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Bruno Bekkar

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1257: 287:, was also brought into the business by Ashby. Ashby was his first tag partner and the two went on several overseas tours together early in Williams career. In time, Ashby became New Zealand's most popular "big man" and enjoyed immense fame in his native country during the 1970s. In 1972, Ashby encountered 471:. Ashby one of the first such legends to become involved in the newer promotions which began to emerge during the 21st century, particularly, with Kiwi Pro Wrestling in 2006. He not only attended live events but was also inducted into its New Zealand Wrestling Hall of Fame, along with Bob Crozier, 1175: 186:. He was one of several veterans involved in Kiwi Pro Wrestling, one of the three major companies in New Zealand, and was inducted into KPW's New Zealand Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2009, Ashby was ranked #6 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by 303:
on 22 February 1972. At one point in the match, Andre lifted the eighteen stone Ashby into the air, sat him on top of a ringpost and patted his cheek "as one would a naughty boy". In the last moments of the match, according to the
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on both of them and the bout was all over". Ashby also wrestled Andre in singles matches and later told the press "thank goodness he leaves the country soon. If he stays much longer there will be no professional wrestlers left."
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show in Auckland on 15 March 2007. On 31 October 2008, Ashby appeared with Kurt Hobman, Steve Rickard, Juno Huia, Cowboy Billy Wright, Ricky Wallace and Bob Crozier at the KPW supercard "Halloween Howl 3" held in
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two weeks later. After another two months as champions Ashby and Kent finally dropped the titles back to Invader I and Super Gladiator on 26 January 1982, and went their separate ways at the end of the tour.
135:'s All Star-Pro Wrestling and for other promoters in New Zealand and Australia from the early 1960s until his retirement in 1992. One of the country's biggest stars during the 1970s, he is a three-time 1034: 874: 1088: 448:
Ashby returned to New Zealand where he spent the rest of his career working for Rickard and other promoters. In 1985, he won a championship tournament to claim the then vacant
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on 7 May 1965. Like many New Zealand wrestlers of the period, Ashby became an established journeyman wrestler by the end of the decade and was a very big favourite in
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On 24 January 2004, Ashby made his first public appearance in over 12 years when he and other veteran New Zealand wrestlers attended a "legends reunion" show at
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to pay tribute to Al Hobman who had died the previous month. In 2009, was ranked #6 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by
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Brian Ashby debuted in the early 1960s. He spent some time in Australia early in his career, competing under his real name, and faced
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David Baker; Graham Cawthon; Barry Rose; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Ron Widmar; Jim Zordani (21 November 2009).
342:, Kung Fu Lee and Kevin Martin in Auckland on 22 August. A month later in Wellington, he and Brodie teamed with 825: 1202: 847: 492:. Ashby was also one of the many wrestlers interviewed for the upcoming New Zealand wrestling documentary 875:"This Day in History: Kurt Angle Wins His First World Title, Hayabusa Paralyzed During A Match And More" 308:, Ashby and his partner attempted to attack Andre together, but "they paid dearly for this, as whipped 460:
on 22 November 1992. All Star-Pro Wrestling closed shortly afterwards, and with the general decline of
236: 235:. He was also one of the earliest to wrestle in North America alongside fellow New Zealanders such as 896:
David Baker; Graham Cawthon; Barry Rose; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Jim Zordani (11 September 2009).
479:, by KPW Commissioner Butch Miller on 8 December 2006; he also made a guest appearance at a sold out 432: 280: 179: 1149: 663: 532: 408: 358: 292: 276: 252: 175: 148: 1346: 1092: 722: 638: 400: 152: 48: 1065: 431:
on 22 October 1981. They held the titles for a little over a month before losing the belts to
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Ashby had memorable bouts with other foreign wrestlers especially in his later appearances on
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Reign of Fire: My Testimony from the Depths of Hell I Rose into the Majesty of God Almighty
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during his brief stint in All Star-Pro Wrestling; he and Brodie, with Bugs McGraw, lost to
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in late-April 1965; he lost to Funk on both occasions. He briefly held the NWA
1252: 322:. According to wrestling historian Steve Yohe, Ashby may have wrestled as the 1340: 1309: 956:
Greg Oliver & Steve Johnson (2005). "Top 20: #1 The Fabulous Kangaroos".
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David Baker; Mark Eastridge; Rich Tate; Jim Zordani (16 April 2010).
