| Dewey Robertson | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | The Missing Link The Masked Crusader Troy Steel Dewey Crusader Robertson |
| Billed height | 6 ft. 2 in.[1] |
| Billed weight | 255 lb.[1] |
| Born | February 28 1939 Kitchener, Ontario[1] |
| Died | August 16 2007 (aged 68) Hamilton, Ontario |
| Trained by | Whipper Billy Watson[2] |
| Debut | 1960s |
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson (February 28, 1939 - August 16, 2007) was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link. As the Missing Link, Robertson wore blue and green face paint and shaved portions of his head while letting the hair grow in other areas. His gimmick was similar to that of George Steele and Kamala, a crazy out-of-control wild man that needed a trainer or manager to lead him to the ring. During his matches, Robertson would often run his own head repeatedly into the turnbuckle, headbutt and dive head first onto an opponent. He achieved his greatest fame late in his career, wrestling in WCCW, managed by Skandor Akbar and in the WWF, managed by Bobby Heenan in the mid 1980's.
Contents |
Career
Robertson started wrestling in his native Canada in the 1960s under the name of Dewey Robertson. He was a very popular babyface in the Toronto area. He left to wrestle in the United States in 1973, but returned a year later as The Masked Crusader with manager John St. John. He was on a crusade to keep wrestling scientific but was soon unmasked by The Sheik. After that, Robertson formed a tag team called "The Crusaders" with Billy Red Lyons.[1]
He owned a gym in the 1970s and had a television spot where he tore up a phone book to promote his gym.[1]
In 1979, Robertson wrestled in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions as a heel with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers as his manager. He used Rogers' figure-four leg lock as his finisher.[1]
He changed his look and became The Missing Link in 1983 in Mid-South Wrestling with a gimmick of looking and acting bizarre. He got over and was signed by the World Wrestling Federation in 1985. He was managed by both Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan, who often would make a show of stopping him from attempting a flying headbutt onto a chair after a match. At this time, he was featured in a Sports Illustrated article.[1]
He left for World Class Championship Wrestling in 1986 and was managed by Sunshine. In late 1986, he left for the Universal Wrestling Federation where he was managed by Dark Journey.
He retired in the 1990s but came back to do independent shows as The Missing Link starting in 2004.
In 2006, his autobiography Bang Your Head: The Real Story of The Missing Link was published by ECW Press.[1] In it, he discussed his addiction to steroids, alcohol, and drugs. [3]
He died on August 16, 2007 after a long battle with cancer.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
-
- Wildman Headbutt (Diving headbutt)
- Figure four leglock[1]
- Managers
Championships and accomplishments
-
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with George Wells (1) and Johnny Weaver (1)
-
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State Version) (1 time) - with Dennis Stamp
-
- PWI ranked him # 292 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.[9]
Personal life
Robertson's sons, Jason Stirling and Mark Stirling were also professional wrestlers. His addiction to marijuana caused one of his kidneys to shut down, forcing doctors to remove it.[10] He also admitted to taking steroids and abusing alcohol during his career.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wrestler Profiles: The Missing Link. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ a b Canadian Hall of Fame: Dewey Robertson. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ Robertson, Dewey "Bang Your Head: The Real Story of The Missing Link" Ecw Press, 2006. page 1
- ^ Robertson, Dewey; Meredith Renwick (2006). Bang Your Head: The Real Story of the Missing Link. ECW Press, 150. ISBN 1550227270.
- ^ Wildest Stars #8: Off the chain. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
- ^ Robertson, Dewey; Meredith Renwick (2006). Bang Your Head: The Real Story of the Missing Link. ECW Press, 134. ISBN 1550227270.
- ^ Robertson, Dewey; Meredith Renwick (2006). Bang Your Head: The Real Story of the Missing Link. ECW Press, 126. ISBN 1550227270.
- ^ Robertson, Dewey; Meredith Renwick (2006). Bang Your Head: The Real Story of the Missing Link. ECW Press, 113. ISBN 1550227270.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years. Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ a b Baines, Tim. The Missing Link Isn't Missing. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
