@@jasons2023 thinking of Brodie Lee him being a renown fighter doesn't come to mind but then I picture hum and yhe first thing that comes to mind is "I don't wanna fuck with that scruffy bastard"
"I just wanted to show the world I could do something. I’ve wrestled Lou Thesz. I’ve played golf with Joe Louis. Can you believe what a lucky life I’ve had?" - Danny Hodge
The stories of Danny Hodge are legendary, what a athlete. I remember a story Bill Watts said about Brusier Brody saying he wouldn't sell for Danny cause he is too small and in a real fight Brusier said Danny wouldn't have a chance and Hodge just stretched him to tears in the ring and the other wrestlers laughed cause they knew how tough Danny was..... Ole Anderson said the only wrestler he knew that could kick his ass was Hodge because Ole tried Hodge once and in Ole words he beat the crap out of him. Incredible athlete that doesn't get talked about nearly enough.
RIP to Danny Hodge. I have a plastic apple signed by Danny Hodge back in 2005. such an incredibly nice man to talk to. He treated me and my friend like we were old friends.
When I was a kid in Southwest Missouri, if you talked about pro wrestling with any of the adults who were around us, they would *always* refer to how they remembered "back when Danny Hodge was the World Champ". Not the World Jr. Heavyweight Champion...just, "The World Champ". To the people of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and parts of Louisiana, Danny Hodge was their Lou Thesz, their Bruno Sammartino, their Hulk Hogan...he was the first person that came to mind when the heard the words "professional wrestling".
Verne Gagne had Danny wrestle Ole Anderson in his first match as a shoot. Ole had to go to the hospital afterward with broken ribs and numerous other issues. They wanted to see if Ole would walk away, or come back for more. When Ole came back, one of the guys said Danny had gone easy on him, to which Ole replied that if that was taking it easy, he'd hate to wrestle him when he's serious.
I was at the NWA 50th Anniversary convention in Cherry Hill. I had my picture taken with Dr. Death, Blassie, Thesz, and Gordon Solie. I saw Danny Hodge but he was always busy talking to other people. I always regretted not getting a picture with him.
The only amateur wrestler to be on an SI cover. 3 time NCAA Champion at 177, pinning all 3 finals opponents. When the outstanding NCAA wrestler trophy is named after you, it's safe to say you've made your mark. Rest In Peace Mr. Hodge.
An old Terry Bradshaw quote, "There are no straight highways in Louisiana. They're all as crooked as the back of a snake. But somehow, miraculously, all of the highways passed by land owned by the politicians."
I never saw Hodge wrestle, but I’ve heard he was a legit tough guy who had a firm handshake. I believe it was Jim who said that Hodge was in a bad car accident that forced him off the road and landed in a river and broke his neck.
That grip alone would be devastating....hence why he used it on heels who acted the fool and had them begging "Danny I quit....I quit" to which Danny didn't let them quit - JR tells that story in his book Slobberknocker.
Danny Hodge stories remind me of the times that a teammate's grandfather came to practices to teach us some moves. He was in his 60s then, and he had coached wrestling at Traverse City H.S. for decades, and is in the Michigan Coaches' HOF. He taught us some stretches and counters that left everyone in pain. He taught me a counter-move for starting in the down position. He took the fingers of one hand and literally grasped my groin muscle (sounds dirty, but that's wrestling), and I immediately crumpled to the mat. He had a strong handshake, as well. Great man,
Hearing the double tendon thing makes me wonder of Hodge was the origin of the "tendon strength" gimmick historically applied to wrestlers with less than aesthetically pleasing physiques.
He did not train Ole Anderson, but he did beat the living fuck out of him. It was Ole’s first ever match and he thought he’d overpower Danny since there was a 100 pound difference. To Danny’s credit, Ole said he doesn’t think there’s anybody in the world that could beat Danny Hodge, and Ole knows pretty much every tough guy in the business.
