Jump to content

Alexis Smirnoff: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Replace magic links with templates per local RfC and MediaWiki RfC
Rescuing 7 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.4)
Line 28: Line 28:
Winning the International Tag Team titles with [[Fidel Castillo]] in 1970, the two were billed as the "European Tag Team Champions" while touring [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] in January 1971 defending the titles against [[Doug Somers]] & [[Bobby Shane]], [[Jim Dalton|Jack & Jim Dalton]], and [[The Assassins (wrestling)|The Assassins]]. During the match against The Assassins Castillo suffered a major cut by [[Tom Renesto|Assassin #1]] during a match at the [[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta, Georgia)|Atlanta Municipal Auditorium]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] on January 29, 1971.
Winning the International Tag Team titles with [[Fidel Castillo]] in 1970, the two were billed as the "European Tag Team Champions" while touring [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] in January 1971 defending the titles against [[Doug Somers]] & [[Bobby Shane]], [[Jim Dalton|Jack & Jim Dalton]], and [[The Assassins (wrestling)|The Assassins]]. During the match against The Assassins Castillo suffered a major cut by [[Tom Renesto|Assassin #1]] during a match at the [[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta, Georgia)|Atlanta Municipal Auditorium]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] on January 29, 1971.


Lamarche also participated in a 14-man championship tournament for the vacant NWA Georgia Heavyweight title being eliminated by [[Jody Hamilton|Assassin #2]] in the opening rounds on February 5, 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/cards-results/1970s/1971-1.html|title=Cards & Results: 1970-1979|date=March 2007|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414093236/http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com:80/cards-results/1970s/1971-1.html|archivedate=2009-04-14}}</ref> He also appeared at an event for the [[World Wide Wrestling Federation]] defeating [[Frank Holtz]] at the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] on March 24, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm|title=WWF: 1972|author=Cawthon, Graham|date=August 2006|publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427020845/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm|archivedate=2009-04-27}}</ref>
Lamarche also participated in a 14-man championship tournament for the vacant NWA Georgia Heavyweight title being eliminated by [[Jody Hamilton|Assassin #2]] in the opening rounds on February 5, 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/cards-results/1970s/1971-1.html |title=Cards & Results: 1970-1979 |date=March 2007 |publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414093236/http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/cards-results/1970s/1971-1.html |archivedate=2009-04-14 }}</ref> He also appeared at an event for the [[World Wide Wrestling Federation]] defeating [[Frank Holtz]] at the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] on March 24, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm|title=WWF: 1972|author=Cawthon, Graham|date=August 2006|publisher=Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427020845/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/72.htm|archivedate=2009-04-27}}</ref>


Between 1970-74, he faced many of the top stars in the region including [[Johnny Rougeau]], [[Abdullah the Butcher]], [[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]], and [[Mad Dog Vachon]] as well as his former trainer Edouard Carpentier eventually winning the Montreal International Championship before leaving for the United States once again.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/dubois.html|title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Michel "Le Justice" Dubois|author=Oliver, Greg|date=2002-06-07|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref>
Between 1970-74, he faced many of the top stars in the region including [[Johnny Rougeau]], [[Abdullah the Butcher]], [[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]], and [[Mad Dog Vachon]] as well as his former trainer Edouard Carpentier eventually winning the Montreal International Championship before leaving for the United States once again.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/dubois.html|title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Michel "Le Justice" Dubois|author=Oliver, Greg|date=2002-06-07|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref>
Line 37: Line 37:
Lamarche began wrestling for the Funk brothers in their Texas based promotion as '''Mike "The Judge" Dubois''' in 1974 eventually winning the Texas Heavyweight Championship before moving on the Carolinas where he teamed with [[Rene Goulet|Jacques Goulet]] for two years, later losing to [[Dino Bravo]] & [[Tim Woods]] in the finals of a championship tournament for the vacant [[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]] on April 10, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-t.html|title=N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
Lamarche began wrestling for the Funk brothers in their Texas based promotion as '''Mike "The Judge" Dubois''' in 1974 eventually winning the Texas Heavyweight Championship before moving on the Carolinas where he teamed with [[Rene Goulet|Jacques Goulet]] for two years, later losing to [[Dino Bravo]] & [[Tim Woods]] in the finals of a championship tournament for the vacant [[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]] on April 10, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-t.html|title=N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>


