Bruno Bekkar

Last updated

Bruno Bekkar
Birth nameBryan Ashby
Born Wellington, New Zealand
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Bruno Bekkar
Bruno Bekker
Bruno Becker
Bryan Ashby
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight114 kg (251 lb)
Trained by John da Silva
Retired1992

Bryan Ashby is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler and trainer, known by his ring name Bruno Bekkar, who competed for Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling and for other promoters in New Zealand and Australia from the early 1960s until his retirement in 1992. One of the country's biggest stars during the 1970s, he is a three-time NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion and a former NWA Australia Heavyweight Champion. He also teamed with Don Kent in the Puerto Rico-based World Wrestling Council as the fourth incarnation of the Fabulous Kangaroos and together twice won the WWC North American Tag Team Championship in 1981.

Contents

During his professional career, Ashby and Al Hobman trained several wrestlers out of Koolman's Gym in Wellington, most notably, Jock Ruddock and Butch Miller. Ashby is credited for first introducing Luke Williams to pro wrestling and who later joined Miller to form the Sheepherders. He was one of several veterans involved in Kiwi Pro Wrestling, one of the three major companies in New Zealand, and was inducted into KPW's New Zealand Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2009, Ashby was ranked #6 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine.

Professional wrestling career

Early career in Australia

Brian Ashby debuted in the early 1960s. He spent some time in Australia early in his career, competing under his real name, and faced Dory Funk Jr. in Melbourne and Brisbane in late-April 1965; he lost to Funk on both occasions. [1] He briefly held the NWA Australian Heavyweight Championship around this time before losing the title to Larry O'Dea in Sydney on 7 May 1965. [2] Like many New Zealand wrestlers of the period, Ashby became an established journeyman wrestler by the end of the decade and was a very big favourite in Singapore and Malaysia. [3] He was also one of the earliest to wrestle in North America alongside fellow New Zealanders such as Pat O'Connor, Abe Jacobs, John da Silva, Steve Rickard and Robert Bruce. [4]

Return to New Zealand

A rising star in Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling, he and Al Hobman trained several wrestlers at the famous Koolman's Gym in Wellington including Jock Ruddock and Butch Miller among others. Luke Williams, who would later go on to team with Miller as the Sheepherders, was also brought into the business by Ashby. Ashby was his first tag partner and the two went on several overseas tours together early in Williams career. [4] In time, Ashby became New Zealand's most popular "big man" and enjoyed immense fame in his native country during the 1970s. In 1972, Ashby encountered André the Giant during the French wrestler's tour. He and "Brutal" Bob Miller first faced Andre and Jock Ruddock at a near sold-out show at the YMCA stadium in Palmerston North on 22 February 1972. At one point in the match, Andre lifted the eighteen stone Ashby into the air, sat him on top of a ringpost and patted his cheek "as one would a naughty boy". In the last moments of the match, according to the Manawatu Standard, Ashby and his partner attempted to attack Andre together, but "they paid dearly for this, as [Andre] whipped atomic drops on both of them and the bout was all over". [5] Ashby also wrestled Andre in singles matches and later told the press "thank goodness he leaves the country soon. If he stays much longer there will be no professional wrestlers left." [6]

Ashby had memorable bouts with other foreign wrestlers especially in his later appearances on On the Mat . [7] According to wrestling historian Steve Yohe, Ashby may have wrestled as the masked wrestler Dr. X who teamed with the Destroyer in Auckland in 1973. [8] In 1977, he was allied with Bruiser Brodie during his brief stint in All Star-Pro Wrestling; [9] he and Brodie, with Bugs McGraw, lost to Siva Afi, Kung Fu Lee and Kevin Martin in Auckland on 22 August. A month later in Wellington, he and Brodie teamed with King Curtis Iaukea to beat Mark Lewin, Siva Afi and Samoan Joe on 12 September 1977. [10]

Ashby continued wrestling internationally as well. While touring All-Japan Pro Wrestling in 1979, he joined Kintarō Ōki and Carlos Colon in a 6-man tag team match against Giant Baba, Tiger Toguchi and Akihisa Takachiho. [11] That same month, he was part of the AJPW Black Power series in which he wrestled Akio Sato, Motoshi Okuma, Great Kojika, Rocky Hata and Tiger Toguchi.

