Gene Petit (c. May 19, 1949 – September 29, 2013) was an American professional wrestler best known for his portrayal of Cousin Luke in the World Wrestling Federation.[2] He also competed under several other gimmicks and competed for several promotions in the United States as well as Australia, Japan, Nigeria and Puerto Rico.
Petit attended the University of Tampa, where he played for the football team. While there, he met former Olympic wrestler Dale Lewis. They became friends, and Lewis paid Petit to drive him to his bookings at professional wrestling events.[3] Petit stated that he began wrestling after spending a couple of weeks practising in a gym.[4] At one of Lewis' events, the company did not have enough wrestlers and Petit was asked to fill in. He teamed with Lewis and Gypsy Joe Rosario in a six-man match. After his first match, in which he wrestled under his real name, he competed with the ring nameGene Lewis. He and Dale Lewis competed as kayfabe (storyline) brothers due to their similar appearance.[3]
While wrestling in Florida in the 1980s, Petit joined a stable named the Army of Darkness. As a member of the group, which used a devil-worshipping gimmick, he used the ring name Kharma.[5][6]
World Wrestling Federation
During a conversation with George Scott, a booker from the World Wrestling Federation, Petit received an unenthusiastic response to his query about joining the promotion. Petit then showed Scott a picture he had taken of himself as a joke, in which he wore "cutoff jeans, overalls, and a floppy hat". After seeing the picture, Scott offered Petit the role of Cousin Luke, a member of the Hillbilly Family led by Hillbilly Jim.[3] As part of this gimmick, Petit was silent and expressionless and portrayed a rural Southerner who did not know how to wrestle.[7] He joined the other hillbillies in their feud with Roddy Piper, Bob Orton, Jr., and Jesse Ventura. Shortly after joining the company, however, Petit broke his ankle due to a problem with a defective wrestling ring. He was asked to compete at WrestleMania 2 against Adrian Adonis, the WWF's biggest show of the year, but had to decline due to the injury. Instead Uncle Elmer faced Adonis.[3]
Petit explained the nature of his departure from the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 to SLAM! Wrestling: "Vince [McMahon] told me that they would keep me until the end of the year, leave me off for a few months, and then figure out another gimmick, because they were just going to keep Hillbilly. There was too much back and forth with Hillbilly and he got hurt; they brought Elmer in, and he got fired; Junior left; then I came in, and Hillbilly had a little disagreement with the office, so he took off for a few weeks. We had lost the steam that we had. I finished the year with them, and then started working the independents."[8][unreliable source]
Later career
After leaving WWF in 1987, Petit went to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Texas Red. For the rest of his career he worked in the independent circuit mainly in New Jersey and the New York City area. His last match was in 2002.
Retirement and death
In 2000, Petit retired from wrestling due to back problems.[9] Petit lived in Bernardsville, New Jersey and was a member of the board of directors for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.[10] He died on September 29, 2013.[9] and was believed to be in his mid 60s when he died.[1] He had had multiple sclerosis and diabetes in his later years and was residing in a long-term health facility when he died.[11]
Biography at SLAM! Wrestling 2015-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
Online World of Wrestling profile
January 07, 2023
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Cousin Luke redirects here For Luke of The Bushwhackers often referred to as cousin Luke by tag partner Butch see Luke Williams wrestler Gene Petit c May 19 1949 September 29 2013 was an American professional wrestler best known for his portrayal of Cousin Luke in the World Wrestling Federation 2 He also competed under several other gimmicks and competed for several promotions in the United States as well as Australia Japan Nigeria and Puerto Rico Gene PetitBornMay 19 c 1949 Humphreys County MississippiDiedSeptember 29 2013 aged approximately 65 1 Professional wrestling careerRing name s Cousin LukeThe MongolGene LewisTexas RedBloody Ox BrodyKharmaTom SteeleBilled height6 ft 2 in 1 88 m Billed weight301 lb 137 kg Trained byDale LewisDebut1973Retired2002 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early career 1 2 World Wrestling Federation 1 3 Later career 2 Retirement and death 3 Championships and accomplishments 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditEarly career Edit Petit attended the University of Tampa where he