Marc Lowrance
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Marc Lowrance (born circa 1959) is a former sports anchor and professional wrestling announcer who is best known as one of the voices of World Class Championship Wrestling, a Dallas, Texas-based wrestling organization operated by Fritz Von Erich during the 1980s.
Originally starting out as a local sportscaster in Dallas, Marc was hired by Von Erich to be the new ring announcer at the Dallas Sportatorium, replacing longtime announcer Boyd Pierce, who had moved on to Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling promotion. When World Class began its syndicated broadcasts in 1982, Lowrance was one of its original TV announcers along with Steve Harms and Gene Goodson. By 1983 he was ring announcer only in Dallas when Bill Mercer took over the syndicated broadcasts, then took over Mercer's spot in its local wrestling broadcast Championship Sports, which originated from Fort Worth and airing exclusively on KTVT Channel 11.
During the height of World Class' glory days, Lowrance in 1985 was credited for saving referee David Manning from serious injury and possible death when his head was hanged from the ropes after Gino Hernandez pushed Manning towards the ropes. Manning was treated for a throat injury and eventually returned to officiate the following Friday in Dallas.
In 1987, Lowrance returned to the syndicated World Class broadcasts, thus giving his ring announcing chores to Ralph Pulley, whom filled in for Lowrance on many occasions at the Sportatorium and larger venues such as Reunion Arena. In late-1988, Marc was paired with former wrestler Frank Dusek on the syndicated World Class broadcasts, then a year later was paired with wrestler Terrance Garvin.
In May 1990, Lowrance left pro wrestling to become a minister with a United Methodist church in suburban Fort Worth. He returned to the Sportatorium as a ring announcer the following September, and has made several appearances at wrestling events over the years afterwards.
Lowrance's easy-going announcing style and a few memorable one-liners, as well as memorable interviews with other wrestlers, made him one of the most well-known wrestling announcers in the country.
As of 2006, Marc Lowrance is a senior pastor with the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Hurst, Texas. He still appears on occasion at wrestling conventions throughout Texas and other parts of the country.
Some of the famous World Class matches Marc Lowrance announced include:
- Kerry Von Erich winning the NWA World title from Ric Flair on May 6, 1984.
- The 12-man, two-ring tag team match the following year at Texas Stadium
- Gino Hernandez blinding Chris Adams, January 27, 1986.
- The infamous Christmas Day Massacre; December 25, 1987.
- Eric Embry defeating P.Y. Chu-Hi (Phil Hickerson) to change World Class to the USWA
[edit] Famous quotes by Marc Lowrance
- "Kerry's got him turned over...two...THREE!! A dream come true? YES!" - Kerry Von Erich's backslide pin on Ric Flar to win the NWA World title, May 6, 1984.
- "Here we go with danger city piledriver action!" - during Adams' bout with Hernandez, 1986.
- "The Devil has emerged at Will Rogers!" (commenting on the Freebirds' return to World Class in late-1985)
- "Al Perez keeps the championship by the hair of his chinny chin-chin."
- "You are way, way out of here; the moon is the first stop for you" -- to Terrance Garvin, 1989
- "The fans are singing his song" -- commenting on the Sportatorium crowd chanting the word faggot to Garvin in 1988
- "Kerry Von Erich is the new World Heavyweight Champion; what a thrill it is for me to say that!" - after Kerry's NWA World title win
- "If I had a swingset like that, I'd never leave my back yard" - referring to World Class manager Tessa in 1990.
- "Kerry wants everybody back, get the people back for crying out loud!" - during the infamous Christmas Day massacre angle, as Kerry wanted to keep the fans away from Fritz Von Erich.
- "Excuse me for talking while you were interrupting" - during an interview segment when a heel wrestler interrupted Lowrance.
- "Oh, this is absolutely sickening, and I've been told never to use that word!" - during a 1989 gang-up on WCCW matchmaker Frank Dusek by Skandor Akbar, Harold Harris and others.
- "I think I can speak for you, when I say not only was that the worst disgrace and abortion I've ever seen, you are a disgrace to wrestling and to yourself!" - directed towards Tojo Yamamoto during an interview segment.
- "General Skandor Akbar can kiss my ass!" - after the Dusek gangup.
- "I'm Marc Lowrance; have a safe week, and remember to go to the church of your choice. So long, everybody!" - at the conclusion of the WCCW broadcasts