Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Ben Sharpe 1916
Happy Birthday:
Jose Gonzalez\Invader I (79)
Rick Martel (70)
Mike Quakenbush (50)
Ethan Carter III (43)
Danielle Kamala (38)
Solo Sikoa (33)
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.
Roger Kirby 3-18-2019 at the age of 79
Pepper Martin 3-18-2022 at the age of 85
The Life and Career of Roger Kirby
He would come to be known for his aggressive in-ring style, blonde locks, and adoption of the “Nature Boy” moniker, inspired by his resemblance to the legendary Buddy Rogers, Roger Kirby, born Willis Kirby on December 14, 1939, in Muncie, Indiana, and raised in the small town of Dunkirk, Indiana, emerged as one of professional wrestling’s most enduring figures during the territorial era. His journey from a factory worker and amateur boxer to a world champion exemplifies the grit and determination required in the rough-and-tumble world of pro wrestling in the 1960s through the 1980s.
Kirby’s early life was rooted in the Midwest, where he developed a passion for combat sports. As a young man, he excelled as a Golden Gloves boxer, honing his striking skills and physical toughness. His entry into professional wrestling came somewhat serendipitously. While attending a high school wrestling event, Kirby got into an altercation that showcased his natural fighting ability. This caught the attention of connections in the wrestling world, including his cousin Dennis Hall, who helped facilitate his training. Kirby began training in Indianapolis under the tutelage of wrestling icons Dick the Bruiser and The Sheik, who recognized his potential and taught him the fundamentals of grappling and showmanship. Balancing his burgeoning wrestling aspirations with a full-time job at a glass factory, Kirby made his professional debut in 1960. He adopted various ring names early on, including Rip Kirby, Bob Baker, Billy Baker, Bill Baker, Cruiser, and Red Destroyer, before settling on Roger Kirby as his primary persona. Billed at 5 feet 10 inches and 242 pounds, he was presented as hailing from Dunkirk, Indiana, a detail that grounded his character in his real-life roots.
Kirby’s career truly took off in the mid-1960s as he became a journeyman wrestler, traveling extensively through the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories. He competed in regions like Georgia, Florida, Oregon, Minnesota, and especially Kansas City, where he eventually settled. His heel (villain) persona, complete with the “Nature Boy” nickname, drew heat from crowds due to his cocky demeanor and hard-hitting style. Kirby’s ability to work as both a singles competitor and tag team specialist made him versatile and in demand. One of his earliest notable successes came in 1967 when he teamed with his cousin Les Thatcher to win the NWA (Mid-America) United States Tag Team Championship. That same year, partnering with Dennis Hall, he captured the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship three times and the NWA (Gulf Coast) United States Tag Team Championship once. These victories established him as a reliable tag team performer.
The 1970s marked the peak of Kirby’s career, filled with championship reigns and high-profile matches. His crowning achievement came on May 20, 1971, when he defeated the formidable Danny Hodge to win the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Promoted by LeRoy McGuirk and booked by Bill Watts, Kirby held the title until losing it to Ramon Torres later that year. He often cited Hodge as his toughest opponent, praising the match’s intensity, while Hodge reciprocated by commending Kirby’s skills and charisma. Throughout the decade, Kirby amassed an impressive array of titles across various promotions. As a singles star, he won the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship by defeating Ron Etchison on August 12, 1969, and the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship twice, both times over Moondog Mayne. In tag team action, he secured championships like the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship five times with different partners, the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship once, and multiple reigns with the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (five times total) and NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version, four times).
Pictured: NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, Roger Kirby with Dusty Rhodes, NWA North American Heavyweight Champion in 1971
Kirby’s international ventures added depth to his resume. He undertook six tours of Japan, facing top talent and adapting to different wrestling styles. In Mexico, under Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (now CMLL), and in Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council (WWC), he won titles such as the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship and the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Puerto Rico version). Notable feuds included a long-running program with Tom Jones in Indiana, which consistently sold out arenas, showcasing Kirby’s ability to draw crowds through compelling storytelling and athleticism. Partnerships with wrestlers like Lord Alfred Hayes, Igor Volkoff, Paul Christy, and Doug Somers led to further tag team gold, including three reigns as WWA World Tag Team Champion.
Pictured: Roger Kirby and James J. Dillon, NWA Florida Tag Team Champions
By the mid-1980s, as the wrestling landscape shifted toward national promotions, Kirby made a brief foray into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1986. There, he served primarily as enhancement talent (jobber) and even refereed a few matches in Kansas City. However, feeling that he had accomplished all he set out to in the ring and wanting to retire on his own terms while still remembered as a top performer, Kirby hung up his boots that same year. His last match was in 1988 for the WWA, but 1986 marked the effective end of his full-time career.
In retirement, Kirby led a quiet life in Grandview, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. Married with seven children, he pursued hobbies like breeding exotic fish and amateur photography. Health issues arose, including multiple joint replacements for knees, hips, and shoulders—scars from his punishing career. In 2010, he was honored with the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Men’s Wrestling Award, recognizing his contributions to the industry. Tragically, Kirby passed away on March 18, 2019, in North Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of 79, due to complications from pneumonia exacerbated by stage-four pancreatic cancer. A recent fall that resulted in a broken hip had compounded his health struggles.
One Thing I Learned About Rick Martel
He made his professional debut at the age of 17 as a last-minute replacement for an injured wrestler, despite having no formal training and relying solely on his amateur wrestling background
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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