Bob Caudle | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1930-08-02)August 2, 1930 |
| Died | November 16, 2025(2025-11-16) (aged 95) |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
Bob Caudle (August 2, 1930 – November 16, 2025) was an Americanprofessional wrestling announcer most notable for his time with theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He started working withJim Crockett Promotions in the late 1950s for promoterJim Crockett, Sr. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Caudle was the official voice ofMid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and is known for his trademark greeting, "Hello wrestling fans...", and his trademark sign-off line, "That'll do it for this week. We'll see you next week, and until then, so long for now." He is known for constantly addressing the viewers as "fans" many times on each episode.
In addition to his role as a wrestling announcer, Caudle also served as a major political aide toNorth Carolina Republican U.S. SenatorJesse Helms from 1980 to 1996.
His television broadcasting career began inWilmington, North Carolina. He then moved to another broadcasting position inSavannah, Georgia. While in Savannah in the late 1950s, Caudle hosted a televisedstudio wrestling show.
Caudle was the weatherman atWRAL-TV inRaleigh, North Carolina, whereNWA Atlantic Coast Wrestling was taped every week. Caudle continued as both the weatherman for WRAL and the voice ofNWA Atlantic Coast Wrestling for many years. Caudle continued to host the flagship program which was renamedNWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1973 (after the death of Jim Crockett, Sr.). Caudle had many "sidekicks" over the years includingDavid Crockett andJohnny Weaver. In 1986, his show changed its name toNWA Pro Wrestling. In 1988,Jim Ross joined the show.
Caudle hosted the syndicatedAll-Star Wrestling,Wide World Wrestling,Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, andWorld Wide Wrestling forJim Crockett Promotions (JCP) andWCW World Wide Wrestling after JCP was purchased byTed Turner in late 1988. Caudle was also the lead announcer for the closed circuit events known asStarrcade in the 1980s and most of the earlyNWA/WCW pay per views. He worked several liveClash of the Champions telecasts, as well. Slowly, the promotion grew away from the NWA and becameWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW).
By 1991, Caudle left WCW and joinedSouth Atlantic Pro Wrestling (SAPW) as lead announcer. Within a few months, the promotion closed and Caudle went to work forJim Cornette'sSmoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW). Caudle remained with SMW until October 1994. At one point, Jim Ross left theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) briefly and joined Caudle on the SMW telecasts.
Caudle continued to make personal appearances at NWA indy events and reunion shows. He suffered two heart attacks on June 14, 2007 but completely recovered and returned to appearing regularly at NWA/Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling reunions and other NWA Wrestling events. He introducedRic Flair at the annual NWA Fanfest in 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina.[1]
ForRic Flair's Last Match, a 2022 show run by a revived JCP, Caudle opened thepay-per-view portion and ended the show with hiscatchphrase "So long for now!"; both segments were pre-recorded.[2]
Caudle was a traditional type of wrestling announcer, meaning that he did not advocate forfaces orheels (although he often showed his disgust for cheating). Caudle was not a personality in and of himself, but he let the wrestlers be the stars of the show. As such, he was not involved in angles where heels would attack him. Over the years Caudle was teamed with Bill Ward,David Crockett,Johnny Weaver,Gordon Solie,Les Thatcher,Tony Schiavone,Dutch Mantel,Jim Cornette, andJim Ross among others.
Caudle was born inCharlotte, North Carolina on August 2, 1930.[3]
Outside of the wrestling world, Caudle was also active in politics. Caudle, an avowedRepublican, contributed to the campaigns of SenatorJesse Helms. He became a legislative assistant for SenatorJesse Helms after he left WRAL in 1980, working in Helms's office in Raleigh. He remained in that position until 1996.[4] Caudle and Helms worked together at WRAL before Helms ran for theUnited States Senate in1972.
Caudle was married to his wife Jackie for 76 years until her death on April 24, 2025.[5] They have 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Caudle died on November 16, 2025, at the age of 95.[6]
,Wrestlingdata