Written and Produced by Tony Richards
December 24th in the Time Tunnel:
It’s the Christmas Eve Edition of The Daily Chronicle! Merry Christmas from all us at the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel from our house at The Richards Ranch to Your House and all of you!
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Iron Mike DiBiase 1928
Happy Birthday:
Brad Anderson (56)
Chris Hero (46)
Pat Buck (41)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Angelo Siciliano\Charles Atlas 12-24-1972 at the age of 80
Jack Karney\Ivan Kameroff\Ivan Volkoff 12-24-1974 at the age of 54
Tarzan Tyler 12-24-1985 at the age of 58
Pierre Mad Dog Levebre 12-24-1985 at the age of 30
Adrian Desbois 12-24-1985 at the age of 35
Danny Hodge 12-24-2020 at the age of 88
40 Year Flashback
12-24-1985: The Tragic Christmas Eve Auto Accident of 1985 in Quebec Wrestling
A horrific car accident claimed the lives of two prominent professional wrestlers and a respected referee, sending shockwaves through the local and international wrestling scenes. This incident not only highlighted the perils of travel in harsh winter conditions but also underscored the fragility of life in an industry built on physicality and spectacle. While the user query referenced three pro wrestlers, the victims included two wrestlers—Pierre “Mad Dog” Lefebvre and Tarzan “The Boot” Tyler—and referee Adrien Desbois, all integral to Quebec’s vibrant wrestling promotion.
Pierre Lefebvre, born on February 24, 1955, in Saint-Sulpice, Quebec, was a French-Canadian wrestler who burst onto the scene at just 17 years old in 1972. Billed at 5 feet 10 inches and 233 pounds, he adopted the ring name “Mad Dog” Pierre Lefebvre, inspired by his resemblance to the legendary Mad Dog Vachon. After a brief hiatus in 1973 to work as a welder, Lefebvre returned in 1975 and quickly made his mark. By 1976, he was competing in Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) in Atlanta, where he honed his skills until 1979. He then moved to the Pacific Northwest for a National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliate before returning to Montreal in 1980 for Varoussac International Wrestling. There, he achieved significant success, capturing the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship once and the Canadian International Tag Team Championship seven times with partners like Michel Dubois, Pat Patterson, Billy Robinson, and Frenchy Martin.
Lefebvre’s feuds with stars such as the Rougeau brothers, Gino Brito, Tony Parisi, and Dino Bravo electrified crowds. In 1984, he toured Japan, and by 1985, he had appeared in WWF events, including a tournament final for the WWF International Heavyweight Championship against Akira Maeda, though primarily on Canadian house shows. At 30 years old, Lefebvre was on the cusp of greater stardom, with his aggressive style and charisma positioning him as a potential WWF mainstay.
Tarzan “The Boot” Tyler, whose real name was Camille Tourville, was an elder statesman of the ring at 58 years old. Born on December 4, 1927, Tyler had a storied career that spanned decades, primarily in Montreal’s International Wrestling promotion. Known for his rugged persona and managerial prowess, he mentored younger talents like Lefebvre, whom he treated as a protégé. Tyler’s nickname “The Boot” reflected his hard-hitting style, and he was a key figure in drawing crowds to events at venues like the Paul-Sauvé Arena. His contributions extended beyond the ring; as a veteran, he helped shape the Quebec wrestling landscape during its resurgence in the early 1980s, when promotions like Varoussac International featured a mix of local heroes and American imports such as Hulk Hogan and André the Giant. Tyler’s presence added depth and authenticity to the shows, making him indispensable to the territory’s success.
The accident unfolded in the early hours of December 24, 1985, following a wrestling event at the Georges-Vézina Arena in Chicoutimi, Quebec. The trio—Lefebvre, Tyler, and Desbois—were en route back to Montreal in Desbois’ Ford Escort, eager to reunite with their families for Christmas. A severe snowstorm had blanketed the region, turning Route 175 through Parc des Laurentides (Laurentian Park) into a treacherous, icy pathway with low visibility. After stopping for gas, Lefebvre took over driving, with Tyler in the front passenger seat and Desbois in the back. Around 1:25 a.m., near the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, the vehicle lost control—possibly due to the slippery conditions or driver fatigue—and skidded into the oncoming lane. It collided head-on with a tanker truck driven by 36-year-old Dominique Boily, who emerged unharmed. The impact was catastrophic, propelling the Escort into a ditch and killing all three occupants instantly. Investigations suggested no alcohol involvement, attributing the crash primarily to the hazardous winter weather, though some speculated Lefebvre might have dozed off.
The aftermath was immediate and far-reaching. For Quebec wrestling, the loss of these three figures was a devastating blow. International Wrestling, already facing competition from the expanding WWF, struggled to recover. The promotion, which had thrived with televised shows like Les Étoiles de la Lutte and crowds of over 3,000, saw key talents like Dino Bravo, the Rougeaus, Rick Martel, and Frenchy Martin defect to the WWF. By 1987, Varoussac International folded, marking the end of an era for independent Quebec wrestling. Promoter Gino Brito reflected on the personal toll, noting Tyler’s excitement to get home for the holidays.
On a personal level, the tragedy shattered families. Desbois left behind his wife Christiane and children, including 12-year-old son Danny, who later pursued wrestling in promotions like ICW and FLQ from the mid-1990s to 2007 as a tribute to his father. Lefebvre’s 6-year-old son Sebastien faced educational challenges but grew to resemble his father strikingly, as noted by Raymond Rougeau years later. Tyler was survived by his wife and daughters Joanne and Ginette, who resided in the U.S. The incident became a “what if” moment for the industry, pondering how Lefebvre’s career might have evolved in the WWF alongside other Quebec stars.
Be sure to catch the huge Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Super Show that drops today with discussions around all of the three major world champions and the world titles in 1975. Steve Gennerelli, George Schire, Jerry Oates and Gerry Brisco are all my special guests this week to discuss Bruno Sammartino, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, Terry Funk and Jack Brisco.
Episode 37: The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Christmas Super Show drops today here in your inbox!
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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