Ib Solvang Hansen

**Ib Solvang Hansen** (1 August 1934 – 16 November 1978) was a Danish professional wrestler, known by his ring name **Eric the Red**, who competed in North American and international regional promotions during the 1960s and 70s, including Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling and National Wrestling Federation.

One of the major stars in the short-lived International Wrestling Association, he was one of the few to find success in the National Wrestling Alliance following the IWA's closure, forming a successful tag team with Pak Song in Championship Wrestling from Florida before his death in 1978.

## Professional wrestling career

Ib Solvang Hansen was born on August 1, 1934, in Odense, Denmark, but emigrated to Canada during the mid-1950s. He eventually became involved in professional wrestling, making his debut in the Toronto-area for Frank Tunney's Maple Leaf Wrestling in 1968. As **Eric the Red**, a modern-day Viking, Hanson faced veterans such as Dutch Momberg, The Assassin, Wild Bull Curry and Tiger Jeet Singh during his first year and also formed a short-lived tag team with Whipper Billy Watson.

After becoming a "heel" in early 1969, he would face the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion in a series of matches throughout the year as well as some of the most popular wrestlers in the territory such as Paul Diamond and Edouard Carpentier. Later that year, he also appeared in the World Wide Wrestling Federation although he was mainly used as a preliminary wrestler and had left the promotion by late 1970. He would make occasional appearances during the next several years, notably teaming with Baron Mikel Scicluna to defeat WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino & Johnny DeFazio in Hubbard, Ohio on November 1, 1974.

Hansen soon began wrestling for the National Wrestling Federation, regularly appearing in Buffalo, New York and Cleveland, Ohio against many of the promotions top stars such as Chief White Owl and Dominic DeNucci during the early 1970s. He also became a well known face in the Pittsburgh-area during this time, facing Gorilla Monsoon, Frank Durso and Victor Rivera in memorable matches. Briefly returning to Toronto during the summer, he would return to the NWL by October 1972 under manager Tony Angelo as **Eric the Animal**, a wildman who carried a large bone to the ring and used as a foreign object.

He feuded with NWF North American Heavyweight Champion Johnny Powers, defeating him for the title in Buffalo on February 17, 1973 although he would lose it back to him within several weeks. He would also be involved in a controversial storyline, violently attacking Jacques and Raymond Rougeau with his bone and subsequently resulting in a feud between the two for several weeks. After a brief tour of the Maritimes, he also headlined several events at Maple Leaf Gardens facing Leo Burke, The Sheik and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco. In addition to occasional appearances in the Detroit-area for Ed Farhat, he also toured Japan until coming to Ontario.

In early 1975, Hansen began his first tour of the southeastern United States competing for Dick Steinborn in Atlanta, Georgia where he very quickly becoming one of the promotions top "heels". However, he was soon hired by Pedro Martinez to return to Cleveland to compete in the newly established International Wrestling Association which Martinez and TV sports mogul Eddie Einhorn were organizing to compete directly against the National Wrestling Alliance as the first national professional wrestling promotion in the United States.

Remaining one of the top stars in the promotion under manager George "Crybaby" Cannon, he feuded with IWA Heavyweight Champion Mil Mascaras throughout the country as the promotion toured the United States. Following the takeover of Johnny Powers after Eric Einhorn pulled out, Hansen remained with the IWA as it attempted to survive as a regional promotion in the Carolinas. He would also travel to Canada several times where his former manager George Cannon was a booker for the Eastern Sports Association. Like many other wrestlers who competed for the IWA, Hansen found little work in the National Wrestling Alliance and began wrestling overseas.

Hansen was a major star in the Puerto Rican-based World Wrestling Council. Capturing both the Puerto Rican and WWC North American titles, Hansen also became involved in a violent feud with Carlos Colon which would result in several riots during late 1976. He left the WWC in April 1977. Afterwards, Hansen returned to Toronto for a short while before moving on to World Class Championship Wrestling where he feuded with the Von Erich family for several months. He also joined The Assassin in the Tri-State area in his feud with Randy Tyler during the spring on 1978. His allies soon turned against him however, when he was attacked during a TV taping by The Assassin and The Brute.

On October 4, 1978, Hansen made his debut in Championship Wrestling from Florida. In no time, he was recruited by manager Sonny King for his stable, along with Pak Song. He and Song started teaming and, only two weeks after Hansen's debut, they captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship from Mike Graham and Steve Keirn. On October 18, Hansen and Song defended their titles twice in one night, defeating Rick Oliver and Prince Tonga in Tampa, Florida and Killer Karl Kox and Keirn in Miami later that night. Breaking his leg during the match, Keirn's injury was written into the storyline as Keirn later claimed he had been attacked by Hansen and other members of Sonny King's stable while training at a local gym with Graham. Hansen and Song continued their winning streak, feuding with Graham and Killer Karl Kox in tag team and singles matches during the next several weeks.

## Death

Hansen and Pak Song, on November 8, 1978, defeated Jimmy Garvin and Prince Tonga at a television taping in Tampa, Florida. Later that night at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, he and Song defeated Mike Graham and Dusty Rhodes via disqualification. Following the match, Hansen flew back to the Tampa International Airport and was driving through the Town ‘N Country area when his car stalled on West Hillsborough Boulevard. After telephoning for assistance, Hansen was struck by a car while crossing the median, with his head hitting the windshield of the car.

He was later taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he remained in a coma for a week and suffered from severe brain damage and numerous bodily injuries. On November 16, 1978, Ib Solvang Hansen died from complications of his injuries at the age of 44.