Rip Oliver, born Lawrence Richard Oliver, a legend in the Pacific Northwest wrestling territory in the 1980s, passed away on Thursday, March 5. He was 67 years old.
The Cauliflower Alley Club first reported the news. Oliver passed away at 4 p.m. Eastern after having entered into hospice care in February due to heart failure. Oliver’s condition worsened in the last few months after having multiple heart attacks in the last years.
Oliver was a major star in the Pacific Northwest wrestling territory, having started in wrestling in 1975. He was a 12-time NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion and a 16-time Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion. During his tenure there, Oliver would face off against other wrestling legends such as Roddy Piper, Rocky Johnson, Larry and Curt Hennig, Stan Stasiak, and Buddy Rogers.
In 1987, Oliver signed with the WWE. While there he was used mostly as an enhancement talent. Oliver did wrestle against The Ultimate Warrior for the Intercontinental Championship as the masked Super Ninja on Saturday Night’s Main Event. He would leave the promotion after only a few months and returned to the Pacific Northwest before retiring in 1991.
Oliver leaves behind a wife and three children. His son, Larry Oliver Jr., got into professional wrestling in 1990.
On behalf of the entire staff of Wrestleview, we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rip Oliver during this difficult time.