Charles Eugene Wolfe Jr. (August 8, 1957 â€" February 2, 1986) was an
American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Gino
Hernandez. He is best known for his appearances with the Dallas,
Texas-based promotion World Class Championship Wrestling between 1976
and 1986. Hernandez's death was initially ruled a homicide case, but
police later concluded that he had died of a drug overdose.As a
rookie, babyface wrestler in Ed Farhat's Big Time Wrestling promotion
in Detroit, "Gino Hernandez" was a very young, fresh-faced performer
who got over with female fans due to his long black hair, and good
looks. He won Big Time's top title (its version of the NWA United
States Heavyweight Championship) by defeating "Bulldog" Don Kent.
During this time, Wolfe also wrestled at least one match for WWE
forerunner the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Gino lost the
(Detroit) U.S. Title to his real-life boss: The Sheik (Big Time
Wrestling owner and booker Eddie Farhat's 'Psycho-Arab' heel
persona).Wolfe's Gino character -- nicknamed "The Handsome Halfbreed"
-- started wrestling in 1975 in the San Antonio, Texas wrestling
territory, Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW), after being trained
by Jose Lothario. He was initially in a tag-team with Lothario, then
turned into a singles act via a "protege vs. mentor" storyline. The
storyline feud with Lothario culminated in a "hair vs. hair match",
which Hernandez lost -- having his head shaved in the ring, as a
result.In the late-1970s and early-1980s, Gino worked for Dallas-based
territory, World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) (called NWA Big
Time Wrestling, at the time). The highlight was a storyline feud with
David Von Erich over the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, which
Gino won and lost back to David.
American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Gino
Hernandez. He is best known for his appearances with the Dallas,
Texas-based promotion World Class Championship Wrestling between 1976
and 1986. Hernandez's death was initially ruled a homicide case, but
police later concluded that he had died of a drug overdose.As a
rookie, babyface wrestler in Ed Farhat's Big Time Wrestling promotion
in Detroit, "Gino Hernandez" was a very young, fresh-faced performer
who got over with female fans due to his long black hair, and good
looks. He won Big Time's top title (its version of the NWA United
States Heavyweight Championship) by defeating "Bulldog" Don Kent.
During this time, Wolfe also wrestled at least one match for WWE
forerunner the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Gino lost the
(Detroit) U.S. Title to his real-life boss: The Sheik (Big Time
Wrestling owner and booker Eddie Farhat's 'Psycho-Arab' heel
persona).Wolfe's Gino character -- nicknamed "The Handsome Halfbreed"
-- started wrestling in 1975 in the San Antonio, Texas wrestling
territory, Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW), after being trained
by Jose Lothario. He was initially in a tag-team with Lothario, then
turned into a singles act via a "protege vs. mentor" storyline. The
storyline feud with Lothario culminated in a "hair vs. hair match",
which Hernandez lost -- having his head shaved in the ring, as a
result.In the late-1970s and early-1980s, Gino worked for Dallas-based
territory, World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) (called NWA Big
Time Wrestling, at the time). The highlight was a storyline feud with
David Von Erich over the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, which
Gino won and lost back to David.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.