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and a former NWA Australia Heavyweight Champion. He also teamed with
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first faced Andre and Jock Ruddock at a near sold-out show at the
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Ashby continued wrestling internationally as well. While touring
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The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 261-2002
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A rising star in Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling, he and
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and Super Gladiator on 23 November, but won them back in
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David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results
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David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results
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David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Superstar Wrestling Results
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to pro wrestling and who later joined Miller to form
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Archived from 658: 656: 572:. MidAtlanticGateway.com. Archived from 539:WWC North American Tag Team Championship 511:NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship 450:NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship 267:trained several wrestlers at the famous 258: 157:WWC North American Tag Team Championship 1352:New Zealand male professional wrestlers 1141: 631:"My Top Ten New Zealand Born Wrestlers" 1339: 1292: 1182:. Kiwi Pro Wrestling. 19 November 2008 931:"W.W.C. North American tag Team Title" 617: 1266: 1215: 653: 462:professional wrestling in New Zealand 334:in 1973. In 1977, he was allied with 1087:Ogilvie, Steve (21 September 2010). 137:NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion 1204:Bruno Bekkar (An Interview Excerpt) 524:Australian Heavyweight Championship 395:In 1981, Ashby agreed to team with 385:Don Kent and the Fabulous Kangaroos 217:Australian Heavyweight Championship 13: 1033:Woodward, Bob (22 November 2010). 1010:Woodward, Bob (22 November 2006). 848:"Giant Baba - Match Results: 1979" 737: 417:WWC North American Tag Team titles 369:in a 6-man tag team match against 14: 1373: 1245: 873:Woodward, Bob (22 October 2008). 500:Championships and accomplishments 174:, most notably, Jock Ruddock and 166:trained several wrestlers out of 76:6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 767:Yohe, Steve (19 February 2002). 1362:21st-century New Zealand people 1357:20th-century New Zealand people 1194: 1168: 1111: 1080: 1049: 1026: 1003: 985:"New Zealand Heavyweight Title" 949: 889: 866: 840: 809: 713:Cameron, Dave (November 2008). 668:"New Year Greetings From Butch" 787: 769:"My Dinner with the Destroyer" 760: 706: 686: 599:"Australian Heavyweight Title" 557: 1: 1058:"Wrestling Reunion at Petone" 960:. ECW Press. pp. 17–24. 795:"Remembering...Bruiser Brody" 551: 399:as the fourth incarnation of 194:Professional wrestling career 151:as the fourth incarnation of 49:Professional wrestling career 1156:. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com 629:Cameron, Dave (March 2009). 7: 1056:Cameron, Dave (June 2007). 797:. NZPWI.co.nz. 11 July 2006 464:, Ashby decided to retire. 444:Later career and retirement 275:including Jock Ruddock and 155:and together twice won the 10: 1378: 1251:Bruno Bekkar's profile at 388: 123:professional wrestler and 1300: 1222:Gonzalez, Manuel (2001). 494:A Kiwi Century on the Mat 199:Early career in Australia 127:, known by his ring name 106: 98: 88: 84:114 kg (251 lb) 80: 72: 54: 47: 36: 28: 23: 1228:Solie's Title Histories 1148:Ogilvie, Steve (2007). 775:. WrestlingClassics.com 533:World Wrestling Council 409:World Wrestling Council 359:All-Japan Pro Wrestling 149:World Wrestling Council 1093:Cauliflower Alley Club 506:All Star-Pro Wrestling 486:Wellington High School 401:the Fabulous Kangaroos 354:on 12 September 1977. 