While touring with [[Ivan Koloff]], he later began wrestling as '''Alexis Smirnoff''' in San Francisco during 1977. While in the area, he advanced to the finals of a 10-man championship tournament to fill the vacant NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship being eliminated by [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]] on March 12 although he later defeated Patterson for the title a month later on April 16, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/U.S.%20Heavyweight%20Champions.html|title=U.S. Heavyweight Champions|author=Berry, Viktor|date=2000-05-25|publisher=An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118081747/http://homepage.mac.com:80/viktor2/btw/U.S.%20Heavyweight%20Champions.html|archivedate=2008-01-18}}</ref>
While touring with [[Ivan Koloff]], he later began wrestling as '''Alexis Smirnoff''' in San Francisco during 1977. While in the area, he advanced to the finals of a 10-man championship tournament to fill the vacant NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship being eliminated by [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]] on March 12 although he later defeated Patterson for the title a month later on April 16, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/U.S.%20Heavyweight%20Champions.html |title=U.S. Heavyweight Champions |author=Berry, Viktor |date=2000-05-25 |publisher=An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118081747/http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/U.S.%20Heavyweight%20Champions.html |archivedate=2008-01-18 }}</ref>


Although losing the title to [[Dean Higuchi|Dean Ho]] on July 16, he later faced masked wrestler [[Red Bastien|Texas Red]] as well as wrestling against [[Pepper Gomez]] in a "taped fist" match on November 13, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/Wrestling%20in%20Salinas.html|title=Wrestling in Salinas|author=Berry, Viktor |authorlink= |date=2000-05-25|publisher=An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705100035/http://homepage.mac.com:80/viktor2/btw/Wrestling%20in%20Salinas.html|archivedate=2008-07-05}}</ref> He wrestled veterans such as [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]], [[Harley Race]] and The Sheik as well as younger wrestlers including [[Sgt. Slaughter]], [[Roddy Piper]] and [[Jimmy Snuka]] during his time in San Francisco.{{cn|date=December 2016}}
Although losing the title to [[Dean Higuchi|Dean Ho]] on July 16, he later faced masked wrestler [[Red Bastien|Texas Red]] as well as wrestling against [[Pepper Gomez]] in a "taped fist" match on November 13, 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/Wrestling%20in%20Salinas.html |title=Wrestling in Salinas |author=Berry, Viktor |authorlink= |date=2000-05-25 |publisher=An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705100035/http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/Wrestling%20in%20Salinas.html |archivedate=2008-07-05 }}</ref> He wrestled veterans such as [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]], [[Harley Race]] and The Sheik as well as younger wrestlers including [[Sgt. Slaughter]], [[Roddy Piper]] and [[Jimmy Snuka]] during his time in San Francisco.{{cn|date=December 2016}}


The following year, he also wrestled in the St. Louis-area teaming with [[Bob Brown (wrestler)|"Bulldog" Bob Brown]], [[Doug Somers]], [[Jack Krueger]] and [[Joe Palardy]] in early 1978. On April 28, he wrestled two matches in one night substituting for [[Buddy Wolff]] in a singles match losing to [[Pat O'Connor (wrestler)|Pat O'Connor]] and later teaming with Doug Somers and Bennie Ramirez in a 6-man tag team match to defeat [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]], [[Terry Gibbs (wrestler)|Terry Gibbs]] and [[Sailor Art Thomas|"Sailor" Art Thomas]].<ref name="Bio"/>
The following year, he also wrestled in the St. Louis-area teaming with [[Bob Brown (wrestler)|"Bulldog" Bob Brown]], [[Doug Somers]], [[Jack Krueger]] and [[Joe Palardy]] in early 1978. On April 28, he wrestled two matches in one night substituting for [[Buddy Wolff]] in a singles match losing to [[Pat O'Connor (wrestler)|Pat O'Connor]] and later teaming with Doug Somers and Bennie Ramirez in a 6-man tag team match to defeat [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]], [[Terry Gibbs (wrestler)|Terry Gibbs]] and [[Sailor Art Thomas|"Sailor" Art Thomas]].<ref name="Bio"/>
Line 66: Line 66:
During July 1986, he teamed with [[Allen Coage|Bad News Allen]] defeating [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] & [[Kazuo Yamazaki]] on July 20 and fought to a double count-out with [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] & [[George Takano]] on July 27 although, with [[Johnny Mantell]], lost a 6-man tag team match to Antonio Inoki, [[Kengo Kimura]] and Tastumi Fujinami on July 29.{{cn|date=December 2016}}
During July 1986, he teamed with [[Allen Coage|Bad News Allen]] defeating [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] & [[Kazuo Yamazaki]] on July 20 and fought to a double count-out with [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] & [[George Takano]] on July 27 although, with [[Johnny Mantell]], lost a 6-man tag team match to Antonio Inoki, [[Kengo Kimura]] and Tastumi Fujinami on July 29.{{cn|date=December 2016}}


