Personal Info

Biography

Francis Jonard Labiak was a legendary professional wrestling announcer, known for his work with promotions like Georgia Championship Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida. His distinctive voice and unique style made him one of the most influential wrestling commentators in history. Born in Minneapolis and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Solie began his wrestling career as a ring announcer in Florida and quickly stood out due to his knowledge and passion for the sport. He was a pioneer in bringing wrestling to a national audience through WTBS and popularized terms that became classics in wrestling. Throughout his career, Solie avoided using wrestlers’ real names to respect their characters and was so involved that he even learned wrestling moves to describe them more accurately. He declined an offer from WWE due to creative differences and retired in 1995. He passed away from cancer in 2000, but his legacy lives on. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and is remembered as “The Walter Cronkite of Wrestling.”

Known For

7.3

Self (archive footage)

Andre the Giant

2018

9.0

Himself

WWE Hall of Fame 2008

2008

🎬

0.0

Gordon Solie

WCW: Ric Flar - 2 Decades of Excellence

1995

🎬

0.0

WCW All Nighter 1995

1995

10.0

Gordon Solie (Announcer)

WCW Slamboree 1993

1993

0.0

Gordon Solie

NWA Battle of The Belts II

1986

8.0

Gordon Solie (Commentator)

NWA Battle of the Belts

1985

6.8

Gordon Solie (Commentator)

NWA Starrcade 1983

1983

0.0

Gordon Solie (Color Commentator) (voice)

Mid-South Wrestling

1981

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Gordon Solie (Interviewer) / Gordon Solie (Color Commentator)

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

1981

Credits

Andre the Giant

as Self (archive footage)

2018

7.3

WWE Hall of Fame 2008

as Himself

2008

9.0

🎬

WCW: Ric Flar - 2 Decades of Excellence

as Gordon Solie

1995

0.0

🎬

WCW All Nighter 1995

1995

0.0

WCW Slamboree 1993

as Gordon Solie (Announcer)

1993

10.0

NWA Battle of The Belts II

as Gordon Solie

1986

0.0

NWA Battle of the Belts

as Gordon Solie (Commentator)

1985

8.0

NWA Starrcade 1983

as Gordon Solie (Commentator)

1983

6.8

Mid-South Wrestling

as Gordon Solie (Color Commentator) (voice)

1981

0.0

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

as Gordon Solie (Interviewer) / Gordon Solie (Color Commentator)

1981

0.0

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

as Gordon Solie (Interviewer) / Gordon Solie (Color Commentator)

1981

0.0

USWA Championship Wrestling

as Self - Announcer

1977

8.0

Jump

as Technical Advisor (uncredited)

1971

0.0