RIP Billy Robinson (1939-2014)

[mco543]

Billy is probably the best in-ring wrestler I've ever watched. I've pimped it several times here but seriously go watch Billy vs Inoki. It's best hour draw I've ever seen. His matches with Bock, Jumbo, Abby, even Baba are all great. He might be the only guy who got something great out of both Inoki and Baba.

He should've kicked Gagne's ass at the end of The Wrestler.

[cool arrow]

I thought he did.

 

The word legend gets thrown around a lot these days, but Billy was the real deal.

 

RIP

[Death From Above]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x14l96i_jumbo-tsuruta-c-vs-billy-robinson-ajpw-03-05-77_sport

 

A sad day. I've said it many times, but if one of the Robinson/Destroyer matches ever turned up on tape, that's my wrestling holy grail.

[GOTNW]

RIP. Possibly the greatest matworker of all time.

[jaedmc]

Billy Robinson vs. Antonio Inoki is maybe the best 60 minute broadway I've ever seen. Billy Robinson was the real deal. 

[Ramsey]

*Sigh*

 

Another of the true MASTERS of pro-wrestling gone. Just amazing all the way around, from his own ring career to his influence teaching shooters in Japan. Also, and I may be wrong, Billy may have been the last of the Wigan school "hookers" in the Lou Thesz meaning of the word.

[MGFanJay]

It's the end of an era for pro wrestling - fortunately, his teachings live on in Josh Barnett and Shayna Bazsler.

[Gordi the BJW fan]

Maybe the toughest man to ever lace up a pair of boots, and certainly one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. It's a sad day.

[Ryan]

[jaedmc]

I know I'm not the only one who spends a lot of time watching Billy Robinson teach crazy ass holds to dudes on youtube, right? 

[ultimoDANK]

Every young wrestler should be forced to watch some Billy Robinson matches.

[BurningBeard]

I'm glad he finally started to get more recognition these past few years due to catch wrestling 'catch-ing' *chortle* on in mainstream MMA. My catch wrestling trainer is part of the Wigan Snake Pit lineage and he's pretty broke up about Billy's death

 

Josh Barnett posted a great eulogy on his instagram too

http://instagram.com/p/lGTcO1txHD/

[Curt McGirt]

EDIT: I may not be the Grim Reaper of the board but I feel like it after the Allen Lanier thread. 

 

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/03/03/21507641.html

 

EDIT Pt. II: Here are some fucking awesome Billy Robinson matches, one of which has been talked about above. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3EyQut4WqE

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtjpW8pR3HY

[Pete]

And then there's this.

 

http://youtu.be/4r6qOty0U7M

 

Even in their 50s, Billy/Bock could kick some ass.

[Curt McGirt]

I guess we got both of these merged or something? I didn't see the other one, too busy watching this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYwtxc-iCLM

 

This is cool just for the fact that either Billy had an understanding with Abby or had too much respect for his Japanese fame, considering how much of an asshole he was to people under his skill set. The look on Abby's face at the end and him taunting Billy with the belt like a carrot is priceless. Ultimate proof that Baba was Booker #1 in the pro wrestling.

[Curt McGirt]

Nevermind I guess I just didn't see the other. Sorry.

[Curt McGirt]

To make up for my faux pas, here is Billy vs. Jumbo and Billy vs. Baba

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFCzOKvbh3k

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfRs2GpPPRg

[cool arrow]

 

I really wish this clip was longer.

[Thomas Bugg]

I'm going to be checking out his stuff pretty soon as I've heard nothing but good things.

 

RIP to a legend.

[mco543]

William Regal tweeted out this awesome video of Billy Robinson

 

[NintendoLogic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfRs2GpPPRg

 

Best match of the 70s, bar none.

[BRob]

I know I'm not the only one who spends a lot of time watching Billy Robinson teach crazy ass holds to dudes on youtube, right? 

It's how I usually pass a slow afternoon.

[Curt McGirt]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfRs2GpPPRg

 

Best match of the 70s, bar none.

 

 

I just watched it again. I don't know if it's the best, the Inoki match as I recall (and I'm not about to rewatch that monster right now) is better, but it's damn good. Robinson invents the Misawa elbow out of the corner and the part where he goes mug-to-mug with Baba is probably the closest we'll get to seeing Billy in a bar fight. Aside from some of the leglocks.