On this date in WWF history: Rest in peace, Ludvig Borga

by Jesse Holland on Jan 10, 2012 10:00 AM EST in History

While his official time of death was determined to have occurred a few days earlier, it was January 10, 2010, that police would find the body of former professional wrestler Tony Halme in his apartment in Finland, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Halme is also recognized by mixed martial arts (MMA) fans as the debut opponent for five-time UFC Champion Randy Couture, who submitted "The Viking" via rear-naked choke at UFC 13: "The Ultimate Force," back on May 30, 1997.

The loss would be Halme's fourth straight after an unsuccessful stint that saw him go 0-3 in Japan's RINGS promotion. Prior to that, the 6' 4" Finnish Heavyweight Boxing Champion enjoyed a wrestling career from 1990-1995.

Aside from his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), the former member of Finnish Parliament would become known to stateside fans as the brooding "Ludvig Borga" in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

See him end Tatanka's winning streak, after the jump.

Any Cagesiders out there remember Halme's brief run in the WWF?

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Comments

Man was I

pissed that guy stopped the win streak. of course I was like 10 or something so in retrospect good job

He knows the guy with the bandage on his ass is going no were. Were you going fucking no were

by Elstriko on Jan 10, 2012 10:14 AM EST via Android app reply actions

I remember this. I was a big Tatanka fan, I marked out during this program.

"I guess I can’t do anything if you’re just irrational, but to point it out and move on."

- fundamentallysound

by J Theory on Jan 10, 2012 10:16 AM EST reply actions

How can anybody ever forget his heroic performance in The All-Americans (Steiners, Undertaker, Luger) vs The Foreign Fanatics (Yokozuna, Borga, Crush, Quebecer Jacques Rougeau) match at Survivor Series 1993. Borga outlasted every one of his teammates, including Yokozuna.

Nothing says All-American like The Undertaker gimmick. And nothing says Foreign Fanatic like Crush or Johnny Polo.

by Kanenite on Jan 10, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions

I remember watching him in the UFC

I was like 11 years old over my neighbor’s house. I remember seeing the promo interview and being like, “THAT’S LUDVIG BORGA!” I remember him saying something like, “I am going to rip his head off.”

I had no idea he died. Sucks.

by BennyProfane on Jan 10, 2012 1:22 PM EST reply actions

I remember the tatanka fight vividly. I was a huge fan and wanted his streak to go on forever. They never really did anything with it in terms of giving him a title shot or anything.

Seeing Borga go “one finger” after the fight and the yokozuna drops sickened me at the time.

by cyke on Jan 10, 2012 1:29 PM EST reply actions

Borga had some bad ass body shots to the ribs that my bro and I still refernce, “Borga shots to the ribs”

by WorldWildlifeFoundation on Jan 10, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Most shocking part about that video to me

Being that I was a kid for Tatanka’s run, I was fully behind it. Seeing people cheering after the 3 count just blew my mind. I must’ve either ignored it, missed it, or been blind to it when I was a kid.

by NegroGrande on Jan 10, 2012 4:24 PM EST reply actions