Jim Cornette on The Passing Of Lanny Poffo

From Episode 468 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@TheForeverRanger]

Lanny was truly his brother's keeper. Even after Randy passed, he kept his brother's legacy in people's minds.

[@brysoncherry9884]

Sure as hell wasn't vinces spiteful self.

[@epicproportionsmediaproduc6697]

On the flip side, Randy was also Lanny’s keeper, as he made sure he stayed employed (even if the promotion didn’t actually use him in matches).

[@tonynorris1506]

Randy indeed looked out for Lanny also. Lanny was being paid over a Mil per year by WCW until the day they closed, but never wrestled once! Randy included him in his deal, but he was never needed due to the NWO angle and basically WCW had like 300 wrestlers on payroll. (Basically, how AEW is today... Tons of wrestlers paid under contract but not being utilized, which is awesome for ones past their prime who aren't hungry for the spotlight and enjoy getting a free check)

[@DevoJetBoy8680]

He was his brother's biggest fan. Randy was his brother's keeper. The reason Macho Man didn't go into the Hall of Fame much earlier was. because he was pissed off that all of the Von Erichs went in, but WWE wouldn't do the same for the Poffos. If Lanny and Angelo weren't good enough to go in, then neither was he. That was Randy's stance until the day he died. It was Lanny who finally rescinded.

[@DevoJetBoy8680]

@@epicproportionsmediaproduc6697 Lanny kept himself employed just as much. Before he became The Genius, they were going to let him go because at the time Vince said they had too many babyfaces. This was told to Lanny on what was supposed to be his final night with the company. Instead he said, turn me heel. Jay Strongbow said Lanny was too good looking to be a heel. Lanny said, watch me! And he went out and cut a promo via one of his poems in Boston that absolutely turned the whole building against him. And thus, The Genius was born. That was all Lanny!

[@GenGamesUniverse]

one person who is gonna be crushed even more is Jay Lethal. Lethal said in an interview that whenever he and Lanny would be sat together for conventions (this was after Randy had died), Lanny to cheer himself up and wanted a laugh, he always asked Jay to do his Macho Man impression as it was spot on, and every time Jay did it, Lanny would bust a gut laughing.

[@marcuslee1927]

It’s been an especially tough few weeks for Jay Lethal

[@GenGamesUniverse]

@@marcuslee1927 yep, first Jay Briscoe dies, now Lanny.

[@TriplomatX]

Jay Lethal really hit the Macho Man gimmick on the nail. One of the, if not the best promos in TNA as Ric Flair & one of his best gimmicks as a parody as Black Machismo, Poffo had no choice but appreciate the efforts in bringing back the Macho Man.

[@johnmills6153]

@@TriplomatX the flair promo with lethal was so darn good one of the best promos ever

[@andrewclayterman6230]

@@johnmills6153 THAT'S MY LINE!!

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

RIP Lanny. Always sad when someone who's brought us so much joy passes away.

[@isaacarellano5118]

Truth

[@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth]

RIP Lanny. Sent him an email once, never expected a reply. Got said reply within 5 minutes, you don't see that much. Loved his poems.

[@lifeasafanpodcast9529]

Honestly cm punk droz edge and Austin Aries are the only other people besides Lanny that have responded to me in one way or another throughout the years but it's been a long time since I've messaged any of them they were so nice and very good with my questions about the business ...punk and I only talked about mma

[@jamesbellegarde2893]

God bless Lanny, Randy and Angelo Poffo…… A family legacy that will never be forgotten by real fans

[@StevieDamnit]

21:02 - I believe Lanny has at least one daughter and I remember him in an interview mentioning he had a grandkid.

[@danieldonnelly3589]

He had two grandkids and loved that they called him “Abuelo.” Trivia: his wife and daughter were Elizabeth’s maid of honor and flower girl in the Match Made in Heaven.

[@KomradeKrusher]

That's somehow comforting to know, at least a bit of the Poffo legacy living on somewhere out there.