After losing to Antonio Inoki & Kengo Kimura on August 1,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/coage.html|title=Wrestling Results Archive: Bad News Allen|author=Nevada, Vance|author2=Mike Rodgers|date=2005-03-30|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref> he later appeared in a series of matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo's [[Sumo Hall]] teaming with [[Hacksaw Higgins]] against [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] & George Takano on August 5, 1986 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html#0886|title=Sumo Hall 8/86|publisher=ProwrestlingHistory|accessdate=December 15, 2016}}</ref> and with [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Scott Hall]] against Takano and [[Umanosuke Ueda]] on June 12, 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html#0687 |title=Sumo Hall 6/87|accessdate=December 15, 2016|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218134019/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com:80/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html|archivedate=2007-12-18}}</ref>
After losing to Antonio Inoki & Kengo Kimura on August 1,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/coage.html|title=Wrestling Results Archive: Bad News Allen|author=Nevada, Vance|author2=Mike Rodgers|date=2005-03-30|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref> he later appeared in a series of matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo's [[Sumo Hall]] teaming with [[Hacksaw Higgins]] against [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] & George Takano on August 5, 1986 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html#0886|title=Sumo Hall 8/86|publisher=ProwrestlingHistory|accessdate=December 15, 2016}}</ref> and with [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Scott Hall]] against Takano and [[Umanosuke Ueda]] on June 12, 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html#0687 |title=Sumo Hall 6/87 |accessdate=December 15, 2016 |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218134019/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/sumo90.html |archivedate=2007-12-18 }}</ref>


===American Wrestling Association and later career===
===American Wrestling Association and later career===
During the last years of his career, he worked for the American Wrestling Association teaming with [[Paul DeMarco|I Yuri Gordienko]] feuding with the [[Midnight Rockers]] for several months, eventually losing to the Midnight Rockers and [[Curt Hennig]] in a 6-man tag team match with [[Doug Somers]] and [[Buddy Rose|"Playboy" Buddy Rose]] at the supercard [[Battle by the Bay]] in June 1986. He later pinned [[Big Van Vader|Leon "Bull Power" White]] during a 6-man tag team match with [[Boris Zhukov]] and [[Yuri Gordyenko]] against [[Greg Gagne (wrestler)|Greg Gagne]] and [[Earthquake Ferris]] at the supercard Blood On The Sand in October 1986,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigvancrush.com/supercards.htm|title=It's Vader Time: Supercards|accessdate=December 15, 2016|date=February 2006|publisher=BigVanCrush.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007042433/http://www.bigvancrush.com:80/supercards.htm|archivedate=2007-10-07}}</ref> although he soon left the promotion by the end of the year.
During the last years of his career, he worked for the American Wrestling Association teaming with [[Paul DeMarco|I Yuri Gordienko]] feuding with the [[Midnight Rockers]] for several months, eventually losing to the Midnight Rockers and [[Curt Hennig]] in a 6-man tag team match with [[Doug Somers]] and [[Buddy Rose|"Playboy" Buddy Rose]] at the supercard [[Battle by the Bay]] in June 1986. He later pinned [[Big Van Vader|Leon "Bull Power" White]] during a 6-man tag team match with [[Boris Zhukov]] and [[Yuri Gordyenko]] against [[Greg Gagne (wrestler)|Greg Gagne]] and [[Earthquake Ferris]] at the supercard Blood On The Sand in October 1986,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigvancrush.com/supercards.htm |title=It's Vader Time: Supercards |accessdate=December 15, 2016 |date=February 2006 |publisher=BigVanCrush.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007042433/http://www.bigvancrush.com/supercards.htm |archivedate=2007-10-07 }}</ref> although he soon left the promotion by the end of the year.