RIP Danny Hodge. He lived a fantastic life and I have nothing but respect for his work. You can find examples of his work on RUclips. He was a fantastic NWA junior heavyweight champion. Hodge vs Jack Brisco was a major dream match back in the 70's. Like Kurt Angle vs Ken Shamrock or Brock Lesnar vs Dan Severn.
I saw one of those matches at Jimmy Lott's Sport Arena in Ft Smith Arkansas. They wrestled 60 minutes without one punch, kick or gough. Most conditioned men I've ever seen.@@thaboyshawn5911
Danny Hodge was a 3 time All American at the University of Oklahoma in wrestling, and he was never pinned as an amateur wrestler. Never. That doesn't even include his professional wrestling career. OKC sports broadcaster and former ABC sports analyst Dean Blevins said that they were interviewing him that they had heard a rumor that he could crush an apple with one hand. They gave Danny Hodge one and he squeezed on it and it took about 5 seconds and they said apple juice went everywhere. A true legend in collegiate and pro wrestling and always a class act.
“I’ve spent a LOT of time on mats and with some very strong wrestlers but never have I felt the raw power of arms like that. And this man was nearly 80 years old".....Quote from a man who had the privilege/painful encounter with Danny Hodge
As an Oklahoma native I can say yes Jim you are correct. Working on the farm or ranch builds incredible strength in your hands and forearms. And as great as Oklahoma’s wrestling program is, Oklahoma State is the dominant entity in college wrestling
I never watch any of his matches definitely have to check them out. Rest In Peace Danny Hodge, Shad Gaspard, John Huber and all the other wrestlers who died in 2020
I learned about Hodge through a couple of JR stories, when I looked in to him further, I found the man to be greater than the legend. Hope heaven has a bushel of apples waiting!
I heard that Hodge actually gripped and injured (unintentionally) the ankle of his opponent in the gold medal match and got disqualified. Not sure if it is true, but he had a helluva grip!
R.I.P. Mr Danny Hodge, when I was a kid in the late 70’s/80’s I would watch Hodge on Mid South Wrestling crush apples with his bare hands. Try it for yourself,it is a testament to his strength.
For people to understand what old man grip strength can be like. Please look into Odd Haugen. (yes that is his name) (pronounced Ode) I am a small guy, my hands aren't gigantic. I have some pretty good grip. Nothing like super special though. If you know where to grab someone shit gets easy real fast.
Dale Lewis was another great amateur-- Greco-Roman, not folkstyle, but still great. I remember watching him in the 70s when he came through McGuirk's territory. His finish was the sleeper hold.
Hodge always said he was "double jointed" which he felt accounted for his legendary grip strength. Many guys who wrestled Hodge said Hodge could legitimately hurt you with his grip strength. It was said he worked out once with Bob Backlund. Apparently, Backlund never "saw daylight" because Hodge just smothered him.
Saw Danny Hodge & Ken Mantell on TV when I was a child. Mid-South I believe. Dale Lewis and his sleeper, Bill Watts & the Oklahoma stampede,Grizzly Smith,Sweetan, Gypsy joe Rosario, ivan pulaski, johnny Eagles...
I love that they mentioned he was a judge for the Brawl for all. I remember somebody put all the fights up on RUclips and some guy who wasn't necessarily being an asshole, I don't believe actually understood who Danny Hodge was commented and how ridiculous it was they had a hundred-year-old referee. People responded commenting to him that he might want to Google that name cuz there is a very good chance that hundred-year-old referee could kick his ass
Cord and Cole Hodge have the strongest hand grip I ever shaken hands with. I didn't think it was possible a human could have a Terminator grip. Their grip is freaking out of this world.
