20 Wrestling Facts You Probably Didn't Know
4. WCW's Gorgeous George Stole The Name From The Nephew Of The Original George
When 'the Macho Man' Randy Savage returned to WCW in spring 1999 after rehabilitating two serious knee surgeries, he came back with a new look, a new attitude... and a new girlfriend, twenty-three year old dancer Stephanie Bellars, who had been nicknamed Gorgeous George.
Those without an appreciation of wrestling history probably thought nothing of it: after all, Bellars was drop dead gorgeous. They didn't get the context, however. 'Gorgeous George' was the ring name of one of the biggest stars in wrestling history: the original exotico, the heel's heel and the man who kickstarted the TV revolution for wrestling, George Raymond Wagner.
So how did a young woman - a non-wrestler - get handed the legacy of one of the greatest stars of all time? Wagner's great-nephew, one Rob Kellum, began wrestling under the name for the USWA in 1995; in 1999, he was flown in from where he was working in Puerto Rico by 'the Macho Man', who wanted to bring his brother Lanny Poffo into WCW, and planned to have him become the new Gorgeous George.
Whatever deal was being brokered fell through; WCW hired Lanny, but never put him on TV. Kellum didn't hear anything more until he found out that Savage had given his girlfriend the legendary name. Complaining to the company's management, Kellum managed to carve himself out a short-lived career on WCW television as The Maestro, until he left in 2000, disgruntled over the promotion of guest star David Arquette to WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
And Gorgeous George herself? She didn't do the legacy of the original George any favours, it has to be said. Maybe there's room for a new Gorgeous George - but would he still have the same kind of impact in these more enlightened times?