Eric Holmback
Encyclopedia
Eric Holmback was an American
professional wrestler
, better known by the ring name
Yukon Eric.
Holmback spent the majority of his career in Southern Ontario
, Canada
, where he won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
on two occasions with Whipper Billy Watson
in 1955 and 1961 and the Montreal Athletic Commission's International Heavyweight Championship. He also won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
in 1948.
Holmback is best known for his 1952 match and subsequent feud
with Killer Kowalski
in which he lost his ear as a result of a botched
knee drop. A rematch between the two the following year was the first televised wrestling match
in Canada. Holmback continued to wrestle in Florida
until he committed suicide
in 1965.
, Holmback made his professional wrestling
debut on January 22, 1942, using the ring name
Yukon Eric. Yukon Eric utilised a strongman
in-ring persona, and as part of the persona, he was announced as being from Fairbanks, Alaska
and always wore plaid
wool shirts, worn open to show off his 66 inches (167.6 cm) chest. He also was known for whipping his opponent into the ropes so that they would bounce back into his chest.
On January 30, 1948, Yukon Eric defeated Sonny Myers
to win his first professional wrestling championship
, the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
. He held the championship for a week, before losing it to Miguel Guzmán
on February 6. After this, he moved to Southern Ontario
, where he spent the majority of his wrestling career. Two years later, on February 15, 1950, he defeated Bobby Managoff
to win the Montreal Athletic Commission's International Heavyweight Championship.
Holmback's most infamous moment occurred during a match against Wladek Kowalski
in 1952. Kowalski botched
a knee drop, and legitimately severed part of Holmback's ear. Afterwards, Kowalski went to visit Holmback in the hospital, but began laughing at the bandages wrapped around Holmback's head. The incident cemented Kowalski as a heel
(villainous character) and prompted Kowalski to rename himself Killer Kowalski. A rematch between the two on January 14, 1953 at the Montreal Forum
was the first ever televised wrestling match
in Canada
.
He won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
twice with Whipper Billy Watson
, with their first reign beginning on February 13, 1958, when they defeated Fritz Von Erich
and Gene Kiniski
. They lost the championship just over a month later to Stan
and Reggie Lisowski
on March 20, 1958. Later that year, he won the championship for the second time when he teamed with Dara Singh
to defeat Stan and Reggie Lisowski on August 7, 1958. Three years later, on December 28, 1961, he won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship for the second time with Watson, and the third time overall, when the pair defeated John
and Chris Tolos
. He later moved to Florida
, where he wrestled until the time of his death in 1965.
In 2007, Holmback was one of the honorees of the Cauliflower Alley Club
's Posthumous Award, along with Betty Jo Hawkins.
, with three sisters. He attended Washington State College
, where he played American football
, lettering with the varsity team
in 1938 as a sophomore
.
After divorcing his wife and suffering finanical problems, on January 16, 1965, Holmback drove to the church in Cartersville, Georgia
where he had been married, where he committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a .22 caliber
pistol
. He was reported missing when he failed to show for matches in Jacksonville, Florida
and St. Petersburg, Florida
, and his body was found the next day in his car in the church parking lot. He was survived by his three children, two daughters and a son.
Professional wrestler Scott Irwin
, one-half of the WWF
tag-team The Yukon Lumberjacks
used the ring name "Yukon Eric" as a tribute to Holmback.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known by the ring name
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:...
Yukon Eric.
Holmback spent the majority of his career in Southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
The NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship in the Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1952 through 1961. The title was then replaced with the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship.-Title history:...
on two occasions with Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
in 1955 and 1961 and the Montreal Athletic Commission's International Heavyweight Championship. He also won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title that has existed since the 1930s. Though its exact date of creation isn't known, it is among the oldest championships used in professional wrestling today...
in 1948.
Holmback is best known for his 1952 match and subsequent feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with Killer Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
in which he lost his ear as a result of a botched
Botch (professional wrestling)
To botch in professional wrestling means to attempt a scripted move that does not come out as it was originally planned due to a mistake, miscalculation, or a slip-up. Most botches are harmless but embarrassing, such as a wrestler simply flubbing a line or missing a cue, or falling before his...
knee drop. A rematch between the two the following year was the first televised wrestling match
Professional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
in Canada. Holmback continued to wrestle in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
until he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in 1965.
Professional wrestling career
After being trained by Man Mountain DeanMan Mountain Dean
Man Mountain Dean , born Frank Simmons Leavitt, was a professional wrestler of the early 1900s.He was born in New York City, the son of John McKenney and Henrietta N. Leavitt. From childhood, Frank Leavitt was remarkably large in stature...
, Holmback made his professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
debut on January 22, 1942, using the ring name
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:...
Yukon Eric. Yukon Eric utilised a strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
in-ring persona, and as part of the persona, he was announced as being from Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
and always wore plaid
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
wool shirts, worn open to show off his 66 inches (167.6 cm) chest. He also was known for whipping his opponent into the ropes so that they would bounce back into his chest.
On January 30, 1948, Yukon Eric defeated Sonny Myers
Sonny Myers
Harold "Sonny" Myers was an American professional wrestler, involved in the business for sixty years.-Career:...
to win his first professional wrestling championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
, the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title that has existed since the 1930s. Though its exact date of creation isn't known, it is among the oldest championships used in professional wrestling today...
