There will be a celebration of the late Lance Russell’s life and career this Saturday at Jerry Lawler’s Bar & Grille in Memphis. The legendary announcer passed away this past Tuesday at the age of 91. Below are details for Saturday’s event, which is open to the public:
Source: WrestlingINC
Legendary wrestling announcer Lance Russell passed away today at the age of 91. WWE posted the following on “The Voice of Memphis Wrestling” passing:
Legendary announcer Lance Russell passes awayWWE is saddened to learn that Lance Russell, the legendary voice of Memphis, Tenn., wrestling, has passed away at age 91.
A fixture of the Memphis circuit, Russell’s career as an announcer began in the late 1950s and spanned nearly 40 years until his semi-retirement in 1997. His avuncular charm and steady hand guided fans who tuned in to watch the region’s larger-than-life personalities and notoriously wild ring action.
As the unflappable host of the Continental Wrestling Association’s weekly Saturday morning show held at WMC’s TV studios, as well as the Mid-South Coliseum cards each Monday night, Russell provided commentary for all of Memphis’ most famous matches.
His relaxed drawl was the soundtrack for Jerry “The King” Lawler’s rivalry with absurdist comedian Andy Kaufman in the early 1980s, a groundbreaking event that made national headlines. When an impromptu tag team fight broke out in the concession stand of the Tupelo Sports Arena in Mississippi years earlier, after that night’s taping had ended, it was Russell who alerted the cameraman to begin filming and who literally shined a light on the brawl, which many consider a milestone moment in wrestling.
Over the years, Russell developed a level of credibility and trust with TV audiences that rivaled Walter Cronkite’s, and as Superstars like Lawler and Bill Dundee switched allegiances, Russell remained a consummate moral compass. His interaction with rule-breakers like Austin Idol and “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart — which often featured Russell voicing his disappointment over their dirty deeds — became as much an attraction to fans as the matches themselves.
Russell also commentated in WCW from 1989 to 1992.
Following news of Russell’s passing, many of his friends, contemporaries and admirers expressed their love and affection for the “Voice of Memphis Wrestling.”
WWE extends its condolences to Russell’s family, friends and fans.
It’s a sad day in wrestling. Legendary wrestling announcer Lance Russell has passed away at the age of 91.
Lance was best known as the voice of Memphis wrestling.
I grew up watching and listening to Lance Russell and in my opinion he was the best in the business. I believe he should be in the WWE Hall of Fame. I had the pleasure to meet him once and got the photo above.
All of us here at Wrestling News Blog send our thoughts and prayers out to Lance’s family and friends.
Below are reactions on his death from longtime announce partner Dave Brown, Jerry “The King” Lawler and others:
I got to attend the comic convention POP!CON in Evansville, In, where I got to meet some of the Legends of Memphis Wrestling, Jerry “The King” Lawler, “Grand Master Sexy” Brian Christopher, “the Boogie Woogie Man” “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, “The Voice of Memphis Wrestling” Lance Russell and “Superstar” Bill Dundee. I had a blast getting to meet these guys I grew up watching.
I had the chance to talk with “Grand Master Sexay” Brian Christopher about the old days of Memphis Wrestling. He shared with me a story about his dad (Jerry “the King” Lawler”) wrestling The Giant Gonzalez at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, where Lawler threw a fireball at Gonzalez and his fur he wore on his suit caught fire, Gonzalez for real got angry at Lawler and Lawler told him if he has a problem with it he could always fire him. We talked about the great matches that I got to see in Evansville, In at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum.
Here are some of the photos I was able to take, Sorry but I realized I failed to get a photo of “Dangerous” Doug Gilbert, who was there:
Jerry Lawler was presented with a Super Hero of the year award.
There was more than just wrestling at POP!CON, People were dressed in costumes of their favorite wrestlers, Super Heroes, Star Wars characters, Star Trek characters and other comic book and movie characters, below is some photos I posted on Twitter from the event:
Above is a photo of Vince McMahon with legendary announcer Lance Russell backstage at RAW last week in Memphis.
Legendary Memphis Area Wrestling announcer Lance Russell who is in Memphis this week for Memphis Wild Fire Wrestling’s event tonight “Long Live The King” which will celebrate the career of Jerry “The King” Lawler, will be attending RAW on Monday. Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that there is some talk of having Russell introduce Lawler to the live crowd before RAW hits the air but Lawler reportedly wants to walk out to the announce table with Russell.
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