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RIP Lee Marshall

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I hadn't been following his career or anything, but he found himself as the voice of Tony the Tiger. Those Team Challenge Series reports in the AWA were my own fondest memories of him. Also, the time that he got legit kicked in the head at World War 3 by The Faces of Fear.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0427/574561/former-wcw-announcer-lee-marshall-passes-away/

Comments

  1. ReinEngelApril 27, 2014 at 9:21 PM

    At Starrcade 1996, Lee Marshall was brought to the WCW commentary table as an expert on women's wrestling.

    Scott Keith: "Lee Marshall can't even be called an "expert" on writing his own name."

    There. That's my favorite Lee Marshall moment.

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  2. Andrew ChampagneApril 27, 2014 at 9:21 PM

    I always thought he had a great broadcasting voice, and he really did have a niche as Tony the Tiger. Just a shame that ability didn't translate to calling a wrestling match; some of the AWA stuff ESPN runs from time to time features some GODAWFUL announcing.

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  3. Matthew GrahamApril 27, 2014 at 9:23 PM

    RULED as WOW announcer. He and Heenan rock that pay-per-view.

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  4. TheLELGuyApril 27, 2014 at 9:26 PM

    Lee Marshall was the voice of Tony the Tiger? Huh...

    http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131224233033/prettylittleliars/images/f/fb/The_more_you_know_banner.jpg

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  5. ZanatudeApril 27, 2014 at 9:26 PM

    The face of the AWA for me. Kinda bland, not terrible, but you knew he'd always show up and do his job adequately.

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  6. ZanatudeApril 27, 2014 at 9:28 PM

    He was A voice of Tony the Tiger. Not THE voice.

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  7. YJ2310April 27, 2014 at 9:31 PM

    Lee Marshall is better than Michael Cole...There I said it....

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  8. apeApril 27, 2014 at 9:35 PM

    Well, sure. Now.

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  9. apeApril 27, 2014 at 9:37 PM

    Yep. And Gordon Solie did the voice of Poppin' Fresh, the Pilsbury Doughboy. Most people don't remember that.

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  10. PrimeTimeTenApril 27, 2014 at 9:40 PM

    I wonder if WCW actually sent Marshall to the site of next week's Nitro every week. While it stands to reason that they could have just stuck him in a booth and pretended he was somewhere, actually paying for a plane ticket and hotel room for a guy who only appeared as an on-screen graphic seems just like the stupid kind of thing WCW would do.

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  11. VintageGamerApril 27, 2014 at 9:41 PM

    "Also, the time that he got legit kicked in the head at World War 3 by The Faces of Fear."


    What the what??? What year did this happen?

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  12. cultstatusApril 27, 2014 at 9:42 PM

    Lee Marshall Week on the Network!

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  13. ZanatudeApril 27, 2014 at 9:42 PM

    Because he's dead, right!?


    *slaps knee*

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  14. ZanatudeApril 27, 2014 at 9:43 PM

    It was obvious when Harley Race would poke him in the tummy during promos.

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  15. Mister_E_Studd_Got100ProblemsApril 27, 2014 at 9:50 PM

    Goodbye Lee Marshall. You sucked, but it is still a shame that you have died.

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  16. James M. FabianoApril 27, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    Use my Pillsbury pie crust to make a delicious suplay! Hoo-hoo!

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  17. ZanatudeApril 27, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    My words are always inadequate. I wish The Big Bossman were still with us to properly express my feelings for the recently demised.

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  18. Stranger in the AlpsApril 27, 2014 at 10:19 PM

    World War 3 '96. The battle royal had a brawl break out ringside and Marshall got knocked down and kicked a few times. He got pissed at Zbyszko for not helping out.

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  19. LeeleePhoenixApril 27, 2014 at 10:20 PM

    RIP Lee Marshall, expert on WCW women's wrestling.

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  20. DrFactsApril 27, 2014 at 10:26 PM

    I'll miss your Nitro party road reports

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  21. Aric JohnsonApril 27, 2014 at 10:29 PM

    Those Road Reports man... I always imagined him phoning them in from a cubicle at CNN Center.

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  22. johntcoleApril 27, 2014 at 10:35 PM

    We're talking about a company that regularly flew 150 guys to arena's and only used 35 of them, of COURSE they flew him to Nitro's.