[@danielburger1775]

@@KomradeKrusher could be others that they never even knew about...

[@thegoughandbordenfamily8234]

@@danielburger1775 One possibly the rightful heir to the McMahon fortune.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Jim Cornette badly misses Lanny Poffo nowadays . Lanny finally reunited with his brother the late great Macho Man Randy Savage . RIP

[@mg9138]

Do you reunite with your relatives when you go to hell?

[@mikescott8903]

What?

[@johnmills6153]

Ohhh yeahhhh

[@punkmeathead3792]

@@johnmills6153 nuff said

[@satan3959]

And his dad

[@InsignificantNick]

Always love Brian's impression of Lanny. His voice was iconic.

[@osaji922]

That voice. lol

[@TD1021-]

Yea that shit is funny as hell

[@mojo2782]

Sean Oliver also does a great one.

[@theseeker7711]

Imagine him and Randy in a argument

[@ronaldoglesby6115]

@@theseeker7711 that's definitely something to think about lol they both had such unique voices and complete opposites in the sense that Randy was intense with a real gravely voice and Lanny had a calm demeanor with a deep voice that presented prophisilic energy.

[@matthewhostetter8974]

So sad to hear of the passing of Lanny Poffo, while he never reached the heights of his brother he was a fantastic talent. He was reliable to do what was needed for a match, could cut some great promos, and got amazing heat, very much living up to his gimmick of "the Genius." He was also a hell of a highflyer. The wrestling world lost another great one, but it's nice to know Lanny and Randy are together again and putting on amazing matches together in heaven. RIP Lanny.

[@quentinkaasa47]

Randy needed a new partner for his match against Razor and Inoki.

[@robmiljus]

And with his father too don't forget.

[@chrisbutler1668]

One of the most underrated heels of his era. I only wish Vince did more with him. Such an underutilized talent.

[@henrydickerson9776]

​@@chrisbutler1668exactly. As a heel, he was closer to what Eddie Guerrero would do later. Yeah, he was supposed to be the bad guy, but you couldn't help liking him.

[@DevoJetBoy8680]

Not only was Lanny Poffo the first guy in North America to regularly utilize the Moonsault, but also the first guy to use the Top Rope Somersault Senton that Jeff Hardy later popularized. The Poffos matches with Ricky and Robert, the Rock 'n' Roll Express were also pretty groundbreaking!! Some of the best tag matches of the period anywhere in the U.S..

[@MrZappaman420]

he could also auto-fellate

[@exidy-yt]

Amen brother, amen.

[@satan3959]

Similar. The Swanton is technically different. Lanny's version just involved jumping directly off the turnbuckle. Jeff's version was a variant of the version that Great Ssauke innovated in Japan, which involved jumping up off the turnbuckle first at an elevated height. Lanny's version was much closer to the version that Quebecer Pierre/PCO uses.

[@DevoJetBoy8680]

@@satan3959 Spot on.

[@johnkelsiemcnair7787]

When Randy put Ricky Morton through the time keeper's table with a piledriver at the Mid South Coliseum it was the best.

[@Trill_4_Life]

RIP Lanny. The entire Poffo family is reunited now.

[@DeadliftDarrell]

Never forget... The Genius Lanny Poffo owns a VICTORY over Hulk Hogan on Saturday Night Main Event!

[@MrZappaman420]

a count-out victory

[@regulardadhere8832]

@@MrZappaman420 still a victory

[@MichaelMichalski]

@@MrZappaman420 They don't ask how - only how many! 😉

[@mrg8581]

With a little help from Mr Perfect.😉

[@allewis4008]

"Look! He's writing a math equation to solve Hulk Hogan!" Bobby the Brain Heenan

[@DevoJetBoy8680]

From what Bill Apter has said, Lanny arrived in New York from his new home in Ecuador for some scheduled signing appearances. He was said to be jovial and in good spirits. He did a stop with the guys at K&S Wrestlefest where he signed and shot his very last shoot interview (on KZbin now in clip form). February 1st he attended a Broadway play, and the next day February 2nd, Bill was shocked to get a call that Lanny died of heart failure suddenly. Just shocking and so sad. Lanny was health conscious and always said his goal was to make it to 100. He'll be sorely missed. xo #RIP

