2016 has claimed another legendary WWF manager. Earlier this year we lost Mr. Fuji, and now PWInsider has reported that Frenchy Martin passed away on Friday morning at 69 years old.
“I led an extraordinary life,” Martin told The Montreal Journal last month. “I am proud to have succeeded in the world of wrestling. I am no more worthy than another, but I’m not afraid of death. I accept the result. “
Like most classic managers, Martin (real name Jean Gagné) was a wrestler before his managerial career, winning multiple championships in Canada’s Stampede Wrestling and Puerto Rico’s World Wrestling Council. In WWF, Frenchy is most notable for his stint managing Canada’s strongest man Dino Bravo, which inspired beautiful fan signs like this one:
Martin would bring his own signs to the ring featuring slogans like, “USA is not OK.” Unsurprisingly, he and Bravo did a lot of feuding with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Martin also wrestled for the WWF, did commentary, hosted international interview segments and was the host of “Le Studio,” the French-Canadian Piper’s Pit.
Former WWF star Rick Martel weighed in on the loss in comments made to Slam Sports.
“We’re like brothers,” Martel said in a chat with SLAM! Wrestling. “When I was a little kid, around Frenchy. Frenchy and my brother were together all the time. So I knew him. He’s like a big brother to me.”
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Gagné’s friends and family. Let’s try to get through the rest of 2016 without losing any more great 80s managers, okay?
