Lex Luger: Wrestling's "Total Package" Quiz

Answer: Green Bay Packers

Born Lawrence Pfohl, Lex Luger was a talented athlete who excelled in both football and soccer. Luger's football journey saw him play for Penn State, The University of Miami, The Canadian Football League and eventually the defunct USFL. In 1982 Pfohl was signed by The Green Bay Packers of The NFL but spent the entire season on the injured reserve list and never played in any regulation games.

Answer: Hiro Matsuda

In early 1985 a chance meeting with wrestler Bob Roop led to Larry Pfohl meeting with and eventually being trained by the legendary Hiro Matsuda. The Japanese Matsuda was an especially sadistic wrestler and an even more brutal trainer who constantly pushed his proteges to the absolute limits of their abilities. You can question his methods but his record speaks for itself as Hulk Hogan, Ron Simmons, Lex Luger, The Great Muta, Paul Orndorff, Scott Hall and Brian Blair were all trained under the legendary Matsuda. For years Matsuda trained wrestlers for the father/son duo of Eddie and Mike Graham who ran the Florida Championship Wrestling promotion. Hiro Matsuda died after a battle with colon cancer in November 1999 at the age of 62.

Answer: "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel

Admittedly never a fan of the business as child or young man, Luger's dashing good looks and impressive physique made him an instant headliner in Florida. In November 1985 just three weeks after his debut, Luger defeated the legendary "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel for The Southern Heavyweight Title. Famed promoter Eddie Graham had died in January 1985 leaving his only son Mike to run the once legendary promotion which was in serious decline. Perhaps, Graham saw Luger as the second coming of Hulk Hogan and decided to push him very far, very fast.

This proved a mistake as Luger was a very stiff wrestler whose rapid success and cocky demeanor rubbed many stars the wrong way.

Answer: Bruiser Brody

After signing a contract with The NWA in January 1987, Lex began to finish up his contractual obligations in Florida. One of his very last matches was a "Steel Cage Match" against the maniacal Frank Goodish aka Bruiser Brody. The late Brody had gained a reputation in his career for engaging in blood soaked matches, working stiffly with opponents he disliked and generally just doing whatever he wanted whenever he wished.

The encounter with Luger became famous because shortly into the match Brody stopped wrestling according to the script and became intent on injuring the departing star.

After about ten minutes Luger simply left the ring and stormed off rather than risk a permanent injury.

Answer: The match was stopped due to Luger Bleeding

After dropping The United States Heavyweight Title Luger's dissatisfaction with "The Four Horsemen" and manager JJ Dillon began to intensify and vice versa. In January 1988 Luger officially bolted from the stable when he eliminated Dillon from a "Bunkhouse Stampede Match" rather then let Dillon win.

In the spring of 1988 "The Total Package" began his pursuit of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and The NWA Heavyweight Title. On July 10, 1988 the two met in Baltimore, Maryland which saw the contest stopped when Luger began bleeding from a cut on his forehead. According to Maryland state rules any match had to be stopped immediately when one contestant began to bleed, no matter how minor the cut. Bad luck Lex.

Answer: Mike Rotunda

On July 11, 1987 Luger defeated Nikita Koloff in a "Steel Cage Match" to claim his very first United States Title. In February 1989 he defeated on again off again friend Barry Windham to win his second title. That spring the outspoken and ever controversial Michael Hayes upset Luger to win The US Title at the very first "Wrestle War" event.

However Luger quickly rebounded by regaining the title just fifteen days later and holding it for over 17 months before dropping it to veteran Stan Hansen. On December 16, 1990 at "Starrcade'90" Hansen dropped a "Bullrope Match" to Luger which began his fourth run as United States Champion.

In the summer of 1998 Luger's fifth and final US Title reign lasted just one night.

Answer: Bret "Hitman" Hart

The 1994 "Royal Rumble" saw a very unique finish as both Bret Hart and Lex Luger fell over the top rope to the arena floor at literally the same time. Being that the winner of "The Royal Rumble" received a WWF Heavyweight Title Match at "Wrestlemania" then WWF President Jack Tunney declared both Luger and Hart "Co Winners" and said that each would get a WWF Heavyweight Title Match at "Wrestlemania X". Luger wrestled then WWF Heavyweight Champion Yokozuna first and lost a controversial match by disqualification. Bret Hart fought him later in card and succeeded in besting him for his second WWF Heavyweight Title.

Answer: Davey Boy Smith

In early 1995 the powers that be decided to place Luger in a tag team dubbed "The Allied Powers" with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. The duo then began a run at The WWF Tag Team Championship which was held by Yokozuna and Owen Hart. Many observers, including myself, expected the red hot duo of Luger and Smith to eventually win the belts. That summer however The Bulldog made a shocking and very unexpected heel turn and left Luger in the lurch.

Although he was scheduled to feud against the late Nelson Frazier aka "King Mabel", he shocked everyone when he showed up in WCW at the very first airing of "Nitro".

Answer: five days

In an impromptu match on a segment of "Nitro" Luger upset "Hollywood" Hogan, leader of the reviled "NWO" to start his second reign as WCW Heavyweight Champion. This reign did not last long as Hogan regained the title just five days later at "Road Wild'98". Previously Luger won the title on July 14, 1991 when he defeated Barry Windham in a "Cage Match" to win the vacant championship. Luger's longtime rival Ric Flair had been scheduled to drop the belt to him but rather than do the honors to a man whom Flair considered "unworthy" he simply walked. Luger would hold the belt for seven months before dropping it to Sting in February 1992.

Answer: A Spinal Stroke

Lex Luger finished up his wrestling career for the most part when WCW was purchased by the rival WWF in March 2001. Perhaps still harboring some bad feeling towards the way Luger jilted them six years prior, The McMahons never offered him a contract. Luger wrestled sporadically for TNA over the next several years before suffering a severe spinal stroke in October 2007. From the onset it was feared that Luger would be a quadriplegic for the remainder of his life.

Although Luger regained the use of him arms and can walk short distances he often prefers to use a walker or a wheelchair. Lawrence Pfohl has also become a devout "Born Again" Christian and has openly apologized for his bad attitude during his wrestling days.