[@dustinbasham393]

Reminds me of what happened with New Jack. He was all over Facebook, talking to his fans, including me, and less than 24 hours later, he was gone. So sad. Lanny seemed to be a wonderful person

[@TD1021-]

Dam that sucks weird how the body is 1 day everything is great next day you dead. At least Lanny n Mach are reunited now

[@MattKeller]

Bill Apter's gonna outlive everybody

[@mr.green2341]

@@bb-gc2tx Oh shut up! Peddle your conspiracies elsewhere, moron! 🙄

[@damian_cross]

@@bb-gc2tx If you hadn't said it, I would have.

[@flamethrowerflufsalisbury]

I talked to Lanny at a convention near Tampa a few years ago. One thing that I noticed was how much he would think about a question before answering it. Not in a slow way, he just gathered his thoughts completely before speaking.

[@lodi70005]

They didn’t call him “The Genius” because he was known for spitting out short,thoughtless replies,lol.

[@pandaloon6083]

Ironically, I think that may have worked against him as a wrestler. Compared to Randy (and that's a tough comparison for anyone) Lanny seemed self-conscious just enough to leave the audience with space to think that Lanny was playing a role. And so, the audience couldn't fully let go and invest.

[@richardcoreno]

"The Poet Laureate of WWF" -- Gorilla Monsoon

[@chrishagins3309]

The Poffos kinda remind me of the Funks in a few ways. There were three of them; a father and two sons. The father was a promoter, one son was batshit crazy and the other was more soft spoken and articulate.

[@marcusburks477]

Lanny was the first Wrestler I met and got an autograph from when I was a kid.

[@waywardson1663]

Lanny had accumulated a LOT of friends over the years by virtue of how he conducted himself and treated others. He did not smoke, drink or do drugs, but he did like the ladies and was very gentlemanly about it. He was VERY frugal and told me that he saved money in his territory days by sleeping in his car instead of getting a motel. That is a major reason why he retired to Ecuador, as he could own a nice affordable place free and clear in a new gated community full of expats, in a year-round comfortable climate. He moved from the coast to a suburb of Quito actually. He loved the local cuisine as well as the local girls! Lanny was not married, as he had been divorced for some time with no plans to take the plunge again. As for who owns the rights to the entire Poffo estate now, there are two people who are likely heirs: Lanny's daughter who is living a private civilian life, and Randy's widow, though I am sure that they would rather have him back for a little while longer instead of the windfall. He worked in Hannibal's promotion a lot in the first 5 years, including being an official partner in 2012 but Hannibal and Lanny had a falling out over the release of some dressing room video footage.

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

Lanny brought a lot to the table for Hannibal, it is beyond stupid for Hannibal to throw that all away because he refused to honor Lanny's privacy.

[@jackbarnes9728]

@@crownprincesebastianjohano7069 Well Hannibal/Slow Devon has made alot of poor decisions in the last several years.

[@allamaraine8066]

Sounds like a nice way to go out. RIP, Lanny.

[@AAAskeet]

Hannibal seems to have problems mentally

[@satan3959]

@@crownprincesebastianjohano7069 Hannibal is a moron. I actually used to like the guy (well, I tolerated him anyway) until the ref incident. After that I never once watched a single video he uploads. Plus his voice is monotone as fuck. I'd rather listen to shitstain saying bro every second or third word

[@mattypaul87]

"Hulk Hogan...you can't do that" I loved the duo of The Genius and Mr. Perfect. Lanny was always amazing with words. He'll be greatly missed. R.I.P.

