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HOF wrestler Bob Roop.... Wrestling allowed me to provide for my family

Posted: Sep 22nd 2019 By: www.abcactionnews.com

In 1969, Robert Michael “Bob” Roop graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in political science. Soon thereafter, he left home to pursue a career – not in political science but professional wrestling.

A chance meeting with a longtime friend – Larry Heiniemi (ring name Lars Anderson) – led him to Tampa where he got his start. Under the tutelage of legendary promoter Eddie Graham, Roop quickly learned the ropes and was put to work.

“I made my debut in Fort Myers, the next night I was in Eau Gallie,” Roop, 72, recalled during a recent trip to the Tampa Bay area. “Once I learned what I was doing, they started booking me into the bigger towns like Tampa, West Palm Beach and Miami.”

Roop already knew how to wrestle, he just needed an education on the theatrics in this form of the sport. His journey began as an eighth grader in East Lansing, Michigan. A year later – as a freshman - he earned a spot on his high school’s varsity squad.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go well as he compiled a record of 0-22-1.

Undeterred, Roop worked hard to improve his mat skills which he did at a rapid pace.

By the time he was a senior, he was among the most accomplished prep wrestlers in the state of Michigan. During his final year of high school, Roop went undefeated (27-0) on his way to a state championship.

His athletic prowess – Roop also played football - earned him a scholarship to Michigan State University. But after just 18 months, he quit and joined the Army.

Three years later – when his military obligation was through – Roop decided to give college another try. He enrolled at Southern Illinois where he was a four-time All-American wrestler.

In 1968, Roop was selected to represent the United States in the Olympic Games in Mexico City. He finished seventh in the Greco-Roman heavyweight division– his only loss was to the eventual Gold Medal Winner, Aleksandr Medved of the Soviet Union.

“To finish seventh in the world in anything – even tiddlywinks – is quite an accomplishment,” Roop explained. “It was an excellent experience, a lot of hard work and a lot of fun.”

His stint as an Olympian gave professional wrestling promoters a good storyline angle for his professional character – an arrogant villain who flaunted his top-notch amateur accomplishments. The promoters even embellished his story a bit, claiming Roop was an “Olympic Gold-Medal winner.”

“I was against the idea, I hated it. I even asked [the promoters] not to do it,” Roop says of his early days with Championship Wrestling from Florida. “Amateur wrestlers despise guys who make false claims. I was a legitimate All-American and National Champion and to me, that was good enough.”

But as Roop would learn these “little white lies” were good for business and what was good for business filled seats leading to bigger and better paydays for the grapplers. During his prime, he earned as much as $80,000 a year and got to see the world.

He retired from active ring duty in 1988 following an automobile accident in which he suffered a neck injury. At that time, Roop was working with CWF as a booker – the guy who picks the wrestlers and helps script the matches. He was also running a professional wrestling school in Davie.

Among his students was Larry Pfohl, a professional football player and bodybuilder. Roop met him in the Sunshine State at a celebrity golf event and was greatly impressed by his physique. He arranged for Pfhol – who later adopted the ring name Lex Luger – to be trained by Hiro Matsuda, who also
trained Hulk Hogan and Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff.

In 2006, Roop was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. In addition to his ring accomplishments, Roop also appeared in a Sylvester Stallone film “Paradise Alley.”

In 2002, he became a published author, writing a book called “Death Match.” Looking back, Roop has no regrets from his days working in and around the square circle.

“Call it [professional wrestling] hokey if you will, make fun of it, I understand. I am a college graduate, but I had a blast doing it for as long as I did, it allowed me to provide for my family and it was quite an education,” Roop said.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

Week of Sun 11-08 to Sat: 11-14

11-08 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
11-08 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
11-08 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
11-08 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-08 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
11-08 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
11-08 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title
11-09 1960 Danny McShain became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
11-09 1976 The Spoiler def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
11-09 1978 Ron Bass became the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
11-09 1986 One Man Gang def. Terry Gordy for the UWF Heavyweight Title
11-09 1986 Savannah Jack def. Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Title
11-09 1986 Bill Irwin & Leroy Brown def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the UWF Tag Team Titles
11-09 2002 Sonny C def. Butch Dalton for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
11-09 2002 Dexter Hardaway def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-09 2012 Kyle Kelly def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-09 2012 The Swamp Men (Amphibian & Reptile) def. The Legion of Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
11-09 2013 Michael Wolf def. Kidd Krash for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
11-09 2013 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Richard Sharpe) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
11-09 2013 Kidd Krash def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
11-09 2019 Double D def. Dexter Hardaway for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
11-09 2024 Birdman def. Umbra for the WAH Spotlight Title
11-09 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) def. The Grudge (Dr. Corvus & Giganto) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
11-10 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
11-10 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
11-10 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
11-10 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
11-10 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-11 1985 Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare def. Wendell Cooley & Al Perez for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Title
11-11 2006 Mustafa Sharmoot def. Glen Steel for the AACW Heavyweight Title
11-11 2017 Running Wolf def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Title
11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
11-11 2022 Koko def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez (subbing for Big Smooth) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
11-12 2022 Andrew Fenix def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
11-12 2022 Elijah Sparks def. San La Muerte for the WAH Spotlight Title
11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 1964 Angelo Savoldi def. Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-13 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
11-13 2021 Rebel Hearts (Christian Temple & Justin Gray) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Title
11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Title
11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Title
11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title

11-08

Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th Today!
Rika Wildlee Nov 8th Today!
Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th Today!
Dizzy Davis Nov 8th Today!
Kolossus Nov 9th
Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Joyce Grable Nov 9th
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Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
Gil Knutson Nov 9th
Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
Danny Savich Nov 10th
Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
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Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
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Little Cloud Nov 11th
Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
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Ty Thunder Nov 12th
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Thud Powell Nov 12th
Gary Tool Nov 12th
Varik Vayne Nov 12th
Big Smooth Nov 13th
L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
Kirk Castle Nov 14th
Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
Tiny Bell Nov 14th
Shane Sanders Nov 14th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Sean Pearl Nov 15th
Super Beast Nov 15th
Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
Kikutaro Nov 17th
Kenny K Nov 17th
Snowman Nov 17th
Johnny Graves Nov 17th
Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
Chase Bristow Nov 17th
Drake Gallows Nov 17th
Brent Wall Nov 17th
Josh Hogan Nov 17th
Chris Russo Nov 18th
Reaper Nov 18th
Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
Ricky Gibson Nov 19th
Turnbuckle Tim Nov 19th
El Matador Uno Nov 20th
Casey Platinum Nov 20th
Red Berry Nov 20th
S. L. U. G. G. Nov 20th
Johnny Rich Nov 21st
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Afa Nov 21st
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1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

More Look Back In History

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HOF wrestler Bob Roop.... Wrestling allowed me to provide for my family

Posted: Sep 22nd 2019 By: www.abcactionnews.com

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Spotlight in History

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