Danny Hodge for the record competed twice in the Olympics which Cornette purposely left out because it did not fit his narrative. In the 1952 Olympics he placed 7th and silver in 1956. The only reason he competed in the 56 Olympics is Bill Smith who pinned Hodge in the 56 nationals (NCAA and nationals are different. The NCAA champion gets to compete in nationals to represent the olympic team)was considered eniligable because he was a paid wrestling coach. Danny Hodge is a top ten collegiate wrestler of all-time but he is not close to the best American amateur wrestler of all time that would be John Smith. For as much as Cornette knows about pro wrestling he doesnt know shit about amateur wrestling.
I love seeing another for lack of a better term”real wrestler” here lol...I hate that real wrestling gets called amateur lol but I still love pro wrestling just not as much as loved pinning someone on that mat haha
You know that in 52, Hodge was full time in the Navy competing against guys who could actually focus on training. He was essentially a kid in the navy less than a year out of high school going against college and post-college wrestlers. And losing to Bill Smith was no shame-- that guy was a beast. The rest of what Cornette said was opinion, but not a bad opinion. As for John Smith, he is a legend, but had a longer full-time amateur career than Hodge by several years. Also, in the 50s, American folkstyle wrestling rules were pretty different than international freestyle-- Americans just didn't do as well internationally back then. Opinions vary, especially across eras.
@@testodude yes I knew that about Hodge in fact people have pointed out his domination in college wrestling was helped by him being older than everyone he was competing against. What is your point? I said Hodge is one of the greatest collegiate wrestler ever but because of other's results on the international level he is not the best US amateur wrestler ever. Also do you think Cornette knows who Bill Smith is or that he pinned Hodge in 2 minutes 36 seconds. My argument is with him and his statements.
@@jeremiahch Cornette doesn't know anything about amateur wrestling. All he knows is what he heard from pro wrestlers. He's repeating legends. Nothing you said is false. My point is "best" is an opinion. People love to stick to their era or even weight classes with opinions. Some would say Baumgartner or Gable, some would say Sanderson , some would say Burroughs. You said Smith, and I agree. Most accomplished is not an opinion. Hodge is not the most accomplished. Most top-tier wrestlers in the modern era focus on wrestling essentially fulltime for years. You probably understand that grind, practice, and focus it takes to even compete for nationals now.
@@testodude a good discussion would be the greatest amateur wrestler ever to compete in pro wrestling. Kurt Angle is the first to come to mind but I think Henri Deglanne won a gold medal. Is there any other gold medalists I'm forgetting? Chris Taylor wrestled some. Lots of NCAA champions but I'm not sure of international competition.
I had just typed the other day about the NCAA being about the only place left that WWE can get stars from, since they can't make their own, UFC is bigger than them now and have killed pretty much all the other sources. I did not realize Danny Hodge had died when I typed that, but I stand by it. They should cut back on the indie and foreign guys. They've already taken most of the ones people in the US care about and haven't found a way to move the needle with them. Going to the amateur champions and catering to them may not work either, but I think it is worth trying at this point. I crushed an apple in my hand once. After seeing somebody on television do it I tried it with every apple I had before just eating them. Then one day it happened, on accident. Glad I was outside but it was still a mess.
I noticed during the discussion comparing Hodge's grip strength to other wrestlers, neither Jim nor Brian mentioned Andre. Andre could pop basketballs with his bare hands, I'm just saying...
Why do you find good wrestlers or hand to hand combat people in the mid west? Cuz we have snow and cold! Be couped up with the same jag offs for months at a time, not really able to do anything outside. Boom! Let's fight. Hell, one of my favorite fights I saw as an adult was while I watched 2 FRIENDS ice fishing. I think they both moved that fast and with such force was cuz otherwise they would have froze to death.
Also, wrestling keeps you warm in the winter. Practices are almost always in something like a heavily padded sauna. They turn the heat way up and you're sweating like a pig before spinning drills are finished. Walk home on winter nights and it just seems pleasantly cool.
