5. Gordon Solie Passes Away
Date: July 27th, 2000 Most people reading this right now have grown up with commentators like Jim Ross, Joey Styles, Tony Schiavone, and Michael Cole calling the wrestling matches they watch. Before any of them, though, fans have fond memories of Gordon Solie calling the action, and calling it very well. Going from the announcer for Championship Wrestling From Florida to calling matches for the NWA and WCW, Solie won fans over wherever he went. He had his own style, and a deep, gravelly voice that made him stand out. Terms that people use to this day were created by Solie. If you've ever seen a bleeding wrestler and heard it said that they were wearing a "crimson mask", that's Solie's influence. The same goes for a chaotic fight being referred to as a "pier-six brawl". Pronouncing the word suplex as "su-play"? All Solie. He brought a calm, sophisticated style to announcing matches, playing the "straight man" and never getting too over-the-top, but he was able to convey importance when he would speak about things. Whether it was the main event for a World Title or the opening match between rookies, he knew how to make everything seem special in its own way. Wrestling lost a true legend in 2000 when Solie had an aneurysm and passed away. Even Jim Ross, the man who most wrestling fans call the greatest of all-time, would say that Solie is the true man who owns that title.