Gene Petit (c. May 19, 1949 – September 29, 2013) was an American professional wrestler best known for his portrayal of Cousin Luke in the World Wrestling Federation.[2] He also competed under several other gimmicks and competed for several promotions in the United States as well as Australia, Japan, Nigeria and Puerto Rico.
| Gene Petit | |
|---|---|
_1981.png) Petit, c. 1981 | |
| Born | May 19 c. 1949 Humphreys County, Mississippi |
| Died | September 29, 2013 (aged approximately 65)[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Cousin Luke The Mongol Gene Lewis Texas Red Bloody Ox Brody Kharma Tom Steele |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Billed weight | 301 lb (137 kg) |
| Trained by | Dale Lewis |
| Debut | 1973 |
| Retired | 2002 |
Career
editEarly career
editPetit attended the University of Tampa, where he played for the football team. While there, he met former Olympic wrestler Dale Lewis. They became friends, and Lewis paid Petit to drive him to his bookings at professional wrestling events.[3] Petit stated that he began wrestling after spending a couple of weeks practising in a gym.[4] At one of Lewis' events, the company did not have enough wrestlers and Petit was asked to fill in. He teamed with Lewis and Gypsy Joe Rosario in a six-man match. After his first match, in which he wrestled under his real name, he competed with the ring name Gene Lewis. He and Dale Lewis competed as kayfabe (storyline) brothers due to their similar appearance.[3]
While wrestling in Florida in the 1980s, Petit joined a stable named the Army of Darkness. As a member of the group, which used a devil-worshipping gimmick, he used the ring name Kharma.[5][6]
World Wrestling Federation
editDuring a conversation with George Scott, a booker from the World Wrestling Federation, Petit received an unenthusiastic response to his query about joining the promotion. Petit then showed Scott a picture he had taken of himself as a joke, in which he wore "cutoff jeans, overalls, and a floppy hat". After seeing the picture, Scott offered Petit the role of Cousin Luke, a member of the Hillbilly Family led by Hillbilly Jim.[3] As part of this gimmick, Petit was silent and expressionless and portrayed a rural Southerner who did not know how to wrestle.[7] He joined the other hillbillies in their feud with Roddy Piper, Bob Orton, Jr., and Jesse Ventura. Shortly after joining the company, however, Petit broke his ankle due to a problem with a defective wrestling ring. He was asked to compete at WrestleMania 2 against Adrian Adonis, the WWF's biggest show of the year, but had to decline due to the injury. Instead Uncle Elmer faced Adonis.[3]
Petit explained the nature of his departure from the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 to SLAM! Wrestling: "Vince [McMahon] told me that they would keep me until the end of the year, leave me off for a few months, and then figure out another gimmick, because they were just going to keep Hillbilly. There was too much back and forth with Hillbilly and he got hurt; they brought Elmer in, and he got fired; Junior left; then I came in, and Hillbilly had a little disagreement with the office, so he took off for a few weeks. We had lost the steam that we had. I finished the year with them, and then started working the independents."[8]
Later career
editAfter leaving WWF in 1987, Petit went to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Texas Red. For the rest of his career he worked in the independent circuit mainly in New Jersey and the New York City area. His last match was in 2002.
Retirement and death
editIn 2000, Petit retired from wrestling due to back problems.[9] Petit lived in Bernardsville, New Jersey and was a member of the board of directors for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.[10] He died on September 29, 2013.[9] and was believed to be in his mid 60s when he died.[1] He had had multiple sclerosis and diabetes in his later years and was residing in a long-term health facility when he died.[11]
Championships and accomplishments
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Oklafan.com: Wrestling By The Numbers: Gene 'Cousin Luke' Petit Archived 2014-01-13 at archive.today, October 1, 2013
- ^ "Cousin Luke". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (May 14, 2008). "Cousin Luke made a lasting impression". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Sammond, Nicholas (2005). Steel Chair to the Head: The Pleasure and Pain of Professional Wrestling. Duke University Press. p. 197. ISBN 0-8223-3438-0.
- ^ Oliver, Greg. "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Luna Vachon". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Oliver, Greg. "Olympics just another step for Bob Roop". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Gene Petit". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (May 23, 2008). "Cousin Luke Made A Lasting Impression". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer.
- ^ a b "GENE 'COUSIN LUKE' PETIT PASSES AWAY".
- ^ "About PWHF". The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on August 4, 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
- ^ "Gene 'Cousin Luke' Petit Passes Away". PWInsider.com. September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Titles. Cousin Luke". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 13, 2023.