Tarzan Taborda
Encyclopedia
Tarzan Taborda (May 27, 1935 - September 9, 2005), was a Portuguese
professional wrestler. He is the most significant professional wrestling star ever to emerge from Portugal.
, Esteves became a professional wrestler after coming second in the Mister Europe bodybuilding
competition. He wrestled over 4000 professional wrestling
matches (without losing a single one in his native country) from the late 1950's until 1981, earning the nicknames Taborda Sputnik, Tarzan Curtys, White Angel (France
), King Kong
(Africa), Mr. Mexico, and Juan Perez, among others. As achievements he was four times European Champion and five times World Champion.http://www.wrestlingportugal.com/site/e107_plugins/custompages/tarzan.php Until 1994, he was the World Wrestling Federation
's color commentator for their television airings in Portugal.
He also wrestled in the Middle East, in countries like Iraq
, where he performed in Baghdad
for Saddam Hussein
.
Tarzan Taborda was also a ballet dancer in Le Lido
, Paris, and a stuntman, where he worked with Brigitte Bardot
, Alain Delon
, John Wayne
and Robert Mitchum
on various movies.
On September 9, 2005 he died of a myocardial infarction
at the age of 70.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
professional wrestler. He is the most significant professional wrestling star ever to emerge from Portugal.
Career
Born in Aldeia do Bispo, Penamacor, PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Esteves became a professional wrestler after coming second in the Mister Europe bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
competition. He wrestled over 4000 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...
matches (without losing a single one in his native country) from the late 1950's until 1981, earning the nicknames Taborda Sputnik, Tarzan Curtys, White Angel (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
(Africa), Mr. Mexico, and Juan Perez, among others. As achievements he was four times European Champion and five times World Champion.http://www.wrestlingportugal.com/site/e107_plugins/custompages/tarzan.php Until 1994, he was the World 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...
's color commentator for their television airings in Portugal.
He also wrestled in the Middle East, in countries like Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, where he performed in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
for Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
.
Tarzan Taborda was also a ballet dancer in Le Lido
Le Lido
Le Lido is a cabaret and burlesque house on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, famous for its exotic shows, which rival those of Las Vegas and where Elvis Presley gave an impromptu concert...
, Paris, and a stuntman, where he worked with Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
, Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
, John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
on various movies.
On September 9, 2005 he died of a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 70.