Miss Elizabeth Ann Hulette
Saturday, November 19, 1960 – Thursday, May 1, 2003
(Her term with the WWF began in May 1985 and continued until 1992. Her term with WCW began on January 23, 1996 and ended in May 2000.)
Good day ladies and gentlemen, thank you for making “The Figure Four Leglock” a part of your day. I may not have my best face on today because of the topic at-hand, so please forgive me.
Elizabeth Hulette, a pioneer in wrestling for woman valets died last Thursday morning at the young age of forty-two. Known affectionately to wrestling fans as Miss Elizabeth or “Liz,” her death comes at an odd time with a queer shadow cast upon it because of the death of Curt Hennig earlier this year… he was only two years older. She was one of the latest string of people around the wrestling business that, in the twilight of their career, have had deaths that surround the use of controlled substances.
Hulette lived in Georgia with soon-to-be-divorced boyfriend Larry Pfohl (Lex Luger), who was charged with thirteen counts of felony drug possession found in his home because of what police found. Released on almost $30,000 bail, Pfohl had various anabolic steroids, Xanex (an addictive prescription depressant that treats, among other things, anxiety disorder), OxyContin (a potent prescription painkiller used only for severe cases that is addictive and manifests itself if used improperly, like a narcotic), testosterone, and a synthetic growth hormone, according to an article by The Wrestling Observer. A Pro Wrestling Torch article added hydrocodone (a semisynthetic codeine-like painkiller that’s sometimes used as an antitussive) and Sazien (a human growth hormone injected into the bloodstream) to the list.
Hulette was in Pfohl’s house of residence when a 911 call to the police triggered a domino effect of events that changed the scale and seriousness of the issue. Hulette’s identity was kept quiet for several hours during which time she was labeled “sick” and then pronounced dead at the hospital. Homicide was eventually ruled out and the police believe that a drug overdose proved fatal. Her cause of death along with a complete autopsy report will not be available for at least three weeks (probably longer) because of the toxicology report ordered by Cobb County, GA forensic investigator Hal Bennett.
Hulette moved in with Pfohl during her last days with WCW. Her rocky marriage with Randy Poffo (Randy Savage) ended in 1992. She married a lawyer named Cary Lubetsky in December 1997 and divorced him as well. Pfohl had been having public problems with his current wife.
Randy Savage commented publicly on her death. A bland prepared statement on his website read: “I am deeply saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Elizabeth’s family.” WWE publicly commented through their website about her death saying, “We are saddened to hear of the death of Elizabeth Hulette. Miss Hulette played the very popular character of Miss Elizabeth in WWE from 1985 to 1992. She finished her career at WCW, from Jan. 1996 through Jan. 1999. We at WWE send our sincere condolences to Miss Hulette’s family.”
As alluded to by the aforementioned WWE statement, Elizabeth Hulette was one of the biggest stars of wrestling throughout the 80s and 90s and one of the biggest – if not the biggest – women to be part of the sport. Her contributions to the business are not often reflected on – much less recognized. But that is an oversight.
Miss Elizabeth was born Elizabeth Hulette on November 19, 1960 in Kentucky. A graduate of University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in communications, she would go on to be a part of infamous relationships and become “the first lady of wrestling,” one of the sport’s biggest stars of the 80s and 90s. Another star within Kentucky was being cultivated at around the same time, the son of average vagabond wrestler Angelo Poffo, the man who would be known as Randy Savage. Savage, now 50, was an amazing wrestler but was kept down for most of his career. When he finally made it to the big-time in his 30s, Miss Elizabeth would become an amazing part of his career.
As some of you who may not understand what Miss Elizabeth’s effect on the business, the outpouring of support and sadness is stunning. Her career is devoid of much to recap, other than that her biggest run was with Randy Savage for years and then the Savage/Hogan angle being the peak. Her run with WCW was, like Curt Hennig, nothing much to recount. She is remembered as the mild-mannered, lovely, nice woman behind Randy Savage. Unfortunately, her role was never used again… women are merely sex objects in wrestling nowadays and her life ended tragically, most likely due to something surround the use of drugs. Will her life be a lesson or just another time we dry our tears and ignore the problem?
After her life was cut short, her mother cut off all ties to the wrestling industry, blaming it for her death. Maybe she was right.
On behalf of the staff here at The Balrog’s Lair, we would like to send out condolences to family and friends of Liz Hulette.
What do you think? Head over to The X-Forums to let your opinion be heard!
– E-mail feedback to THunnicutt@aol.com
– Read more of Figure Four Leglock!