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

Only in wrestling can you get a eulogy and a story of a guy performing autofellatio in a locker room to entertain others in the same video. RIP Lanny

[@jasonedgar7954]

Beautifully said

[@savievere9759]

Sad to hear he passed, but that story had me in tears

[@TheMarc388]

Met him in 2008 in Sarasota Florida. Wasn’t sure who he was since I was 20 but he told me he was a former wrestler in WWF. Told me stories about his brother on the set of Spider-Man and his feuds with Hulk Hogan. I was surprised to see him working at Carmax, where this happened. Told me he has his doll in his office. Gave me his card and everything. Great man and friendly as they get.

[@jthek2000]

The Genious and Mr. Perfect vignettes get funnier every viewing.

[@huflungdung8252]

Randy and Lanny's short feud against the Rock and Roll Express in Memphis was incredible.

[@who_la_GRiM]

Another one lost way too soon. 2023 not starting off good at all. I always was captivated by Lannys way with words. Hes the reason I got into rhyming and poetry as a kid. Rest In Paradise, Genius. 🙏😔

[@jasonkraatz9574]

RIP Lanny. You carried on your brothers legacy and helped us heal from losing him. I was hoping you’d be with us for many years to come to share more stories from your wrestling days. Now you’re gone and my heart aches. It’s sad to see childhood heroes go so soon.

[@VictusVideos]

He started the Genius character late eighties early nineties. Still have an autographed frisbee he threw out in the crowd. Will miss Leaping Lanny Poffo!

[@kentdean3726]

Many childhood memories watching Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling in Atlantic Canada.... Leaping Lanny was a marquee name when he was in that promotion at that time....RIP Lanny thanks for the memories.

[@Rando1975]

I loved watching him & Randy when I was a kid when they were in the Atlantic Grand Prix.

[@DeadKoby]

I really liked "The Genius".... as a fan, Lanny was always nice to converse with. It's sad that he's passed. Lanny was a great story teller, as well as a fine poet.

[@drpiv]

RIP Lanny. A true individual.

[@RoachOverlord]

Just a few days before he died, Lanny said that he would go to WWE or AEW in a manager role if given the opportunity. It's a shame we won't see the Genius on TV again now.

[@mazzb305]

RIP to the Genius. As someone who missed his WWF run as a kid, I became aware of his entertaining personality through his various shoot interviews.

[@parsons79]

Will never forget his blade job on Saturday Night’s Main Event….RIP

[@dannycruz5446]

Oh yeah, during the battle royal right? Dam, forgot about that

[@lodunost]

I was hoping that he would live for many years to come. He will be missed greatly.

[@papboybrooklyn77]

Booker T. said he was recently with him and he look like he was in great health and great condition rest in peace Lanny Poffo🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@paulsmith9192]

@PIMPBOYBROOKLYN crazy.makes no sense.everybody said he looked great and we hear was heart related? I wonder if penny was tested?

[@lodi70005]

@@paulsmith9192 Wrestling back in the day was just tough on the body. They worked 6-7 days a week. When not working, they were driving to work. Plus, they had to work out. Even the guys that weren’t known to party, or juice, are dying early. Most of them sacrificed years of their life, and hardly got the financial reward they should have received.

[@kurtanglerookieyear]

@@paulsmith9192 I have people very dear to me that passed before 2020 in tip top shape for their ages. Sudden death is a reality. Heart attacks. Stroke. A bloodclot in the lungs. You help nothing and no one with your speculation.

[@brenthenshaw3585]

A friend of mine who has connections in the indy circuit in South Carolina had spoken to Lanny a day or 2 before he passed, I guess to get him some appearances. He texted me and was like "Dude, I was just talking to him!" Unbelievable. RIP, Lanny.

[@robfinlay8058]

To quote Gordon Solie, Lanny Poffo was all man and a yard wide. RIP.

[@dorkknight413]

Lanny will be missed I remember him as leaping Lanny from my first house show at the cow palace with Jimmy snuka on the card. Also thanks for the best laugh I have had all week with the stories of the parlor trick. Laugh my ass off.

[@timewithoutconsequence4611]

He was a very underrated athlete. I enjoyed his style in the ring.