Don Kent and the Fabulous Kangaroos

In 1981, Ashby agreed to team with Don Kent as the fourth incarnation of the Fabulous Kangaroos [3] for a tour of Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council. Managed by Al Costello, who asked Kent to team with Ashby, the team successfully captured the WWC North American Tag Team titles from Jack and Jerry Brisco in San Juan on 22 October 1981. [12] [13] They held the titles for a little over a month before losing the belts to Invader I and Super Gladiator on 23 November, but won them back in Bayamón two weeks later. After another two months as champions Ashby and Kent finally dropped the titles back to Invader I and Super Gladiator on 26 January 1982, [14] and went their separate ways at the end of the tour. [15]

Later career and retirement

Ashby returned to New Zealand where he spent the rest of his career working for Rickard and other promoters. In 1985, he won a championship tournament to claim the then vacant NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship. He dominated the title during the mid-to late 1980s, feuding over the title with Johnny Garcia, before finally losing the championship to A.J. Freeley on 22 November 1992. [16] [17] [18] All Star-Pro Wrestling closed shortly afterwards, and with the general decline of professional wrestling in New Zealand, Ashby decided to retire.

On 24 January 2004, Ashby made his first public appearance in over 12 years when he and other veteran New Zealand wrestlers attended a "legends reunion" show at Petone. [19] Ashby one of the first such legends to become involved in the newer promotions which began to emerge during the 21st century, particularly, with Kiwi Pro Wrestling in 2006. [20] He not only attended live events but was also inducted into its New Zealand Wrestling Hall of Fame, along with Bob Crozier, Al Hobman and Rip Morgan, by KPW Commissioner Butch Miller on 8 December 2006; [21] he also made a guest appearance at a sold out Impact Pro Wrestling show in Auckland on 15 March 2007. [22] On 31 October 2008, Ashby appeared with Kurt Hobman, Steve Rickard, Juno Huia, Cowboy Billy Wright, Ricky Wallace and Bob Crozier at the KPW supercard "Halloween Howl 3" held in Wellington High School to pay tribute to Al Hobman who had died the previous month. [23] In 2009, was ranked #6 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine. [3] Ashby was also one of the many wrestlers interviewed for the upcoming New Zealand wrestling documentary A Kiwi Century on the Mat. [24]

Championships and accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ax (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

William Reid "Bill" Eadie is an American retired professional wrestler who has competed under the names of Ax as part of Demolition and The Masked Superstar. He was a high school teacher and coach at Cambridge High School in Cambridge, Ohio, and at East Liverpool, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Murdoch</span> American professional wrestler

Hoyt Richard Murdoch was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names "Dirty" Dick Murdoch and "Captain Redneck". He was best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushwhacker Butch</span> New Zealand professional wrestler (1944–2023)

Robert Miller was a New Zealander professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Butch, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke as The Bushwhackers. He was also known for his appearances under the ring name Butch Miller for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he teamed with Luke as The Kiwis and The Sheepherders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushwhacker Luke</span> New Zealand professional wrestler

Brian Wickens is a New Zealander professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Luke, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Butch as The Bushwhackers. He is also known for his appearances under the ring name Luke Williams for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he teamed with Butch as "The Kiwis" and "The Sheepherders".

Steve Regal is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association.

Michael Morgan is a former professional wrestler from New Zealand who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling as Rip Morgan. He is perhaps best known as one half of the New Zealand Militia in WCW with Jack Victory. Morgan also wrestled in WCW/NAWA/SAPW with Victory as "The Royal Family". He was the last flag bearer for the original New Zealand Sheepherders. He was formerly the CEO of the now defunct Wellington-based professional wrestling promotion Kiwi Pro Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ox Baker</span> American professional wrestler and actor (1934–2014)

Douglas Albert Baker Sr. was an American professional wrestler and actor, better known professionally as Ox Baker. He was famous for his distinctive eyebrows and finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!". He appeared in several movies including Blood Circus and Escape from New York.

