"The Wrestler's Wrestler" Danny Hodge Quiz

Answer: University of Oklahoma

Danny Hodge, from Perry, Oklahoma, competed as a collegiate wrestler at the at 177 pounds weight class at the University of Oklahoma from 1955 through 1957. Danny Hodge was undefeated at 46-0 including 36 victories via pinfall. During these years, Danny Hodge was a three time Big Seven Conference champion at the 177 pounds weight class. Danny Hodge also won the 177 pound weight class title at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Wrestling Championships while pinning all of his opponents. During Hodge's high school and collegiate wrestling career, he was never taken off of his feet or surrendered a takedown.

Answer: silver

At the 1956 Summer Olympics, Danny Hodge lost to Nikola Stanchev from Bulgaria in the men's freestyle wrestling gold medal match. With two seconds to go in the match, the referee claimed that Hodge's shoulder touched the mat. Thus, Stanchev was credited with the pinfall. After disputing the call, Danny Hodge was awarded the silver medal in this event.

Answer: Yes

After his bitter defeat in the 1956 Summer Olympics, Danny Hodge competed as a professional boxer. Danny Hodge won the 1958 Chicago Golden Gloves competition at the heavyweight division. Boxing manager Art Freeman convinced Hodge to pursue a career in professional boxing. Danny Hodge won eight of his first ten professional boxing matches before retiring on July 9, 1959.

Answer: apple

Danny Hodge is famous for the ability to crush apples with one hand. He demonstrated this feat on live television during the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Wrestling Championships. He also demonstrated this feat at the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the age of 80.

Answer: Heisman Trophy

The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college wrestler each year. The first Dan Hodge Trophy recipient was T.J. Jaworsky of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. The Dan Hodge Trophy is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in college football.

Answer: Leroy McGuirk

In 1953, Leroy McGuirk was the booker and promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight champion. McGuirk also became the promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance Tri-State territory, a title he held for nearly thirty years. During this time, McGuirk also took the opportunity to train promising wrestlers including Danny Hodge, Dick Hutton and Jack Brisco.

Danny Hodge also received some professional wrestling training from Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Danny Hodge made his professional wrestling debut on October 7, 1959 and defeated Sasha the Great.

Answer: eight

The National Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship for wrestlers weighing 220 pounds or less. Danny Hodge held this title on eight different occasions from July 22, 1960 through March 15, 1976. During these eight championship reigns, Danny Hodge held the title for an cumulative estimated total of 2,480 days.

Answer: A fan entered the ring and assaulted Savoldi with a pen knife

On May 27, 1960, Angelo Savoldi cheated his way to victory in a match against Danny Hodge in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After the match, an unknown man entered the ring and assaulted Angelo Savoldi with a pen knife. That unknown man was Danny Hodge's father. Angelo Savoldi received stitches at a local hospital for his injuries while Danny Hodge's father was arrested for assault. On July 22, 1960, Danny Hodge defeated Angelo Savoldi for the National Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight Championship in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Answer: Skandor Akbar

Jim Wehba, also known as Skandor Akbar, was a frequent tag team partner and nemesis of Danny Hodge in the late 1960s. After retiring fro ring action, Skandor Akbar became a professional wrestling manager in Texas.

Answer: Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame member

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame is an honor for mixed martial arts fighters which began honoring inductees in 2003. Danny Hodge never competed in mixed martial arts, thus he was not eligible for this honor.

The "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" magazine recognizes the "Editor's Award", also known as the "Stanley Weston Award", which is a lifetime achievement by a professional wrestling personality. Danny Hodge earned this honor in 1996. The Cauliflower Alley Club is a fraternal organization which includes both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers. Danny Hodge was honored with the "Lou Thesz Award" in 2007 by this fraternity. Danny Hodge was also the first active amateur wrestler to be on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" magazine on April 1, 1957.