Jimmy Hart, Al Snow, and John Cena Comment on The Death of Jackie Fargo

- Jimmy Hart posted the following on Fargo's passing…

"Championship belts are won and lost but legends live forever. Jackie Fargo will always be my champion."


John Cena        ✔ @JohnCena

Just heard the news about Jackie Fargo. Condolences to his family and friends. @WWEUniverse #memphisheat if you haven't


Al Snow        ✔ @TheRealAlSnow

RIP the true King of Pro Wrestling Jackie Fargo . Jackie was an influence to generations of Pro Wrestlers .

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Jackie Fargo Obituary & Funeral Service Information

- The following obituary for Jackie Fargo was published today…
Jackie Fargo

CHINA GROVE - Jackie Fargo, pro-wrestling legend "The Fabulous One," died on June 24, 2013, surrounded by his family and friends.

Born in Concord on June 26, 1930, he was the son of the late Lewis and Delmer Swink Faggart.

Fargo began his career with his brother, Roughhouse, and was famous for wrestling primarily with the National Wrestling Alliance in the 1950s, continuing into the 1970s. He held tag team gold championships 45 times throughout his career and originated the famous "Fargo Strut," still implemented today by wrestlers, including Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett and The Fabulous Ones.

Included in his lengthy wrestling career, he was awarded the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship three times. Fargo was also credited for launching many careers such as Jerry "The King" Lawler. Fargo was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009.

Retired in the late 1980s, Jackie maintained close relationships with the wrestling community and enjoyed appearances throughout the '90s and early 2000s. On June 19, 2002, Fargo appeared on the first NWA TNA weekly pay-per-view, along with other NWA legends.

Noted for his outlandish and entertaining antics in the ring, Jackie will also be remembered for his warm smile, bigger than life personality and wonderful sense of humor.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Stafford Fargo; brothers Robert Faggart, Sonny "Roughhouse" Faggart; and sister Kathleen Orbison.

He is survived by his daughters, Brandy McKinney (husband Greg), of Salisbury, Charlotte Fargo Jacobs of Memphis, Tenn., and Jackie Mae Fargo Jacobs of Orange County, Calif.; granddaughters Ashley Nicole Jacobs and Jennifer Hope Jacobs; grandson Justin Jon-Fargo Jacobs; and two great-grandchildren.

Service: The family will be receiving friends at Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home in China Grove on Wednesday, June 26 at 6 p.m. followed by a celebration of Jackie's life, officiated by Bobby Fulton. Visitation is in the Linn-Honeycutt chapel at 7 p.m. Graveside services will be Thursday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m. at West Lawn Memorial Park in China Grove.

Memorials: May be made to Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary, 220 Grace Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.

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Dixie Carter Comments on the Passing of Jackie Fargo

Dixie Carter President of TNA Wrestling

So saddened by the passing of Jackie Fargo. Loved having him on our very first PPV 11 years ago to launch TNA. A true legend. http://t.co/IjSIEVC3JK

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Stan Lane Remembers Jackie Fargo

- Stan Lane, who was mentored by Jackie Fargo during his time in Memphis as one half of The Fabulous Ones with Steve Keirn, sent out the following today…
The Fabulous One- Jackie Fargo

The electricity he exuded when he entered a room, or an arena, was something that was truly rare and something that was never forgotten once witnessed. He set the bar for his ability to compel awrestlingaudience to fixate on his every move and mannerism in the ring, and lead them through a myriad of emotions that made them beg for more.

Jackie was "often imitated, but never duplicated," although many who followed him tried. Having Jackie personally take Steve Keirn and myself under his wing and guidance while endorsing us to continue his lineage and legacy as "The Fabulous Ones" was a once in a lifetime blessing for me.

Remembering Jackie demonstrating to us at his house inNashvilleover and over again on how to do his Fargo Strut correctly spoke volumes on how much he treasured his craft. Although we tried and tried, as many others have over the years, no one could do it quite like the original which is just the way it should be. He will be missed terribly, but spoken of often with a joy in our hearts and a smile on our face....

-Stan Lane

"The Fabulous Ones"

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Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler Comment on the Death of Jackie Fargo

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler and TNA Founder Jeff Jarrett had the following to say about the passing yesterday of Jackie Fargo on Twitter.

Jerry Lawler        ✔ @JerryLawler

Without the Fabulous Jackie Fargo, there would never have been a King Jerry Lawler. RIP Jackie. pic.twitter.com/29C9bEg06z

Jeff Jarrett        ✔ @JeffJarrettTNA

RIP Jackie Fargo... Huge influence on my career... Often imitated, but never duplicated...

