UK Wrestling Legend Billy Robinson Passes Away At 74
Posted: Mar 3rd 2014 By: CMBurnham
Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling reported on Facebook today that his good friend Billy Robinson passed away in his sleep.
Robinson was 74.
Robinson was the most successful wrestler to come from the United Kingdom on an international basis. A former amateur wrestling champion who was an expert in submissions as the star of the Wigan school in the early 60s, he became a big star in Japan after winning a tournament for the IWE world championship.
Later, he became a champion in places like Australia, Hawaii and Western Canada, before his best known U.S. run in the 70s working for the AWA, where many considered him at the time as the best technical wrestler in North America. While a lot of people didn't enjoy working with him, and he had a headstrong attitude and was a tough guy, adept at wrestling, submissions and boxing and liked to fight, even his detractors wouldn't deny his immense talent as a performer, that he was a top-tier Hall of Famer, nor that he would be on any kind of a list of the all-time greatest in pro wrestling history.
Verne Gagne for years booked Robinson as the top contender for the AWA title, and his 1975 match with Antonio Inoki was considered as the classic match of that time period in Japan. Robinson also helped train many of the biggest names in wrestling including Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Sgt. Slaughter and The Iron Sheik.
In recent years, Robinson's name was well known in MMA, as the surviving expert of the old Wigan catch wrestling submission system, and his proteges included Kazushi Sakurba, Josh Barnett, Harry Smith and Shayna Baszler.
Shannon wrote:
"I am unbelievably sad to report that my very good friend Billy Robinson passed away today. I hadn't heard from him in days so I contacted his apartment complex to check in on him. When I called back for a progress report, the apartment manager put the police on the phone. It seems he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was a lion of a man, bigger than life in so many ways. My wife and I named our youngest son Lliam in his honor. You will be sorely missed, my friend. Thank you so much for living the life you did."
Supplemental Information
Latest News
MVP denies claims Hurt Syndicate refused to put wrestlers over in AEW
MVP is refuting the rumors that the Hurt Syndicate have refused to put people over in AEW. In a se... Read More
The Scoop
NEWS The latest uploads to the WCW YouTube channel are the infamous Warrior vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan match from "Halloween Havoc 1998"; the ful... Read More
AJ Styles on retirement, matches with Cena and Gunther, his son, and more
AJ Styles sat down with Chris Van Vliet in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss his retirement match w... Read More
- Ethan Page talks NXT, move to main roster, working with Chelsea Green, The Rock, and more
- WWE SmackDown Comes to OKC: Royce Keys talks Royal Rumble debut
- Jeff Jarrett talks relationship with Dixie Carter, Dark Side of the Ring, TNA, and more
- Carlito talks departing WWE, time in Judgment Day, Bron Breakker spear, and more
Upcoming Events
- MWAS · Oct 28 8:00pm · Sapulpa
- MWAS · Oct 29 8:00pm · Tulsa
- MWAS · Oct 30 7:00pm · Kellyville
- BUW · Oct 30 7:30pm · Tulsa
- MWAS · Oct 31 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWE · Nov 1 2:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Nov 6 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MajCW · Nov 7 5:00pm · Sasakwa
- WFC · Nov 7 7:00pm · Tulsa
- BUW · Nov 13 7:30pm · Tulsa
- EPW · Nov 14 6:00pm · Spencer
- UWO · Nov 14 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · Nov 14 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- TexPro · Nov 14 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWO · Nov 20 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Nov 20 7:00pm · Tulsa
- BUW · Oct 30 7:30pm · Tulsa
- BUW · Nov 13 7:30pm · Tulsa
- EPW · Nov 14 6:00pm · Spencer
- MajCW · Nov 7 5:00pm · Sasakwa
- MWAS · Oct 28 8:00pm · Sapulpa
- MWAS · Oct 29 8:00pm · Tulsa
- MWAS · Oct 30 7:00pm · Kellyville
- MWAS · Oct 31 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · Nov 14 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- TexPro · Nov 14 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · Nov 1 2:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Nov 6 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Nov 14 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Nov 20 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Nov 20 7:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Nov 7 7:00pm · Tulsa
There are currently no upcoming appearences.
Spotlight in History
- 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
- 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31
- 10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
- 10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
- 10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
- 10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
- 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
- 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
- 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
- 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
- Halo Oct 26th Today!
- Eddie Williams Oct 26th Today!
- Anthony Wayne Oct 26th Today!
- Troy Graham Oct 26th Today!
- Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
- AWOL Oct 27th
- Miss Linda Oct 27th
- MVP Oct 28th
- Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
- Chris Smith Oct 28th
- Jake Boulder Oct 28th
- Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
- Mischief Oct 29th
- D. J. Hall Oct 29th
- Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
- Debbie Combs Oct 30th
- George Wells Oct 30th
- Danny McShain Oct 30th
- Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
- Jayson Boss Oct 31st
- Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
- Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
- Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
- Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
- Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
- Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
- Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
- Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
- Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
- Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
- Assassin 1 Nov 4th
- Max Leon Nov 4th
- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
- Bill Decker Nov 5th
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th
- Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
- Darin Matthews Nov 6th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
- Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th