PAGE OF FAME: Yvon Robert

Yvon Robert in his prime

Yvon Robert
Montreal's all-time biggest wrestling star. Their top draw, and one of the world's best wrestlers from the mid-30s through the early 50s. Trademark hold was a rolling short-arm scissors.
Began wrestling as a teenager in the early 30s. At age 22, Robert was ranked by The Ring magazine as the 12th best wrestler in the world for 1937 (a young Lou Thesz was ranked 19th).
Came to national prominance in the U.S. in 1935 when he attacked world champion Danno O'Mahoney during a match in Massachusetts. O'Mahoney was wrestling Frank Judson when "between falls, Robert jumped into the ring, peeled off his clothes, and attacked Danno, putting his back on the canvas for thirty seconds. There was then a free-for-all and Danno was dropped to the canvas again by a right-hand punch from Robert." Robert claimed to be world champion, and defeated ex-champs Jim Browning and Ed Don George under more conventional circumstances to support his claim. He pinned O'Mahoney in July 1936 in Montreal to become world champion (as recognized in some areas). He held the title until his leg was broken in a match against Cliff Olsen later in the year, although Robert was still recognized as world champion in Montreal.

In 1942, Robert became the NWA world champion, defeating Wild Bill Longson for the belt in Montreal. Drew a Montreal-record gate of $21,000 for a match against Gorgeous George in 1948 and broke that record within a year. Stayed mostly around Montreal in the 40s and 50s, but did make appearances in Massachusetts and New York, and occasionally in other parts of the U.S.
Passed the torch as the top Quebec star to Johnny Rougeau in the 50s. Robert retired in 1959 and died in July 1971 at the age of 56.
Robert and his Toronto counterpart, Whipper Billy Watson, formed a championship tag team in 1953.
Younger brother Maurice Robert was a wrestler for many years, and son Yvon Robert Jr. also wrestled in the 1970s.
"The incomparable Yvon Robert. Truly here is a matman with one of the most amazing records in the annals of wrestling history and a natural-born skill that equals that of any of the immortal legendary old time wrestlers." (From WRESTLING AS YOU LIKED IT, Jan. 30, 1954)
"A truly great wrestler, Yvon Robert shares the spotlight with hockey star Maurice Richard as the top idol of the French speaking Canadian public. Yvon's marvellous mat skill is appreciated everywhere, and his footwork and speed bewilders opponents. 6' 230 lbs., muscular and well-conditioned. It's a treat to see him use his figure-4 short-arm scissors." (From CANADIAN TV WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED, 1957)

Prominent Titles:

16-time International champion (Montreal), 1936-56
American Wrestling Association World champion, 1936
National Wrestling Association World champion, 1942
British Empire champion (Montreal), 1943
Canadian tag champion (Toronto), with Whipper Watson, 1953
World tag champion (Tennessee), 1957