How many pro wrestlers carry a stretcher to the ring with them? Not many, but that was a tactic employed by Ox Baker throughout his career. The idea was simple, Baker was coming to mutilate opponents to the point that they would require the stretcher to leave the arena. His catchphrase was also relatively straightforward, being nothing more than, "I love to hurt people". A star during his prime, Ox worked everywhere from the WWWF and the NWA, to the AWA and even the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. A bald head and distinctive facial hair helped Baker stand out, as did the way he'd wax his eyebrows before performances. Curving upwards, the brows added a lot more menace to the wrestler's appearance, making clear his heelish intentions. Ox Baker's finishing move was designed to elicit maximum sympathy from the watching audience. Known as the Heart Punch, the move literally did as it described. During promos, Baker would routinely state that his rival wouldn't be going home to their family, because he'd stop their heart with one strike. This created a lot of fear around the man, who deserves recognition as one of wrestling's greatest ever villains.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
