Post by TTX on Sept 29, 2013 12:09:33 GMT -5
Gene Petit passed away this morning. The retired professional wrestler was best known as Hillbilly Jim's "Cousin Luke" in WWF in the mid-1980s. Petit was born in Humphreys, Mississippi and got into wrestling when he played football alongside Paul Orndorff for University of Tampa and befriended pro wrestler Dale Lewis. Petit began to accompany Lewis to his bookings for Championship Wrestling from Florida and eventually began training with Lewis.
Petit began working as Gene Lewis, billed as Dale's brother and worked various territories; for a while he was the Midnight Rider in Florida were he attacked Dusty Rhodes (the actual Midnight Rider) under Kevin Sullivan's orders and had a series of matches with Rhodes. He was brought into WWE in 1985 under Cousin Luke but broke his ankle after a few weeks on a faulty ring and by the time he was healed, the moment had passed and he was gone from the company.
Petit worked under the Cousin Luke gimmick until 2000 and retired due to back problems, which was later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. Petit had been very involved with the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mr. Petit.
Credit: PWInsider
Petit began working as Gene Lewis, billed as Dale's brother and worked various territories; for a while he was the Midnight Rider in Florida were he attacked Dusty Rhodes (the actual Midnight Rider) under Kevin Sullivan's orders and had a series of matches with Rhodes. He was brought into WWE in 1985 under Cousin Luke but broke his ankle after a few weeks on a faulty ring and by the time he was healed, the moment had passed and he was gone from the company.
Petit worked under the Cousin Luke gimmick until 2000 and retired due to back problems, which was later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. Petit had been very involved with the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mr. Petit.
Credit: PWInsider