Joseph Afamasaga, better known by his ring name Samoan Joe, was a New Zealand professional wrestler who competed in the Australasian and South Pacific region during the 1970s and early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tor Kamata</span> American professional wrestler

McRonald Kamaka was an American-Canadian professional wrestler known by the ring name Tor Kamata. He won several heavyweight and tag team championships, most notably the PWF World Heavyweight Championship in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the AWA World Tag Team Championship in the American Wrestling Association. He was a classic heel, reviled for dirty tricks in the ring, included rubbing salt in his opponent's eyes.

Rocky Iaukea is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Prince Iaukea, who competed in the Pacific Northwest and Southeastern United States with the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1980s, and in Japan during the early 1990s. From 1987 to 1990, he wrestled as Abbuda Dein in Pacific Northwest Wrestling winning the NWA Pacific Northwest Television Championship twice and the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship three times with Mike Miller and The Grappler. A second-generation wrestler, he is the son of Curtis Iaukea and a cousin of Maunakea Mossman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional wrestling in New Zealand</span> History of professional wrestling in the country of New Zealand

Professional wrestling in New Zealand has been promoted in the country from the early 20th century. In 1919, Gisborne Katene became the first national heavyweight champion, though the title was not recognized by the National Wrestling Association until 1925, and promoter Walter Miller began running events under the Dominion Wrestling Union banner ten years later.

<i>On the Mat</i> New Zealand TV series or program

On the Mat was a professional wrestling television programme for the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated All Star Pro Wrestling (ASPW), or simply NWA New Zealand, that aired on Television New Zealand's TV2 from 1975 to 1984. One of the most popular and the longest-running weekly sports series in the history of New Zealand, the show featured some of the country's top wrestlers and international stars from throughout the world during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Sydney Mervin "Merv" Batt, best known by his ring name Steve Rickard, was a New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. As a wrestler, he traveled throughout the world during the 1960s and 1970s, often visiting countries where professional wrestling was unknown such as southeast Asia, and was one of the top competitors to come from New Zealand during that era. Rickard was a frequent opponent for many foreign wrestlers travelling overseas including NWA World Heavyweight Champions such as Jack Brisco, Dory Funk Jr., Harley Race and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. He also had high-profile matches with Karl Gotch, Killer Kowalski, The Destroyer, André the Giant, Abe Jacobs and King Kong as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Jacobs</span> New Zealand-born professional wrestler (1928–2023)

Abner Robert Jacobs was a New Zealand professional wrestler. He was one of the first men to follow fellow New Zealander Pat O'Connor to the United States where, like O'Connor, Jacobs became a major star in the National Wrestling Alliance during the "Golden Age of Wrestling". One of the most recognisable "babyfaces" during this period, he was billed as the "Jewish Heavyweight Champion" and wrestled in a number of high-profile matches with many stars of the era including numerous bouts against NWA World Heavyweight Champions Lou Thesz, Gene Kiniski, Buddy Rogers, Dick Hutton and Pat O'Connor. His bout against O'Connor in 1961, which aired on Capitol Wrestling's weekly television show, was the first time two New Zealanders wrestled for a championship title on foreign soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Hobman</span>

Allan "Al" Hobman was a New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. Hobman was one of the first homegrown stars to emerge from the Dominion Wrestling Union, and later Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling, during the 1960s and 70s such as Tony Garea, Peter Maivia and The Sheepherders. Hobman twice won the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship from John Da Silva in 1960 and Steve Rickard in 1964 with a combined reign of nearly 6 years as champion. He and Rickard were also the first New Zealand Tag Team Champions.

A. J. Freeley or Freely is a semi-retired New Zealand professional wrestler. He competed throughout Australasia and in the United States during the 1990s, however, he is best remembered as the last NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion of Steve Rickard's NWA New Zealand. He won the belt from 3-time champion Bruno Bekkar in 1992, shortly before the promotion's close, and was billed as champion until the end of the decade.

