shows across the United States. Eric’s highest profile match for the group came at their August 7, 1975 show in Jersey City at Roosevelt Stadium, when Eric lost to 59-year-old Lou Thesz. By the end of 1975, The IWA was struggling to stay afloat, with Einhorn and his money gone from the organization. The IWA was reduced to a regional promotion, concentrating solely in the Carolinas, and now being run by Johnny Powers. Eric, finding it arduous to get work, as so many that had defected to the IWA had, stayed with the group. He also made occasional trips to Canada, where his former manager, George Cannon, was now promoting indies.

Discovering just how difficult it was to get another shot in the U.S. because of his IWA connection, Eric ventured in the fall of 1976 to Puerto Rico where he became a huge draw for the World Wrestling Council. Eric was a double titleholder for the group, holding the Puerto Rican and WWC North American Titles. He also had a wild feud with the island’s top star, Carlos Colon, which resulted in several riots. Eric exited Puerto Rico in April 1977, working small shows in and around Toronto. By the end of the year, Eric debuted in Dallas for WCCW, staying a couple of months and wrestling the Von Erichs in main events throughout the territory. In the spring of 1978, Eric ventured into the Tri-State area, again becoming one of the group’s lead heels. He quickly formed an alliance with The Assassin (Jody Hamilton) and engaged in a bloody feud with Randy Tyler that lasted several months. By early July, Eric was turned babyface when The Assassin and his new partner, The Brute (Bugsy McGraw), attacked him on TV. With Steven Little Bear as his partner, Eric faced The Assassin and The Brute at the Louisiana Superdome on July 22, 1978 in front of a recorded 31,000 in attendance. Eric would feud with The Brute in gimmick matches around the horn, resulting in Eric dropping a loser-leaves-town match the last week of September. Exiting Oklahoma was a blessing in disguise, as The Great Dane was headed for sunnier days, and his debut for Championship Wrestling From Florida was just around the corner. 

The weekly Florida wrestling program, The Grapevine, trumpeted the arrival of the big Viking. “Recently we’ve received word that a man known as Eric The Red will soon be on the scene, and that he is making no bones about his purpose in being here. Eric is a big fellow. Three hundred pounds, and solid. He is of Nordic extraction and reportedly very proud of his Viking ancestry. In this regard, it is interesting to note that the original Eric The Red lived about a thousand years ago. He was renowned as a rogue and an outlaw for most of his life, as was his father before him. The contemporary Eric The Red seems to have retained his ancestor’s fierce nature, while becoming somewhat more inclined to appreciate the value of money. A Norseman does not, after all, come to Florida in warm weather because he can’t cut the cold, but a Viking mercenary might sail into any waters if the prospect for plunder is to his liking. From what we’ve heard about Eric The Red his reputation is well earned. He is big—and vicious—enough to do a number on just about anybody.” 

Eric made a successful CWF debut at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton on October 4, defeating Phil Mercado. Two nights later on October 6, Eric would thrash Steve Brody in Ft. Lauderdale. Sonny King, the top heel manager in the state, quickly recruited Eric to join his “family,” which also included one of the state’s legendary heels, Pak Song. “A man of my genius should not have to undertake physical pursuits,” explained King. “I will communicate with Pak Song the same way that I communicate with Eric The Red, through the universal language—and baby, I ain’t talkin’ about love! The universal language is money. Long green. Filthy lucre. When I make arrangements to manage a wrestler, it has got to be understood that I handle the green stuff and make the decisions.” Thus, Song and Eric became the first two members of King’s family. 

Eric, less concerned with winning his matches then destroying his competition, defeated Rick Oliver on October 9 in West Palm Beach, lost by disqualification to Steve Brody on October 10 in Tampa, and lost by disqualification to Jim Garvin on October 11 in Miami. In an interview with The Grapevine, Eric discussed his relationship with King and Song. “I am here because this is where I want to be,” stated Eric. “Some of the biggest favorites in professional wrestling come here often—people like Dusty Rhodes, Rocky Johnson, Wahoo McDaniel, and the Briscos. It’s very simple. He (King) made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. At no time do I have to take orders from anybody. Sonny King is a good manager and a good manager can be a real asset. He knows not to treat me like some underling. Pak Song is a rugged individual, just like me. I don’t understand much of what he says and he doesn’t understand much of what I say, but I get the distinct impression that we think very much alike.” 

The pairing of Eric The Red and Pak Song proved to be successful, as ten days after Eric’s CWF debut, they captured the Florida tag-team titles from Mike Graham and Steve Keirn on October 14 in Lakeland. Two nights later in West Palm Beach, Eric and Bobby Duncum lost to Keirn and Graham, when Duncum was pinned. The next night in Tampa on October 17, Eric and Song defeated Eddie Graham and Killer Karl Kox. At the television tapings in Tampa on October 18, Eric and Song beat Rick Oliver and Prince Tonga, and later that evening in Miami, the Florida tag champions defeated Killer Karl Kox and Steve Keirn in the main event. By all accounts, Eric was receiving a huge push, with no losses by either pinfall or submissions.  

Steve Keirn, who was Florida champion and one of the state’s biggest babyfaces, suffered a broken leg during a match, sidelining him for five months. Never missing a beat, this injury was quickly written into the CWF storylines. “Mike and I were in the gym working out,” explained Steve Keirn to The Grapevine. “Just the two of us. We’d come in early, when there was no one else around, because we wanted to work on some moves I had in mind for Harley Race, and we didn’t want anybody carrying any stories back to him. Anyway, Mike had to leave for a few minutes, and no sooner had he gone out the door than Sonny King and his crew of Eric the Red and Pak Song showed up. What can I tell you? By myself, I never had a chance. I’ve got a broken leg, but I guess I’m lucky to be alive!” 

