Roger Kirby (wrestler)

Roger Kirby
Kirby, c. 1971
Birth nameWillis Kirby[1]
Born(1939-12-14)December 14, 1939
Muncie, Indiana, United States
DiedMarch 18, 2019(2019-03-18) (aged 79)
North Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Cause of deathPneumonia
Children7
FamilyLes Thatcher (cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Roger Kirby
Rip Kirby
Bob Baker
Billy Baker
Cruiser[2]
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight242 lb (110 kg)
Billed fromDunkirk, Indiana, United States[3]
Trained byDick the Bruiser
The Sheik[4]
Debut1960
Retired1986[5]

Willis Kirby (December 14, 1939 – March 18, 2019), better known by the ring name Roger Kirby, was an American professional wrestler who competed throughout the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. He primarily competed within the National Wrestling Alliance, where he is a former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and also competed in promotions such as the World Wrestling Association, the World Wrestling Federation and Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre.[6] Fellow wrestlers have called Kirby "one of the greatest performers to ever work in the squared circle".[7]

  1. ^ "ROGER "NATURE BOY" KIRBY - Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Matches « Roger Kirby « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  3. ^ TheIronClaw1 (June 26, 2011). "Kevin Von Erich Vs Roger Kirby" – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Roger Kirby « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  6. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Career « Roger Kirby « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  7. ^ "Peers celebrate Roger Kirby's skills". Archived from the original on March 12, 2016.