John "Johnny" Garea is a semi-retired New Zealand professional wrestler, known by his ring name Johnny Garcia, who competed in Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and occasionally for the World Wrestling Federation during the 1970s and 80s. The youngest pro wrestler in New Zealand at the time of his debut in 1970, he was a regular on the Australian wrestling programme Big Time Wrestling and its New Zealand counterpart On the Mat as well as a two-time NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion. Garea is the real life brother of four-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion and WWE Road Agent Tony Garea.

Rick "Ricky" Rickard is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated All Star-Pro Wrestling, promoted by his father Steve Rickard, as well as touring Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States during the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a mainstay on his father's wrestling programme On the Mat and briefly held the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship in 1983. Rickard also had a successful 10-year amateur career representing New Zealand as an amateur wrestler in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Hrstich</span> New Zealand professional wrestler

Dick Hrstich was a Yugoslavian/New Zealand professional wrestler, known by his ring names Ray Hrstich and Ray Gordon, who competed in the former Yugoslavia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States during the late 1950s and 60s. He was among the first New Zealanders to travel to the US and, like his fellow countrymen Pat O'Connor and Abe Jacobs, became a major star with the National Wrestling Alliance during the Television-era.

References

  1. ↑ David Baker; Graham Cawthon; Barry Rose; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Ron Widmar; Jim Zordani (21 November 2009). "Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results - Dory Funk Jr". David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results. MidAtlanticGateway.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Cameron, Dave (March 2009). "My Top Ten New Zealand Born Wrestlers". Fight Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 Miller, Butch (5 January 2007). "New Year Greetings From Butch". News Item. Wrestling.net.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "When Andre the Giant came to Palmerston North". Manawatu Standard . 14 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Cameron, Dave (November 2008). "Whatever Happened To, Andre The Giant? Part 1". Fight Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  7. ↑ Afi, Siva. Reign of Fire: My Testimony from the Depths of Hell I Rose into the Majesty of God Almighty. Lulu.com (pg. 20) ISBN   1-4357-2653-7
  8. ↑ Yohe, Steve (19 February 2002). "My Dinner with the Destroyer". The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 261-2002. WrestlingClassics.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Remembering...Bruiser Brody". NZPWI.co.nz. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  10. ↑ David Baker; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Jim Zordani (16 April 2010). "Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results - Bruiser Brody". David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results. MidAtlanticGateway.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "Giant Baba - Match Results: 1979". Puroresu.com. Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  12. ↑ Woodward, Bob (22 October 2008). "This Day in History: Kurt Angle Wins His First World Title, Hayabusa Paralyzed During A Match And More". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  13. ↑ David Baker; Graham Cawthon; Barry Rose; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Jim Zordani (11 September 2009). "Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results - Jack Brisco". David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results. MidAtlanticGateway.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  14. 1 2 "W.W.C. North American tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  15. ↑ Greg Oliver & Steve Johnson (2005). "Top 20: #1 The Fabulous Kangaroos". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 17–24. ISBN   978-1-55022-683-6.
  16. 1 2 "New Zealand Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  17. ↑ Woodward, Bob (22 November 2006). "This Day in History: The Undertaker Debuts, The Final World War III PPV And More". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  18. ↑ Woodward, Bob (22 November 2010). "This Day in History: The Undertaker Debuts, The Final WCW World War III, Rikidozan Begins Eight-Year Title Reign And More". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  19. ↑ Cameron, Dave (June 2007). "Wrestling Reunion at Petone". Fight Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  20. ↑ Ogilvie, Steve (21 September 2010). "State of Play: Professional Wrestling in New Zealand". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  21. ↑ "Oklahoma Scoop". The Oklahoma Wrestling Fan's Resource Center. OklaFan.com. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  22. ↑ Ogilvie, Steve (2007). "2007". Foreign Results. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  23. ↑ "New Zealand wrestling legends at Halloween Howl 3". News Item. Kiwi Pro Wrestling. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  24. ↑ Mark Hutchings (Producer) (26 July 2010). Bruno Bekkar (An Interview Excerpt) (DVD). Wellington: KiwiWrestling.com.
  25. ↑ Gonzalez, Manuel (2001). "WWC North American Tag Team Title History". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.