326:Dr. X who teamed with 153:the Fabulous Kangaroos 991:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003 937:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003 605:. Puroresu Dojo. 2003 259:Return to New Zealand 1211:: KiwiWrestling.com. 1129:on 30 September 2011 1062:Fight Times Magazine 989:Wrestling-Titles.com 935:Wrestling-Titles.com 828:on 26 September 2010 750:. Lulu.com (pg. 20) 719:Fight Times Magazine 635:Fight Times Magazine 603:Wrestling-Titles.com 490:Fight Times Magazine 481:Impact Pro Wrestling 373:, Tiger Toguchi and 188:Fight Times Magazine 1099:on 25 December 2010 576:on 14 December 2009 361:in 1979, he joined 293:"Brutal" Bob Miller 131:, who competed for 1294:Fabulous Kangaroos 1068:on 18 October 2008 908:on 10 October 2009 674:. Wrestling.net.nz 666:(5 January 2007). 391:Fabulous Kangaroos 344:King Curtis Iaukea 1334: 1333: 967:978-1-55022-683-6 702:. 14 August 2010. 699:Manawatu Standard 375:Akihisa Takachiho 306:Manawatu Standard 114: 113: 1369: 1327:Johnny Heffernan 1287: 1280: 1273: 1264: 1263: 1259: 1240: 1239: 1237: 1235: 1219: 1213: 1212: 1198: 1192: 1191: 1189: 1187: 1172: 1166: 1165: 1163: 1161: 1145: 1139: 1138: 1136: 1134: 1119:"Oklahoma Scoop" 1115: 1109: 1108: 1106: 1104: 1095:. Archived from 1084: 1078: 1077: 1075: 1073: 1064:. Archived from 1053: 1047: 1046: 1044: 1042: 1030: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1019: 1007: 1001: 1000: 998: 996: 981: 972: 971: 953: 947: 946: 944: 942: 927: 918: 917: 915: 913: 893: 887: 886: 884: 882: 870: 864: 863: 861: 859: 844: 838: 837: 835: 833: 813: 807: 806: 804: 802: 791: 785: 784: 782: 780: 764: 758: 741: 735: 734: 732: 730: 725:on 18 April 2009 721:. Archived from 710: 704: 703: 690: 684: 683: 681: 679: 660: 651: 650: 648: 646: 637:. 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Solie.org 413:Al Costello 405:Puerto Rico 363:Kintarō Ōki 221:Larry O'Dea 145:Puerto Rico 121:New Zealand 117:Bryan Ashby 102:early 1960s 68:Bryan Ashby 32:Bryan Ashby 1341:Categories 1209:Wellington 552:References 477:Rip Morgan 371:Giant Baba 352:Samoan Joe 348:Mark Lewin 319:On the Mat 273:Wellington 241:Abe Jacobs 172:Wellington 89:Trained by 41:Wellington 29:Birth name 1180:News Item 744:Afi, Siva 672:News Item 513:(3 times) 473:Al Hobman 433:Invader I 407:with the 379:Akio Sato 265:Al Hobman 229:Singapore 209:Melbourne 164:Al Hobman 159:in 1981. 1318:Don Kent 1234:28 April 526:(1 time) 429:San Juan 397:Don Kent 346:to beat 340:Siva Afi 332:Auckland 233:Malaysia 213:Brisbane 141:Don Kent 1207:(DVD). 1186:26 July 1133:26 July 1103:26 July 1072:26 July 1041:26 July 1018:26 July 912:26 July 881:26 July 858:26 July 832:26 July 801:26 July 779:26 July 729:26 July 678:26 July 580:26 July 543:2 times 437:Bayamón 147:-based 143:in the 125:trainer 107:Retired 1160:8 July 1150:"2007" 995:30 May 964:  941:30 May 754:  645:8 July 609:30 May 469:Petone 225:Sydney 419:from 99:Debut 1236:2010 1188:2010 1162:2010 1135:2010 1105:2010 1074:2010 1043:2010 1020:2010 997:2010 962:ISBN 943:2010 914:2010 883:2010 860:2010 834:2010 803:2010 781:2010 752:ISBN 731:2010 680:2010 647:2010 611:2010 582:2010 475:and 423:and 421:Jack 365:and 251:and 231:and 211:and 110:1992 37:Born 427:in 330:in 299:in 271:in 223:in 207:in 170:in 1343:: 1226:. 1178:. 1152:. 1121:. 1091:. 1060:. 987:. 976:^ 933:. 922:^ 900:. 850:. 820:. 771:. 746:. 717:. 696:. 670:. 655:^ 633:. 619:^ 601:. 590:^ 568:. 496:. 255:. 247:, 243:, 239:, 190:. 1286:e 1279:t 1272:v 1238:. 1190:. 1164:. 1137:. 1107:. 1076:. 1045:. 1022:. 999:. 970:. 945:. 916:. 885:. 862:. 836:. 805:. 783:. 733:. 682:. 649:. 613:. 584:. 545:) 541:(

Index

Wellington
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
John da Silva
New Zealand
trainer
Steve Rickard
NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion
Don Kent
Puerto Rico
World Wrestling Council
the Fabulous Kangaroos
WWC North American Tag Team Championship
Al Hobman
Koolman's Gym
Wellington
Butch Miller
Luke Williams
the Sheepherders
Dory Funk Jr.
Melbourne
Brisbane
Australian Heavyweight Championship
Larry O'Dea
Sydney
Singapore
Malaysia
Pat O'Connor
Abe Jacobs
John da Silva

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