[@FortunateJuice]

These "eulogies" that Jim does are very entertaining. Love listening to the deep history of these guys.

[@nathueil1]

Leaping Lanny leaped so high, he went to heaven to have Slim Jim's in the sky.

[@blkpanther11]

Nice!!

[@jack7nine]

Forget Young Rock, HBO should be making a show about Jims life and all of the characters he's encountered over the years

[@johnhess9443]

Always loved listening to Lanny. Wrestling or otherwise. He seemed like such a nice and genuine person. Been a fan of his for about 3/4's of my life. RIP. Sad to hear he's gone. Sounds like he was loving retired life, super happy, content and really enjoying himself. Good and bad to think about, I'm going to miss the Poffo brothers. Each one one of a kind.

[@TheSupervillain316]

Still remember my first live WWF show, Boston Garden in 1986. I was as excited for Lanny as anyone else in the card, though didn't catch a Frisbee

[@KISSFanBD]

The first time I saw a Hurricanrana was by Lanny Poffo when he wrestled Tiger Chung Lee.

[@nbrider7235]

Leaping Lanny was my favorite wrestler in Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling as a 6 year old in 1978, watching that guy doing his gymnastic flips was unlike anything we had ever seen in Eastern Canada at that point in time. RIP Lanny.

[@Jackalblade9]

I loved Lanny more as the poem-reading, frisbee throwing preliminary guy than as the Genius (yeah, my introduction to him was in the WWF), but the simple fact is he entertained me no matter the gimmick. Lanny was awesome and I will always miss him.

[@bobchisholm7487]

I actually saw him wrestle live, once, at the old Boston Garden. Lanny jobbed to Pete Doherty, the Duke of Dorchester, which was a rare win for ol' Pete.

[@jonstefanik9400]

Was that when he crucified Boston sports?

[@dustyhaynes5688]

Ill never think of Lanny without thinking of him giving himself the treatment ever again.

[@anthonymartin9923]

That promo with Savage and Orton Jr he did in ICW was unbelievably great and I still believe that Randy ( Orton) is named after Randy Savage! And that promo was in the 1980 the year that Orton was born.

[@TJDious]

I loved how Lanny did the acrobatics as the Genius purely to get heat.

[@kuma1388]

I still have my autographed frisbee that I caught at Muzzy field in Bristol CT in the the late 80s

[@lonestarfriend]

I will always remember Poffo as “Leapin’” Lanny. 🙂

[@michaelmclaren1333]

Leaping Lanny. His poems then throw the frisbee into the crowd. I always wanted one just because that'd be the closest to macho man I'd ever get. But back then we didn't really know. I only found out he was machs brother when I said to my own brother at a live event "if I catch his frisbee I'm going to throw it back at him" my bro said "you idiot! Thats Randy's BROTHER"! I was gobsmacked

[@redrumloa]

I remember watching "Leaping Lanny" back in his first run with WWF. I was always entertained by him and could never understand why they kept him as a jobber, despite being a fan favorite.

[@ra0929]

The roster was pretty deep at the time. I thought why not tag with his brother, but Savage was such a huge star, I don't think it would've been sustainable.

[@MIGHTYBOOSCH198]

Lanny was a grossly underrated talent, his Genius character was one of the highlights of the 80's, I remember OSW review adored the little subtleties he brought to his character. They were heartbroken when he stopped appearing on the PPVs and very disappointed with how few matches he had. Shame, he had a fantastic gimmick, better than Sandow because Lanny actually wrote poems. As Lanny Pofo the man he was always very articulate and seemed very kind and humble. I love his shoots, great personality and though not really a fighter was never afraid to fight. Big loss, always great hearing him talk. RIP Lanny Pofo The Genius

[@metaforcesaber]

I just watched the match between Lanny and Hogan where he actually gets the win over Hogan by count out. that says a lot about him and the match was super entertaining. it is too bad he didn't get more of a push because all his leaping and somersaulting was entertaining as hell. nowadays guys do all that acrobatic crap and it's over done and it looks like ballet. Lanny made it look good and it fit with his character.

