WWE announced that Allen Coage, known professionally as Bad News Brown, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a legacy member of the class of 2026. The class will also feature Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition, Dennis Rodman and Sid Eudy as another legacy inductee.
Coage was a bronze medalist in judo at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, competing in the heavyweight (+95 kg) division.[1][2]
Prior to the Olympics, he won gold medals in judo at the Pan American Games in 1975 in Mexico City and 1979 in San Juan.[3][4]
Born October 22, 1943, Coage began his professional wrestling career with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1977 and later joined Stampede Wrestling, where he captured the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship on four occasions.[2][5]
Coage debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1988 as Bad News Brown, noted for his menacing persona. He feuded with Randy Savage early in his run and faced Roddy Piper in a singles match at WrestleMania VI in 1990.[2][5]
At WrestleMania IV in 1988, Brown won the 20-man battle royal, eliminating Bret Hart as the final competitor.[2][5]
Brown did not win any WWF titles during his tenure, which ended in 1990, but he continued competing in independent promotions afterward.[2][5]
Coage died of a heart attack on September 6, 2007, at age 63.[2]
Sources
- International Olympic Committee. "Allen Coage". Olympics.com. Accessed October 2024. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/allen-coage
- WWE. "Bad News Brown". WWE.com. Accessed October 2024. https://www.wwe.com/superstars/badnewsbrown
- Wikipedia contributors. "Allen Coage". Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed October 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Coage
- JudoInside. "Allen Coage - Judo career". JudoInside.com. Accessed October 2024. https://www.judoinside.com/judoka/40000/Allen_Coage/judo-career
- CAGEMATCH. "The Wrestlers Database: Allen Coage". CAGEMATCH.net. Accessed October 2024. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=343
