Billy Robinson

Early life Robinson was born in Manchester on September 18, 1938 to William James and Frances Hester (nee Exley). At the 1957 British Senior Championships, he won the freestyle wrestling light heavyweight title. However, FILA did not hold the European Wrestling Championships between 1949 and 1966, and despite records going back to the first "unofficial European Championships" in 1898, United World Wrestling (FILA's successor) has no records of a "European Open Championship" taking place or anyone with Robinson's name competing for Britain, England, or any other nation.

Professional wrestling career

Early days in Europe (1958–1970, 1978) As a professional wrestler, Robinson became a double-crown British and European Heavyweight Champion for Joint Promotions. In 1963, he wrestled in a match at the Royal Albert Hall that was attended by Prince Philip. He defeated fellow Riley's wrestler and mentor Billy Joyce for the European title on 12 June 1965 and then beat Joyce again for the British title on 18 January 1967, vacating both titles in 1970 when he went off to America.

In 1978, Robinson made a brief homecoming tour of the UK including a televised win over Lee Bronson.

North America (1969–1988) Robinson traveled to North America in 1969 for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling where he defeated Archie "The Stomper" Gouldie to earn a title shot at NWA World Heavyweight champion Dory Funk Jr. Soon afterwards, he began wrestling for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association. He was one of the most successful wrestlers of the American promotion known for hiring the "Real Deals" in wrestling. He was a three-time AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion, reigning and defending in the United States and Canada. On 12 October 1974, his reputation as a legitimate wrestler landed him a role in the film The Wrestler alongside Verne Gagne and Ed Asner. He wrestled in Montreal in 1982 and 1983 becoming the International Champion beating Dino Bravo and was also International Tag Team champions with Pierre Mad Dog Lefebvre. He wrestled to a 60-minutes time-limit draw against then WWF Champion Bob Backlund in 1982 as well in Montreal. Robinson continued working for American Wrestling Association until retiring in 1988.

Japan (1968–1992) Robinson traveled to Japan where he became popular as a wrestler versed in submission holds. He had a series of matches with Canadian George Gordienko. The pair had a notable match in 1968 as part of a "world championship tournament" where the pair wrestled to a draw in Sapporo. He also managed a convenience store and was a security guard at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino for a time. He continued to coach catch wrestling into his final years, in his adopted home of Arkansas along with seminars in the United States, Japan, Britain, and Canada.

Death Robinson died in his sleep on February 27, 2014, at the age of 75.

Notable students

Bob Bruggers Brad Rheingans Buddy Rose El Signo Erik Paulson Gary Albright Gentleman Jack Gallagher Davey Boy Smith Jr. Hideki Suzuki Nunzio Johnny Saint Josh Barnett Kazushi Sakuraba Kiyoshi Tamura Marty Jones Ric Flair Rusher Kimura Shayna Baszler Shigeo Miyato The Iron Sheik

Championships and accomplishments Robinson (pictured as the IWA World Heavyweight Champion) held multiple championships over the course of his career.

Freestyle wrestling British Wrestling Association 1957 British Senior Championships - 1st place, light heavyweight

Professional wrestling All Japan Pro Wrestling NWA United National Championship (1 time) World's Strongest Tag Determination League Technique Award (1978) - with Wild Angus World's Strongest Tag Determination League Technique Award (1980) - with Les Thornton American Wrestling Association AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (3 times) Joint Promotions British Heavyweight Championship (1 time) European Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1974) Ranked No. 151 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 Stampede Wrestling Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) Tokyo Sports Match of the Year Award (1975) vs. Antonio Inoki on 11 December World Championship Wrestling (Australia) IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)