Quick Facts
Biography
Willard Rowe Longson (June 8, 1906 – December 12, 1982) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Wild Bill Longson.
Longson spent most of his career in St. Louis, Missouri under . He perfected the role of the arrogant heel, and is credited with inventing and popularizing the piledriver.
Professional wrestling career
Longson was a 3-time National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion during the 1940s. He was also the last National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion, losing his title to Lou Thesz on July 20, 1948, when Thesz elevated onto Longson's shoulders from the piledriver position and fell into a Thesz press. As a result of this victory, Thesz unified the venerable National Wrestling Association Championship with his own new National Wrestling Alliance World Championship, beginning the process of consolidating all American world championships into one.
Longson retired from professional wrestling in 1960 after sustaining a broken pelvis while riding an unbroken horse. He continued to work in the professional wrestling industry as a booker and promoter until 1977.
Longson died on December 10, 1982 in St. Louis.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Piledriver - Innovated
- Signature moves
- Airplane spin
- Headlock
Championships and accomplishments
- Central States Wrestling
- NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling Association
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- NWA San Francisco
- NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (3 times)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2006
- Southwest Sports
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (1 time) - with Ike Eakin
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
- Class of 2007
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2000)