That's definitely an interesting one. With the right gameplan I believe Hodge has the right tools to avoid the ground and KO Gracie. If he ties to grapple then most likely Gracie via triangle
Hodge beats Lesnar 9 times out of 10. If you look at brock in the UFC he was just a smashing machine but was always shut out in the 1st round when he lost because his opponent in that fight (Mir, Velasquez, and Overeem) used technique to beat Brock
As someone once said of Teddy Roosevelt, "Death had to take him sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."
The same would apply to Brodie Lee, cheap shots including.
@@jasons2023 thinking of Brodie Lee him being a renown fighter doesn't come to mind but then I picture hum and yhe first thing that comes to mind is "I don't wanna fuck with that scruffy bastard"
"I just wanted to show the world I could do something. I’ve wrestled Lou Thesz. I’ve played golf with Joe Louis. Can you believe what a lucky life I’ve had?" - Danny Hodge
The stories of Danny Hodge are legendary, what a athlete. I remember a story Bill Watts said about Brusier Brody saying he wouldn't sell for Danny cause he is too small and in a real fight Brusier said Danny wouldn't have a chance and Hodge just stretched him to tears in the ring and the other wrestlers laughed cause they knew how tough Danny was..... Ole Anderson said the only wrestler he knew that could kick his ass was Hodge because Ole tried Hodge once and in Ole words he beat the crap out of him. Incredible athlete that doesn't get talked about nearly enough.
RIP to Danny Hodge. I have a plastic apple signed by Danny Hodge back in 2005. such an incredibly nice man to talk to. He treated me and my friend like we were old friends.
I hope you treasure that apple mate, I'd have that in full show weather my misses liked it or not 🍏🍎
Danny was my friend and neighbor. I knew him over 40 years. He was a great guy. Thanks for doing this tribute.
When I was a kid in Southwest Missouri, if you talked about pro wrestling with any of the adults who were around us, they would *always* refer to how they remembered "back when Danny Hodge was the World Champ". Not the World Jr. Heavyweight Champion...just, "The World Champ". To the people of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and parts of Louisiana, Danny Hodge was their Lou Thesz, their Bruno Sammartino, their Hulk Hogan...he was the first person that came to mind when the heard the words "professional wrestling".
True. He was my dad's favorite wrestler. I was looking for a Hodge biography for him for Christmas just the day before Hodge died.
Verne Gagne had Danny wrestle Ole Anderson in his first match as a shoot. Ole had to go to the hospital afterward with broken ribs and numerous other issues. They wanted to see if Ole would walk away, or come back for more. When Ole came back, one of the guys said Danny had gone easy on him, to which Ole replied that if that was taking it easy, he'd hate to wrestle him when he's serious.
Finally, a Danny Hodge tribute. I was beginning to think his passing had been forgotten.
Well atleast he lived a long and fulfilled life
Jim you always do a great job of painting a picture of these greats from the past. RIP Danny.
I was at the NWA 50th Anniversary convention in Cherry Hill. I had my picture taken with Dr. Death, Blassie, Thesz, and Gordon Solie. I saw Danny Hodge but he was always busy talking to other people. I always regretted not getting a picture with him.
The only amateur wrestler to be on an SI cover. 3 time NCAA Champion at 177, pinning all 3 finals opponents. When the outstanding NCAA wrestler trophy is named after you, it's safe to say you've made your mark. Rest In Peace Mr. Hodge.
Thanks Jim, for giving Danny Hodge some respect. your knowledge of wrestling is not matched by anyone.
An old Terry Bradshaw quote, "There are no straight highways in Louisiana. They're all as crooked as the back of a snake. But somehow, miraculously, all of the highways passed by land owned by the politicians."
RIP Danny Hodge. The business remembers its greats. Incredible wrestler. ❤
Rest in Paradise Mr. Hodge. Give St. Peter the handshake at the pearly gates.
Once again when Jim speaks about something he has all this evidence and information and research to back him up very very professional kudos👍🛎😉
Mr Hodges 1962 $80,000 contract would equate to just under $690,000 in 2020. RIP Danny Hodge 😔
I never saw Hodge wrestle, but I’ve heard he was a legit tough guy who had a firm handshake. I believe it was Jim who said that Hodge was in a bad car accident that forced him off the road and landed in a river and broke his neck.
