Al Hobman

Retirement and later years

Retiring by the 1980s, he remained absent from the industry for a quarter of a century until the opening of Kiwi Pro Wrestling in May 2006. It was one of the first promotions to open since the close of All Star-Pro Wrestling in 1992, one of three major companies to emerge during the 2000s, with Hobman as one of its strongest supporters. He appeared at many of its live events and was one of several New Zealand wrestling legends to be interviewed by KiwiProWrestling.co.nz. Hobman was also inducted into the New Zealand Wrestling Hall of Fame by former student and KPW Commissioner Butch Miller He and other veterans also worked with KPW's younger wrestlers and remained closely associated with the promotion until dying unexpectedly at his home on 21 September 2008. In a statement from KPW's website, Off the Ropes play by play announcer Blair "The Flair" Rhodes wrote "Mr. Hobman was renowned not only as an exemplary sportsman in the ring, but was also remembered amongst all his peers as a gentleman outside the ring. Being such a man of real character and bearing, Mr Hobman was a true ambassador for the business of professional wrestling".

NWA New Zealand Tag Team Championship (1 time, first) – with Steve Rickard