Gil Hayes
Gil Hayes | |
---|---|
Birth name | Gilbert Lee Hayes |
Born | Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada | October 20, 1939
Died | July 28, 2022 Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada | (aged 82)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Gil Hayes Gabby Hayes |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
Billed weight | 247 lb (112 kg) |
Debut | 1966 |
Retired | December 29, 1985 |
Gilbert Lee Hayes
He was also the first man to simultaneously hold two Canadian wrestling championships, the
Career
Early career
Hayes was born in Fort Frances, Ontario on October 20, 1939.
Stampede Wrestling
Hayes spent two years wrestling in Winnipeg as well as a brief stint in
Successfully defending the titles against
In early 1971, Hayes faced Bob Sweetan in several matches in January and twice teamed with Jean Antone in a mixed tag team match against Betty Niccoli & Paul Peller in early February. Also teaming with Danny Babich against Joe Tommaso & Ed Sullivan, Hayes also faced Buck Jones, The Stomper, the Quebec Giant, Dan Kroffat and Stampede North American Champion Les Thornton, losing to him on April 23.
In September, he also faced
He teamed with Danny Babich later during the year although they lost to Stampede International Tag Team Champions
Fighting to a time limit draw against Danny Babich on February 2, later that month he teamed with Bob Pringle to defeat Frank Butcher & Eddie Sullivan and also challenged Stampede International Tag Team Champions Chin Lee & Sugi Sito fighting them to a double disqualification with Carlos Belafonte on February 19. He later had a falling out with Pringle however, defeating him on April 15. After winning the tag team titles with Sonny Rogers, Hayes also faced Pringle in several tag team matches with Tiger Joe Tomasso during the next few weeks. On June 24, he and Tomasso also teamed with Beautiful Bruce in a 6-man tag team match losing to Dave Ruhl, Geoff Portz and Les Thornton.[5]
All-Star Wrestling
During the summer of 1972, Hayes began wrestling in the Vancouver-area for promoter
Facing Buck Ramstead, Dean Higuchi and Tito Montez in singles matches during late August and early September, later that month Hayes also teamed with John Quinn to defeat Duncan McTavish & Eddie Morrow on September 18. Defeating Fred Barron on September 25, he and Ray Glenn lost to Buck Ramstead & Steven Little Bear on October 2. Teaming with Ray Glenn and Dan Morgan over the next several weeks, he wrestled his last match in the promotion losing to Buck Ramstead on October 16.[5]
Return to Calgary
By early November, he had returned to Stampede Wrestling and soon began teaming once again with Tiger Joe Tomasso winning the tag team titles from
The following year, he faced Dan Kroffat once again defeating Kroffat &
Feuding over the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship with Dan Kroffat throughout the fall, he briefly lost the title to Kroffat on October 13 before regaining it several weeks later. He eventually lost the title to Omar Atlas on November 9, 1973.[5]
World Wrestling Council
From Calgary, he also began to compete outside of Canada during the mid-1970s and became one of the first Canadians to wrestle in Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council later becoming the first WWC North American Heavyweight Champion in April 1974. During the next several months, with the promotion in financial trouble, Hayes suggested bringing in a trained bear as an opponent to defend his title against. Agreeing to the idea, the match received considerable press coverage and was later aired on television with Hayes defeating Victor, the Wrestling Bear in the main event on June 29, 1974.[6] Hayes wrestled on and off for WWC during the next several years and eventually defeated Jose Rivera for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on October 21. After losing the title to Chief War Cloud on November 25, he eventually parted with the company on bad terms.[2]
Losing the WWC North American Heavyweight title to
Failing to defeat Stampede International Tag Team Champions Pat and Mike Kelly with Gordon Ivey on December 27, he briefly feuded with Ivey facing him in a singles match on January 24, 1975. Also facing former tag team partner Benny Ramirez the following week, he began teaming with Mr. Hito facing Lindy Calder & Roy Callender on February 7, he and Mr. Hito lost to Callender and Wayne Bridges in Melville, Saskatchewan on April 22. Splitting from Mr. Hito for a time, he faced Frankie Laine, Keith Hart and Bill Cody before teaming with Jack Pesek against Bill Cody & Nick Pacchiano on May 23. He teamed once more with Pesek against Bill Cody & Keith Hart on May 30.