. He held the championship for a week, before losing it to Miguel Guzmán
Black Guzmán
Miguel Wenceslao Guzmán Huerta was a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador as they are known in Spanish, who worked under the ring name Miguel Guzmán and Black Guzmán, a nickname he had earned due to his dark skin.Guzmán was the brother of Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, better known as the wrestling...
on February 6. After this, he moved to Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, where he spent the majority of his wrestling career. Two years later, on February 15, 1950, he defeated Bobby Managoff
Bobby Managoff
Robert Manoogian, Jr. was an American professional wrestler who was best known for his work with National Wrestling Alliance in the 1940s as Bobby Managoff...
to win the Montreal Athletic Commission's International Heavyweight Championship.
Holmback's most infamous moment occurred during a match against Wladek Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
in 1952. Kowalski botched
Botch (professional wrestling)
To botch in professional wrestling means to attempt a scripted move that does not come out as it was originally planned due to a mistake, miscalculation, or a slip-up. Most botches are harmless but embarrassing, such as a wrestler simply flubbing a line or missing a cue, or falling before his...
a knee drop, and legitimately severed part of Holmback's ear. Afterwards, Kowalski went to visit Holmback in the hospital, but began laughing at the bandages wrapped around Holmback's head. The incident cemented Kowalski as a heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
(villainous character) and prompted Kowalski to rename himself Killer Kowalski. A rematch between the two on January 14, 1953 at the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
was the first ever televised wrestling match
Professional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
The NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship in the Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1952 through 1961. The title was then replaced with the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship.-Title history:...
twice with Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
, with their first reign beginning on February 13, 1958, when they defeated Fritz Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Jack Barton Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring name Fritz Von Erich, better known today as a wrestling promoter and the patriarch of the Von Erich family...
and Gene Kiniski
Gene Kiniski
Eugene Nicholas "Gene" Kiniski was a Canadian professional wrestler and the father of wrestlers Nick Kiniski and Kelly Kiniski. "Canada's Greatest Athlete" as he billed himself for promotional purposes was born outside of Edmonton, Alberta...
. They lost the championship just over a month later to Stan
Stan Holek
Stan Holek was an Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Stan Lisowski and Stan Neilson. He became known for being part of two famous "brother" tag teams, the Lisowskis and the Neilsons .-Professional wrestling career:Holek originally got into wrestling after his older...
and Reggie Lisowski
Reginald Lisowski
Reginald Lisowski was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Crusher ....
on March 20, 1958. Later that year, he won the championship for the second time when he teamed with Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
to defeat Stan and Reggie Lisowski on August 7, 1958. Three years later, on December 28, 1961, he won the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship for the second time with Watson, and the third time overall, when the pair defeated John
John Tolos
John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", was a Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.-Canadian Wrecking Crew:...
and Chris Tolos
Chris Tolos
Chris Tolos was a Canadian professional wrestler. Chris stayed close to Hamilton for much of his life, taking care of his mother—who lived to be 101 and died in 2001—and his disabled sister. He died of cancer on Friday, August 13, 2005...
. He later moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where he wrestled until the time of his death in 1965.
In 2007, Holmback was one of the honorees of 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....
's Posthumous Award, along with Betty Jo Hawkins.
Personal life
Holmback grew up in Aberdeen, WashingtonAberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis...
, with three sisters. He attended Washington State College
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, where he played American 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...
, lettering with the varsity team
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
in 1938 as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
.
After divorcing his wife and suffering finanical problems, on January 16, 1965, Holmback drove to the church in Cartersville, Georgia
Cartersville, Georgia
Cartersville is a town in Bartow County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 19,7314. The city is the county seat of Bartow County.-Geography:Cartersville was named for Colonel Farish Carter....
where he had been married, where he committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a .22 caliber
.22 Short
.22 Short is a variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition. Developed in 1857 for the first Smith and Wesson revolver, the .22 rimfire was the first American metallic cartridge....
pistol
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
. He was reported missing when he failed to show for matches in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and his body was found the next day in his car in the church parking lot. He was survived by his three children, two daughters and a son.
Professional wrestler Scott Irwin
Scott Irwin
Scott K. Irwin was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tag team with his brother Barney "Bill" Irwin.-Debut and the World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
, one-half of the WWF
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...
tag-team The Yukon Lumberjacks
The Yukon Lumberjacks
The Yukon Lumberjacks were a professional wrestling Tag team in 1978 which wrestled in World Wide Wrestling Federation. The team consisted of Eric and Pierre.-History:Eric and Pierre joined World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1978...
used the ring name "Yukon Eric" as a tribute to Holmback.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bear hug
- Kodiak Krunch (Shoulder backbreaker)
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Yuke"
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship in the Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1952 through 1961. The title was then replaced with the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship.-Title history:...
(3 times) – with Whipper Billy WatsonWhipper Billy WatsonWilliam John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
(2) and Dara SinghDara SinghDara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
(1) - NWA Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title that has existed since the 1930s. Though its exact date of creation isn't known, it is among the oldest championships used in professional wrestling today...
(1 time)
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship
- Montreal Athletic Commission
- MAC International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- 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....
- Posthumous Award (2007)