  Elizabeth Hulette, known as Miss Elizabeth by wrestling fans.
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Elizabeth Hulette, known as Miss Elizabeth to wrestling fans, was
pronounced dead at the Kennestone Hospital in Cobb County, Georgia at
5:45 Thursday morning. Huelette was 42.
WBS-TV in Atlanta reported that emergency workers were called to a
townhouse owned by Lawrence Pfohl (pro wrestler Lex Luger). Pfohl then
accompanied the medical personnel as they transported Hulette to
hospital. Hulette died shortly after she arrived.
Pfohl was questioned about the death and initially released. He has
since been charged by Cobb County for possesion of a controlled
substance and is in custody.
"At this point, we don't know if it's a suicide, we don't know if it's a
natural death (and) we don't know if it's a homicide," Cobb police
spokesman Cpl. Brody Staud told WBS-TV.
Local police confirm that they responded to a domestic disturbance call
at the location on Easter Sunday. WSB-TV reported that the police report
said that Pfohl was arrested for allegedly beating Hulette, and that he
was out on a $2,500 bond in connection with that incident.
It could be over a month until toxicology reports reveal what killed
Hulette. Foul play has been ruled out.
Described by many as the "First Lady" of professional wrestling,
Hulette was a major name in WWF during the 1980s as the manager of her
real-life husband at the time, Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Savage and
Hulette joined the WWF in 1985.
On his website, Savage posted a short message. "I am deeply saddened by
this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Elizabeth's family," he
wrote.
The Kentucky-born Hulette met Savage in a gym, and worked with the
Poffo family's International Championship Wrestling for a time. The
family patriach, Angelo Poffo, shared a quick memory with SLAM!
Wrestling. "She was a hard worker, she worked hard," said Poffo. "She
took a lot of chances in the ring and a lot of dangerous bumps." He
hasn't spoken with her since her divorce from Randy.
At her peak in the WWF, Hulette was so recognizable and popular that
she was the focus of many major WWF storylines during the wrestling
boom. Many of the angles revolved around the pair's off-again, on-again
love affair. Savage even proposed to Hulette on a WWE television
broadcast in 1992 and married her at the SummerSlam pay-per-view even
though the pair were really married in 1984. An episode of Lifestyles
of the Rich and Famous was even filmed about the pair.
James Myers, known better to fans as the wrestler George "The Animal" Steele, was saddened to hear the news of Hulette's death when contacted by SLAM! Wrestling. Myers, who worked an unforgettable "crush" angle with Savage and Hulette in the eighties, remembered her as wonderful woman and hoped that her death would bring about some positive change.
"I had nothing but respect for her. I think she carried herself in a very respectful way during
the years I knew her," he said. "It's sad to see a person that young die," Myers continued. "It's such a waste. Maybe these (recent wrestling-related) deaths start opening some eyes and
change some lifestyles. Maybe it's not all in vain."
James Harris worked as Kamala in the WWF, and knew Huelette there. "She
was always nice and quiet," said Harris. "She stayed to herself, I guess
it was because she was with Randy all of the time. I never saw her take
a drink, so it's all pretty shocking to me. I could never say a bad
thing about her."
Hulette divorced Savage in 1992. After leaving the WWE and disappearing
from the wrestling scene, Hulette returned briefly to World
Championship Wrestling in 1995 to join the red hot nWo and worked with
Savage once again.
She even worked a wrestling match in WCW, a brief encounter with the
late Rhonda Sing.
Luger had a decent football career, including time under coach Marv Levy
with the Montreal Alouettes of the late 1970s. He got involved in pro
wrestling in the mid-'80s in Florida and rose to prominence in Florida
Championship Wrestling.
A hot, young prospect, he was brought into World Championship Wrestling
and quickly made a part of the heel stable, The Four Horsemen. He jumped
to the WWF and Vince McMahon's World Bodybuilding Federation. At first
he was a narcisstic heel, but surprised many by turning good and feuding
with Yokozuna.
He was one of the early big-names to jump back to WCW during the peak of
the Monday night wars, and was with the company until its purchase by
the WWE.
Pfohl owns the Main Event gym in Cobb County.
-- with files from Greg Oliver, Stephen Laroche and SLAM! Wrestling news
sources
RELATED LINKS
Police release more details on Elizabeth's death
Cause of Miss Elizabeth's death still unknown
'I feel almost like Cinderella': 1988 Miss Elizabeth interview
Bret Hart column: Little angel of wrestling
The good die too young
Lex Luger story archive
You are invited to sign Miss Elizabeth's Book of Condolence at www.ObituariesToday.com
