Robert Ellis (born March 15, 1929), is an American retired professional wrestler. He wrestled under the ring name, Cowboy Bob Ellis for over 20 years in various wrestling promotions in the States, Canada and Australia. He was a two-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion in Indianapolis.[2] He is known as the inventor of the bulldog and as of 2024 is the oldest-living former professional wrestler in the world.[5]
| Cowboy Bob Ellis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Ellis |
| Born | March 15, 1929[1] Tom Green County, Texas, U.S.[2] |
| Alma mater | McMurry College |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bob Ellis Bob Elliott[3] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[4] |
| Billed weight | 235 lb (107 kg)[4] |
| Trained by | Sandor Szabo |
| Debut | 1957 |
| Retired | 1980 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Battles / wars | Korean War |
Early life
editEllis played high school football. He went on to attend McMurry College where he again played football. Ellis served three years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, making 53 jumps during the Korean War.[4] In 1954, he briefly was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ellis owned several gyms in San Angelo, Texas.
Professional wrestling career
editEllis was trained to wrestle by Sandor Szabo. Ellis made his professional wrestling debut in Denver, Colorado in 1957. He initially wrestled as "Bob Elliott" before becoming "Cowboy" Bob Ellis.
On November 28, 1958 Ellis won his first title the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship defeating Bob Geigel. Ellis held the title for over a year until January 22, 1960. In 1960, he would go to Detroit where he defeated Dick the Bruiser for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version). He dropped the belt back to Dick the Bruiser.
In 1962, he teamed with Johnny Valentine in New York to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) defeating the Fabulous Kangaroos. They dropped the titles to Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend. That same year, Ellis feuded with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers in main events unsuccessfully winning the tile.
On September 10, 1964, he defeated The Destroyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles. He dropped the title back to the Destroyer two months later.
In 1965 he toured Australia where he feuded with Killer Kowalski. In 1969, he won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia) where he defeated Skull Murphy and held the title for a week. He dropped it to Killer Karl Kox.
In 1970, he returned to New York this time for World Wide Wrestling Federation.
In 1973, he defeated Baron Von Raschke for WWA World Heavyweight Championship the Indianapolis version where he held it for nearly a year dropping it to Jimmy Valiant. He won the title for the second time defeating Valiant four months later. Then dropped the title to Ox Baker in August 1974.
On February 21, 1976 he won the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Carlos Colon. He dropped the title back to Colon on April 17.
In 1977, Ellis made his debut for International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan.
In the early 1980s, Ellis retired from the ring. After a brief stint as a professional wrestling promoter he left the industry altogether.
Professional wrestling style and persona
editChampionships and accomplishments
edit- American Wrestling Alliance
- AWA Indiana United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Stan Pulaski (1), Alberto Torres (1) and Jerry Miller (1)
- Arizona Athletic Association Inc.
- United States Heavyweight Championship
- Big Time Wrestling
- Capitol Wrestling Corporation
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Other honoree (1993)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- Central States Wrestling
- NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (2 times) – with Archie Gouldie (1), The Viking (1)[7][8]
- Continental Wrestling Association
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- North American Wrestling Alliance / Worldwide Wrestling Associates / NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA San Francisco
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- World Wrestling Association
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Carlos Colon
References
edit- ^ "Cowboy Bob Ellis". Wrestlingdata.
- ^ a b "Wrestler Profiles: Bob Ellis". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
- ^ "Profile". CageMatch. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kivett, Bill (April 23, 1960). "Ellis-Bruiser to headline wrestling card Tuesday night at local gym". Daily Reporter (via Newspapers.com). Greenfield, Indiana. p. 4. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
Ellis, one of the most colorful athlete's [sic] in the mat sport, has created a legion of fans because of his sportsmanship-like tactics and his clever mat ability. Ellis, a rangy 235-pounder who stands 6 feet, 3 inches in height, is a graduate of McMurray College of Abilene, Texas and during a stint in the army he was a paratrooper making 53 jumps during the Korean conflict.
- ^ "Cowboy" Bob Ellis profile, from LegacyOfWrestling.com
- ^ "Cowboy" Bob Ellis profile, from LegacyOfWrestling.com
- ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ^ "NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
