Bob Roop

Robert Michael Roop (born July 22, 1942) is an American retired amateur wrestler and professional wrestler whose career spanned high school, college, the United States Army, amateur and professional wrestling. He was an American heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Amateur wrestling career

Robert Roop began wrestling in the eighth grade in East Lansing, Michigan. In High School, Roop was varsity heavyweight as a freshman, with an inauspicious 0-22-1 record. With the guidance of coach Joe Dibello, his record improved in ensuing years, with a 27-0-0 record his senior year, in which he also won the State Championship.

He entered Michigan State University on a football scholarship. The promotion at the time featured such future wrestling superstars as 'The Macho Man' Randy Savage, 'The Genius' Lanny Poffo, "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr. and Ronnie 'Hands of Stone' Garvin.

Other media Roop made a cameo appearance in the 1978 Sylvester Stallone movie Paradise Alley.

Personal life Roop was married twice and has three sons.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling Michigan State Wrestling Championship National Amateur Athletic Union Champion, Greco-Roman 220 lbs 1969

Professional wrestling Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) Cauliflower Alley Club Gulf Coast/CAC Honoree (2003) Lou Thesz Award (2009) Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (1 time) NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (4 times) NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Boris Malenko (1), Harley Race (1), and Bob Orton, Jr. (2) NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time) NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Buddy Fuller George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2006 Georgia Championship Wrestling NWA World Television Championship (Georgia version) (2 times) International Championship Wrestling ICW Southeastern Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Bob Orton, Jr. (1), Terry Gibbs (1), and Big Boy Williams (1) ICW Television Championship (2 times) Mid-South Wrestling Association Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him # 342 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Southeastern Championship Wrestling NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)1 NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jimmy Golden (1) and Bob Orton, Jr. (1) NWA Southeastern Television Championship (1 time)