He and Mr. Hito eventually began teaming together facing
Japan
Appearing at an event for the
Later career and retirement
Returning to Stampede Wrestling in late 1976, he began feuding with his former tag team partner Mr. Hito facing him on December 26. Facing him several times during the next month, he also faced him in a no countout/disqualification match on January 2. Fighting him to a no contest at the
During the next few weeks, Hayes faced
Back in Calgary by the end of the year, Hayes defeated
Facing Ritter in a 6-man tag team match with Keith Hart and Jake "The Snake" Roberts against Ritter, Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada on March 3, he was unable to defeat Ritter for the championship eventually losing to Ritter in a no disqualification match on March 9. He and Jim Neidhart lost to Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada on March 16 and, facing The Cuban Assassin over the next several weeks, he eventually faced him in his last match in the promotion losing to The Cuban Assassin in Calgary on March 23, 1979.[5]
Less active during the next several years, he finally retired from active competition in 1981 after blowing out both of his knees while touring Hawaii. He made occasional appearances until late 1985, fighting Dan Kroffat to a no contest on December 25 and, two days later, losing to Bruce Hart by disqualification on December 29, 1985.[10]
Recent years
Hayes later worked as a city official for Edmonton involved in the streets department following his retirement as well as becoming an amateur
In April 2007, he and several other Stampede Wrestling alumni—including
Championships and accomplishments
- 6 times) – with Bill Dromo (1), Bob Sweetan (1), Tiger Joe Tomasso (1), Benny Ramirez (1) and Mr. Hito (2) [14]
- 2 times) [15]
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame[16]
Further reading
- "Gil Hayes". The Wrestler. August 1971
- "Mother's Advice Made Hayes Mat Meanie". The Big Book of Wrestling. July 1977
References
- ^ "Remembering the life of Gilbert Hayes 1939 - 2022".
- ^ a b c d e f Oliver, Greg (December 2002). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Gil Hayes". SLAM! Sports.
- ^ a b Stampede legend Gil Hayes dies
- ^ Rodgers, Mike (June 6, 2004). "Central States Wrestling Results: Late 60s". Old-School-Wrestling.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Nevada, Vance. "Stampede; Victoria Pavilion; Calgary". Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive. Archived from the original on October 25, 2009.
- ^ Gonzales, Manuel (June 2002). "Regional Territories: WWC #8, Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
- ^ Rose, Barry (March 2004). "Wrestler: Gil Hayes". CWFarchives.com.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham (August 2004). "WWWF: 1976". Graham Cawthon's History of the WWE. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009.
- ^ Horie, Masanori (August 21, 2000). "View from the Rising Sun: Gypsy Joe, King of the Death Matches – 1970's". Rob Moore, Texas Wrestling Announcer. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ Nevada, Vance. "Western Canada: 1985–1989". Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive. Archived from the original on October 24, 2009.
- ^ "CAC Night of the Canadians: Meet the Stampede Wrestling Contingent". Cauliflower Alley Club. April 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007.
- ^ Dollar, Morgan (April 14, 2007). "Cauliflower Alley News: Be sure you're at Friday night's main event..." Cauliflower Alley Club.
- ^ Johnson, Steven (April 21, 2007). "SLAM! Wrestling: Wrestling hailed as one of Canada's greatest exports". SLAM! Sports.
- ^ "Stampede International Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008.
- ^ "North American Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948–1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Caribbean Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "WWC North American Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
External links
- Gil Hayes's profile at Cagematch.net