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Who is the greatest heel of all-time? The great debate could last for eternity.There are front-runners like Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, and certainly Gorgeous George. Gorgeous George was a pioneer of his trade and was destined to put heels on the map. Born George Wagner, he broke into pro wrestling by visits to the YMCA and 
competing in carnivals like many others of his era. After dropping out of school three years earlier, the 17-year old Wagner got his first break getting booked by the area's top promoter Morris Seigel. Soon, Wagner gained the region's Middleweight and Light Heavyweight crowns. After meeting her in the business, he married Betty Hanson, but not in an ordinary ceremony. They were married in the squared circle, and the attraction become so popular that the couple performed it across the country. It was during that time that he read an article in Vanity magazine chronicling the flamboyant character of Lord Patrick Landsdowne who would be accompanied to the ring by two valets while sporting a long and fancy robe. Wagner decided to modify the character to his own liking and thus, Gorgeous George was born. At a Eugene, Oregon event in 1941, Wagner unveiled the gimmick by taunting the fans effeminately resulting in the ring announcer calling him "Gorgeous George". His flamboyance attracted great attention, and he became a big draw. "The Human Orchid", as he was called, was drawn to the Los Angeles area where he started to pull the character together. He grew long hair which was dyed bright, platinum blonde and held together with "Georgie" pins. Next, he adopted "Pomp and Circumstance" as his entrance music, which was extremely rare and unheard-of at the time. Jeffries was chosen as his valet who would follow him to the ring, leaving rose petals behind every step he took. He then assisted the brightly-dressed George by removing the robe and disinfecting the ring with the self-proclaimed "Chanel No.10" perfume. Often shouting "Get your filthy hands off me!" at the fans, George was hated even more for his in-ring tactics which were illegal and underhanded. Living by the motto "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!", he easily attracted the most "heat" of any wrestler ever at the time and became one of the country's top draws. Georgeous George made his television debut on November 11, 1947 and quickly became a nationwide celebrity. With the emergence of George on the tube, wrestling was elevated to unknown areas and completely new levels. Gone was the roughness and toughness of ring action and in was the glitz and glamor of the television era. Gorgeous George became the sole reason for many purchases of TV sets. As his following picked up, so did his success. The heel first earned the Los Angeles Heavyweight Title in March 1947 by defeating Enrique Torres. He brought wrestling back to Madison Square Garden for the first time in twelve years on February 22, 1949. During this time, George began earning half of what was gained at the front gate of most wrestling cards he appeared on, making him the country's highest paid wrestler and athlete. On May 6, 1950, George beat Don Eagle for the Boston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Title which he would lose to the legendary Lou Thesz in a monumental bout in the "Windy City". His most public bout would be in March 1959 when he lost his golden blonde hair to Whipper Billy Watson at the Maple Leaf Gardens. Towards the end of his career, the up-and-coming Bruno Sammartino would defeat him followed by a loss to the Destroyer in a hair
vs. mask match that lost him his golden mane once again. The bout was held on November 7, 1962, and would be the last match for George Wagner who was ordered to retire after 30 years of both in-ring and alcohol abuse. After his wrestling career came to an end, he had a 195-acre turkey ranch built in his resident California. He presented many of his prized turkeys at wrestling events before building "Gorgeous George's Ringside Restaurant" in Van Nuys, California. Soon after the end of his in-ring career, George had become broke due to alcoholism and meaningless investments. On December 26, 1963, George Wagner passed away after a fatal heart attack. Wagner left behind four children and a second wife. He also left an irreplaceable legacy. His character was duplicated by the likes of Buddy Rogers, Freddie Blassie, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and countless others. Muhammad Ali, James Brown, and Bob Dylan also claimed to have been widely influenced the ways of George. To be completely honest, every heel to ever enter the ring was greatly impacted by Gorgeous George. He may be without a doubt the greatest heel ever, bring the argument to an end. "That's not gonna happen because I'm th greatest wrestler in the world!" George once exclaimed in promotion for a bout against Freddie Blassie. At one time, that was the complete truth. Gorgeous George won't be remembered as a Champion or a favorite, but as a pioneer and one of the greatest heel in pro wrestling's existence.