Then he punched the window out and walked to the hospital while holding his head up with his hands
R.I.P Danny Hodge
Jim Ross had some great stories of Mr. Hodge in his book, Slobberknocker. Highly recommend it.
That grip alone would be devastating....hence why he used it on heels who acted the fool and had them begging "Danny I quit....I quit" to which Danny didn't let them quit - JR tells that story in his book Slobberknocker.
Bill Watts said of Hodge, guys thought they were "shooting" on him and he was just "working."
Thats legitimately one of the most gangster things ive ever heard one man say about another
One of the toughest guys this world has ever seen
RIP Danny Hodge 💪🍎
He was so tough, death had to make an appointment to come get him.
Danny Hodge stories remind me of the times that a teammate's grandfather came to practices to teach us some moves. He was in his 60s then, and he had coached wrestling at Traverse City H.S. for decades, and is in the Michigan Coaches' HOF. He taught us some stretches and counters that left everyone in pain. He taught me a counter-move for starting in the down position. He took the fingers of one hand and literally grasped my groin muscle (sounds dirty, but that's wrestling), and I immediately crumpled to the mat. He had a strong handshake, as well. Great man,
Hearing the double tendon thing makes me wonder of Hodge was the origin of the "tendon strength" gimmick historically applied to wrestlers with less than aesthetically pleasing physiques.
Danny Hodge trained Skandar Akbar & Ole Anderson. Danny was our version meaning the USA version of Stu Hart, he was a badass.
He did not train Ole Anderson, but he did beat the living fuck out of him. It was Ole’s first ever match and he thought he’d overpower Danny since there was a 100 pound difference. To Danny’s credit, Ole said he doesn’t think there’s anybody in the world that could beat Danny Hodge, and Ole knows pretty much every tough guy in the business.
He trained me for 4 months in 1991,The truest personification of The Term... Wrestler!
Danny hodge was legit,rest in paradise,much love greetings from scotland🏴
Another of the true legends passes on. I really feel sorry with people that have to carry nowadays on with the sham pushing current "Wrestlers"
Like Brodie Lee and Luke Harper.
RIP Danny Hodge. He lived a fantastic life and I have nothing but respect for his work. You can find examples of his work on RUclips. He was a fantastic NWA junior heavyweight champion. Hodge vs Jack Brisco was a major dream match back in the 70's. Like Kurt Angle vs Ken Shamrock or Brock Lesnar vs Dan Severn.
They had Hodge vs Jerry Brisco
@@thaboyshawn5911 Yes, but that would have been like Kurt Angle vs Frank Shamrock. Not quite the same match.
I saw one of those matches at Jimmy Lott's Sport Arena in Ft Smith Arkansas. They wrestled 60 minutes without one punch, kick or gough. Most conditioned men I've ever seen.@@thaboyshawn5911
Danny Hodge was a 3 time All American at the University of Oklahoma in wrestling, and he was never pinned as an amateur wrestler. Never. That doesn't even include his professional wrestling career. OKC sports broadcaster and former ABC sports analyst Dean Blevins said that they were interviewing him that they had heard a rumor that he could crush an apple with one hand. They gave Danny Hodge one and he squeezed on it and it took about 5 seconds and they said apple juice went everywhere. A true legend in collegiate and pro wrestling and always a class act.
What a fucking beast. Imagine Danny Hodge as a Welterweight in MMA today.
He'd finish Kamaru Usman with an actual Clawhold.
I'd pay actual money to see that PPV.
Hell imagine Hodge & St. Pierre both in their primes.
You’re kidding aren’t you?
Check out Tennessee Stud if it can be found for his stories about the late Danny Hodge.
