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Billy Anderson (wrestler)

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Billy Anderson
Birth nameWilliam Anderson
Born (1956-11-10) November 10, 1956 (age 68)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Billy Anderson
Bill Anderson
Black Knight
White Shadow
Mercenario II
Star Man[2]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight229 lb (104 kg)
Trained byKurt von Steiger
DebutJune 16, 1974
Retired1996

William Anderson (born November 10, 1956) is an American professional wrestler and trainer better known by his ring name Billy Anderson best known for working in California and Arizona, the World Wrestling Federation from 1983 to 1993, American Wrestling Association, and Japanese and Mexican promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s.[3][4]

Professional wrestling career

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Anderson made his professional wrestling debut in 1974 against Buddy Rose in Tucson, Arizona. In 1982, Anderson became the very last NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champion when he defeated Killer Kim in Los Angeles.

Anderson made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1983.[5] Would spend many years with the WWF whenever they were in Los Angeles, California or Phoenix.[6][7] He would work against Adrian Adonis, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Harley Race, One Man Gang, and Tito Santana.[8][9]

In 1986, Anderson worked in Mexico and became the very first WWA World Heavyweight Champion defeating Tinieblas. He dropped the title to Tinieblas in January 1987.

Also in 1986, Anderson worked for American Wrestling Association whenever they were in Las Vegas until 1988.

In November 1988, Anderson became the masked Black Knight in the World Wrestling Federation.[10][11][12] DUirng this time he also refereed matches and the ring announcer in Los Angeles whenever WWF was in town. He left the WWF in 1991.[13]

In 1990, he worked for Herb Abrams's Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) as the Black Knight until 1991.

In 1991, he traveled to Tijuana, Mexico with Tim Patterson and his student Louie Spicolli, with whom he formed a stable known as "Los Mercenarios Americanos" ("The American Mercenaries"). They were a trio of masked villains who feuded with Los Villanos (Villano I, Villano III, Villano IV and Villano V). The Mercenarios were forced to unmask in July 1991.[14]

Then in late 1991, the Los Mercenarios Americanos made their debut in Japan for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. They disbanded in 1992. In 1992, he worked as Star Man.

In January 1993, Anderson returned to World Wrestling Federation as the masked White Shadow. His last match in the WWF was a lost to Kamala (wrestler) on April 6, 1993 for WWF Wrestling Challenge which aired on April 25.[15]

In 1994, he worked for the Las Vegas-based promotion National Wrestling Conference. He retired from wrestling in 1996.

After wrestling, Anderson trained many wrestlers at a school in California. He trained The Ultimate Warrior, Sting, Cheerleader Melissa, Louie Spicolli, Rocky Romero, Candice LeRae, TJ Perkins, Frankie Kazarian Steve DiSalvo, Angel of Death, Keiji Sakoda, Tom Howard (wrestler), Cincinnati Red, Tim Patterson, Doug Anderson (father of Cheerleader Melissa),[16][17] and many others. His school would shut down in 2001.

Personal Life

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After retiring from wrestling and training wrestlers, Anderson accepted two invitations from Armed Forces Entertainment to travel overseas to entertain the troops. He went around world in Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Egypt and Turkey.[18]

He was best friends with Louie Spicolli teaming together in Japan and Mexico until Spicolli's death in 1998.

Anderson has been an active member of the Cauliflower Alley Club since 1985 and was honored in 2000. He was also inducted in the Southern California Pro Wrestling and Western States Halls of Fame.

In October 2009, Anderson released his first book, Big” Bill Anderson Remembers… The School of Wrestling! The book covers Anderson's career, the wrestling school and the students he taught.[19]

In April 2013, Anderson released his second book part 2 of "Big" Bill Anderson Remembers....His Fallen Friends of Wrestling! which covered ore of his career and his friends that have passed away.[20] Superstar Billy Graham forward the book.[21]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database".
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Bill Anderson « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  3. ^ Andrews, Kendai (July 16, 2008). "The Life and Times of Flying Billy Anderson". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  4. ^ https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B0083Z0M6Q/about. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "1983". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  6. ^ "1984". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  7. ^ "1985". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  8. ^ "1986". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  9. ^ "1987". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  10. ^ "1988". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  11. ^ "1989". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  12. ^ "1990". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  13. ^ "1991". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  14. ^ Encyclopedia staff (November 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Villano I (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. pp. 22–23. Tomo V.
  15. ^ "1993". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  16. ^ Oliver, Greg (July 19, 2004). "Cheerleader Melissa has moved past the pom-poms". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  17. ^ Kociaba, Bill. "CAC Honours A Future Star of The Squared Circle". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  18. ^ Andrews, Kendai (July 16, 2008). "Billy Anderson Part 2: Taking the Road Less Traveled". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  19. ^ Oliver, Greg (May 29, 2011). "Big Bill Andersons Book Big on Pictures". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  20. ^ Oliver, Greg (July 17, 2013). "Bill Anderson Remembers Fallen Friends in New Book". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  21. ^ Oliver, Greg (July 17, 2013). "Superstar Billy Graham's Foreword to Big Bill Anderson Remembers....His Fallen Friends of Wrestling!". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  22. ^ "N.W.A. "Beat the Champ" International Television Title (Los Angeles)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  23. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 401. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
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