Billy Robinson Death – Undisclosed Causes
1939-2014 (Age 74)
Born on September 18, 1939, Englishman Billy Robinson parlayed a legitimate background in amateur wrestling (which included winning the British National Championship and the European Open Light Heavyweight Wrestling Championship) into a long and successful career as a pro, eventually gaining recognition as one of the world’s greatest technicians and shooters.
Billy Robinson was known for his technical skills in the ring. A mainstay of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), he also worked worldwide, including All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and North American territories such as Calgary Stampede Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida, winning numerous championships.
A Brutal Taskmaster
Billy Robinson helped Verne Gagne train wrestlers in the AWA and was known as a ruthless taskmaster in and out of the ring. At times, the testy Englishman was accused of being a bully, and payback was expected in the world of wrestling. His real-life brawls with fellow wrestlers Peter Maivia and “Sailor” Ed White became the stuff of legend.
The British grappler’s fondness for drinking led to troubles as his career began to wind down, but he saw a career resurgence when he worked in Japan’s new UWFI promotion, training wrestlers and acting as a figurehead. Robinson was highly-regarded in Japan, a nation that always sought out wrestling’s creme de la creme.
Billy Robinson Death
The technical wizard worked a retirement match there on May 8, 1992, against longtime rival Nick Bockwinkel. From there, Robinson continued training aspiring grapplers. Billy Robinson died in his sleep on March 3, 2014, at age 74.
Other pro wrestlers who died in 2014 include Big Daddy V, Jimmy Del Ray, Mae Young, Ox Baker, Sean O’Haire, and The Ultimate Warrior.
What are your favorite memories of Billy Robinson? Let us know in the comments below.