Following his retirement in 1988, he eventually opened a wrestling school and appeared in commercials for car dealerships in the San Francisco-area and the [[Golden State Warriors]]. He also appeared in a several movies during the 1980s including ''[[Bad Guys (1986 film)|Bad Guys]]'',<ref>[[Gene LeBell|LeBell, Gene]], Bob Calhoun, George Foon and Noelle Kim. ''The Godfather of Grappling''. Champaigne, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2005. (pg. 227) {{ISBN|0-9676543-5-1}}</ref> ''[[Body Slam (film)|Body Slam]]'', ''[[Alcatraz 2000]]'' and frequently appeared on the television series ''[[The Fall Guy]]''.<ref name="Bio"/>
Following his retirement in 1988, he eventually opened a wrestling school and appeared in commercials for car dealerships in the San Francisco-area and the [[Golden State Warriors]]. He also appeared in a several movies during the 1980s including ''[[Bad Guys (1986 film)|Bad Guys]]'',<ref>[[Gene LeBell|LeBell, Gene]], Bob Calhoun, George Foon and Noelle Kim. ''The Godfather of Grappling''. Champaigne, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2005. (pg. 227) {{ISBN|0-9676543-5-1}}</ref> ''[[Body Slam (film)|Body Slam]]'', ''[[Alcatraz 2000]]'' and frequently appeared on the television series ''[[The Fall Guy]]''.<ref name="Bio"/>
Line 87: Line 87:
**[[ESA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[ESA International Tag Team Championship#Title History|4 times]]) - with Fred Sweetan <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/maritimes/esa/esa-int-t.html|title=Eastern Sports Association International Tag Team Title|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[ESA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[ESA International Tag Team Championship#Title History|4 times]]) - with Fred Sweetan <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/maritimes/esa/esa-int-t.html|title=Eastern Sports Association International Tag Team Title|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with [[Ivan Koloff]] <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html|title=N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with [[Ivan Koloff]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html |title=N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title |accessdate=December 15, 2016 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704134500/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html |archivedate=July 4, 2008 }}</ref>
*'''[[Lutte Internationale]]'''
*'''[[Lutte Internationale]]'''
**[[Canadian International Heavyweight Championship|IW International Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Canadian International Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]]) <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/pv/can-int-h.html |title=International Heavyweight Title (International Wrestling) |accessdate=|date= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo }}</ref>
**[[Canadian International Heavyweight Championship|IW International Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Canadian International Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]]) <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/pv/can-int-h.html |title=International Heavyweight Title (International Wrestling) |accessdate=|date= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo }}</ref>
Line 93: Line 93:
**[[IW North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IW North American Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]]) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/maritimes/esa/esa-na-h.html|title=North American Heavyweight Title (Maritimes)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[IW North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IW North American Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]]) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/maritimes/esa/esa-na-h.html|title=North American Heavyweight Title (Maritimes)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**Montreal International Heavyweight Championship (1 time) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-world-h.html|title=World/International Heavyweight Title (Montreal)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**Montreal International Heavyweight Championship (1 time) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-world-h.html|title=World/International Heavyweight Title (Montreal)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**Montreal International Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Fidel Castillo <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-t.html|title=International Tag Team Title (Montreal)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**Montreal International Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Fidel Castillo <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-t.html |title=International Tag Team Title (Montreal) |accessdate=December 15, 2016 |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226093559/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/qc/qc-t.html |archivedate=February 26, 2008 }}</ref>
*'''[[International Wrestling Enterprise]]'''
*'''[[International Wrestling Enterprise]]'''
**[[IWA World Heavyweight Championship (International Wrestling Enterprise)|IWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/iwe/iwe-h.html|title=I.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (I.W.E.)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[IWA World Heavyweight Championship (International Wrestling Enterprise)|IWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/iwe/iwe-h.html|title=I.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (I.W.E.)|accessdate=December 15, 2016|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>

