Rip Hawk Harvey Maurice Evers ( June 6 , 1930 - December 22 , 2012 ) was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name , Rip Hawk . He began his wrestling career in the Mid - Western United States before joining Jim Crockett Promotions ( JCP ) in the early 1960s . In the company , he teamed with fellow wrestler Swede Hanson as the " Blond Bombers , " and the duo held several championships . In the 1970s , he worked as a booker in JCP . Career . Early career . Hawk made his wrestling debut in 1949 . He began as an amateur in Ohio and was discovered by professional boxer Jack Dempsey , who convinced him to wrestle professionally . His ring name came from a variety of sources : his sister called him " Rip " as a nickname , while a promoter gave him the last name " Hawk " due to his nose and his movements in the wrestling ring . His nickname , " The Profile " , was taken from actor John Barrymore . Hawk was soon drafted to serve in the Korean War . He joined the United States Marine Corps and continued to wrestle during his service . He competed in several territories after returning to the United States , including Tennessee and Atlanta , Georgia , Iowa . He later moved to Missouri , where he competed in St . Joseph and St . Louis . In St . Joseph , he had a scripted feud with Sonny Myers and Larry Hamilton . He continued to move around and held his first championship , the NWA Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship , while wrestling for NWA Western States Sports in 1958 . Jim Crockett Promotions . Hawk moved to North Carolina in the early 1960s , where he began competing for Jim Crockett Promotions , an organization run by Jim Crockett , Sr . that promoted events in the Carolinas . He met fellow wrestler Swede Hanson and approached Crockett about forming a tag team with Hanson . Crockett agreed to the idea , and Hawk and Hanson began competing as the " Blond Bombers " , named after their matching blond hair and their strength in the ring . While competing in Australia , Hawk met manager Gary Hart . He approached Crockett and convinced him to bring Hart to the Carolinas to manage Hawk and Hanson . The team competed as heels ( villains ) and was unique for wearing suits to their matches , as most wrestlers did not worry about dressing like professionals outside of the ring . They aroused anger from many spectators , some of whom threw acid or threatened the team with knives and guns . They also had a following among some fans , and a fan club was formed for them at one point . During interviews , Hawk spoke for the team while Hanson stood silently ; Hawk occasionally insulted Hanson in the interviews , but Hanson did not respond . The team competed in the Carolinas and Virginia , as well as touring overseas in Australia , New Zealand , and Japan . Hawk wrestled in other territories , including Texas , where he held the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship and the Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship ( the latter while teaming with Rock Hunter ) . Nine of his championships came as a member of the Blond Bombers , however . Hawk and Hanson were booked in an angle to win their first title together , the Florida version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship , on August 3 , 1965 . They combined to hold the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship on four occasions , which was the center of their feud with Johnny Weaver and George Becker . They were also booked to win the IWA World Tag Team Championship on a wrestling tour of Tasmania . The Blond Bombers were involved in a series of unusual matches in Jim Crockett Promotions ; they faced other heel tag teams , which was a rarity at the time because most promoters stuck to good versus evil storylines . They competed against such teams as Aldo Bogni and Bronko Lubich , Gene and Ole Anderson , and Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard . Hawk , along with Johnny Weaver , was also involved in booking , or scheduling , events in Jim Crockett Promotions , a task he took on in the early 1970s . He also collaborated with Johnny Ringo to design the National Wrestling Alliance logo . In 1971 , Hanson suffered a heart attack and had to take time off of wrestling . Hawk competed as a singles wrestler and feuded with the Brisco brothers ( Jack and Jerry ) . During this rivalry , Hawk held the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship four times . He was then paired with Ric Flair , who was billed as his nephew . On July 4 , 1974 , Hawk and Flair were booked the NWA Mid - Atlantic Tag Team Championship . Hanson returned to wrestling but soon became a face ( fan favorite ) and feuded with Hawk . The former partners faced each other in tag team matches in which Hanson teamed with Tiger Conway , Jr . and Hawk teamed with Flair . Eventually , the partners were dropped and the two faced each other in a series of singles matches . Hawk left Jim Crockett Promotions permanently in 1974 . Later career . Hawk then took on a new partner , Roger Kirby , with whom he held the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship twice over the next two years . Hawk and Hanson reunited as a tag team in Texas , where they competed for NWA Western States Sports . In 1976 and 1977 , they were booked to win the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship three times . After their final title reign , Hanson left to wrestle elsewhere while Hawk continued to wrestle in Texas . Hawk and Hanson were inducted into the NWA Legends Hall of Heroes in 2007 . Hawk returned in 2008 to posthumously induct long - time rival and real - life friend Johnny Weaver . Personal life . Evers was born on June 6 , 1930 . Although he was originally from Charlotte , North Carolina , he later moved to Albuquerque , New Mexico . After retiring from wrestling , he moved to Hereford , Texas , where he lives with his wife Stella Jane . He has two stepdaughters . He works as a personal trainer and wrestling coach at the YMCA in Hereford . Evers has also been involved in several other businesses . He was a co - inventor of microwave popcorn on the cob and has worked as a teacher and in the ice cream business . Death . Evers died on December 22 , 2012 at age 82 . He had been dealing with cardiac issues for some time prior to his death .