Billy Red Lyons

Billy Red Lyons
Lyons as the AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion
Birth nameWillem Snip
Born(1932-05-17)17 May 1932
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died22 June 2009(2009-06-22) (aged 77)[1]
FamilyNorma Thomson Snip (wife)
Scott Snip (son)
Elizabeth Snip (Daughter)
Mitchell Snip (son)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Billy Red Lyons
William Lyons
Willem Snip
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight240 lb (110 kg)
Trained byJimmy Simms[2]
Debut1956[citation needed]
Retired1985[citation needed]

Willem Snip (17 May 1932 – 22 June 2009)[1] was a Canadian professional wrestler, who wrestled under the ring name Billy Red Lyons. He was an active wrestler between 1956 and 1985, and won numerous championships throughout his career. He worked for promotions in both Canada and the United States, particularly in Ontario, California, Minneapolis, Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma.[3]

Lyons won numerous tag team championships throughout his career, including with Dick Beyer, who was his real-life brother-in-law, as well as Fritz Von Erich, Bill Watts, and Ray Gunkel.[citation needed] He also won singles championships, including the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship.[4] Lyons also wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) at various times between 1976 and 1985.

After his retirement from in-ring competition, he would work for Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto and the World Wrestling Federation.[3]

  1. ^ a b Oliver, Greg (2009-06-23). "Billy Red Lyons dies". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  2. ^ "Billy Red Lyons". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WWE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference OWOW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).