Due to ECW's notoriety under Heyman, the company quickly became the third biggest wrestling company in North America behind the WWF and WCW. And when she wanted something, she would to everything she could to get it. He spent several months recovering before returning to the ring; upon his return, he stated on television that Backlund had been a tremendous inspiration to him. Eddie teamed with Rick Steiner to feud with Kevin Sullivan and his Varsity Club. Hot Stuff International were a stable in the Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1993. He moved to the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1985, where he wrestled and worked as a manager, forming a villainous stable called Hot Stuff International, Inc..

They held the AWA Southern Tag Team titles in 1984 until dropping them to Phil Hickerson and the Spoiler (Frank Morrell). It almost sounds like a traditional love story: Two people obviously meant for each other have to settle for unrequited love. But in the 1980s they caused fans to nearly riot.

She was as irritating as he was, and this dastardly duo wreaked havoc on the promotion. They would hold the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. Gilbert had always fancied himself a ladies man, even going so far as to have announcers bill him from every womans fantasy. He worked for the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) in Memphis (where he feuded with Jerry Lawler)[5] and the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), as well as Philadelphia's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance promotion. He started a heel stable of wrestlers called "Hot Stuff International, Inc." and he managed it and wrestled. Whether it was coming up with something diabolical for his own character, or scripting out an angle for other performers, he had a bit of a magic touch. When Hyatt finally turned on Tatum, it was spectacular. He would continue to wrestle in Jim Crockett Promotions, the United States Wrestling Association, and various promotions until his death in 1995. Gilbert went to the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) -- which had purchased the UWFand brought Hyatt, Heyman and his brother Doug Gilbert with him. Numerous home viewers, fearing for Lawler, immediately called the police to report what they had just seen as a legitimate vehicular assault. After weeks of buildup, Gilbert declared his love for Missy. Years later, he engaged in one of the longest-running and most violent feuds in Memphis wrestling history with Lawler, the man he idolized as a young grappler just getting started in the ring. Gilbert started wrestling in 1977 in the Memphis, Tennessee-based Continental Wrestling Association as "Tommy Gilbert Jr." in honor of his father, Tommy Gilbert. We need LGBTQ representation in family entertainment, no matter what conservatives think, Dark Winds episode 6 review: An unrelenting and frantic conclusion, DC Preview: Batman / Superman: Worlds Finest #5. Though it died a quick death, it was home to some of the most memorable television programs of all time. He spent a little bit of time wrestling in the World Wrestling Federation as an enhancement talent in 1982, before being promoted to mid-card status. It was under Gilbert in Continental that Paul Heyman got his first taste of the book. Others look at her as something of a pioneer. Gilbert started his wrestling career for the Continental Wrestling Association in 1977, using the ring name Tommy Gilbert Jr. and winning the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship with his father in 1980. Despite wrestling his first few years as a babyface, it was his eventual foray into the world of heeldom where he really blossomed. She hit Tatum with her loaded purse and walked out of his life. WWE Will Induct The Undertaker In The 2022 Hall Of Fame, UWF (Universal Wrestling Federation) Tag Team titles (Eddie Gilbert &.

Gilbert, unaware his former partner was at the taping, badmouthed Rich, then the International Heavyweight Champion, until Rich came out to confront him. Heyman would take the company in an even more extreme direction, and under the name Extreme Championship Wrestling just 11 months later which saw the company depart the NWA in controversial fashion.