“I’ve spent a LOT of time on mats and with some very strong wrestlers but never have I felt the raw power of arms like that. And this man was nearly 80 years old".....Quote from a man who had the privilege/painful encounter with Danny Hodge
As an Oklahoma native I can say yes Jim you are correct. Working on the farm or ranch builds incredible strength in your hands and forearms. And as great as Oklahoma’s wrestling program is, Oklahoma State is the dominant entity in college wrestling
R.I.P., Mr. Hodge.
I heard he had a handshake grip that was brutally stiff.
Imagine a vice grip holding your hand and that is a pretty accurate description
When you can crush an Apple with one hand CONSISTENTLY! His grip was legendary!!
People who squeeze your hand during a handshake are dicks.
Danny Hodge Vs. Haku:
Whoever Crunches Most Body Parts Wins.
Imagine those two in their prime clearing out a bar? There'd be nothing left, lol!
Hodge vs Angle....just imagine
I never watch any of his matches definitely have to check them out. Rest In Peace Danny Hodge, Shad Gaspard, John Huber and all the other wrestlers who died in 2020
The sad thing if was not on video tape over the last 35 years it doesn't matter because nobody seen it you only heard the story
Great segment.,
My great uncle had hands like a catchers mitt. He was 6'2 ish and farmed for 40 years. He was a strong guy.
I know this hit JR pretty hard,i’ve always heard him speak very very highly of Mr. Hodge 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I learned about Hodge through a couple of JR stories, when I looked in to him further, I found the man to be greater than the legend. Hope heaven has a bushel of apples waiting!
Real shooter R.I.P. Danny Hodge
That's crazy he had double tendons. Insane.
RIP Danny Hodge
This is the greatest tribute I've ever heard.
RIP Danny Hodge
You are an inspiration.
I heard that Hodge actually gripped and injured (unintentionally) the ankle of his opponent in the gold medal match and got disqualified. Not sure if it is true, but he had a helluva grip!
For newer Pro Wrestling Fans Karl Gotch is the same person who trained Minoru Suzuki, hence the name Gotch Style Piledriver.
Jim Ross’s hero.
I thought it was Mickey Mantle.
And Iron Sheik
Both mantle and Danny hodge are jrs hero's. Im from Oklahoma im my hero. Be your own person. A lot of great people are from Oklahoma.
His story should be a movie. But I forgot, they do not do real people anymore.
Danny Hodge, if born in this era, would have been MMA box office gold. Rest in peace, shooter.
Severn's so old he probably wrestled Hodge in amateurs.
Danny Hodge retired from amateur wrestling before Severn was even born.
Just looked up his Wikipedia page and it has a pic of him crushing an apple at age 80 on the floor of the Oklahoma house of representatives.
A man's man.....Rest in Peace.
Danny Hodge actually did have a role in at least one movie. He was in the small film One More Shot from 1996. www.imdb.com/title/tt0117249/
He along with Verne Gagne, and several other's were in a movie called The Wrestler in 1974.
RIP Mr Hodge.
I knew about Danny Hodge. I am a life long wrestling fan. I heard about his passing on Ric Flair's Instagram.
R.I.P. Mr Danny Hodge, when I was a kid in the late 70’s/80’s I would watch Hodge on Mid South Wrestling crush apples with his bare hands. Try it for yourself,it is a testament to his strength.
How long should you boil the apple before proceeding to crush it with your hand?
A true Man's man R.I.P. Mr. Hodge.
R.I.P. Mr. Hodge. You are greatly missed. Godspeed!!! :(
For people to understand what old man grip strength can be like. Please look into Odd Haugen. (yes that is his name) (pronounced Ode)
I am a small guy, my hands aren't gigantic. I have some pretty good grip. Nothing like super special though. If you know where to grab someone shit gets easy real fast.
Thanks, Jim.
That's Jim. I heard of Danny Hodge but didn't know much about him
saw hodge many times in the mid 70s. my dad worked security at the arena he wrestled regularly.
