Real Name - William James "Jim" Meyers
Birthdate - 4/16/1937 - 2/16/2017
6'1" 288 lbs. - Detroit, MI
Athletic Background - Football, Wrestling [Michigan State]
Teacher(s) - Gary Hart
Professional Background - Detroit(`67), Pittsburgh(`67-), WWWF, WWF(-`89;`99)
Aliases - The Student, The Animal, Animal Machine
Groups - The Oddities
Peak Years - `67-`75
Finisher(s) -
- Flying (Lifting) Hammerlock
- Full Nelson
- Suplex
Favorites -
- Foreign Object
- Bodyslam
- Chokehold
- Turnbuckle Stuffing Attack
- Overhead Forearm
Ringwork Rating -
| Move Set |
5 |
| Science |
2 |
| Aerial |
0 |
| Power |
7 |
| Strikes |
5 |
Intangibles Rating -
| Entertainment |
8 |
| Selling |
6 |
| Bumping |
7 |
| Carrying |
5 |
| Heat |
8 |
| Legacy |
6 |
Place in History - George "The Animal" Steele became a cartoon character after being a top heel for more than decade. That transition turned him into a babyface who got over huge in the "Rock-N-Wrestling" Era despite being in his 50s. That run was when he made the most money and reached the most fans. However, if you rewind back to the early 1960s, Jim Myers was a teacher, wrestling and football coach who began pro-wrestling on the side. He was a natural and along with manager and mentor Gary Hart Myers showed great promise. That partnership ended and he shed his mask in Pittsburgh and began developing his George "The Animal" Steele persona. Working opposite Bruno Sammartino elevated "The Animal" into the WWWF and he would spend most every summer break there for the next decade. George Steele's character developed out of series of inventive additions - his unkempt and thick body hair, his green tongue, his turnbuckle-eating and his promos. What made Steele a top heel throughout the 1970s was that he really seemed like a maniac. He had eloquent promos that many regard as some of the best of the day, but in the ring he was uncontrollable and unpredictable. This Jekyll and Hyde act was also very over because he did not burn it out. Due to his school commitments, Steele only made seasonal appearances. When it came time to go full-time, he became the cartoon character that many best remember. George "The Animal" Steele is one of the greatest acts to ever so successful work both sides.
