Career

Early Days in Europe
Billy Robinson began his amateur wrestling career in Britain, becoming British National Wrestling Champion in 1957 and European Open Wrestling Champion in the light heavyweight class in 1958. He trained for eight years at the renowned Snake Pit under Billy Riley, enduring harsh conditions and rigorous training. As a professional, Robinson was an undefeated double-crown British and European Heavyweight Champion for Joint Promotions, winning titles from Billy Joyce before vacating them in 1970. He also had a notable feud with masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki and made a brief UK return in 1978.

In North America
Robinson moved to North America in 1970, wrestling for the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He was a three-time AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion and defended the title across the US and Canada. In 1974, he appeared in the film The Wrestler. He wrestled in Montreal during the early 1980s, becoming International Champion and Tag Team Champion with Pierre Mad Dog Lefebvre. Notably, he wrestled to a draw against WWWF Champion Bob Backlund in 1982.

Japan
Robinson gained popularity in Japan for his submission wrestling skills. In 1975, he faced Antonio Inoki in a highly publicized match dubbed “The Match Between the World’s Top Two Technicians.” He was part of the shoot-style wrestling movement influenced by catch wrestling legends like Karl Gotch and wrestled in the UWFi exhibition match against Nick Bockwinkel in 1992.

Post-Retirement
Robinson trained wrestlers in England and later in Japan at the UWF Snake Pit, mentoring talents such as James Maritato, Kazushi Sakuraba, and El Signo. He was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. Robinson passed away on March 3, 2014, at age 75.

Books
Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling, ECW Press

In Wrestling

Finishing Moves

• Double arm suplex
• Piledriver

Signature Moves

• Arm Drag
• Abdominal stretch
• Various takedowns
• Cartwheel evasion from Monkey flip
• Dropkick
• European uppercut
• Hammerlock/Bearhug combination
• Hangman’s neckbreaker
• Monkey flip
• Running forearm smash
• Scoop slam
• Side slam backbreaker
• Multiple suplex variations (belly to back, gutwrench)

Championships and Accomplishments

Amateur Wrestling

• British National Wrestling Championship (1 time)
• European Open Light Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1 time)

Professional Wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling

• NWA United National Championship (1 time)
• PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal winner (1980)

American Wrestling Association

• AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Verne Gagne and Crusher Lisowski

Cauliflower Alley Club

• Other honoree (1994)

Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)

Continental Wrestling Association

• CWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

International Wrestling Enterprise

• IWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

Joint Promotions

• British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Lutte Internationale

• Canadian International Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• Canadian International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pierre Lefebvre

New Japan Pro Wrestling

• Greatest Gaijin Best Bout Section (2002) vs. Antonio Inoki

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

• Class of 2011

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1974)
• Ranked #151 of top 500 singles wrestlers in “PWI Years” (2003)

Stampede Wrestling

• Hall of Fame

Tokyo Sports

• Match of the Year Award (1975) vs. Antonio Inoki

World Championship Wrestling (Australia)

• IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)