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  23. johntcoleApril 27, 2014 at 10:36 PM

    Eh, gotta disagree.

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  24. thatguyJMMApril 27, 2014 at 10:37 PM

    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x172j9j_wcw-world-war-iii-1996-part-4_sport



    The kick happens 11 minutes in. You don't see it, you just hear Larry flip his shit that Lee's down.


    Also, how did WCW manage to book a 60-man battle royal to only go 30 minutes?

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  25. Tom DawkingsApril 27, 2014 at 10:46 PM

    Because, you know, WCW.

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  26. PillmanizedApril 27, 2014 at 10:52 PM

    Actually, you do see it in the upper right window. Barbarian just stomps the shit out of him for no apparent reason.

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  27. Justin HenryApril 27, 2014 at 10:55 PM

    Here's hoping he calls into Raw from Wrestling Heaven and makes a Weasel joke

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  28. PeteF3April 27, 2014 at 11:00 PM

    Actually 30 minutes sounds interminable for a battle royal of any size.

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  29. DerangedHermitApril 27, 2014 at 11:00 PM

    "He was a bastard because his momma said so!"

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  30. John PetrieApril 27, 2014 at 11:16 PM

    Kinda sad about this actually. He did have a good voice for announcing. Maybe just remembering him through the filter of nostalgia, but I thought he was alright back in the AWA. Of course hard to be judged as a great announcer when commentating on matches like Paul Diamond vs. Jake "The Milkman" Milliman or Del Wilkes vs. "The Sodbuster" Kenny Jay...

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  31. Nick SaikleyApril 27, 2014 at 11:20 PM

    Well, it's not 60 guys in 1 ring; it's 3 rings of 20.

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  32. Nick SaikleyApril 27, 2014 at 11:21 PM

    My only memory of Lee was how he always over-pronounced WCW. DOUBLE-u SEE DOUBLE-u.

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  33. ziggaman730April 27, 2014 at 11:39 PM

    RIP Stagger Lee.

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  34. Biscuit!April 28, 2014 at 12:07 AM

    I liked Lee. He had a great voice and didn't distract. He wasn't in the league of a Ron Trongard, but few were.

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  35. Muta_MarkApril 28, 2014 at 1:13 AM

    A tad freaky this is for me, because I was watching a Thunder just two night ago, got bored during it and did a google search on Lee Marshall and read up about him for a while. Sad, great voice on him, but not the best announcer. RIP
    Btw any word on how he died?

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  36. ZanatudeApril 28, 2014 at 1:26 AM

    His bodily functions ceased, and he gradually settled into a state of rigor mortis.

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  37. The LurkerApril 28, 2014 at 3:59 AM

    Yep. He's Gone.

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  38. BrainBusterApril 28, 2014 at 4:00 AM

    Never cared for his work in AWA or WCW, but a shame to lose another person with ties to the territories. RIP

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  39. RedSox1981April 28, 2014 at 5:18 AM

    Kinda sad about this. Never cared for him as an announcer, but his voice is something I can recognize from my teenaged years thanks to those WCW Road Reports.

    Did you think he ever called collect on those reports? 1-800-COLLECT and 1-800-CALL-ATT were big things in those days. In fact, wasn't one of those a sponsor?

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  40. brocoreApril 28, 2014 at 5:41 AM

    http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/320942/Daniel-Bryans-Make-a-Wish-Fan-Connor-%5C


    Today is not a good day (or month for DBry). Bryan's biggest fan just passed away.

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  41. ONITA100April 28, 2014 at 5:43 AM

    Damn RIP.

    The story told by Dusty aboutv him crapping his pants In the Wargames match is too funny

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  42. juvydriverApril 28, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    I always thought it was funny that he never made it to Nitro b/c he was always in the next town.

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  43. Vince JordanApril 28, 2014 at 5:47 AM

    "i bought the show."

    I stopped reading after that. Legit fell out of my chair.

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  44. kbjoneApril 28, 2014 at 6:08 AM

    I bought it too.

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  45. kbjoneApril 28, 2014 at 6:12 AM

    Good review, but one little nitpick. Magnus brought a prybar (flat crowbar) into the ring, not a hammer.

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  46. MikeyMike2323April 28, 2014 at 6:38 AM

    It's a shame Nitro parties don't exist anymore.

