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Ripper Collins (wrestler)

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Ripper Collins
Birth nameRoy Lee Albern
BornOctober 10, 1933
Muskogee, Oklahoma[1]
DiedNovember 12, 1991(1991-11-12) (aged 58)
Hawaii
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ripper Collins
Pretty Boy Collins
Billed height5"11
Billed weight264 lb (120 kg)
Debut1957
Retired1980

Roy Lee Albern (October 10, 1933 – November 12, 1991), known by the ring name Ripper Collins, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled mainly during his career for 50th State Big Time Wrestling also known as NWA Hawaii.

Professional wrestling career

Collins started pro wrestling in Texas and later went to St. Louis. In 1961 he made his debut in the American Wrestling Association where he stayed until 1963.

NWA Hawaii (1965-1979)

Collins made his debut in 50th State Big Time Wrestling in 1965. He would stay there for most of his career as a heel. He held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship fourteen times from 1966-1973, 1978-1979 and the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship seven times from 1966-1967, 1969-1971.

On January 19, 1966 he defeat Ron Reed for NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship. In August he dropped it to Neff Maivia and recaptured the title in October. On March 15, 1967 he dropped it to Jim Hady. On October 29, 1969 Collins won the title from Pampero Firpo and would hold it multiple times from 1969-1971 feuding with Sam Steamboat. He would drop the belt to his former partner Johnny Barend in 1970 and would defeat Barend a month later. He dropped the belt to Frankie Laine on February 6, 1971.

On January 6, 1966 he and Johnny Barend won the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship defeating Luther Lindsay and Bearcat Wright. Collins would hold the belts fourteen times from 1966-1979 with Barend, Curtis Iaukea, "Crazy" Luke Graham, Buddy Austin, Mad Dog Mayne, Ed Francis, Johnny Valentine and Phil Whipper Watson Jr. On November 28, 1973 Collins and Valentine won the titles by defeating Sam Steamboat and Peter Maivia. The titles were then vacated and remained inactive until 1977. In 1978 Collins won the titles for the fourteenth and final time with Whipper Watson Jr. and dropped the titles in 1979.

In 1979, Collins left NWA Hawaii.

Later career

Collins also wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1973. In 1976 he wrestled for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Canada where he would win the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship three times with Frenchy Martin, Bobby Bass and Larry Sharpe.

In 1980 he wrestled for NWA Polynesian and retired.

After wrestling he owned and operated a nightclub in Hawaii called the "Squared Circle".[3]

Personal life

He was married to female wrestler Barbara Baker. After retiring from wrestling he resided in Hawaii.

Death

On November 12, 1991 Collins died of melanoma a form of skin cancer in Hawaii.

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/r/ripper-collins/
  2. ^ http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/r/ripper-collins/
  3. ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2568546/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_trv_sm#trivia
  4. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 19, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/19): Ric Flair wins WWF title in 1992 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Hoops, Brian (January 12, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/12): The Outsiders win WCW Tag team titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
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