Cowboy Bob Ellis

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Cowboy Bob Ellis
Birth nameRobert Ellis
Born (1929-03-15) March 15, 1929 (age 95) [1]
Tom Green County, Texas, U.S. [2]
Alma mater McMurry College
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Bob Ellis
Bob Elliott [3]
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm) [4]
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg) [4]
Trained by Sandor Szabo
Debut1957
Retired1980
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Service / branch Mark of the United States Army.svg United States Army
Battles / wars Korean War

Robert Ellis (born March 15, 1929), is an American retired professional wrestler. He wrestled under the ring name, Cowboy Bob Ellis for over 20 years in various wrestling promotions in the States, Canada and Australia. He was a two-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion in Indianapolis. [2] He is known as the inventor of the bulldog and as of 2024 is the oldest-living former professional wrestler in the world. [5]

Contents

Early life

Ellis played high school football. He went on to attend McMurry College where he again played football. Ellis served three years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, making 53 jumps during the Korean War. [4] In 1954, he briefly was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ellis owned several gyms in San Angelo, Texas.

Professional wrestling career

Ellis was trained to wrestle by Sandor Szabo. Ellis made his professional wrestling debut in Denver, Colorado in 1957. He initially wrestled as "Bob Elliott" before becoming "Cowboy" Bob Ellis.

On November 28, 1958 Ellis won his first title the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship defeating Bob Geigel. Ellis held the title for over a year until January 22, 1960. In 1960, he would go to Detroit where he defeated Dick the Bruiser for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version). He dropped the belt back to Dick the Bruiser.

In 1962, he teamed with Johnny Valentine in New York to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) defeating the Fabulous Kangaroos. They dropped the titles to Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend. That same year, Ellis feuded with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers in main events unsuccessfully winning the tile.

On September 10, 1964, he defeated The Destroyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles. He dropped the title back to the Destroyer two months later.

In 1965 he toured Australia where he feuded with Killer Kowalski. In 1969, he won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia) where he defeated Skull Murphy and held the title for a week. He dropped it to Killer Karl Kox.

In 1970, he returned to New York this time for World Wide Wrestling Federation.

In 1973, he defeated Baron Von Raschke for WWA World Heavyweight Championship the Indianapolis version where he held it for nearly a year dropping it to Jimmy Valiant. He won the title for the second time defeating Valiant four months later. Then dropped the title to Ox Baker in August 1974.

On February 21, 1976 he won the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Carlos Colon. He dropped the title back to Colon on April 17.

In 1977, Ellis made his debut for International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan.

In the early 1980s, Ellis retired from the ring. After a brief stint as a professional wrestling promoter he left the industry altogether.

Professional wrestling style and persona

Ellis' signature move was the bulldog. [6]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

  1. ↑ "Cowboy Bob Ellis". Wrestlingdata.
  2. 1 2 "Wrestler Profiles: Bob Ellis". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Profile". CageMatch. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Kivett, Bill (April 23, 1960). "Ellis-Bruiser to headline wrestling card Tuesday night at local gym". Daily Reporter (via Newspapers.com). Greenfield, Indiana. p. 4. Retrieved April 19, 2024. Ellis, one of the most colorful athlete's [sic] in the mat sport, has created a legion of fans because of his sportsmanship-like tactics and his clever mat ability. Ellis, a rangy 235-pounder who stands 6 feet, 3 inches in height, is a graduate of McMurray College of Abilene, Texas and during a stint in the army he was a paratrooper making 53 jumps during the Korean conflict.
  5. ↑ "Cowboy" Bob Ellis profile, from LegacyOfWrestling.com
  6. ↑ "Cowboy" Bob Ellis profile, from LegacyOfWrestling.com
  7. ↑ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253. ISBN   0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ↑ "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ "NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
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