R.I.P. Danny!!!
DANNY HODGE was very underrated. RIP.
RIP Danny Hodge🤼♂️
Dale Lewis! He and the Missouri Mauler were a notable tag team on Tampa TV in the 1970s. You could tell Lewis could handle himself.
Dale Lewis was another great amateur-- Greco-Roman, not folkstyle, but still great. I remember watching him in the 70s when he came through McGuirk's territory. His finish was the sleeper hold.
Another day of education from jimmy 👌 rip danny h.
Crazy in Oklahoma we talk about our football program but wrestling rarely get brought up
By the way coton bowl winner 2020 ou sooners boomer.
Hodge always said he was "double jointed" which he felt accounted for his legendary grip strength. Many guys who wrestled Hodge said Hodge could legitimately hurt you with his grip strength. It was said he worked out once with Bob Backlund. Apparently, Backlund never "saw daylight" because Hodge just smothered him.
Saw Danny Hodge & Ken Mantell on TV when I was a child. Mid-South I believe. Dale Lewis and his sleeper, Bill Watts & the Oklahoma stampede,Grizzly Smith,Sweetan, Gypsy joe Rosario, ivan pulaski, johnny Eagles...
JR calling Will Hobbs “Willy Hobbs” makes a lot more sense now. Willy Hobbs sounds a lot like Danny Hodge. I wish I could have watched Hodge work.
I love that they mentioned he was a judge for the Brawl for all. I remember somebody put all the fights up on RUclips and some guy who wasn't necessarily being an asshole, I don't believe actually understood who Danny Hodge was commented and how ridiculous it was they had a hundred-year-old referee. People responded commenting to him that he might want to Google that name cuz there is a very good chance that hundred-year-old referee could kick his ass
Cord and Cole Hodge have the strongest hand grip I ever shaken hands with. I didn't think it was possible a human could have a Terminator grip. Their grip is freaking out of this world.
And when he gets to Heaven, to St Peter he will tell.......you're in my seat boy!
Danny Hodge for the record competed twice in the Olympics which Cornette purposely left out because it did not fit his narrative. In the 1952 Olympics he placed 7th and silver in 1956. The only reason he competed in the 56 Olympics is Bill Smith who pinned Hodge in the 56 nationals (NCAA and nationals are different. The NCAA champion gets to compete in nationals to represent the olympic team)was considered eniligable because he was a paid wrestling coach. Danny Hodge is a top ten collegiate wrestler of all-time but he is not close to the best American amateur wrestler of all time that would be John Smith. For as much as Cornette knows about pro wrestling he doesnt know shit about amateur wrestling.
I love seeing another for lack of a better term”real wrestler” here lol...I hate that real wrestling gets called amateur lol but I still love pro wrestling just not as much as loved pinning someone on that mat haha
You know that in 52, Hodge was full time in the Navy competing against guys who could actually focus on training. He was essentially a kid in the navy less than a year out of high school going against college and post-college wrestlers. And losing to Bill Smith was no shame-- that guy was a beast. The rest of what Cornette said was opinion, but not a bad opinion. As for John Smith, he is a legend, but had a longer full-time amateur career than Hodge by several years. Also, in the 50s, American folkstyle wrestling rules were pretty different than international freestyle-- Americans just didn't do as well internationally back then. Opinions vary, especially across eras.
@@testodude yes I knew that about Hodge in fact people have pointed out his domination in college wrestling was helped by him being older than everyone he was competing against. What is your point? I said Hodge is one of the greatest collegiate wrestler ever but because of other's results on the international level he is not the best US amateur wrestler ever. Also do you think Cornette knows who Bill Smith is or that he pinned Hodge in 2 minutes 36 seconds. My argument is with him and his statements.
