Ted Turner recently passed away, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the wrestling community. Legends, including Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff and William Regal have shared their memories of the media mogul who founded World Championship Wrestling.
Turner revolutionized professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s by creating WCW as a major competitor to WWE. His willingness to invest in the promotion gave countless wrestlers a platform to showcase their talents on a national stage.
Wrestling Legends Remember Turner
Ric Flair, who became synonymous with WCW during Turner’s ownership, paid tribute to the businessman.
Flair wrote:
“So sorry to hear about the passing of the great Ted Turner! The man that created cable before cable was cool! He created CNN and look at it now! He rolled the dice and wasn’t afraid of taking risks. He won the America’s Cup for sailing! His office looked like the Hall Of Fame which included a picture of him and Khrushchev. On top of all of that, he created so many opportunities for so many wrestlers because of his love for wrestling. Rest in peace my friend! Thank you for the memorable personal times that we spent together.”
Regal also shared his memories of Turner bringing him to the US for WCW and more:
“I’m sad to hear of the passing of Ted Turner. Ted bought me to the US and payed me and allowed me to feed my family for 6 years. Ted also took care of mine and my families green cards. Rest well.”
Eric Bischoff also paid tribute to Turner.
Turner’s legacy in wrestling remains significant decades after WCW closed in 2001. His investment in the industry created opportunities for performers and helped elevate professional wrestling to new heights during the Monday Night Wars era.