Billy Robinson

Billy Robinson (born 1939) is a British professional wrestler and Catch Wrestling instructor. Billy Robinson became popular in Japan where he has trained Mixed Martial Arts fighters in catch wrestling. Robinson is one of the few wrestlers who was successful in several continents (Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania), winning titles in promotions nearly everywhere he wrestled.

Career

Early days in Europe

Robinson began his amateur wrestling career in England. He was British National Wrestling Champion in 1957, and in 1958 was European Open Wrestling Champion in the light heavyweight class, beating an Olympic bronze medal winner in the finals.

Billy Robinson also attended the fabled "Snake Pit" started by legendary trainer Billy Riley. The Snake Pit was one of the most respected Catch Wrestling training schools in all of the world. Legends such as Karl Gotch had trained in Catch Wrestling in the Snake Pit under Riley.

Robinson had to survive bare minimum amenities (luxuries such as a toilet were not provided at the Snake Pit), a very rough training environment (Billy Riley was very impatient with those who showed even the slightest bit of weakness on the mat) and rigorous conditioning. Robinson stayed at the Snake Pit for eight years.

In North America

Billy Robinson travelled to North America in 1970 and began wrestling for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association. He was one of the successful wrestlers of the American promotion known for hiring the "Real Deals" in wrestling. Billy Robinson was also the AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion; he defended the title in both the U. S. and Canada, but was the only champion.

Billy Robinson's image as a legitimate wrestler landed him a role in the movie "The Wrestler" alongside Verne Gagne and Ed Asner.

Japan

Billy Robinson travelled to Japan where he became immensely popular as a legitimate wrestler versed in submission holds. He participated in a professional wrestling match against legendary Antonio Inoki in 1975. The match was billed as "The match between the world's top two technicians" by the Japanese press.

Billy Robinson continued an active professional wrestling career, travelling throughout the world to participate in various events.

Japanese professional wrestlers learned the art of "hooking" and "shooting" from another of catch wrestling's greatest icons, Karl Gotch. The new movement led to the formation of the Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan).

The UWF had wrestlers like Yoshiaki Fujiwara who had personally been to the Snake Pit in Wigan. Billy Robinson was became a part of the shoot style movement including a memorable match for the UWF against fellow AWA legend Nick Bockwinkel on May 8, 1992.

After wrestling

Apart of being one of the important "shooters" of the shoot style movement, Billy Robinson began training youngsters in catch wrestling at the UWF Snake Pit in Japan. Billy Robinson has contributed immensely in training several Mixed Martial Arts legends including Kazushi Sakuraba and Josh Barnett. Currently, he trains up and coming fighter Manabu Inoue.

Robinson was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.Robinson recently underwent Hip replacement surgery.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Bridging double underhook suplex:*Back suplex backbreaker:*European uppercut:*Piledriver:*Single arm DDT:*Bearhug / Hammerlock combination

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

:*British National Wrestling Championship (1 time):*European Open Light Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 time)

Professional wrestling

*All Japan Pro Wrestling:*NWA United National Championship (1 time):*PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*American Wrestling Association:*AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (3 times) (Most Reigns) (Last):*AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Verne Gagne (1) and Crusher Lisowski (1)

*Continental Wrestling Association:*CWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

*International Pro Wrestling:*IWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*International Wrestling Alliance (Australia):*IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Joint Promotions:*British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Lutte Internationale (Montreal):*Canadian International Heavyweight Championship (2 times):*Canadian International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Pierre Lefebvre

*Stampede Wrestling:*Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1974)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVNvxh0WXVs Robinson's Catch Instructional Trailer]
* [http://www.wrestlingmuseum.org/people/robinson_billy.html International Wrestling Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.riverhorse.tv/CATCH/ Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', a documentary on the history of Riley's gym where Robinson trained]