[@jeremyboehm5512]

R.I.P. Lanny "The Genius" Poffo. You'll be missed by this fan. Much love to you and your family. You and your brother made me a wrestling fan. Thank you

[@maceomaceo11]

I think Chavo Sr. gets credited for inventing the moonsault, but Lanny was the only other I saw doing it and this was over a decade before Muta perfected it. Both Poffo brothers were more athletically gifted than almost all of their contemporaries.

[@anthonymartin9923]

Also they were responsible along with Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson for putting people through tables

[@dannycruz5446]

Satoru Sayama was already doing an early Moonsault (basically what Vader & Bambam did) during his '81-'83 New Japan run and perfected it during his UWF run in '84.

[@danielburger1775]

@@dannycruz5446 Norvell Austin was doing it long before any of those guys. It just wasn't called a "moonsault" yet.

[@horgh_japan]

@@danielburger1775 If you watch old El Santo movies from the 60's/70's, you can see guys doing moonsaults and other jumping moves when they show match footage. Also, Edouard Carpentier was doing a lot of jumping in his matches seeing as he was a gymnast before being a wrestler, he did a random but meaningless moonsault (he just jumped over the guy) in some 80's jobber match on WWF TV and may have done some before that.

[@JasonSum1979]

I wish somebody would do a autobiography or documentary on the Poffo family (Super interesting story that is a prime example of the American dream…. They are a pro wrestling dynasty that gets so overlooked! RIP Lanny 😢😢😢

[@justinhuston6855]

When James E Cornette and his cohost started telling that story about Lanny (you know which one) I almost choked on my tongue from laughing RIP Lanny

[@TheRealDannAlexander]

Been waiting for this one. First thing I thought of after getting the news was what is Corny going to say. Still surreal that Lanny and Randy spent time in my part of the world in the late 70’s (Atlantic Canada). His interview on wrestling shoot interviews to me is one of the best interviews ever. Further, I still am amazed at how he is able to remember almost every single poem he read at tapings or events. What a memory. There’s a great cable access interview with Randy that just recently surfaced on KZbin and in it Randy acknowledges being Lanny’s brother. It was from the ICW days.

[@taylor_ladu2377]

As a massive Savage fan I was hoping one day to at least to get to meet Lanny, shame he’s gone, but glad he’s reunited with his brother. RIP Lanny.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

I think it was Mr.Bischoff who said Lanny's WCW pay came out of his brother Randy's earnings! Randy always looked after his loved ones!

[@KISSFanBD]

I remember when I was a kid the WWF made a music video that featured clips from matches and one of them was Lanny Poffo doing a moonsault. I think the song was When the going gets tough by Billy Ocean.

[@billjarvis5853]

I remember the southern Illinois run, me and my brother were obsessed with going to the matches, and I remember guys working a match, and then going up to the balcony to work the spotlight. I remember getting Randy’s autograph as he was headed up to work the light! Amazing memories of the tiny shows that featured such huge future stars

[@simonbird8093]

When he was the Genius I saw him have a match with someone (sadly I can't remember who) and he would run out of the ring like a good heel should, but his way of getting back in was absolutely fantastic. He would be on the apron and lean back horizontally whilst stepping in. It was brilliant and totally unique, yet somehow it suited his flamboyant, aloof, and (let's be honest) camp character perfectly. R.I.P Lanny you will be missed.

[@goldenstatemunicipal7735]

I remember Lanny in Amarillo in the mid 70's. He actually backflipped over a guy in a match - freaked me out as I had never seen that before. His dad had a midget come out and sit on his legs while he knocked out sit-ups for the hour while the show was in progress. He was the first high flyer I'd seen - just a great talent and person. RIP Lanny.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Sad day for sure. Cheered up a bit thanks the brilliant historical context of Jim and TGBL

[@timroelofsen1563]

RIP Lanny Poffo 😇 Loved his win over Hogan with Mr Perfect’s help‼️

[@kingnaga619]

Cause was heart failure. Seems like there might be a genetic component, seeing how his brother passed from a similar issue.

