Bobby Managoff

Bobby Managoff
Birth name Robert Manoogian Jr.
Born January 4, 1918[1]
Died April 3, 2002(2002-04-03) (aged 84)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Bobby Managoff
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[2]
Billed weight 235 lb (107 kg)[2]
Billed from Chicago, U.S.
Trained by Bob Managoff Sr.[2]
Debut 1936[3]
Retired 1966[2]

Robert Manoogian Jr. (January 4, 1918 – April 3, 2002) was an American professional wrestler of Armenian descent who was best known for his work with National Wrestling Alliance in the 1940s as Bobby Managoff.

Professional wrestling career

Managoff was trained by his father Bob, Sr., a professional wrestler who had a match with Frank Gotch in 1916 where Gotch's leg was broken.[2] Bobby started wrestling in 1936 at the age of 18.[3] He started his career in what is now National Wrestling Alliance. He won the Texas Heavyweight Championship in February 1942. On February 17, he lost the title to Juan Humberto in Dallas, Texas. In June 1942, he signed with National Wrestling Association, a subsidiary of National Boxing Association which was to sanction professional wrestling.

He defeated Yvon Robert on November 27, 1942 in Houston, Texas to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[2][3] He traveled in several cities of United States and defended his NWA Championship. He lost the title to "Wild" Bill Longson on February 19, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri.[2]

In 1944, he left National Wrestling Association and started wrestling around Texas. He formed a tag team with Otto Kuss. They both won the Texas Tag Team Championship in May 1945. They dropped the titles to Hans Schnable and Marvin Jones on May 14 in Galveston, Texas. In 1945, he won his second Texas Heavyweight Championship. He dropped the title to Dale Levin on July 13 in Houston. Afterward, he began feuding with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers.

In the late 1940s, he started traveling around Hawaii. On November 9, 1949, he defeated Jack Claybourne in Honolulu to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship. Dean Detton defeated him for the title on December 11. Managoff started feuding with Whipper Billy Watson between 1950 and 1953. On July 19, 1953, he defeated Hans Schnabel to win his second Hawaii title. He lost it to Ben Sharpe on August 23, 1953. He began a stint in Montreal where he won the Montreal World Heavyweight Championship on five occasions. In 1966, he retired from professional wrestling.[2]

Personal life

Managoff attended Tuley High School in Illinois.[2] His older sister, Armenuhi Manoogian, known professionally as Kay Armen, was a popular singer during the 1940s and 1950s.[4] He was married to a woman named Eve.[2]

On April 3, 2002, he died of heart failure in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

Championships and accomplishments

1Records are unclear as to whom he defeated for both of his title reigns.
2His reign with the title occurred before the NWA took control of the championship and, actually, took place before the NWA was created.

References

  1. ↑ "Wrestler Profiles: Bobby Managoff". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Hornbaker, Tim (2002). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
  3. 1 2 3 "Inductee: Bobby Managoff". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  4. ↑ Find-a-Grave profile for Kay Armen
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