[7] Ken Wayne and Jason The Terrible found Gilbert in his apartment. At one point, Eddie Gilbert lured The King out to the parking lot so he could hit him with a car! Members She and Tatum would venture to the UWF in 1986, where she participated in arguably the best storyline of her career. In 1993, Gilbert wrestled for NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling, where he again teamed with Doug. Meanwhile, Missy was impossible to read. In what may be the best pro wrestling love triangle ever written, Tatum played the oblivious boyfriend. Near the end of his stint there, JCP was renamed World Championship Wrestling, and Gilbert was featured in the first WCW video game. On February 18, 1995, Gilbert was found dead in his apartment in Puerto Rico. Gilbert then returned to the USWA until early 1995 when he worked one night for Smoky Mountain Wrestling before traveling to World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico to wrestle and book. The two had a brief but intense feud, which memorably began on television when the two were presented with a "Tag Team of the Year" award by announcer Lance Russell and two guests. He went back to the independents where he could book again. She certainly enjoyed flirting with him, but it was hard to tell if she actually liked Gilbert. [6] Due to a pay dispute, Gilbert, along with his brother Doug (who wrestled under a mask as the Dark Patriot) left the GWF in 1992. It was headed by Eddie Gilbert and consisted of Don Muraco, Jimmy Snuka, Paul E. Dangerously, and Dark Patriot. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. He also served as head booker for nearly six months, but gave up his position in September 1993 to Paul Heyman. One of the best written angles was the saga of Hot Stuff & Hyatt International. Gilbert pulled similar hijinks in Mid-South Wrestling, where he constantly agitated promoter and legendary wrestler Cowboy Bill Watts. Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr. (August 14, 1961 February 18, 1995) was an American professional wrestler and booker, better known by his ring name, "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert.[1]. He would stay with the Universal Wrestling Federation until the Purchase from Jim Crockett Promotions. In early 1994, Gilbert sat down with Bob Barnett and conducted a filmed shoot interview titled "Looking For Mr. The on air story was that he had chosen to leave the promotion rather than be injured by Jim Cornette and The Fabulous Ones. What separated Hyatt from women like Sunshine and Miss Elizabeth was her demeanor; she was a spoiled rich girl from Beverly Hills who always got what she wanted. Gilbert spoke openly about his life and career at a time when professional wrestlers rarely appeared on film out of character and almost never spoke publicly about the behind-the-scenes machinations of the wrestling business. American professional wrestler and booker, Continental Wrestling Association (19841986), Universal Wrestling Federation (1985-1987), Jim Crockett Promotions / NWA World Championship Wrestling (19881989), NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling (1993), GWF North American Heavyweight Championship, CWA International Heavyweight Championship, ECW Tag Team Championship Tournament (1993), GWF Television Championship Tournament (October 1991), NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association / Universal Wrestling Federation, USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "January 21, 1991 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Ric Flair defeats Sting for his 7th World title win, more", "Lifetime honoree Foley captivates at CAC Baloney Blowout", "Pro wrestling history (01/14): Christian wins NWA World Title", "Pro wrestling history (01/24): WWF Royal Rumble 1999", "Next Official Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony", "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eddie_Gilbert_(wrestler)&oldid=1094177905, Professional wrestling managers and valets, The First Family (professional wrestling) members, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Texas Outlaws (Bonecrusher and Crowbar), The Dog Catchers (Dog Catcher #1 and Dog Catcher #2), The Shooting Stars (Troy Haste and Jerry Faith, This page was last edited on 21 June 2022, at 05:42. Everyone except Hollywood. Gilbert eventually turned heel and feuded with Rich as well as Jerry Lawler. Gilbert then made his way to Bill Watts' Mid-South territory. Young Eddie Gilbert grew up watching local stars like Jackie Fargo, Jerry Jarrett and Tojo Yamamoto command the ring. He was always a ladies' man and he stole Missy Hyatt from John Tatum in 1987, with his stable being renamed "H & H International, Inc." He married Hyatt in 1988. If anything, it seemed like Hyatt was infatuated with Gilbert. The cause of death was officially listed as a heart attack.

