Robert Ross (wrestler)

Infobox Wrestler
name=Robert Ross

---

img_capt=
names=Ranger Ross
height= height|ft=5|in=10
weight= convert|235|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = c. 1960
death_date =
birth_place = Acworth, Georgia, United States
death_place =
resides= Atlanta, Georgia
billed= Acworth, Georgia
trainer=
debut=1986
retired=
website=|

Robert Lee Ross, Jr. is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional and independent promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s, most notably as Ranger Ross in Jim Crockett Promotions and later World Championship Wrestling.

Career

Early life and career

Born in Acworth, Georgia, Ross enlisted with the U.S. Rangers. During his 8-year career as an airborne paratrooper, he participated in several combat and rescue missions including Operation Urgent Fury [ Miller, Patrick B. "The Sporting World of the South". Urbana-Champaigne, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2002. (pg. 286) ISBN 0252070364 ] before becoming a professional wrestler. [ Ranger Ross Shoot Interview. Perf. Robert Ross. DVD. RF Video, 2006. ]

Making his debut in 1986, he briefly held the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship defeating Moondog Spot in January 1988 before losing the title to Jonathan Boyd in Birmingham, Alabama on January 11, 1988.

Jim Crockett Promotions & World Championship Wrestling

Appearing in Jim Crockett Promotions the following year, he had a short-lived feud with The Iron Sheik defeating him by disqualification at on April 2, 1989. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#6 |title=Clash of the Champions VI |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Prior to the match, he had made his entrance by rapelling 300 feet from the top of The Superdome.

Later that month he would team with Randy Rose against Jack Victory & Rip Morgan and, in singles competition, faced The Great Muta and Butch Reed losing to Reed at Wrestlewar '89 on May 7. [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wwar89review.htm |title=NWA Wrestle War ‘89: Music City Showdown |accessdate= |author=Cawthon, Graham |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.kayfabememories.com/TapeReviews/miscnwappv/wrestlewar89.htm |title=Misc. NWA PPV's: Wrestlewar '89 |accessdate= |author=Keith, Scott |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=KayfabeMemories.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On May 23, he and Ron Simmons would later participate in the NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament losing to the Samoan Swat Team in the opening rounds and began feuding with Simmons soon after. Defeating The Terrorist at in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on June 14, [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#7 |title=Clash of the Champions VII |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] he was eliminated in the two-ring battle royal by former tag team partner Ron Simmons (Ross would later eliminate Simmons while in the second ring before being eliminated by Dan Spivey) at the Great American Bash on July 23 [ cite web |url=http://www.oowrestling.com/columns/skrants/20020522.shtml |title=Ultimate Director's Edition Retro Rant: NWA/WCW Great American Bash '89 |accessdate= |author=Keith, Scott |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2002-05-22 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=OnlineOnslaught.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wcw/1989 |title=World Championship Wrestling Results: 1989 |accessdate= |author=Karlsson, Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-04-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and later faced Keith Steinborn several times the following month.

Although losing to Sid Vicious at on September 12, [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#8 |title=Clash of the Champions VIII |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] he would later feud with The Cuban Assassin as well as defeating Rusty Riddle and Bob Emery during the next several weeks. Facing Pat Rose on December 2, he also teamed with various partners during the end of the year teaming with Eddie Gilbert against The Galaxians on December 23 and with "Wildfire" Tommy Rich against Cactus Jack and Ned Brady on December 30, 1989. [ cite web |url=http://www.horsemen4ever.com/1989.html |title=World Championship Wrestling: 1989 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Horsemen4ever.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] During the match, Cactus Jack would turn on Ned Brady, giving Ross and Tommy Rich the victory. [ Foley, Mick. "Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks". New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. (pg. 218) ISBN 0-06-103101-1 ]