Eric continued to face the best CWF had to offer. He teamed with Song to defeat Killer Karl Kox and Mike Graham on October 23 in West Palm Beach, and defeated Kox by disqualification the next night in Tampa after being tossed over the top rope. At the television taping in Tampa the next afternoon, Eric and Song defeated Prince Tonga and Sonny Driver. Later that evening, Eric teamed with The Spoiler and Bobby Duncum, losing to Jerry Brisco, Jim Garvin, and Dusty Rhodes in Miami on October 25. On a loaded card in St. Petersburg on October 28, Eric, with partners Pak Song and Sonny King, lost a six-man elimination match to Kox and The Grahams. But, Eric’s work wasn’t finished that night. He and King interfered in the NWA Title match between Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes, attacking Rhodes and costing him the match. Eric was now poised to feud with the most popular wrestler in the country, Dusty Rhodes. 

The Tampa Tribune printed this report of the “Lights Out” match between Eric and Rhodes, which took place in Tampa on October 31. “In the final event of the evening, Dusty Rhodes and Eric The Red wrestled in a non-sanctioned match. After challenging about everyone at ringside because of the presence of Sonny King in Eric’s corner, when the bell sounded Rhodes seemed to fade under Eric’s furious attack. Following a brief recovery, Rhodes was thrown out of the ring and immediately attacked by Sonny King, then doubleteamed. Without the intervention of Killer Karl Kox, it would have been all over for Rhodes. But with Kox’s help, Sonny King was put out of the ring and the exhausted Rhodes fell across the inert form of Eric The Red. The referee, Sonny “Glass Jaw” Myers, who had been knocked unconscious, recovered in time to see the pin and awarded the match to Rhodes. Time was 5:07.”  

With a loss under his enormous belt, Eric would go on a tear in the Sunshine State with a string of victories. The next afternoon at the Tampa television tapings (November 1), Eric & Song defeated Raul Mata and Prince Tonga, and the same evening in Miami Eric & Song beat Killer Karl Kox and Mike Graham. In a Florida tag title match in Orlando on November 5, Eric & Song defeated Dusty Rhodes and Kox. The next night in West Palm Beach on November 6, Eric & Song beat Eddie Graham & Kox. The Tampa Tribune printed this report of the main event match between Eric & Song versus Rhodes and Kox in Tampa on November 7. “The lamb must surely have lay down with the lion by now, and the Russians may, this very minute, be beating their swords into plowshares. For it has come to pass that arch rivals Killer Karl Kox and Dusty Rhodes teamed up last night at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory against Eric The Red and Pak Song. Rhodes and Kox wasted no time getting started, and charged their opponents as soon as they entered the ring. Their surprise attack caught Eric and Pak Song off- guard apparently, and for a few minutes Rhodes and Kox dominated the match. Their tactics, however, were building up a head of steam in their opponents, which was soon to explode. The explosion came when Eric caught Kox with fingers in the eyes and opened the way for some double-teaming by the challengers. Eric and Pak Song continued to double-team both Kox and Rhodes anytime the referee was not looking. When Rhodes was attacked outside the ring and left unconscious on the floor, it was Kox’s turn to erupt in anger. He entered the ring and attacked both Eric and Pak Song, only to be raked across the eyes again. By this time Rhodes had come back into the ring, bringing a chair with him, which Kox grabbed and planted on Eric’s throat. The referee, seeing this infraction, stopped the match, disqualifying Kox and Rhodes. Elapsed time: 7:06.” 

The next afternoon, November 8, at the television tapings in Tampa, Eric & Song defeated Jimmy Garvin and Prince Tonga. That evening, at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, in front of an announced crowd of 3,622, Eric and Song beat Rhodes and Mike Graham by disqualification. It would be the last match that Eric would ever wrestle. Flying back to the Tampa International Airport later that night, Eric’s car stalled on West Hillsborough Boulevard in the Town ‘N Country area. After telephoning for help, Eric tried to cross the median but was struck by a vehicle headed east in the outside lane. Eric was thrown into the air and his head struck the windshield of the car. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital suffering severe brain damage as well as numerous broken bones and remained comatose until he passed away November 16, 1978. No charges were filed against the driver. Eric, who was thirty-four years old, left behind a son, Jim Hansen. 

The Grapevine printed a photo and this announcement in Volume I, Number 28 on the fourth page. 

“Eric The Red, whose full name was Eric Hansen, passed away on Thursday, November 16, just one week after being struck by an automobile while crossing a Tampa street in the early morning hours. Eric never regained consciousness after being hit, his condition worsening steadily despite all efforts to help him. The sport of wrestling has lost a formidable athlete. While Eric did not enjoy a great deal of personal popularity, he was feared and respected by opponents and his public alike. Like his Nordic ancestors, he asked no quarter and he granted none. Eric The Red will be remembered for his fierce competitive spirit and his absolute lack of fear when facing opponents—a fitting tribute to a Viking warrior.” 

A Viking warrior, indeed. 

Eric Hansen, RIP. 

Special thanks to Dick Steinborn and George “The Animal” Steele. 

NEXT MONTH: 

The Twenty-Five Greatest Angles In CWF History!

All questions, queries, and comments are welcomed at Manof1000holds@aol.com.

Back to CWF Main