Revision as of 07:43, 1 July 2017

Alexis Smirnoff
Birth nameMichel Lamarche
Born (1947-02-09) February 9, 1947 (age 77)
Saint-Lin, Quebec, Canada
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Michel Dubois
Cecil DuBois
Alexis Smirnoff
Mike Dubois
Billed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Billed weight255 lb (116 kg)[1]
Billed fromRussia[1]
Trained byEdouard Carpentier
Debut1970
Retired1988

Michel Lamarche (born February 9, 1947) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, known by his ringnames Alexis Smirnoff and Michel "Justice" Dubois (Mike "The Judge" Dubois), who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, including the Mid-South, Central States, Georgia and San Francisco territories, as well as brief stints in International Wrestling Enterprise, the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1970s and 1980s.

Career

Early career

Born in Saint-Lin, Quebec, Lamarche was involved in amateur wrestling as a teenager before training under Edouard Carpentier for a career in professional wrestling. Making his debut as Michel "Justice" Dubois in 1970, he wrestled for Montreal promoter Bob Langevin during the early part of his career and, after spending six months in the Kansas City-area, he returned to Canada becoming a major villain or "heel" in Quebec and the Maritimes region.

Winning the International Tag Team titles with Fidel Castillo in 1970, the two were billed as the "European Tag Team Champions" while touring Georgia Championship Wrestling in January 1971 defending the titles against Doug Somers & Bobby Shane, Jack & Jim Dalton, and The Assassins. During the match against The Assassins Castillo suffered a major cut by Assassin #1 during a match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 29, 1971.

Lamarche also participated in a 14-man championship tournament for the vacant NWA Georgia Heavyweight title being eliminated by Assassin #2 in the opening rounds on February 5, 1971.[2] He also appeared at an event for the World Wide Wrestling Federation defeating Frank Holtz at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1972.[3]

Between 1970-74, he faced many of the top stars in the region including Johnny Rougeau, Abdullah the Butcher, The Sheik, and Mad Dog Vachon as well as his former trainer Edouard Carpentier eventually winning the Montreal International Championship before leaving for the United States once again.[4]

National Wrestling Alliance

After a two-year stint in the Mid-Atlantic territory teaming with Freddie Sweetan,[5]

Lamarche began wrestling for the Funk brothers in their Texas based promotion as Mike "The Judge" Dubois in 1974 eventually winning the Texas Heavyweight Championship before moving on the Carolinas where he teamed with Jacques Goulet for two years, later losing to Dino Bravo & Tim Woods in the finals of a championship tournament for the vacant NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship on April 10, 1977.[6]

While touring with Ivan Koloff, he later began wrestling as Alexis Smirnoff in San Francisco during 1977. While in the area, he advanced to the finals of a 10-man championship tournament to fill the vacant NWA U.S. Heavyweight Championship being eliminated by Pat Patterson on March 12 although he later defeated Patterson for the title a month later on April 16, 1977.[7]

Although losing the title to Dean Ho on July 16, he later faced masked wrestler Texas Red as well as wrestling against Pepper Gomez in a "taped fist" match on November 13, 1977.[8] He wrestled veterans such as Ray Stevens, Harley Race and The Sheik as well as younger wrestlers including Sgt. Slaughter, Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka during his time in San Francisco.[citation needed]

The following year, he also wrestled in the St. Louis-area teaming with "Bulldog" Bob Brown, Doug Somers, Jack Krueger and Joe Palardy in early 1978. On April 28, he wrestled two matches in one night substituting for Buddy Wolff in a singles match losing to Pat O'Connor and later teaming with Doug Somers and Bennie Ramirez in a 6-man tag team match to defeat Kevin Sullivan, Terry Gibbs and "Sailor" Art Thomas.[4]

Japan

In 1978, Lamarche signed with the International Wrestling Alliance and began touring Japan three times a year. During his stay in Japan, he became extremely successful wrestling IWA World Heavyweight Champion Rusher Kimura in a steel cage match on July 26, 1978.[9]

He also teamed with The Atomic wrestling to a double count-out against IWA Tag Team Champions Great Kusatsu & Animal Hamiguchi on January 8 and defeating Kimura in a rematch on January 28 in a best of three falls match (as the third pinfall was via disqualification, Kimura retained the title). He did, however, defeating Ronnie Garvin for the NWA Southeastern title knocking him out at the Knoxville Night of Champions on May 18,[10] before losing the title back to Garvin on June 1, 1979.

