Wahoo McDaniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wahoo McDaniel
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McDaniel, circa 1979
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| Born |
Edward McDaniel
June 19, 1938 Bernice, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Died | April 18, 2002 (aged 63) Houston, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma | ||
| Spouse(s) | Monta Rae (divorced) | ||
| Children | 2 | ||
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Professional wrestling career
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| Ring name(s) | Wahoo McDaniel | ||
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||
| Billed from | Midland, Texas, U.S. | ||
| Trained by | Dory Funk | ||
| Debut | 1961 | ||
| Retired | 1996 | ||
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Football career |
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| No. 62, 54 | |||
| Position: | Linebacker / Guard | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Midland | ||
| College: | Oklahoma | ||
| AFL draft: | 1960 / Round: 2 Pick: First Selections (by the Los Angeles Chargers) |
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| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Edward Hugh McDaniel (born June 19, 1938 – died April 18, 2002) was a famous American athlete. He was a professional American football player and a professional wrestler. People knew him best by his exciting ring name, Wahoo McDaniel.
Wahoo was a real Choctaw and Chickasaw Native American. He was very well-known for winning the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship five times in wrestling. He was a big star in many wrestling groups, like the American Wrestling Association and Jim Crockett Promotions.
Contents
Early Life and Sports Beginnings
Wahoo McDaniel was born in 1938 in a small town called Bernice, Louisiana. His dad worked in the oil industry, so his family moved around a lot. They finally settled in Midland, Texas, when Wahoo was in middle school.
He went to Midland High School. There, he was a state champion in track for the shot put. He also placed second in the state for discus. One of his baseball coaches was even George H. W. Bush, who later became president!
The nickname "Wahoo" actually came from his father, Hugh. His dad was known as "Big Wahoo." Wahoo went to the University of Oklahoma and played for their Sooners football team. He still holds the record for the longest punt in their history, at 91 yards!
Wahoo's Football Career
Wahoo McDaniel started his professional football career in 1960. He played for the Houston Oilers. His team won the very first AFL Championship that year.
From 1961 to 1963, he played for the Denver Broncos. Then, in 1964, he became a linebacker for the New York Jets. When he played for the Jets, he had a special jersey with "Wahoo" sewn on the back. When he made a tackle, the announcer would ask, "WHO made that tackle?" and the crowd would shout, "Wahoo! Wahoo! Wahoo!"
After two seasons with the Jets, Wahoo joined the Miami Dolphins in 1966. He played with them until he retired from football in 1968.
Wahoo's Wrestling Career
While he was still playing football, Wahoo McDaniel started training to be a professional wrestler. He trained with Dory Funk Sr. in 1961. Wrestling was a way for him to earn extra money.
When he joined the New York Jets in 1964, he also started wrestling for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The promoters wanted him to use his Native American background. So, he was given the name "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel.
After his football career ended in 1969, Wahoo became a full-time wrestler. In his first year, he won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship.
Big Wrestling Rivalries
Wahoo had some famous rivalries in wrestling. One of his earliest and toughest opponents was Superstar Billy Graham. Between 1973 and 1974, Wahoo and Superstar had many exciting matches. These included "Indian Strap Matches" and tag team matches.
In 1974, Wahoo went to wrestle for Jim Crockett Promotions. He had a big rivalry there with Johnny Valentine. Their matches were known for their powerful punches and chops. Wahoo won the Mid-Atlantic title from Valentine in 1975.
Later, in 1977, Johnny Valentine's son, Greg Valentine, attacked Wahoo. Greg broke Wahoo's leg as part of a wrestling storyline. This made fans very angry and excited for a rematch! Greg Valentine even wore T-shirts that said "I Broke Wahoo's Leg."
Wahoo also wrestled in special events later in his career. He appeared at World Championship Wrestling's Slamboree 1993: A Legends' Reunion in 1993 and Slamboree in 1995. He continued to wrestle in smaller shows until he retired in 1996.
Personal Life
Wahoo McDaniel was married four times to three different women. He had two daughters with his first wife, Monta Rae. Their names are Nikki, born in 1963, and Cindi, born in 1965. He also had four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Outside of sports, Wahoo loved to play golf and go hunting.
Later Years and Passing
Wahoo's health began to get worse in the mid-1990s. This led to his retirement from wrestling in 1996. In 2000, he lost both of his kidneys.
He was waiting for a kidney transplant when he had a stroke. Wahoo McDaniel passed away on April 18, 2002, in Houston, Texas. He died from problems related to diabetes and kidney failure. His ashes were scattered over a lake in Del Rio, Texas.
Championships and Achievements
Wahoo McDaniel won many championships and awards during his wrestling career. Here are some of them:
- American Championship Wrestling
- ACW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- ACW United States Championship (1 time)
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Crusher Lisowski
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Other honoree (1996)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time)
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (2 times)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Billy Jack Haynes
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (2 times) – with Jose Lothario
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy Rich
- NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- International Pro Wrestling
- IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (7 times)
- NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (4 times) – with Mark Youngblood (2), Rufus R. Jones (1), and Paul Jones (1)
- WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)
- Cadillac Cup (1976)
- NWA United States Championship Tournament (1984)
- Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance
- MAWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling Federation
- NWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chief White Owl
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Johnny Valentine (2), and Thunderbolt Paterson(1)
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tony Parisi
- North American Wrestling Alliance
- NAWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1976)
- PWI ranked him # 97 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Southern Championship Wrestling
- SCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1998)
- Southern States Wrestling
- Kingsport Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2000)
- Southwest Championship Wrestling
- SCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- SCW Southwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Funk
- SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ivan Putski
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWE
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2019)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2002)
See Also
In Spanish: Wahoo McDaniel para niños
- Other American Football League players
