Yvon Robert
Encyclopedia
Yvon Robert was a French Canadian
professional wrestler
who was best known to fans as Yvon "The Lion" Robert.
debut as Yvon "The Lion" Robert. It was a territory of National Boxing Association
to sanction professional wrestling. He got his first big exposure after attacking world champion
Danno O'Mahony
during a match. He left the promotion in 1936.
. In 1940, he left AWA for a second time.
to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Montreal, Quebec. On November 27, he lost the title to Bobby Managoff
in Houston, Texas
. In 1943, he left NWA.
to a draw at Montreal-record gate of $21,000 and broke that record within a year. In 1953, he formed a successful tag team with Whipper Billy Watson
and won the Canadian Tag Team Championship. On November 12, Watson and Robert defeated Al Mills and Tiny Mills at a wrestling event held in Toronto with boxing champion Joe Louis
as the special guest referee. On January 5, 1958, he teamed with Billy Wicks to defeat Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean in Memphis
for the Mid-America Tag Team Championship
, in what would be Robert's final title. In 1959, he came out of retirement.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
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...
who was best known to fans as Yvon "The Lion" Robert.
American Wrestling Association (1932-1935)
Yvon Robert started wrestling in 1932 at age 17. He got his first stint in American Wrestling Association (Boston). He was trained by Emil Maupas. He was billed as The French Canadian Lion. He made his professional wrestling debut on April 9, 1932. During his early career, Robert feuded with wrestlers such as Rasputin, Joe Cox and Ernie Dusek.National Wrestling Association (1935-1936)
In 1935, he made his National Wrestling AssociationNational Wrestling Association
The National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
debut as Yvon "The Lion" Robert. It was a territory of National Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
to sanction professional wrestling. He got his first big exposure after attacking world champion
World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)
The World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship of the National Wrestling Association , an offshoot of the National Boxing Association...
Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony was an Irish professional wrestler. His surname was usually spelled "O'Mahoney" during his wrestling career...
during a match. He left the promotion in 1936.
Montreal (1936-1944)
In April 1936, he started wrestling in Montreal, Quebec. During his time with Montreal, he won the Montreal International Heavyweight Championship 16 times between 1936 to 1956. During 1943, he won the Montreal British Empire Heavyweight Championship.American Wrestling Association (1936-1940)
Yvon returned to American Wrestling Association in July 1936. Just two weeks after his return, Yvon defeated Danno O'Mahony to win the AWA Boston Championship in Montreal. He claimed his first World Title after winning this match. He was recognized as the World Champion in New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. In 1940, he left AWA for a second time.
National Wrestling Association (1940-1943)
In 1940, he started his second stint with National Wrestling Association. In his second run with NWA, he got his biggest victory of his career on October 7, 1942. On this day, he beat "Wild" Bill LongsonBill Longson
William Longson was a professional wrestler, who spent most of his career in St. Louis, Missouri under the ring name "Wild Bill" Longson...
to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Montreal, Quebec. On November 27, he lost the title to 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...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. In 1943, he left NWA.
American Wrestling Association (1944)
On November 23, 1944, he returned to American Wrestling Association. He defeated Gino Garibaldi to recapture the AWA Championship.Returning to Montreal (1944-1959)
He returned to Montreal, Quebec in 1944, and became a successful wrestler during this time. In 1948, he wrestled Gorgeous GeorgeGeorge Wagner
George Raymond Wagner was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Gorgeous George...
to a draw at Montreal-record gate of $21,000 and broke that record within a year. In 1953, he formed a successful tag team 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:...
and won the Canadian Tag Team Championship. On November 12, Watson and Robert defeated Al Mills and Tiny Mills at a wrestling event held in Toronto with boxing champion Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
as the special guest referee. On January 5, 1958, he teamed with Billy Wicks to defeat Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
for the Mid-America Tag Team Championship
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)
The Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until 1977. It was defended primarily in Tennessee and Alabama.-Title history:...
, in what would be Robert's final title. In 1959, he came out of retirement.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
-
- Roll-through into an arm trap headscissors
- Signature moves
-
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
- Dropkick
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association (Boston)
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version) (2 times)
- 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:...
(1 time) - 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:... - NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)The Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until 1977. It was defended primarily in Tennessee and Alabama.-Title history:...
- National Wrestling Association
- NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipWorld Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)The World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship of the National Wrestling Association , an offshoot of the National Boxing Association...
(1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
- Other titles
- International Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (16 times)
- British Empire Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (1 time)