Bobby Shane Biography (p. 2)

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As his stay in the Gulf Coast ended, Bobby went to wrestle for promoter Paul Boesch in Texas. Interestingly, though Shane had been hugely successful as a heel the past few months, he was brought into his new territory as a babyface. Boesch gave him a big buildup as his press releases heralded him as a “high flying, hard hitting, fast moving, clever wrestling machine.” He debuted in Ft. Worth on June 28 and defeated Skandor Akbar in a two out of three falls match. The following week, he scored a victory over rough Chris Markoff, and the following week, he joined forces with former pro football player George Gaiser to defeat Skandor Akbar and Bronco Lubich. The Texas fans were very receptive to Shane’s exciting style and good looks, and he appreciated their support. “I just want to thank all the fans for the wonderful way they’ve been treating me,” he said in a Ft. Worth wrestling program shortly after his debut. “You never know for sure how you’ll be received when you enter a new area,” he continued. “I haven’t had a bit of trouble, and already, I’ve made hundreds of friends.” Shane spoke highly of the level of competition in the Lone Star State as well. “Wrestling in this state is every bit as rough as I heard it was,” he stated. “A wrestler never really knows how good he is unless he wrestles here. It’s a challenge for anyone.”

After his impressive string of victories, Shane faced a tough test against former Texas champion Joe Blanchard. “I’ve had some pretty rough matches already, and I’m sure Blanchard will go all out to try and defeat me. I could have a long night against him, but I won’t let someone push me around all night,” he stated. Shane continued his Ft. Worth winning streak with an impressive victory over Blanchard. “Blanchard was tough, but that’s why I’m in Texas. The competition is the greatest here,” he said.

The following week, Shane was part of the main event as he joined forces with Wahoo McDaniel and Danny “Bulldog” Plechas to defeat Bronco Lubich, Thunderbolt Patterson, and “Baby Blimp” George Harris III. In the short time they were in the territory together, Shane and McDaniel had developed a mutual respect. “I’ll have as my partner one of the greatest men in the sport in Wahoo,” Bobby said in regards to their upcoming six-man match. Wahoo had high praise for Shane as well. “I think he’s one of the fastest and best young wrestlers I’ve seen in a long time,” he stated. “It’s nice to have him in your corner against men like Patterson, Lubich, and Harris.”

Two weeks after his six-man tag team victory, Shane joined forces with Nick Kozak to defeat Bronco Lubich and “Baby Blimp” George Harris III. “I think I had one of the best partners in the world. That Nick is something else,” Bobby said of Kozak. A couple of weeks after that, Shane and Kozak found themselves matched against each other. “This should be some match,” Bobby said. “We’ve been partner, so I know what he can do. He’s an outstanding wrestler,” Shane stated. It was a fast-paced battle between the two fan favorites, and the match ended in a draw.

As he remained undefeated, Shane was anxious to move up in the cards. “I’m feeling better every week,” he stated. “I feel as if I am hitting on all cylinders, and I’m ready to make my move.” Bobby was put in a semi-main event match, and it was a tough test as he would be facing rugged Thunderbolt Patterson., who was making life miserable for the local fan favorites. Shane put up a valiant struggle, but dropped a close best of three falls bout to Patterson. Incidentally, Patterson soon took to wearing a crown and calling himself the “King of Wrestling,” just as Shane had done months earlier in the Gulf Coast. Other men Bobby faced in Texas included Buddy Wolfe, Ray Mendoza, and Professor Toru Tanaka. His stay in Texas concluded in October, and the following month, he was on his way to Florida.

Back in the days of the territories, every successful wrestler had that one territory where he got so “over,” it solidified his spot in the main events. Florida was such a territory for Bobby Shane. While it is true that Shane first got over big with his heel persona in the Gulf Coast (and taking nothing away from that territory), his stay there was relatively short, and the area never garnered the magazine coverage that territories like Florida received.