Returning to Japan, he defeated Kimura in their third encounter finally winning the IWA World Heavyweight Championship on July 21, 1979 before losing the title back to Kimura four days later.[citation needed]

He spent much of his later career in Japan, making over 30 tours to the country and later wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling having memorable matches against Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki as well as American wrestlers Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, Terry Funk, Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen and The Destroyer.[4]

Return to North America

Returning from Japan, he made a last appearance in the Mid-South region in a handicap match with Tank Patton, substituting for Blackjack Lanza, against Dick the Bruiser in St. Louis on November 24, 1978.[citation needed]

Teaming with Koloff throughout the U.S. between 1979-81, he and Koloff won the NWA Georgia Tag Team Titles from Ole Anderson & Jack Briscoe in March 1980 before losing the titles to Tony Atlas & Kevin Sullivan a month later. Although later regaining the titles on April 26, they lost the titles to the Minnesota Wrecking Crew for a final time on June 8, 1980 before leaving Georgia. He also lost to IWA World Heavyweight Champion Rusher Kimura on November 22, 1980 and to United Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta in a best of three falls match with Lamarche taking the first pinfall in 45 seconds, although Tsuruta took the other two falls to retain his title on October 27, 1981.[citation needed]

Settling with his family outside San Francisco the following year, Lamarche made occasional appearances in Hawaii and Australia in between touring Japan and later returned to Montreal to team with Mad Dog Lefebvre for a time winning the International Tag Team Championship from Gino Brito & Tony Parisi before losing the titles to Raymond Rougeau, Sr. & Pat Patterson.[citation needed]

A participant in the 10th annual Champion Carnival tournament in early 1982, he also lost to United Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta on April 11, 1982 and also team with Stan Hansen against then International Tag Team Champions Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba on April 3 before again losing to Tsuruta in a rematch for the United National Heavyweight title on April 12, 1983. Teaming with Bruiser Brody, he again failed to win the International Tag Team Championship from Tsuruta & Baba losing to the tag team champions on February 28, 1984.[11]

While on the west coast, he also wrestled matches for the World Wrestling Federation during the early 1980s wrestling several matches against WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana in late 1984 [12] as well as George Wells, and teamed with The Spoiler against Bret Hart and David Sammartino in several tag team matches during early 1985. After a short lived feud with Ivan Putski and Rocky Johnson,[13] he faced André the Giant, Ted Arcidi, Pedro Morales, Tony Garea, Dan Spivey, Blackjack Mulligan and substituted for Nikolai Volkoff in several tag team matches with The Iron Sheik during early 1986 including a match against WWF World Tag Team Champions Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake on January 23 [14] before eventually leaving the WWF after declining a request to cancel his contract with the IWA.[citation needed]

During July 1986, he teamed with Bad News Allen defeating Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kazuo Yamazaki on July 20 and fought to a double count-out with Seiji Sakaguchi & George Takano on July 27 although, with Johnny Mantell, lost a 6-man tag team match to Antonio Inoki, Kengo Kimura and Tastumi Fujinami on July 29.[citation needed]

After losing to Antonio Inoki & Kengo Kimura on August 1,[15] he later appeared in a series of matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo's Sumo Hall teaming with Hacksaw Higgins against Seiji Sakaguchi & George Takano on August 5, 1986 [16] and with Scott Hall against Takano and Umanosuke Ueda on June 12, 1987.[17]

American Wrestling Association and later career

During the last years of his career, he worked for the American Wrestling Association teaming with I Yuri Gordienko feuding with the Midnight Rockers for several months, eventually losing to the Midnight Rockers and Curt Hennig in a 6-man tag team match with Doug Somers and "Playboy" Buddy Rose at the supercard Battle by the Bay in June 1986. He later pinned Leon "Bull Power" White during a 6-man tag team match with Boris Zhukov and Yuri Gordyenko against Greg Gagne and Earthquake Ferris at the supercard Blood On The Sand in October 1986,[18] although he soon left the promotion by the end of the year.