competing in carnivals like many others of his era. After dropping out of school three years earlier, the 17-year old Wagner got his first break getting booked by the area's top promoter Morris Seigel. Soon, Wagner gained the region's Middleweight and Light Heavyweight crowns. After meeting her in the business, he married Betty Hanson, but not in an ordinary ceremony. They were married in the squared circle, and the attraction become so popular that the couple performed it across the country. It was during that time that he read an article in Vanity magazine chronicling the flamboyant character of Lord Patrick Landsdowne who would be accompanied to the ring by two valets while sporting a long and fancy robe. Wagner decided to modify the character to his own liking and thus, Gorgeous George was born. At a Eugene, Oregon event in 1941, Wagner unveiled the gimmick by taunting the fans effeminately resulting in the ring announcer calling him "Gorgeous George". His flamboyance attracted great attention, and he became a big draw. "The Human Orchid", as he was called, was drawn to the Los Angeles area where he started to pull the character together. He grew long hair which was dyed bright, platinum blonde and held together with "Georgie" pins. Next, he adopted "Pomp and Circumstance" as his entrance music, which was extremely rare and unheard-of at the time. Jeffries was chosen as his valet who would follow him to the ring, leaving rose petals behind every step he took. He then assisted the brightly-dressed George by removing the robe and disinfecting the ring with the self-proclaimed "Chanel No.10" perfume. Often shouting "Get your filthy hands off me!" at the fans, George was hated even more for his in-ring tactics which were illegal and underhanded. Living by the motto "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!", he easily attracted the most "heat" of any wrestler ever at the time and became one of the country's top draws. Georgeous George made his television debut on November 11, 1947 and quickly became a nationwide celebrity. With the emergence of George on the tube, wrestling was elevated to unknown areas and completely new levels. Gone was the roughness and toughness of ring action and in was the glitz and glamor of the television era. Gorgeous George became the sole reason for many purchases of TV sets. As his following picked up, so did his success. The heel first earned the Los Angeles Heavyweight Title in March 1947 by defeating Enrique Torres. He brought wrestling back to Madison Square Garden for the first time in twelve years on February 22, 1949. During this time, George began earning half of what was gained at the front gate of most wrestling cards he appeared on, making him the country's highest paid wrestler and athlete. On May 6, 1950, George beat Don Eagle for the Boston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Title which he would lose to the legendary Lou Thesz in a monumental bout in the "Windy City". His most public bout would be in March 1959 when he lost his golden blonde hair to Whipper Billy Watson at the Maple Leaf Gardens. Towards the end of his career, the up-and-coming Bruno Sammartino would defeat him followed by a loss to the Destroyer in a hair
vs. mask match that lost him his golden mane once again. The bout was held on November 7, 1962, and would be the last match for George Wagner who was ordered to retire after 30 years of both in-ring and alcohol abuse. After his wrestling career came to an end, he had a 195-acre turkey ranch built in his resident California. He presented many of his prized turkeys at wrestling events before building "Gorgeous George's Ringside Restaurant" in Van Nuys, California. Soon after the end of his in-ring career, George had become broke due to alcoholism and meaningless investments. On December 26, 1963, George Wagner passed away after a fatal heart attack. Wagner left behind four children and a second wife. He also left an irreplaceable legacy. His character was duplicated by the likes of Buddy Rogers, Freddie Blassie, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and countless others. Muhammad Ali, James Brown, and Bob Dylan also claimed to have been widely influenced the ways of George. To be completely honest, every heel to ever enter the ring was greatly impacted by Gorgeous George. He may be without a doubt the greatest heel ever, bring the argument to an end. "That's not gonna happen because I'm th greatest wrestler in the world!" George once exclaimed in promotion for a bout against Freddie Blassie. At one time, that was the complete truth. Gorgeous George won't be remembered as a Champion or a favorite, but as a pioneer and one of the greatest heel in pro wrestling's existence.
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