Earl Patrick Freeman
Encyclopedia
Earl Patrick Freeman was a Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ringname Paddy Ryan, who competed in North American and international promotions during the 1950s and 60s.
While competing in western Canada
and the Pacific Northwest
, Freeman was involved in memorable feuds with Lumberjack Luke, Ripper Collins and "Crippler" Ray Stevens
as a mainstay of NWA All-Star Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling
and Stampede Wrestling
during the late 1970s.
, Freeman began wrestling professionally during the 1950s finding success in Germany
as Bud Freeman. Competing in European and Japanese promotions during the 1970s as both Bud Freeman and The Zebra Kid, Freeman returned to North America in 1970s. While wrestling for Buffalo promoter Pedro Martinez, he teamed with The Assassin
against Johnny Fargo & Chief White Owl at the War Memorial Auditorium
in Buffalo, New York
on March 22, 1972. Losing to Pampero Firpo on March 29, he would team with Luis Martinez against the Fargo Brothers (Don & Johnny Fargo
) on April 29. After losing to Chief White Owl on May 24, he would leave for Canada later that year facing The Beast at the Ontario Place Forum
in Toronto, Ontario on June 15, 1972.
As Paddy Ryan, Freeman would find great success in Superstar Championship Wrestling teaming with John Quinn
to defeat Ray Steele
& Luke Brown for the SCW Western States Tag Team Championship in Seattle, Washington
on November 20, 1973. Defeating Eddie Sullivan for the SCW Western States Heavyweight Championship in 1975. In addition, he had a longstanding hot feud with Lumberjack Luke. (He later lost the title to Ripper Sawyer).
After the close of SCW in 1976, Freeman appeared in Stampede Wrestling
teaming with Bret Hart
in his debut match against Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 1978, he would hold the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Mr. Sakurada
in Calgary
, Alberta
on September 1, 1978. He eventually lost the title to Kasavudu.
During the early 1980s, Ryan wrestled for Al Tomko
's All-Star Wrestling based in Vancouver
, British Columbia
. Teaming with Chief Jay Strongbow and Goldie Rodgers, he also served as a mentor to younger wrestlers such as Greg Lake. After his retirement in 1982, he lived in Port Moody, British Columbia
and because of difficult living and ring injuries, he remained in poor health before his death on December 28, 1989 following a massive heart attack.
While competing in western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
and the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, Freeman was involved in memorable feuds with Lumberjack Luke, Ripper Collins and "Crippler" 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...
as a mainstay of NWA All-Star Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
and Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
during the late 1970s.
Career
Born in Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Freeman began wrestling professionally during the 1950s finding success in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as Bud Freeman. Competing in European and Japanese promotions during the 1970s as both Bud Freeman and The Zebra Kid, Freeman returned to North America in 1970s. While wrestling for Buffalo promoter Pedro Martinez, he teamed with The Assassin
Jody Hamilton
Joseph "Jody" Hamilton is an American retired professional wrestler and current wrestling promoter and trainer. In his active days Hamiltion was best known as known as one half of the tag team The Assassins where he was called "Assassin #1"...
against Johnny Fargo & Chief White Owl at the War Memorial Auditorium
War Memorial Auditorium
The War Memorial Auditorium is a 1,661-seat performance hall located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is located across the street from, and is governed by, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and is also adjacent to the Tennessee State Capitol.- History :...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
on March 22, 1972. Losing to Pampero Firpo on March 29, he would team with Luis Martinez against the Fargo Brothers (Don & Johnny Fargo
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
) on April 29. After losing to Chief White Owl on May 24, he would leave for Canada later that year facing The Beast at the Ontario Place Forum
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
in Toronto, Ontario on June 15, 1972.
As Paddy Ryan, Freeman would find great success in Superstar Championship Wrestling teaming with John Quinn
John Quinn (wrestler)
John Quinn is a retired Canadian professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including NWA All-Star Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling during the 1960s and early 1970s...
to defeat Ray Steele
Ray Steele
Ray Steele may refer to:* Peter Sauer , used the ring name while wrestling in America* Ray Steele , a fictional character in the TV series The Bill played from 1993-1996* Ray Steele , wrestler based in the United Kingdom...
& Luke Brown for the SCW Western States Tag Team Championship in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
on November 20, 1973. Defeating Eddie Sullivan for the SCW Western States Heavyweight Championship in 1975. In addition, he had a longstanding hot feud with Lumberjack Luke. (He later lost the title to Ripper Sawyer).
After the close of SCW in 1976, Freeman appeared in Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
teaming with Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
in his debut match against Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada
Kazuo Sakurada
, better known as Mr. Sakurada and as the Japanese version of , is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known, under various monikers, for his work in Stampede Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling. Sakurada is also highly regarded by Bret Hart as...
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 1978, he would hold the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Mr. Sakurada
Kazuo Sakurada
, better known as Mr. Sakurada and as the Japanese version of , is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known, under various monikers, for his work in Stampede Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling. Sakurada is also highly regarded by Bret Hart as...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
on September 1, 1978. He eventually lost the title to Kasavudu.
During the early 1980s, Ryan wrestled for Al Tomko
Al Tomko
Al Tomko was a Canadian professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.-Professional wrestling career:Tomko started out as a wrestler in his hometown of Winnipeg on July 9, 1954 with the Madison Wrestling Club, losing his debut match to John DePaulo. During that same period, he ran his own promotion...
's All-Star Wrestling based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Teaming with Chief Jay Strongbow and Goldie Rodgers, he also served as a mentor to younger wrestlers such as Greg Lake. After his retirement in 1982, he lived in Port Moody, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and because of difficult living and ring injuries, he remained in poor health before his death on December 28, 1989 following a massive heart attack.
Championships and accomplishments
- Diamond Belt Championship Wrestling
- DBCW Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Stampede Wrestling
- Stampede North American Heavyweight ChampionshipStampede North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. From its establishment in 1968 until 1972, it was Stampede's secondary singles championship, becoming the top title in 1972 after the previous top...
(1 time)
- Superstar Championship Wrestling
- SCW Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- SCW Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with John QuinnJohn Quinn (wrestler)John Quinn is a retired Canadian professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including NWA All-Star Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling during the 1960s and early 1970s...