# Cowboy Bob Ellis

Robert Ellis (born March 15, 1929), is an American retired professional wrestler. He wrestled under the ring name, Cowboy Bob Ellis for over 20 years in various wrestling promotions in the States, Canada and Australia. He was a two-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion in Indianapolis. He is known as the inventor of the bulldog and as of 2024 is the oldest-living former professional wrestler in the world.

## Early life

Ellis played high school football. He went on to attend McMurry College where he again played football. Ellis served three years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, making 53 jumps during the Korean War. In 1954, he briefly was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ellis owned several gyms in San Angelo, Texas.

## Professional wrestling career

Ellis was trained to wrestle by Sandor Szabo. Ellis made his professional wrestling debut in Denver, Colorado in 1957. He initially wrestled as "Bob Elliott" before becoming "Cowboy" Bob Ellis.
On November 28, 1958 Ellis won his first title the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship defeating Bob Geigel. Ellis held the title for over a year until January 22, 1960. In 1960, he would go to Detroit where he defeated Dick the Bruiser for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version). He dropped the belt back to Dick the Bruiser.
In 1962, he teamed with Johnny Valentine in New York to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) defeating the Fabulous Kangaroos. They dropped the titles to Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend. That same year, Ellis feuded with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers in main events unsuccessfully winning the tile.
On September 10, 1964, he defeated The Destroyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles. He dropped the title back to the Destroyer two months later.
In 1965 he toured Australia where he feuded with Killer Kowalski. In 1969, he won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia) where he defeated Skull Murphy and held the title for a week. He dropped it to Killer Karl Kox.
In 1970, he returned to New York this time for World Wide Wrestling Federation.
In 1973, he defeated Baron Von Raschke for WWA World Heavyweight Championship the Indianapolis version where he held it for nearly a year dropping it to Jimmy Valiant. He won the title for the second time defeating Valiant four months later. Then dropped the title to Ox Baker in August 1974.
On February 21, 1976 he won the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Carlos Colon. He dropped the title back to Colon on April 17.
In 1977, Ellis made his debut for International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan.
In the early 1980s, Ellis retired from the ring. After a brief stint as a professional wrestling promoter he left the industry altogether.

## Professional wrestling style and persona

Ellis' signature move was the bulldog.

## Championships and accomplishments

* American Wrestling Alliance
** AWA Indiana United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
* American Wrestling Association
** AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
** AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Stan Pulaski (1), Alberto Torres (1) and Jerry Miller (1)
* Arizona Athletic Association Inc.
** United States Heavyweight Championship
* Big Time Wrestling
** NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (1 time)
* Capitol Wrestling Corporation
** NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (1 time) – with Johnny Valentine
* Cauliflower Alley Club
** Other honoree (1993)
* Championship Wrestling from Florida
** NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
** NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Ray Gunkel
** NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) with Don Curtis
* Central States Wrestling
** NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
** NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (2 times) – with Archie Gouldie (1), The Viking (1)
* Continental Wrestling Association
** AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Garvin
* Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
** NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Johnny Weaver
* North American Wrestling Alliance / Worldwide Wrestling Associates / NWA Hollywood Wrestling
** WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Édouard Carpentier
* NWA San Francisco
** NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
* St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
** Class of 2010
* World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
** IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia)
* World Wrestling Association
** WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
* World Wrestling Council
** WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
** WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Carlos Colon