[MEDIA] The Sun 10.29.03 Two Legends Pass Away

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,3-2003490547,00.html

Two Legends Pass Away

WE were going to use this section of our column to bring you the news
from Raw or a review of the FWA's British Uprising show – but those
will have to wait until next week.

That's because the last few days have seen the death of two legends of
the grap game – Stu Hart and the Legion Of Doom's Hawk.

Hawk's passing away is especially sad as he was only 46 and still
actively wrestling on the independent circuit, having a WWE try out
match against Kane and Rob Van Dam just a few months ago.

Real name Michael Hegstrand, Hawk is undoubtedly one of the greatest
tag team wrestlers of all time.

He will go down in history as part of the Road Warriors/Legion Of Doom
tandem with 'Animal' Joe Laurinaitis, the only duo in history to
capture the prestigious tag titles in the AWA, NWA and WWF/E.


LOD ... Hawk and Animal

We'll always remember Hawk for his spell in Vince McMahon's
federation, especially the first of LOD's two tag title victories at
SummerSlam 1991.

Coming down to the ring in face paint and huge shoulder pads with
spikes the Legion Of Doom summed up wrestling's glorious late
80s/early 90s cartoon period.

Not only were they the most popular tandem in the world at that point,
spawning copycats like Demolition, they were also up there behind Hulk
Hogan as two of the most recognised stars in the business.

With Hawk's "What a rush!" battle cry ringing in our ears and memories
of the LOD's Doomsday Device still fresh – where the star would knock
an opponent off Animal's shoulders with a top rope flying clothesline
– it's sad to report another wrestling superstar cut off in the prime
of his life.


Stu Hart knew all about untimely deaths – in 1999 he saw his son Owen
fall to his on a live WWE PPV.

He also faced the heartbreak of losing another son, his wife and
son-in-law Davey Boy Smith.

And this week Stu passed away at the age of 88 from complications due
to diabetes and pneumonia.

Hart was both an amateur wrestling champion and a successful promoter,
running Canada's popular Stampede Wrestling for more than 40 years.

His love and passion for wrestling are obvious from the fact that his
12 children all became a wrestler or married one.

But what Stu is best known for with today's grappling fans, and
probably his greatest achievement, is training some of the best
technical wrestlers ever to step foot into an American ring.

Superstars who learnt the ropes in the Hart's Calgary basement –
better known as the legendary 'Dungeon' – include Bret and Owen Hart,
the Dynamite Kid, Lance Storm, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit.

Benoit told the WWE's website: "I started training with him when I was
17 and it was just a dream come true.

"Back then we didn't get WWE on cable television, or any other
wrestling for that matter - you had to have a satellite dish. So
Stampede was the only game in town. To me, that was it.

"I'll never forget what he did for me. I wouldn't be here today if it
wasn't for Stu Hart giving me the lessons pertaining to the locker
room and being in the ring, and how to carry yourself around the
guys."

If you want to find out more about Stu, Bret Hart's thoughts on the
life of his father at http://www.brethart.com are a very moving read.