Wilbur Snyder (September 15, 1929 â€" December 25, 1991) was an
American football player and professional wrestler.Snyder's wrestling
debut occurred during football's 1953 off-season. He was trained by
Sandor Szabo and Warren Bockwinkel in Southern California. In 1954,
Snyder retired from football completely to pursue a full-time career
in wrestling. Part of his in-ring persona included the use of many
football tactics, and it garnered Snyder a lot of national attention.
He had already been a regional champion in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
when he made a name for himself by defeating Verne Gagne and winning
the United States Championship at Marigold Arena in Chicago on April
7, 1956.Snyder was a regional champion in a myriad of territories that
were affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). One of
those championships was an offshoot of the world title that he won
from Verne Gagne on November 15, 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska.After the
departure of Jim Barnett, Snyder bought into the Indianapolis
territory with Dick the Bruiser. The enterprise was known as
Championship Wrestling Inc. on April 27, 1965. Snyder's wife Shirlee
was listed as the registered agent. Snyder and Dick's mother, M.A.
(Margaret) Johnston were listed as directors of the company, to keep
the wrestler's ownership of the territory private.
American football player and professional wrestler.Snyder's wrestling
debut occurred during football's 1953 off-season. He was trained by
Sandor Szabo and Warren Bockwinkel in Southern California. In 1954,
Snyder retired from football completely to pursue a full-time career
in wrestling. Part of his in-ring persona included the use of many
football tactics, and it garnered Snyder a lot of national attention.
He had already been a regional champion in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
when he made a name for himself by defeating Verne Gagne and winning
the United States Championship at Marigold Arena in Chicago on April
7, 1956.Snyder was a regional champion in a myriad of territories that
were affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). One of
those championships was an offshoot of the world title that he won
from Verne Gagne on November 15, 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska.After the
departure of Jim Barnett, Snyder bought into the Indianapolis
territory with Dick the Bruiser. The enterprise was known as
Championship Wrestling Inc. on April 27, 1965. Snyder's wife Shirlee
was listed as the registered agent. Snyder and Dick's mother, M.A.
(Margaret) Johnston were listed as directors of the company, to keep
the wrestler's ownership of the territory private.
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