Some think her only contribution to the sport is a number of salacious backstage stories; Hyatt herself openly talks about the wrestlers she had relations with. Eddie Gilbert took with him the GWF North American Heavyweight Championship belt. Later, when Mid-South became the Universal Wrestling Federation, he would form the stable Hot Stuff & Hyatt International with his main squeeze, Missy Hyatt. There was a number of times during the angle when it looked like Hyatt would just leave with Gilbert. Debuted Sting would eventually leave "Hot Stuff International, Inc." and feud with them. Do you have strong opinions on AEW, WWE, NJPW, Impact, ROH, and the independent scene? Gilbert, the son of wrestler Tommy Gilbert, was best known for his feuds with Jerry Lawler and Bill Watts. A Mark's Eye View: Hot Stuff and Hyatt International? Although Eddie Gilbert wrestled for a couple of years with WWE very early in his career, it's possible that he will never be inducted into their Hall of Fame. It was a gift of burning passion for pro wrestling. Following a match in which Taylor defeated Shane Douglas due to interference by both Gilbert and Rick Steiner, Adams told referee Randy Anderson of the interference. When he began to pal around with Tatum and Hyatt, everyone knew where things were headed. She was surrounded by a sex appeal that could best be described as unattainable. At one point, Hot Stuff came out and apologized to Watts for associating with the Russian team during the height of the Cold War. She was too delicate to get in the ring, but she would not let any man talk down to her.

A Mark's Eye View: Why fans never saw the British Bulldogs break up, A Mark's Eye View: Five almost, but not quite all-time greats, A Mark's Eye View: Surprisingly patriotic wrestlers, A Mark's Eye View: The dream match that never happened almost happened twice, A Mark's Eye View: Remembering Mr. Wrestling II, A Mark's Eye View: The night the Killer Bees turned heel, A Mark's Eye View: How ESPN taught me about bad wrestling, A Mark's Eye View: The best makeshift tag teams. UWF (Universal Wrestling Federation) Tag Team titles (Eddie Gilbert & Sting) defeating The Fantasics (August 31, 1986); UWF (Universal Wrestling Federation) Tag Team titles (Rick Steiner & Sting) defeating Chris Adams & Terry Taylor (April 12, 1987); John Tatum & Jack Victory feuded with Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner, Sting and of course Missy Hyatt.. July 20, 1986: Eddie Gilbert & Sting defeated The Fantastics to capture the UWF Tag Team titles.. ~~~The UWF Tag Team titles were held up after a match with the Fantastics and a rematch was set up.. August 31, 1986: Eddie Gilbert & Sting defeated The Fantastics in the rematch to reclaim the UWF Tag Team titles.. April 12, 1987: Rick Steiner & Sting defeated Chris Adams & Terry Taylor for the UWF Tag Team titles.. Jim Crockett Jr. absorbed the UWF and turned Sting into a babyface against the remaining members.. Hot Stuff was a dynamic personality, plus he could bring her the titles she so desperately craved. What modern day performer do you think would be a good promoter or booker when they retire?

