
Francis Jonard Labiak was a legendary professional wrestling announcer, known for his work with promotions like Georgia Championship Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida. His distinctive voice and unique style made him one of the most influential wrestling commentators in history. Born in Minneapolis and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Solie began his wrestling career as a ring announcer in Florida and quickly stood out due to his knowledge and passion for the sport. He was a pioneer in bringing wrestling to a national audience through WTBS and popularized terms that became classics in wrestling. Throughout his career, Solie avoided using wrestlers’ real names to respect their characters and was so involved that he even learned wrestling moves to describe them more accurately. He declined an offer from WWE due to creative differences and retired in 1995. He passed away from cancer in 2000, but his legacy lives on. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and is remembered as “The Walter Cronkite of Wrestling.”

Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981

USWA Championship Wrestling
TV • 1977

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV • 1981

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV • 1981

Andre the Giant
MOVIE • 2018

Jump
MOVIE • 1971

NWA Battle of the Belts
MOVIE • 1985

WCW All Nighter 1995
MOVIE • 1995

WWE Hall of Fame 2008
MOVIE • 2008

NWA Starrcade 1983
MOVIE • 1983

WCW Slamboree 1993
MOVIE • 1993

NWA Battle of The Belts II
MOVIE • 1986