[@chrischar9428]

Yet dad was month short of 85

[@spanky9676]

His brother was on a steady diet of horse steroids and cocaine for years

[@nikol6310]

@@spanky9676 Lanny also did a cycle or two back in the day, then again who knows did that contribute towards this

[@toysorbust]

Wonder if he was recently vaccinated or boosted?

[@charlesbukowski9836]

@@toysorbust great question...

[@TheJugulator62]

What I really enjoy is when someone who was significant in the wrestling business, maybe not the top star in history, Jim and Brian will note their importance. They know the history and relevance of their career and life. That's respect for the people who contributed to the business. Their tribute to Bobby Eaton and Jay Briscoe were very emotional and heart felt.

[@durden2480]

I’ll always remember the genius in WWF. He stood out and was totally underrated

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

If I had a choice (and who among us does?), I would rather be hale and hearty one day and dead the next. Better than lingering in ill health. It's nice to think that Lanny's buoyant spirits never failed.

[@babayagaslobbedaknobba]

I always felt that Lanny was underrated and underutilized in WWF. He had a lot of talent. RIP.

[@WarGhoulKharas]

He'll always be Sir Lanny Poffo to me.

[@steveaustin330]

First saw lanny in Grand Prix Wrestling, Nova Scotia ,late 70's

[@televiper11]

Lanny was very talented, a good hand. Was always surprised that “Leaping” Lanny Poffo & “Jumping” Jim Brunzell were never a tag team.

[@mrg8581]

They teamed up once against Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. It was after Brian Blair left the WWF and before Lanny became the Genius.

[@Griswaldization]

I'm just now finding this out now!! Damn this stings!! Thank-you Lanny R.I.P.🙏⚘️

[@graefx]

I will never forget a home tour video he once did where he proudly pointed out every bathroom had a bidet and his explanation was "do you wipe your dishes? No, you wash your dishes" or his interview talking about his match with Hogan and what he might or might have been inclined to do so he didn't look completely dwarfed. My friends had never seen me devolve into such child like glee as when Lanny and Jay Lethal as Black Machismo came out and did the match at the first All In. Hokeyness aside, that was such a nostalgic moment for me and those 2 can do no wrong.

[@medicinemansworld6462]

I still have my orange frisby signed. One of my favorite Savage promos from his vast selection staring at the candle for about 2 hours....got my head together.

[@skinscountry]

RIP Lanny. I met Lanny and he was very nice to all the fans that came up to him. A class act. When every fan came up to him he had every fan try on Macho Man’s hall of fame ring. A underrated performer and even better person to fans.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

"... I am the Genius, Lanny Poffo. The world's smartest man."

[@johnclark3378]

WOAY in Beckley, WV aired ICW and it wasn’t late at night. I think it was Saturday mornings. Pea Whatley was there too.

[@exidy-yt]

18:30 you don't have to guess because that's EXACTLY how he came in! First time I saw him on Maple Leaf Wrestling' he was 'Leaping Lanny Poffo', job guy who got squashed in 5 mins by I don't even remember who. Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine maybe? Then a year or so later, he became 'The Genius' and got some interview time, but not skilled rassler time. He was a 'Jobber to the Stars' and not much else until I had given up in disgust on the WWE and started watching NWA Championship Wrestling during the glory days of the 4 Horsemen, the Midnight Express, Nikita Koloff, Sting, Dusty etc. The BEST of days.

[@benespinosa6725]

RiP Lany Poffo the genius was an amazing Gimmick in the WWF

[@KomradeKrusher]

I was floored to learn of Lanny's passing when it happened. Much more so than for his in-ring career (knowledge of which to me only extended to his work as "The Genius" before the territory archives became available through the net), I will fondly remember him for his shoots in which he showed so much knowledge, wit and compassion along with his insights, and most of all for being a true brother's keeper. Everybody should have someone in their life who is as proud and supportive of them as Lanny was with Randy. It's also incredibly sad to realize that, as Jim just put it, "now... all three Poffos are gone". EDIT: I love how the segment devolves into immature locker room humor towards the end after all the sad stuff and reminiscing is done. Very fitting and I imagne it's how Lanny would have liked it to be.