Later, he began making a name for himself as Eddie Gilbert in CWA in Memphis, Tennessee. 1993 In addition, he formed a team with Tommy Rich as "Fargo's Fabulous Ones", an attempt by CWA (Memphis) to bury and still cash in on the fame attained by the previous incarnation of the Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn and Stan Lane, who walked out of the territory after a dispute. Initially, it seemed like he also saw this as nothing more than a business deal. Pro Wrestling is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Maybe she wasnt the first woman manager, but she was certainly more than a valet. Given the right time and the right talent, Hot Stuff could have been a force for any federation in the world. Gilbert would team with Sting to win the titles while Tatum would fail to win singles gold. Watts accepted his explanation, only to have Gilbert turn the tables, attacking Watts and draping the Soviet flag over his prone body. From there, Gilbert worked in Alabama's Continental Wrestling Federation (CWF), where he reformed Hot Stuff Inc. Gilbert also served as booker, with Paul Heyman as his assistant. [2] In 1980, he and his father won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. After all, Missy wanted every belt in the UWF. During the feud with Lawler, there was head shaving, fireball throwing, and sneak attacks that led to an opponent being taken out of action for a while. Lawler had to inform the police what was going on and Lawler was forced to appear on television (while selling his "injuries") sooner than intended out of concern that Gilbert would have been legitimately arrested if he didn't show on TV that he was all right. Be the first one to comment on this story, 10 great wrestlers who have passed on and their legacies, 10 WWE Superstars who passed away before turning 40, Backstage reason why Miro is defending the AEW TNT Championship against Fuego Del Sol again - Reports. Born Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr. in 1961, he was the son of Tommy Gilbert, a legend in the Memphis territory. He continued to work his way up the card when he was legitimately injured seriously in a car accident in 1983. Gilbert's first marriage to a woman named Terrie Bardwell Dykes. ECW Tensions were at a high for weeks, with Tatum constantly shooting down rumors. His work behind the scenes is even more celebrated, however. Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert is another forgotten name. He also became involved in a feud with Ric Flair and Barry Windham in which he teamed with Ricky Steamboat and Lex Luger. Become a patron today to get exclusive perks, like access to our exclusive Discord community and our monthly comic book club, ad-free browsing on aiptcomics.com, a physical trade paperback sent to your house every month, and more! With Hot Stuff's passing, the world lost one of the true talents of his era. "Looking For Mr. Gilbert" is now considered the first professional wrestling "shoot video", and in the decades since, countless professional wrestlers have conducted sit-down shoot interviews, most notably in RF Video's Shoot Interview series and Kayfabe Commentaries' YouShoot interview series. Rich immediately got the upper hand, running Gibert into the steel ringpost several times, bloodying him in the process before the cameras went to a commercial. Gilbert's most famous feud in the Memphis territory involved an angle between himself and Lawler in September 1990. Gilbert also played his role well. Disbanded It may not be the type of love story parents tell their children, but it is one of the best romance angles in wrestling history. The Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl was held in his memory from 1996 to 1999. Gilbert found his greatest success in Memphis, teaming with Tommy Rich to form Fargos Fabulous Ones, imitating the original incarnation after they left the area. One day, the man declares he is madly in love and the two live happily ever after. At first, she just seemed like she was looking for more excitement in her life. The CWF was broadcast nationally on the Financial News Network, and Gilbert's creative work was widely praised by wrestling journalists.

He teamed with his father and Ricky Morton in those years. Eddie left WCW in April 1990 and also divorced Hyatt. The angle eventually spilled outside the ring into the stands, and near the concession area, featuring a huge brawl involving beer kegs, chairs, trash cans, tables, popcorn machines and other objects. The two divorced, and Gilbert married wrestling valet Missy Hyatt in October 1987 and they divorced in 1989. On February 18, 1995, Gilbert died of a heart attack in his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. We asked Stone Cold Steve Austin his honest thoughts on Ric Flair's final match right here. Or H & H International. Eddie and his brother Doug were "fired" from the promotion, and in retaliation hit Lawler with their car and fled the scene. After the commercial break, Gilbert told Russell he wanted Rich to come back out so he could apologize to him in person, stating he was wrong for still being bitter about the break-up of the team, and was fueled by jealousy of Rich's championship title reign and newfound star status. Hyatt got her start in the business in 1985, when she would accompany real life boyfriend John Tatum to the ring. It definitely is a shame she is rarely mentioned today.

Through lies and manipulation the two ended up falling madly in love.

Gilbert." As Adams pleaded his case with Anderson, Gilbert and Taylor attacked him, and Sting eventually evened the sides. Gallery Even then, Gilbert showed an aptitude for commanding the crowd.

Gilbert was awarded Best Booker of 1988 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The relationship between Hot Stuff and Hyatt was clearly a business one. He wrestled in and booked the successor to Tri-State Wrestling. It was a case of having her cake and eating it, too. Eventually, he became the booker with Eastern Championship Wrestling, before it went to the Extreme. If he is, it will likely be as part of the Legacy Wing and he'll get about a 30-second photo collage on the broadcast.