Following his retirement in 1988, he eventually opened a wrestling school and appeared in commercials for car dealerships in the San Francisco-area and the Golden State Warriors. He also appeared in a several movies during the 1980s including Bad Guys,[19] Body Slam, Alcatraz 2000 and frequently appeared on the television series The Fall Guy.[4]

In 1999, Dubois made a one-time appearance for promoter Jacques Rougeau, Jr.'s International Wrestling 2000 coming out of retirement to team with Ronnie and Jimmy Garvin in a 6-man tag team match against Jacques and Raymond Rougeau and their father 69-year-old Jacques Rougeau, Sr. in Montreal on August 9, 2000.[20]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Notes

1NWA records aren't clear as to which promotion he was working for at the time he won the championship. While usually defended in Southeastern Championship Wrestling, it was occasionally defended in other NWA affiliated promotions..

Further reading

  • Koloff, Ivan and Scott Teal. "Is That Wrestling Fake" The Bear Facts. Crowbar Press, 2007.
  • Alexis Smirnoff: "The Mad Russian". Popular Wrestling. Feb 1978
  • Mike "The Judge" Dubois. The Wrestler. Nov. 1971

References

  1. ^ a b c d Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. ^ "Cards & Results: 1970-1979". GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com. March 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Cawthon, Graham (August 2006). "WWF: 1972". Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE. Archived from the original on 2009-04-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (2002-06-07). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Michel "Le Justice" Dubois". SLAM! Wrestling.
  5. ^ Will, Gary (2000-05-25). "Gary Will's Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame: Michel Dubois/Alexis Smirnoff". GaryWill.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  7. ^ Berry, Viktor (2000-05-25). "U.S. Heavyweight Champions". An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California. Archived from the original on 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Berry, Viktor (2000-05-25). "Wrestling in Salinas". An Illustrated History of Professional Wrestling in Northern California. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Horie, Masanori (2000-05-22). "View from the Rising Sun: Jumbo Tsuruta (1951-2000)". Rob Moore, Texas Wrestling Announcer.
  10. ^ "Knoxville Night of Champions". ProWrestlingHistory.com. October 2003.
  11. ^ Horie, Masanori (2000-02-21). "View from the Rising Sun: O Canada, Part Two". Rob Moore, Texas Wrestling Announcer. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  12. ^ Frederick, David (2006). "Tito Santana: 1984". TitoSantana.net. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  13. ^ Cawthon, Graham (July 2004). "WWF: 1985". Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Cawthon, Graham (August 2005). "WWF: 1986". Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE. Archived from the original on 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Nevada, Vance; Mike Rodgers (2005-03-30). "Wrestling Results Archive: Bad News Allen". SLAM! Wrestling.
  16. ^ "Sumo Hall 8/86". ProwrestlingHistory. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  17. ^ "Sumo Hall 6/87". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved December 15, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "It's Vader Time: Supercards". BigVanCrush.com. February 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved December 15, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ LeBell, Gene, Bob Calhoun, George Foon and Noelle Kim. The Godfather of Grappling. Champaigne, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2005. (pg. 227) ISBN 0-9676543-5-1
  20. ^ Oliver, Greg (1999-08-03). "Rougeaus to battle Garvins, Dubois". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  21. ^ "N.W.A. Central States Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  22. ^ "N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Central States)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  23. ^ "Eastern Sports Association International Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  24. ^ "N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "International Heavyweight Title (International Wrestling)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  26. ^ "International Tag Team Title (International Wrestling)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  27. ^ "North American Heavyweight Title (Maritimes)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  28. ^ "World/International Heavyweight Title (Montreal)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  29. ^ "International Tag Team Title (Montreal)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "I.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (I.W.E.)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  31. ^ "N.W.A. Southeastern Heavyweight Title". Puroesu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  32. ^ "N.W.A. United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  33. ^ "N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (San Francisco)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexis_Smirnoff&oldid=788414733"