The Animal Remembered

It was on this day in wrestling history one year ago when WWE Hall of Famer William Meyers aka George "The Animal" Steele would pass away. It is always tough when we lose legends of the wrestling business and it's always looking back when a former legends name enters the spotlight once again. Though most fans may remember George from his time in the WWF, but his career would actually get going in Detroit as a protégé of Gary Hart. His career would really start to take off after meeting Bruno Sammartino who encouraged him to join the WWWF & Steele would get a full run with the company as a lead rival during his title run. 

​George would in fact end up leaving WWE in the 1970's and would return in the early as more of a crazy heel then before, and this would become the most successful run of his career. In particular most fans remember his feud with Macho Man Randy Savage in 1986 and how he fit into the Savage/Steamboat feud. In 1988, George would be forced to retire after being diagnosed with Crohn Disease. Steele would retire and move to the backstage area as an agent and would be let go from the company due to budget cuts in 1990. 

​After a few years away George would be brought back to the company as an agent and would remain with the company into the late 1990's. For those fans who may not be aware in the early days of the WWE Hall of Fame he would be among those to be inducted in the original days of the HOF. Though at this point in time most fans may not think that Steele had much of an impact within the wrestling business, but he was in a way an innovator in the company as he was one of the early talents to portray a crazy heel in top card level.