@@jeremiahch Cornette doesn't know anything about amateur wrestling. All he knows is what he heard from pro wrestlers. He's repeating legends. Nothing you said is false. My point is "best" is an opinion. People love to stick to their era or even weight classes with opinions. Some would say Baumgartner or Gable, some would say Sanderson , some would say Burroughs. You said Smith, and I agree. Most accomplished is not an opinion. Hodge is not the most accomplished. Most top-tier wrestlers in the modern era focus on wrestling essentially fulltime for years. You probably understand that grind, practice, and focus it takes to even compete for nationals now.
@@testodude a good discussion would be the greatest amateur wrestler ever to compete in pro wrestling. Kurt Angle is the first to come to mind but I think Henri Deglanne won a gold medal. Is there any other gold medalists I'm forgetting? Chris Taylor wrestled some. Lots of NCAA champions but I'm not sure of international competition.
Oklahoma State University is the wrestling school in Oklahoma, but Mr. Hodge did go to the other school
I had just typed the other day about the NCAA being about the only place left that WWE can get stars from, since they can't make their own, UFC is bigger than them now and have killed pretty much all the other sources. I did not realize Danny Hodge had died when I typed that, but I stand by it. They should cut back on the indie and foreign guys. They've already taken most of the ones people in the US care about and haven't found a way to move the needle with them. Going to the amateur champions and catering to them may not work either, but I think it is worth trying at this point.
I crushed an apple in my hand once. After seeing somebody on television do it I tried it with every apple I had before just eating them. Then one day it happened, on accident. Glad I was outside but it was still a mess.
Danny Hodge = Greatest American wrestler of all time
@thewelshviper That would definitely be one for the ages!
did Hodge had a feeud or just matches with Maurice Mad Dog Vachon ? they were both prolific amateurs
Imagine being his winky.
🤣🤣🤣👏
Had to piss not anymore.
Rip danny
R.i.p.
What a beast of a man.
So hodge is curt angle before curt angle?
He was Angle and Shamrock combined.
I noticed during the discussion comparing Hodge's grip strength to other wrestlers, neither Jim nor Brian mentioned Andre.
Andre could pop basketballs with his bare hands, I'm just saying...
Andre was a huge man, Danny wasn't big or even bulky. He was deceptively strong.
Kahli done the same
Here's a good question for you Jim, who do you think was the better pure WRESTLER? Thesz Or Hodge?? Or Angle?
🤔🤼♂️🥇🥈
There's a few other names you could add to that question. Obviously Dan Gable, but also a guy named Lee Kemp could be added to it.
Exactly! No video
Why do you find good wrestlers or hand to hand combat people in the mid west? Cuz we have snow and cold! Be couped up with the same jag offs for months at a time, not really able to do anything outside. Boom! Let's fight. Hell, one of my favorite fights I saw as an adult was while I watched 2 FRIENDS ice fishing. I think they both moved that fast and with such force was cuz otherwise they would have froze to death.
Also, wrestling keeps you warm in the winter. Practices are almost always in something like a heavily padded sauna. They turn the heat way up and you're sweating like a pig before spinning drills are finished. Walk home on winter nights and it just seems pleasantly cool.
I hope Jim has to do far less of these in 2021.
You're talking about a guy who once made a bear run from HIM. Says it all.
R.I.P.
They don't make men like this anymore. Seriously, it's not possible in this day and age. RIP Mr Hodge.
Who would win between Danny Hodge and Joyce Gracie?
That's definitely an interesting one. With the right gameplan I believe Hodge has the right tools to avoid the ground and KO Gracie. If he ties to grapple then most likely Gracie via triangle
*Had the right tools. RIP
Hodge beats Lesnar 9 times out of 10. If you look at brock in the UFC he was just a smashing machine but was always shut out in the 1st round when he lost because his opponent in that fight (Mir, Velasquez, and Overeem) used technique to beat Brock
I got into wrestling in like 1983.
By that point, Hodge was ancient history.
And through the boom he stayed that way.
RIP
love u corny!!
$80000 in 62 is closer to $700000 today, so Hodge was making BANK!