Post by Fred Richards on Jan 16, 2019 3:33:58 GMT -8
I am thrilled to see former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan "The Beast" Severn being honored. I have known Dan since 2001. A good, trusted friend who represented the NWA with distinction both in the USA and overseas.
The "Evil Mister Fred" gimmick was born at an NWA Zero 1 card in Tokyo in 2002. On that fateful night in a sold-out Korakuen Hall, I fast-counted (allegedly!) the late Shinya Hashimoto and put the strap back around Dan's waist.
Congratulations, Danny! (article culled from Bob Magee's pwbts.com)
DAN SEVERN: Coldwater’s Dan Severn to be inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame (The Daily Reporter)
Posted on 1/16/119 by Mike Informer
COLDWATER — Coldwater native and world renowned grappling
superstar Dan Severn recently received some welcome news as
it was announced that he will be inducted into the Michigan
chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame due to his
Lifetime Service to the sport of Wrestling.
Severn will be one of five inductees this year, with the
induction taking place April 28 at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor.
Severn’s history in the wrestling world is long and storied,
beginning way back in high school where he competed in both
Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling.
Severn won a national championship in both disciplines in
1976 and was named the “Most Outstanding High School
Wrestler in the Nation” that same year. Before his
eighteenth birthday Severn had already earned a national
ranking in open divisions and had placed at the Olympic
Trials.
Severn competed at Montrose High School where a lackluster
first two seasons led to the hunger and drive that would one
day become “the Beast”.
After going 13-14 his sophomore season, Severn became an
absolute machine, finishing his high school wrestling career
with eight national high school records, two national
championship, and two state titles while earning All-
American status three times.
Severn finished off his high school career by winning his
final 100 matches, spanning his junior and senior years,
while helping Montrose High School become the first school
in the state to win back-to-back Class C State
Championships.
In an interview given before his induction into the Greater
Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, Severn said “I loved
football more than wrestling. I was a three-sport athlete in
high school, competing in wrestling, football and track. I
found though that I could control my own destiny in
wrestling but in football I had 10 other guys on the field
and I couldn’t control their destiny. If they didn’t want to
win as bad as me, I couldn’t do much about it.”
Severn took that drive and determination to Arizona State
University where he became a two-time All-American,
following in the footsteps of three brothers who also became
Sun Devils. While at Arizona State Severn won three Pac-10
Championships while compiling a record of 127-11-1 between
1977-1980. His 127 wins stood as an Arizona State school
record for eight years and is still fifth on the list to
this day. Severn does still own the ASU record for most
career pins at 73 and the most pins in a season with 25.
Post college Severn competed in the US Olympic Trials in
both 1984 and 1988, advancing to the finals both years and
serving as an alternate for both games. For his long and
storied career Severn has more than 70 national and
international titles, including 13 national AAU
championships from 1982-94 and a gold medal from the 1985
Canada Cup.
After hanging up his wrestling shoes Severn gained worldwide
popularity as he unleashed “the Beast” in 1994, when at the
age of 40 he stepped foot into the octagon for the first
time to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Severn went on to become a three-time UFC champion while
compiling an impressive record of 70-13-7. Severn was
eventually honored with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Severn is also famous for his competition in the
professional wrestling ranks, having spent time with various
promotions, including the WWE and the NWA.
Severn is now semi-retired and is the owner and operator of
Michigan Sports Camps, a historic training facility located
off of N. Fiske Road here in Coldwater. Michigan Sports Camp
is a 10,000 square foot training facility that is able to
house and train individuals for martial arts, amateur
wrestling, professional wrestling or a variety of fight
disciplines.
Severn will be inducted into the Michigan Chapter of the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 28 along with fellow
recipients Eric Schifter, MHSAA Official; Dean Rockwell,
Eastern Michigan University and World War II hero; Joe
McFarland, University of Michigan Head coach; and Bill Bupp,
former MHSAA Director.
The "Evil Mister Fred" gimmick was born at an NWA Zero 1 card in Tokyo in 2002. On that fateful night in a sold-out Korakuen Hall, I fast-counted (allegedly!) the late Shinya Hashimoto and put the strap back around Dan's waist.
Congratulations, Danny! (article culled from Bob Magee's pwbts.com)
DAN SEVERN: Coldwater’s Dan Severn to be inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame (The Daily Reporter)
Posted on 1/16/119 by Mike Informer
COLDWATER — Coldwater native and world renowned grappling
superstar Dan Severn recently received some welcome news as
it was announced that he will be inducted into the Michigan
chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame due to his
Lifetime Service to the sport of Wrestling.
Severn will be one of five inductees this year, with the
induction taking place April 28 at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor.
Severn’s history in the wrestling world is long and storied,
beginning way back in high school where he competed in both
Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling.
Severn won a national championship in both disciplines in
1976 and was named the “Most Outstanding High School
Wrestler in the Nation” that same year. Before his
eighteenth birthday Severn had already earned a national
ranking in open divisions and had placed at the Olympic
Trials.
Severn competed at Montrose High School where a lackluster
first two seasons led to the hunger and drive that would one
day become “the Beast”.
After going 13-14 his sophomore season, Severn became an
absolute machine, finishing his high school wrestling career
with eight national high school records, two national
championship, and two state titles while earning All-
American status three times.
Severn finished off his high school career by winning his
final 100 matches, spanning his junior and senior years,
while helping Montrose High School become the first school
in the state to win back-to-back Class C State
Championships.
In an interview given before his induction into the Greater
Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, Severn said “I loved
football more than wrestling. I was a three-sport athlete in
high school, competing in wrestling, football and track. I
found though that I could control my own destiny in
wrestling but in football I had 10 other guys on the field
and I couldn’t control their destiny. If they didn’t want to
win as bad as me, I couldn’t do much about it.”
Severn took that drive and determination to Arizona State
University where he became a two-time All-American,
following in the footsteps of three brothers who also became
Sun Devils. While at Arizona State Severn won three Pac-10
Championships while compiling a record of 127-11-1 between
1977-1980. His 127 wins stood as an Arizona State school
record for eight years and is still fifth on the list to
this day. Severn does still own the ASU record for most
career pins at 73 and the most pins in a season with 25.
Post college Severn competed in the US Olympic Trials in
both 1984 and 1988, advancing to the finals both years and
serving as an alternate for both games. For his long and
storied career Severn has more than 70 national and
international titles, including 13 national AAU
championships from 1982-94 and a gold medal from the 1985
Canada Cup.
After hanging up his wrestling shoes Severn gained worldwide
popularity as he unleashed “the Beast” in 1994, when at the
age of 40 he stepped foot into the octagon for the first
time to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Severn went on to become a three-time UFC champion while
compiling an impressive record of 70-13-7. Severn was
eventually honored with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Severn is also famous for his competition in the
professional wrestling ranks, having spent time with various
promotions, including the WWE and the NWA.
Severn is now semi-retired and is the owner and operator of
Michigan Sports Camps, a historic training facility located
off of N. Fiske Road here in Coldwater. Michigan Sports Camp
is a 10,000 square foot training facility that is able to
house and train individuals for martial arts, amateur
wrestling, professional wrestling or a variety of fight
disciplines.
Severn will be inducted into the Michigan Chapter of the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 28 along with fellow
recipients Eric Schifter, MHSAA Official; Dean Rockwell,
Eastern Michigan University and World War II hero; Joe
McFarland, University of Michigan Head coach; and Bill Bupp,
former MHSAA Director.