It has been announced through several of his associates and friends that longtime NWA star “Dirty” Dick Slater has passed away at the age of 67. No further details have been released.
The National Wrestling Alliance sends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends and fans of Dick Slater.
As tough as they come. A decorated champion of the @NWA across every territory he wrestled including being United States, Mid-Atlantic and TV champion. pic.twitter.com/dqHlLqnOJx
— NWA (@nwa) October 18, 2018
Although born in New York City, Dick Slater grew up in Florida amongst those who would become his peers in the industry – in high school he was on the wrestling team with Mike Graham and at the University of Tampa, he was football teammates with Paul Orndoff. Slater turned down an offer from the Miami Dolphins of the NFL to pursue wrestling, heading instead to Championship Wrestling From Florida where he continued his training alongside the likes of Jack Brisco, Bob Roop and Hiro Matsuda. He used primarily as a tag team wrestler in his first few years, winning the NWA Florida Tag Team titles on five occasions by 1975.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1B_FrLaql0
In 1975, he moved to Georgia Championship Wrestling where he was pushed as a singles star as well, capturing the Georgia Heavyweight Championship early into his career with GCW. The year prior, he made his Japanese debut with All Japan, where he would continue to do tours over the bulk of his career.
In 1983, he began working for Jim Crockett’s Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, as both a wrestler and a booker (working alongside Dusty Rhodes). Slater’s mind for the business had become well respected – at the same time as Mid Atlantic, Slater was also booking Bill Watt‘s Mid South, Joe Blanchard‘s Southwest, and Paul Boesch‘s Houston territories.
In 1986, he decided to try out with the emerging powerhouse World Wrestling Federation (WWF), last only a year as a new face gimmick, “The Rebel” Dick Slater. In the end, the glitz and glamour of the WWF was not to Slater’s liking, and by the end of 1987, he departed the company, heading back to All Japan for another tour. He also briefly worked for Verne Gagne‘s American Wrestling Association (AWA) as the new bodyguard for emerging new star Curt Hennig.
By the time Slater returned to the NWA in 1989, Jim Crockett Promotion had been purchased by Ted Turner and rebranded as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which Slater continued to work for until his retirement in 1996 due to a severe back injury. His last run with the company was as a member of Col. Robert Fuller‘s Stud Stable, capturing the WCW World Tag Team titles in 1995 with Bunkhouse Buck.
Dirty Dick Slater was an awesome wrestler
Champion in many territories
I wrestled him for 22mins & he never said 1 word to me
Accept good job kid
RIP pic.twitter.com/N2kgziol0u— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) October 18, 2018
Sad to hear that Dick Slater passed away this morning at age 67. One hell of a worker, and promo man. Go with God my friend.🙏
— Les Thatcher (@LesThatcher) October 18, 2018
Rest In Peace Dick Slater … #Wrestling #Rebel pic.twitter.com/coX5UxMcOm
— Joel Gertner (@StudMuffinSays) October 18, 2018
Rest in Peace wrestling legend "Dirty" Dick Slater…….
— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) October 18, 2018