[@corrosivealtars]

I never got to see Lanny throw frisbees but I saw him as The Genius a couple of times. Hails from Cape Girardeau! Rest in Peace, Leaping Lanny!

[@runawayuniverse]

I saw Lanny wrestle in like '85 and some kid a row in front of me caught a frisbee. It had an index card taped on the inside, only it didn't have his signature on it like Jim said. It had some religious quote typed on it instead. I remember the kid, who was about 16 at the time launching the frisbee back over the ring to the other side. Some other people who got frisbees started throwing theirs around too. It was pretty funny to see.

[@FreneticZetetic]

RIP Lanny Poffo, always loved his work in and out of the ring. Great mind in general, always had his wit and intelligence about him.

[@jonsmolak6254]

I first saw Lanny in Murphysboro, IL at an ICW event. He was very fan friendly and always was available for autographs.

[@bazookajoe6133]

Loved his genius gimmick. Always had a condescending rhyme before each match. RIP Genuis

[@sahump1]

My first ever exposure to professional wresting was watching Leaping Lanny and The Macho Man in ICW on WTVQ Channel 62 in Lexington. When ICW went away Channel 18 picked up MId-South Wresting from Memphis where they had some young loud mouth kid named Jim Cornette and here I am still. 🙂

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

RIP Lanny. 1-0 in matches against Hulk Hogan

[@hailhydra1928]

I love you talking about the southeast Missouri are and southern Illinois wrestling. There is a lot of wrestling history around here that I'm trying to learn. Nice history lesson. I remember my mom telling a story about seeing Lanny in I believe Cairo Illinois back in the day

[@themeanhornet1070]

The Genius gimmick with the frisbees was awesome.

[@rondoughhowell6442]

Cornette need to put Hannibal back in his place

[@TheZom1965]

We got ICW in North Central WV on WDTV channel 5 Clarksburg/Bridgeport WV and it ran, I think, 12:30pm right before The Sheik’s Big Time Wrestling came on channel 4 out of Parkersburg/Marietta that covered Ohio and WV in The Mid Ohio Valley.

[@Dave-rf1zj]

Lanny Poffo was an extremely underrated talent both in the ring and with promos, as both a heel and a babyface.

[@mikebirkett100]

I must admit this one makes me sad. Thank you for great shows.

[@jeffnettleton3858]

Lanny & Randy, and the whole ICW crew, made me a wrestling fan. Where I grew up, in central Illinois, we didn't have regular pro wrestling on tv. At one point, sometime between 1975-77, we got either Indianapolis or the Bob Luce program, from Chicago, but it wasn't on long. We definitely had Indianapolis a little later, around 1980, but it was pretty dull stuff, as their best days were behind them. In 1981, the Springfield station started showing ICW, on Saturday afternoons and it was like night and day. ICW had angles and gimmicks and wild matches and promos and it was exciting as hell. Previously, I'd watch the matches, if they were on, but never got into it. With ICW, it was like a comic book come to life and I was a big comic fan. Lanny looked like a superhero, with the muscular upper body and the gymnastic moves and Randy was this insane super-villain, while Angelo kind of fell in between, as the Miser. he was sort of a villain and sort of a babyface, depending on who he wrestled (he did a babyface match against the Great Tio, where he won the tv title). I never got to see his matches against Randy, but did see his matches with Rip Rogers and the Convertible Blonds, as well as those great matches against Ronnie Garvin, when Garvin turned heel. Lanny & George Weingeroff were a joy to watch, especially against the Blonds, between Lanny's high flying moves and Weingeroff's mat work.

[@JohnNeumeister-xn3vm]

I went to school with a former NFL kicker who could pull a Lanny in the locker room and was very proud of it