Ole Anderson, 1980s pro wrestling legend and teammate of Ric Flair, dies

(WKBN)- A professional wrestling legend and original member of the well-known Four Horsemen faction has died.

The WWE announced that Ole Anderson, whose real name was Alan Ragowski, has died. He was 81 years old.

Anderson was a professional wrestler in the 1970s and 1980s for several territories of the National Wrestling Alliance, including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and Championship Wrestling from Florida.

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Anderson was an original member of The Four Horsemen, a group that competed in Jim Crockett Promotions that later became World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The original version of the group consisted of Ole along with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and their manager, J.J. Dillon.

The group was in feuds with such WWE Hall of Famers as Dusty Rhodes, The Rock N Roll Express, and The Road Warriors.

Ric Flair, whose real name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, thanked Anderson in a statement on X, saying, “I Am Forever Thankful To Ole And Gene For Bringing Me In To Crockett Promotions As A Cousin. It Launched My Career. I Will Be Grateful Forever For You Giving Me The Opportunity To Become Who I Am Today. We Didn’t Always Agree With Each Other, But The Honest To God Truth Is You & Gene Started Me. Rest In Peace My Friend!”

As his in-ring career wound down, Anderson had a backstage role as a member of WCW’s booking committee.

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