Eddie GilbertDark PatriotDon MuracoJimmy SnukaPaul E. Dangerously During these moments, Hyatt looked pained with having to make a decision. During this time period, Gilbert was touted as the protege of then WWF Champion Bob Backlund. Eddie Gilbert was a pure and natural fit for the professional wrestling business from the very day he was born. They soon signed a couple of promising young stars named Rick Steiner and Sting.

Hyatt & Hot Stuff International feuded with the Fantastics over the tag belts.

AIPT is currently recruiting wrestling writers. For a long time, Missy Hyatt was one of the most polarizing names in wrestling.

A look back at one of the best wrestling love triangle angles ever. The duo would break up soon after, with Gilbert turning heel. That's a shame because Eddie Gilbert should be recognized for the genius he was. At a September 1983 TV taping, Gilbert's neck was (in storyline) reinjured by the Masked Superstar who executed two neckbreakers to Gilbert in the ring to win a match and a third on the floor ringside afterwards, resulting in Gilbert being stretchered from the ring and taken away in an ambulance. Promotions And in some ways, Hot Stuff's flame still burns brightly today. He later moved to the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, working a storyline as the protg of Bob Backlund until 1984.

Gilbert quit the USWA in January 1991.

The footage from the interview was later marketed on home video and sold through wrestling newsletters, as well as at independent wrestling shows, the first of its kind. Bill Wattss Universal Wrestling Federation is fondly remembered for a number of reasons. Gilbert also worked as a booker in promotions like the Global Wrestling Federation and Eastern Championship Wrestling (later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling). [3] Gilbert continued wrestling for the WWF until 1984.[1]. His acute understanding of crowd psychology and his willingness to push the envelope just enough would have rubbed off on his performers, and he surely would have been one of the most innovative minds of the 90s and beyond. Then we want you on our team. His stable included Sting (Blade Runner Sting), Ultimate Warrior (Blade Runner Rock) and Rick Steiner before they were stars. Or Hyatt & Hot Stuff International. Do you love wrestling? Over the weeks, things would change. When Rich accepted Gilbert's apology, Gilbert suddenly turned on him and, in front of a stunned audience and a speechless Russell, rammed Rich's head into the ringpost, just as Rich had done to him moments earlier. 1993

These days, with the use of stunt men and special effects, angles like this are now much more commonplace. For his part, the previously flippant Gilbert now seemed to care about Hyatt. His father, Tommy Gilbert, stated that injuries to Eddie's chest and heart muscle had occurred in a serious car crash in 1983 and could have been a factor; Eddie's alleged use of painkillers since the accident could also have contributed to his heart condition. Gilbert is also the subject of the first wrestling shoot interview, Looking for Mr. Gilbert. 2011 - 2021 AIPT, LLC. [4] However, Gilbert left due to conflicts with management.

Gilbert booked famous angles in the UWF, Continental, and the NWA. Gilbert also married Madusa at this time after having hit it off with Madusa on TWA promoter Joel Goodhart's radio show, but the marriage was brief. Do you like to write about wrestling?

Gilbert bounced around the Continental area, the Global Wrestling Federation and WCW for a few years, finding success (albeit briefly) at every stop.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Extreme Championship Wrestling teams and stables. Gilbert was also briefly married to Debrah "Madusa" Miceli in 1990. Eddie also worked as a booker, who came up with the famous Battle of New Orleans angle in late-1987 involving Chris Adams, Terry Taylor, Sting, and himself.

But one star in particular -- Jerry 'The King' Lawler -- really caught his eye. A Marks Eye Viewis a weekly look at some of the things that made me a huge fan of professional wrestling. In 1985, Gilbert went to work for Bill Watts at Universal Wrestling Federation, Eddie added the "Hot Stuff" to his name. Of course, this is professional wrestling, so things were slightly different. Remembering not only one of professional wrestling's great performers, but also one of wrestling's great minds as the legendary "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert would have turned 60 years old today. He made a few defenses of the title in the USWA as the GWF World Heavyweight champion, despite being stripped of the belt and not being recognized as such by the GWF. Iceman Parsons and Dick Murdoch would also join his stable later on at different times as well.