8:13 AM - 24 Jun 2013

Memphis Legend Jackie Fargo Passes Away At 85

Multiple wrestling media sites are reporting that Memphis wrestling legend Jackie Fargo passed away this morning at the age of 85. Fargo had been hospitalized over the last week with a heart issue due to congestive heart disease. At the time he was hospitalized, only 15 percent of his heart was functioning. 

Allow me to send my condolences to Fargo's family, friends, and fans. 

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Updates on Jackie Fargo and Bobby Eaton's Health Statuses

Jackie Fargo remains in critical condition in an intensive care unit due to his heart condition. Bobby Eaton is doing better from his own heart problems and is currently awaiting surgery for his pacemaker to be installed.

Jackie Fargo Rushed to Hospital, Now in Critical Condition

Jackie Fargo, 85, one of the greatest wrestlers to ever work the Memphis territory and the originator of the "Fargo Strut" so many wrestlers have emulated over the years is currently hospitalized in critical condition.

Fargo was found unconscious in his home Saturday and rushed to the hospital. He's been battling congenital heart disease for some time. According to Fargo's daughter Debra Ann, only 15% of his heart is currently working.

Fargo worked for a number of territories during his career but was forever intertwined with Memphis Wrestling. However, he worked in Georgia, the WWWF, and lots of groups across the Mid-West. He held several versions of the NWA Tag straps with Don Fargo and the Southern Tag Team belts with everyone from Lou Thesz to Jerry Jarrett.

A great interview, Fargo was a wild, roughhouse brawler. While everyone today thinks of Jerry Lawler as the King of Memphis, the crown, the throne and the hearts of Memphis Wrestling fans belonged to Fargo for many, many years before Lawler's name was ever uttered on TV.

Although Memphis would consider him one of their own, Fargo is actually from China Grove, NC. Fargo broke into the business in the Carolinas working for an "outlaw" group (what would today be considered an independent group; it was outlaw because it ran the same territory as an established NWA group without the NWA blessing.) as Dick or Dickie Bishop, depending on the area.

After a run in the military, Fargo returned to the business and actually worked on top for the WWWF in the 1950s. It was there was promoter Toots Mondt realized that Jackie and another wrestler, Don Kait, would work well as a heel duo. The Fargos were born.

Managed by Bobby Davis, the duo carried themselves as completely arrogant villains with blonde died hair, purple and red outfits, sequined jackets and top hats. The duo were white hot as heels and even headlined in Madison Square Garden in 1957.

By 1958, the duo had hit Memphis, which was never, ever the same. It became the epicenter of Fargo's career, although the team continued touring for a number of Southern areas with runs in Chicago as well.

Fargo worked for most of his career as a crazy, brawling, cocky heel. Those qualities, not unlike Steve Austin many generations later, led to the audience eventually embracing him as a massive super-hero babyface.

At times, even Fargo needed help to even the odds. "Roughhouse" Sonny Fargo would be introduced, with the idea that he was locked away in a nuthouse and would be brought out when dire circumstances called for it. Fargo was known as a crazy brawler, so when Roughhouse, the one so dangerous he needed to be locked away, was set loose, Memphis became unglued with the excitement of the heels getting theirs from the Fargos.

While Don Fargo would go off in his own direction and work under lots of different guises, Jackie was set in Memphis by the 1960s and working there full-time.

Fargo was also responsible for breaking a local artist named Jerry Lawler into the business. Lawler, who was discovered by announcer Lance Russell after the Memphis TV show host received artwork showcasing what happened at the weekly Mid-South Coliseum events. Russell began using the art regularly, setting Lawler on his own journey into wrestling immortality. The young Lawler worked for Fargo painting and creating signage for his side business. This was Lawler's foot in the door and Fargo became his trainer, mentor and at times, opponent.

Fargo officially retired in 1980 but remained a colorful figure in Memphis Wrestling as the manager and springboard for The Fabulous Ones, Stan Lane and Steve Keirn, who at one point were the hottest tag team the territory had ever seen. Fargo bestowed the strut upon them as part of their personality, which they accentuated with beards, tuxedo-like ring outfits and other Chippendales style garb to draw female fans (which they did, by the bus load).

Fargo would occasionally come out of retirement to team with the duo or Lawler as well. Even as the years went on and he became older, Fargo was a regular presence for pro wrestling in the South. He was brought in to help bring additional "oomph" to major events and was the referee who counted the pinfall when Lawler pinned Curt Hennig to win the AWA World title. He was the living legend.

Fargo was honored in 2009 by the NWA Legends Hall of Heroes. He was a big part of the awesome "Memphis Heat" documentary that was released a few years ago and will always be synonymous with wrestling in that city.