During the next two years, he would wrestle for the promotion on a limited basis losing to Mike Rotundo at a house show in Hammond, Illinois on January 11, 1990. Several months later he fought to a time limit draw against Jack Victory at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 7 before losing to Abdullah the Butcher in Augusta, Georgia later that month. [ cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwcw.com/1990.html |title=World Championship Wrestling: Show Results - 1990 |accessdate= |author=Miguez, Edward C. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=TheHistoryofWCW.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] While touring Japan, he would team with Abdullah the Butcher facing Shohei Baba & Rusher Kimura at an event for All Japan Pro Wrestling on May 26. In one of his last appearances, he later defeated El Cubano at on January 30, 1991. [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wcw/1991 |title=World Championship Wrestling Results - 1990 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#14 |title=Clash of the Champions XIV |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Retirement and armed robbery

After leaving WCW on bad terms, he later filed a discrimination suit against the organization. Working as private investigator as well as a part-time probation officer in Acworth during the early 1990s, he also collected fines and probation fees in the local area.

In February 1996, Ross was arrested at his home in Acworth and formerly charged with four counts of bank robbery as the "Motorcycle Bandit", an unidentified man who made his escape on a Honda motorcycle, who had been robbing banks in the Acworth area for over three years as well as being charged in connection with the robbery of an Ingle's grocery store in Atlanta the pervious December. Following the robbery of a bank in downtown Acworth, Ross surrendered to federal agents on February 9.

He was also alleged to have attempted to set fire to the Acworth city clerk's office in addition to embezzeling funds from the city. [ "Ranger Ross hits rock-bottom". The Post and Courier. 18 Feb 1996 ]

Recent years

In early 2004, he began wrestling for several Southeastern independent promotions including appearances the North American Wrestling Alliance and Wrestling Xtreme Overload teaming with Lash LeRoux & Danny Dollar in a 6-man tag team match and later on teamed with Lash LeRoux defeated The Turbulators by disqualification at a televised event for Wrestling Xtreme Overload on August 21, 2004.

In 2005, he defeated Alan Martin at a Wrestle Inc. event on August 12 [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=13957 |title=Wrestling Observer Headlines: August 13, 2005 |accessdate= |author=Meltzer, Dave |authorlink=Dave Meltzer |coauthors= |date=2005-08-13 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Wrestling Observer |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, the following night, lost to Rainman in a four way match with Brad Armstrong and Simon Sermon at an event for Pro Wrestling Evolution. During the next two months, he and Leroux would also win the New Age Championship Wrestling Tag Team titles [ cite web |url=http://www.vv69.com/article.cfm/id/88332 |title=Pro Wrestling Returns to Shallotte, NC on September 10th |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-08-31 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, the following month, teamed with "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, The Patriot and The Stro defeating Ivan Koloff's Russian Army. [ cite web |url=http://www.thestro.com/col_stro_oct05.html |title=Words from Strozilla: "Grappling with Legends" |accessdate= |author=Kellum, Robert |authorlink=Robert Kellum |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month=October |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ "Wrestlers Fight For A Good Cause In 'Night Of The Superstars' Charity Event". Winston-Salem Journal. 29 Oct 2005 ] Returning to Pro Wrestling Evolution in early 2006, Ross defeated Adam Raddick by disqualification on April 22 and, at an event for TNT Pro Wrestling, teamed with Ken Aldridge to defeat Kamala & Mr. Terrific on May 6, 2006.

In January 2007, Ranger Ross tagged with his former enemy and his trainer: "The Nightmare" Ted Allen in his final match at Georgia Wrestling Promotions in Ellijay Georgia. They faced and beat an up and coming tag team known as The VIP (Violence In Progress) which consists of Tommy Lee and Loco motive

Championships and accomplishments

*National Wrestling Alliance:Regional:*NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/al/al-h.html |title=N.W.A. Alabama Heavyweight Title |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 231 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991

References

External links

* [http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/r/ranger-ross.php Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=1650&worker=Ranger+Ross CageMatch.de - Ranger Ross]
* [http://wrestling.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Main/Ranger+Ross Ranger Ross] at [http://wrestling.xwiki.com/ WrestleWiki]