New Zealand–born professional wrestler (1928–2023)
For the Broadway sound designer, see Abe Jacob.
Abe Jacobs
Jacobs being pinned by David Von Erich in 1981
Birth name
Abner Robert Jacobs
Born
(1928-06-18)18 June 1928 Chatham Islands, New Zealand
Died
21 August 2023(2023-08-21) (aged 95) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
Abe Jacobs
Red Pimpernel
Billed height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Billed weight
230 lb (100 kg)[1]
Billed from
Wellington, New Zealand[2]
Trained by
The Zebra Kid
Debut
1958
Retired
1981
Abner Robert Jacobs (18 June 1928 – 21 August 2023) was a New Zealand professional wrestler. He was one of the first men to follow fellow New Zealander Pat O'Connor to the United States where, like O'Connor, Jacobs became a major star in the National Wrestling Alliance during the "Golden Age of Wrestling". One of the most recognisable "babyfaces" during this period, he was billed as the "Jewish Heavyweight Champion" and wrestled in a number of high-profile matches with many stars of the era including numerous bouts against NWA World Heavyweight Champions Lou Thesz, Gene Kiniski, Buddy Rogers, Dick Hutton and Pat O'Connor. His bout against O'Connor in 1961, which aired on Capitol Wrestling's weekly television show, was the first time two New Zealanders wrestled for a championship title on foreign soil.
Jacobs was also an established journeyman wrestler, touring Europe and Japan on several occasions, travelling around the world four times and wrestling over 8,000 matches in his 30-year career. Although never reaching the heights of O'Connor as a singles wrestler, he was very successful as a "tag team specialist" winning the NWA Florida-version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Don Curtis, the NWA Los Angeles International Television Tag Team Championship with Haystacks Calhoun, and the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship with Pez Whatley. Other partners included George Becker, Antonino Rocca, Sailor Art Thomas, Klondike Bill, Man Mountain Mike and "Coloured Heavyweight Champion" Luther Lindsay.
Jacobs spent the final years of his career in the Carolinas where he became a mainstay for Jim Crockett's NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling during the 1970s and early-1980s. Best remembered by "modern" American wrestling fans as an undercard wrestler, he was the first opponent of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair when making his debut in the promotion in 1974. Flair's victory over an established veteran such as Jacobs was a critical step in his early career and is partially credited for helping Flair become a major star in the Mid-Atlantic territory.
During his 10-year career in the amateur ranks, Jacobs won seven provincial titles, was a runner-up to the nationals and a winner of the national championships. Jacobs is credited for creating the "Kiwi Leg Roll", a modified amateur submission hold, which was especially popular among fans and to date has never been duplicated. He was also widely respected in the industry, managing Ricky Steamboat's gym during the 1990s, and was officially inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame in 2008. Although he was not as well known in his native country in his professional career, Jacobs was named one of the "Top Ten New Zealand Born Wrestlers" by Fight Times Magazine, and was also featured on a special commemorative edition of the New Zealand ten-dollar note.
^ abCite error: The named reference DDTdigest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Studio Wrestling Memories: The Wrestlers". Studio Wrestling Memories!. ChillerTheaterMemories.com. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
brought AbeJacobs, Jr. to the gym and wanted him to teach her wrestler how to perform the "Kiwi Leg Roll" finisher. Jacobs declined both offers. Jacobs later...
Abe John Jacob (born October 7, 1944) is an American sound designer and audio engineer. Called the "Godfather of Sound", Jacob greatly influenced the design...
matches with Karl Gotch, Killer Kowalski, The Destroyer, André the Giant, AbeJacobs and King Kong as well. He was a former NWA Australasian Heavyweight Champion...
Alex Edelman for his "exemplary debut" in his solo show Just for Us, AbeJacob for his contributions to modern sound design in theater, and Nikiya Mathis...
and the title was once again vacated. In May 1964, Curtis teamed with AbeJacobs to hold the title for the last time. In Jacksonville, Florida, Curtis...
he wants to forget everything. He scolds Jacob for siding with Abe. Miss Peregrine wipes their memories. Jacob wants to leave his normal life behind, but...
Associates WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with AbeJacobs Solomon, Brian (2006). WWE Legends. Pocket Books. pp. 221–226. ISBN 978-0-7434-9033-7...
Hoffman, 97, American actress (Sisters, Dante's Peak, The River Wild). AbeJacobs, 95, New Zealand professional wrestler (NWA). Rafael Lovera, 70, Paraguayan...
Mark Lewin Duke Keomuka and Hiro Matsuda Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy AbeJacobs and Don Curtis Chris Tolos and John Tolos Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat...
to travel to the US and, like his fellow countrymen Pat O'Connor and AbeJacobs, became a major star with the National Wrestling Alliance during the Television-era...
States Sports NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with AbeJacobs WWE WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2021) Other titles NCW Tag Team Championship...
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), debuting on May 13, 1974, by defeating AbeJacobs. Shortly after his debut, Flair won his first championship in the promotion...
worked with a number of other tag team partners, including Johnny Weaver, AbeJacobs, Red McIntyre, and Haystacks Calhoun. In his 24-year career, Vest wrestled...
defeated Stan Stasiak for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight title. He and AbeJacobs teamed up for a match against Pancho Valdez and The Matador in Lexington...
reliable broadband. Richard Charteris (b. 1948), New Zealand musicologist AbeJacobs (1928–2023), New Zealand professional wrestler Te Kiato Riwai (1912–1967)...
oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish-born American wrestler Abe Coleman (1905–2007), who lived 101 years, 189 days. But the oldest in the...
including Lofty Blomfield in the 1930s and later Pat O'Connor, Dick Hrstich, AbeJacobs, John da Silva and Steve Rickard during the 1940s and 1950s. Many others...
secondary teammate, Les Thornton, joined him in several victories, while AbeJacobs and Johnny Weaver teamed occasionally. Eventually, Jay Youngblood became...
Mark Lewin Duke Keomuka and Hiro Matsuda Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy AbeJacobs and Don Curtis Chris Tolos and John Tolos Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat...
2024 77th Tony Awards Alex Edelman "Exemplary debut" for Just for Us AbeJacob Modern theatrical sound design Nikiya Mathis Hair and wig design for Jaja's...
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