Gordon Solie
Born: 1929-01-26 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died: 2000-07-27
Known For: Acting
Biography
Francis Jonard Labiak was a legendary professional wrestling announcer, known for his work with promotions like Georgia Championship Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida. His distinctive voice and unique style made him one of the most influential wrestling commentators in history. Born in Minneapolis and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Solie began his wrestling career as a ring announcer in Florida and quickly stood out due to his knowledge and passion for the sport. He was a pioneer in bringing wrestling to a national audience through WTBS and popularized terms that became classics in wrestling. Throughout his career, Solie avoided using wrestlers’ real names to respect their characters and was so involved that he even learned wrestling moves to describe them more accurately. He declined an offer from WWE due to creative differences and retired in 1995. He passed away from cancer in 2000, but his legacy lives on. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and is remembered as “The Walter Cronkite of Wrestling.”
Filmography
2018
- Andre the Giant as Self (archive footage)
2008
- WWE Hall of Fame 2008 as Himself
1995
- WCW All Nighter 1995
- WCW: Ric Flar - 2 Decades of Excellence as Gordon Solie
1993
- WCW Slamboree 1993 as Gordon Solie (Announcer)
1989
- PWF Homecoming ... (Executive Producer)
1986
- NWA Battle of The Belts II as Gordon Solie
1985
- NWA Battle of the Belts as Gordon Solie (Commentator)
1983
- NWA Starrcade 1983 as Gordon Solie (Commentator)
1981
- Mid-South Wrestling as Gordon Solie (Color Commentator) (voice)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling as Gordon Solie (Interviewer) / Gordon Solie (Color Commentator)
1971
- Jump as Technical Advisor (uncredited)