played for the football team While there he met former Olympic wrestler Dale Lewis They became friends and Lewis paid Petit to drive him to his bookings at professional wrestling events 3 Petit stated that he began wrestling after spending a couple of weeks practising in a gym 4 At one of Lewis events the company did not have enough wrestlers and Petit was asked to fill in He teamed with Lewis and Gypsy Joe Rosario in a six man match After his first match in which he wrestled under his real name he competed with the ring name Gene Lewis He and Dale Lewis competed as kayfabe storyline brothers due to their similar appearance 3 While wrestling in Florida in the 1980s Petit joined a stable named the Army of Darkness As a member of the group which used a devil worshipping gimmick he used the ring name Kharma 5 6 World Wrestling Federation Edit During a conversation with George Scott a booker from the World Wrestling Federation Petit received an unenthusiastic response to his query about joining the promotion Petit then showed Scott a picture he had taken of himself as a joke in which he wore cutoff jeans overalls and a floppy hat After seeing the picture Scott offered Petit the role of Cousin Luke a member of the Hillbilly Family led by Hillbilly Jim 3 As part of this gimmick Petit was silent and expressionless and portrayed a rural Southerner who did not know how to wrestle 7 He joined the other hillbillies in their feud with Roddy Piper Bob Orton Jr and Jesse Ventura Shortly after joining the company however Petit broke his ankle due to a problem with a defective wrestling ring He was asked to compete at WrestleMania 2 against Adrian Adonis the WWF s biggest show of the year but had to decline due to the injury Instead Uncle Elmer faced Adonis 3 Petit explained the nature of his departure from the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 to SLAM Wrestling Vince McMahon told me that they would keep me until the end of the year leave me off for a few months and then figure out another gimmick because they were just going to keep Hillbilly There was too much back and forth with Hillbilly and he got hurt they brought Elmer in and he got fired Junior left then I came in and Hillbilly had a little disagreement with the office so he took off for a few weeks We had lost the steam that we had I finished the year with them and then started working the independents 8 unreliable source Later career Edit After leaving WWF in 1987 Petit went to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Texas Red For the rest of his career he worked in the independent circuit mainly in New Jersey and the New York City area His last match was in 2002 Retirement and death EditIn 2000 Petit retired from wrestling due to back problems 9 Petit lived in Bernardsville New Jersey and was a member of the board of directors for the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame 10 He died on September 29 2013 9 and was believed to be in his mid 60s when he died 1 He had had multiple sclerosis and diabetes in his later years and was residing in a long term health facility when he died 11 Championships and accomplishments EditNational Wrestling Alliance NWA Central States Television Championship 2 times 12 References Edit a b Oklafan com Wrestling By The Numbers Gene Cousin Luke Petit Archived 2014 01 13 at archive today October 1 2013 http www cagematch de id 2 amp nr 1822 amp gimmick Cousin Luke bare URL a b c d Oliver Greg 2008 05 14 Cousin Luke made a lasting impression SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 2009 01 08 Sammond Nicholas 2005 Steel Chair to the Head The Pleasure and Pain of Professional Wrestling Duke University Press p 197 ISBN 0 8223 3438 0 Oliver Greg SLAM Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame Luna Vachon SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 2009 01 08 Oliver Greg Olympics just another step for Bob Roop SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 2009 01 08 Wrestler Profiles Gene Petit Online World of Wrestling Retrieved 2009 01 08 Member Of Hillbilly Jim s Clan Former WWF Wrestler Gene Cousin Luke Petit Passes Away WrestlingInc com www wrestlinginc com Archived from the original on 2013 10 01 a b GENE COUSIN LUKE PETIT PASSES AWAY About PWHF The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Archived from the original on 2007 08 04 Retrieved 2009 01 08 Gene Cousin Luke Petit Passes Away PWInsider com 2013 09 29 Retrieved 2022 05 13 http www cagematch de id 2 amp nr 1822 amp page 11 bare URL External links EditGene Petit at IMDb Biography at SLAM Wrestling Archived 2015 04 18 at the Wayback Machine Online World of Wrestling profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gene Petit amp oldid 1125977219, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
