Bill White (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Bill White was an American professional wrestler, using the ring name
"Wild" Bill White, from 1964 until his retirement in 1987.
coach at a Catholic high school in Florida. In Tampa
, he helped professional wrestler Eddie Graham
put on a wrestling demonstration at a youth camp. After viewing a professional wrestling event, he tried out for the sport because he was told he might have potential. He then began wrestling in Nashville, Tennessee
under the tutelage of promoter Nick Gulas
. He wrestled in Tennessee for approximately a year.
He then traveled to Southern California
, where he worked for Roy Shire from 1965 to 1967. While in the territory, he wrestled Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens
, and Mr. Fuji
. White then began to wrestle for Vincent J. McMahon
's World Wide Wrestling Federation
where he faced opponents such as Johnny Rodz
, Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa), Jimmy Valiant
, Victor Rivera
and Don Muraco
.
In 1981, White wrestled for Eddie Graham in Georgia Championship Wrestling
. Here, he worked with "Bullet" Bob Armstrong
and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. The following year, he began a stint in Jim Crockett Promotions
, working alongside wrestling legends such as Bobby Heenan
, Jesse Ventura
, Greg Gagne
, Blackjack Lanza, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
.
On June 10, 2006, White was inducted as an honoree into the Cauliflower Alley Club
.
, football
, and baseball
.
After retiring from wrestling in 1987, White began a career in private enterprise. He later settled in South Carolina, working as an insurance adjuster. In addition, he was a truck driver, certified scuba diver, and professional wrestling trainer.
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
"Wild" Bill White, from 1964 until his retirement in 1987.
Professional wrestling career
In 1964, while assisting an amateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
coach at a Catholic high school in Florida. In Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, he helped professional wrestler Eddie Graham
Eddie Graham
Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. His son, Mike Graham, was also a professional wrestler.-Career:Edward F...
put on a wrestling demonstration at a youth camp. After viewing a professional wrestling event, he tried out for the sport because he was told he might have potential. He then began wrestling in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
under the tutelage of promoter Nick Gulas
Nick Gulas
Nick Gulas was an American professional wrestling promoter in the Southern United States. Also known as The King of Managers and King B, Gulas helped start the careers of such wrestling stars as Tojo Yamamoto, Jackie Fargo, and Jerry "The King" Lawler in the 1960s and '70s, the Bounty Hunters with...
. He wrestled in Tennessee for approximately a year.
He then traveled to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, where he worked for Roy Shire from 1965 to 1967. While in the territory, he wrestled Pat Patterson, Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens (wrestler)
Carl Ray Stevens , better known as Ray "The Crippler" Stevens or Ray "Blond Bomber" Stevens, was an American professional wrestler. Stevens was a wrestling superstar since the early years of the television era until he retired during the early 1990s...
, and Mr. Fuji
Harry Fujiwara
Harry Fujiwara is an American former professional wrestler and manager, best known by his ring name Mr. Fuji. He was infamous for often throwing salt in the eyes of face wrestlers...
. White then began to wrestle for Vincent J. McMahon
Vincent J. McMahon
Vincent James "Vince" McMahon, better known as Vince McMahon, Sr. was an American professional wrestling promoter. He is best known for founding the American promotion, World Wide Wrestling Federation, which is now known as WWE.-Early life:Vincent James McMahon was born on July 6, 1914 in Harlem,...
's World Wide Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
where he faced opponents such as Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodriguez is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.-World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
, Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa), Jimmy Valiant
Jimmy Valiant
James Harold Fanning is a former professional wrestler and author better known as Jimmy Valiant.-Personal life:...
, Victor Rivera
Victor Rivera
Víctor Rivera is a volleyball player from Puerto Rico, who was a member of the Men's National Team that ended up in sixth place at the 2007 FIVB Men's World Cup in Japan. In the same year the wing-spiker was named Best Spiker at the NORCECA Championship in Anaheim...
and Don Muraco
Don Muraco
Donald Muraco , better known by his ring name "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler...
.
In 1981, White wrestled for Eddie Graham in Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
. Here, he worked with "Bullet" Bob Armstrong
Bob Armstrong
Joseph Melton James is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships throughout the Southeastern United States...
and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. The following year, he began a stint in Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
, working alongside wrestling legends such as Bobby Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
, Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
, Greg Gagne
Greg Gagne (wrestler)
Gregory Alan "Greg" Gagne is a former professional wrestler and the son of Verne Gagne. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he achieved his biggest success as one half of the tag team The High Flyers with Jim Brunzell...
, Blackjack Lanza, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
.
On June 10, 2006, White was inducted as an honoree into the Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
.
Personal life
In high school, White participated in amateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
After retiring from wrestling in 1987, White began a career in private enterprise. He later settled in South Carolina, working as an insurance adjuster. In addition, he was a truck driver, certified scuba diver, and professional wrestling trainer.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Shoulderbreaker
- Reverse arm bar
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Other inductee (2006)
- Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
- City of Mobile Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
External links
- CAC 2006 Honoree Recipient Bill White
- Profile at Online World Of Wrestling