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  47. Your_Favourite_LoserApril 28, 2014 at 6:45 AM

    eh, i was happy to. they need the help

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  48. brocoreApril 28, 2014 at 6:53 AM

    I was always confused WHY he was in the next town. What was so exciting to report on?

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  49. Daniel SwinneyApril 28, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    In this scenario does cappadonna become an official member?

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  50. parallax1978April 28, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    All wrestling road stories must, in some way, involve crap and/or someone crapping themselves

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  51. Peyton_DrinkingApril 28, 2014 at 7:19 AM

    That sucks, I remember him mostly from the Road Reports.

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  52. Vince JordanApril 28, 2014 at 7:32 AM

    OMG! Dixie must be on the phone with a porsche dealer right now!



    (and this is 100% meant to be making fun of TNA, not anyone who bought it) :)

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  53. BobbyApril 28, 2014 at 7:45 AM

    Was there anything more pointless than those road reports?

    Anyway, RIP.

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  54. thatguyJMMApril 28, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    Will have to watch that again later--was trying to watch it on a 17" laptop screen, I have no idea how anyone could follow the action even on big boxy TVs like we all had in the 90s

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  55. Peyton_DrinkingApril 28, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    I never understood it. I mean I imagine he was actually calling from home or back stage but why was he traveling ahead of the crew? Paving the way for WCW to enter a city.

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  56. Robert WilliamsApril 28, 2014 at 7:59 AM

    Better that than Jericho's painfully annoying "dubdubE"

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  57. Steven BellahApril 28, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    I remember waiting for the Weasel joke and Heenan's subsequent reaction every week while watching his silly "Road Report" on Nitro. RIP.

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  58. Jef Vinson (Homewreckers Inc™)April 28, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    I was thinking U-God.

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  59. ThesyckidApril 28, 2014 at 9:10 AM

    you got me. I lied about cappadonna being in wu-tang everyone. I hope I dident ruin your joke. Thanks Daniel.

    Without you im not sure how many
    More mistakes I would be making in my jokes. Should i post all the jokes ive ever told so you can fact check them for me?

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  60. Jef Vinson (Homewreckers Inc™)April 28, 2014 at 9:10 AM

    Yeah. That crowd was terrible. There HAS to be small venues in wrestling town they can go to.

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  61. Jef Vinson (Homewreckers Inc™)April 28, 2014 at 9:10 AM

    Except for Angelina, right?
    ..well maybe she DOES suck.

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  62. Daniel SwinneyApril 28, 2014 at 9:15 AM

    I don't think I could handle the maudlin reaction to each one.

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  63. AverageJoeEverymanApril 28, 2014 at 9:44 AM

    and you got in the suplay joke before I even got here. damn.

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  64. Bob PatelApril 28, 2014 at 9:46 AM

    To me one of the best things he had ever said was for Super Clash III. While doing the hype for it he talks about how other organizations have had ppvs and have seen them fight several times already. But this show is a TRUE Super Clash

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  65. OfficerFarvaApril 28, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    She's gotta pay for her heroine somehow. We know TNA ain't paying enough

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  66. YJ2310April 28, 2014 at 11:44 AM

    Cole is awful and doesnt know when to shut up. In fairness, Lee never had Vince in his ear. Well, that I know of....

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  67. Rock Star GaryApril 28, 2014 at 12:17 PM

    Bro, he was backstage HYPING the next show and encouraging people to buy tickets to see the n...W...O!

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  68. kbwrestlingreviewsApril 28, 2014 at 12:30 PM

    Noted. Thanks.

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  69. kbwrestlingreviewsApril 28, 2014 at 12:32 PM

    I tend to stay away from the announcer blunders in TNA as the review would be 19 pages long.

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  70. WaylonMercy2K14April 28, 2014 at 2:05 PM

    He was pretty stellar on those broadcasts compared to Eric Bischoff, Ringside Ralph and Verne Gagne.

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  71. LSciscoApril 28, 2014 at 2:27 PM

    I liked those reports. They were cheesy, but it made Nitro seem like a big event for the next week. I dunno, it just made it seem like more of a sport since they'd be going to the next venue and hey, at least they recognized where they did the show from! (unlike WWE today)

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  72. The FujApril 28, 2014 at 5:16 PM

    Whaaaaa?

    Mind. Blown.

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