With Sherri beside him and proudly wearing his King’s crown, Shane debuted in mid-November 1971. Touted as the “fifth ranked heavyweight in the nation,” Shane scored victories over Johnny “Rubberman” Walker, Ken Lusk (who later became Ken Mantel), and Larry O’Day during his first week on the circuit. So spectacular were his victories, that on November 23 in Tampa, he was granted a title match with Southern heavyweight champion George Gaiser, whom he had teamed with months before in Texas. “Gaiser is big, and he’s strong as an ox. And he’s just about as smart,” Bobby cracked. “He says he has a weight advantage in this match, but I’m going to take his weight and use it to my advantage. That’s where intelligence pays off.” It was a hard fought match, and when it was over, the “King of Wrestling” was the new Southern heavyweight champion.

Bobby soon saw himself involved in many controversies. As in the Gulf Coast area after he anointed himself King, Shane would not wrestle on television. He did appear each week to launch verbal assaults on his many ring rivals, and to film his future opponents in the ring. On one edition of “Championship Wrestling From Florida,” Jack Brisco was defending the Television title against Ole Anderson, and Shane was at ringside recording the action. At one point, Brisco was outside the ring, and he and Shane got a little too close to each other, and a scuffle ensued. The altercation enabled Anderson to win the title from Brisco.

After his loss, Brisco was furious. “I’ll get my title back. And I will settle up with Mr. Shane for his part in what happened,” he vowed. Shane was undaunted by Brisco’s anger. “Did little Jackie Brisco lose his TV title?” he said tauntingly in the Tampa wrestling program. “Now all the little children will go back to watching Captain Kangaroo. Let me tell you something. Bobby Shane, the King of Wrestling and the Southern heavyweight champion does not even wrestle on television. How can a grown man who calls himself the champion of Florida possibly become that upset over losing a little trinket like that?” he asked.

Bobby made several successful defenses of his title against such foes as Louis Tillet, Hiro Matsuda (thus avenging his loss to the then-heel Japanese star years earlier), and the Great Malenko. As his winning ways continued, Shane earned a pair of title matches with NWA champion Dory Funk Jr. One of their bouts ended in a draw, and the other one saw Funk successfully defend his title. In January 1972, Shane and former Olympic wrestler Bob Roop became embroiled in a feud. Roop, who had defeated Ole Anderson for the TV title, sought a shot at the Southern title. Shane accepted the challenge, but reasoned that since he was to risk his championship, Roop should put something of his own on the line. To Shane’s dismay, Roop put the TV title on the line. “I was hoping he’d put something valuable on the line,” Bobby stated. “Maybe a thousand dollars, or even that old car of his – he’s been driving it for so long, it’s become an antique!”

A verbal battle served as a prelude to the double championship match. A couple of years earlier, Roop was honored by the Florida Department of Conservation and he wore a “tree suit,” so Shane took to taunting Roop by calling him a “big fat tree kid.” For his part, Roop poked fun at the King’s crown, “you look like you ought to be doing a margarine commercial,” he spat.

The match was held in Tampa on January 4, 1972, and as per TV title match rules, Roop’s championship was only on the line during the first twenty minutes of their bout. Shane was victorious, and he now held two titles. As a result, Shane, who had been refusing to wrestle on television, would have to defend the championship on TV “just like the common folk,” as a Florida wrestling official put it. Bobby protested that decision. “I am the King of Wrestling, the Southern heavyweight champion, and the top contender for the World heavyweight title. It’s really such a bore being a television champion, I really can’t be bothered with such trifles,” he stated.

In time, Shane reluctantly agreed to defend the title as stipulated. “I never wanted that title,” he would contend. “However, it’s what Roop wanted to put up, so, being the good sport that I am, I went along with it. I never gave much thought to what I’d do with that big, stupid piece of junk they call a trophy. Fortunately, I have my valet to carry it around for me, otherwise, I might have given it back to Roop just to be rid of it.”

Another angle that gained Shane much notoriety was his views on the women’s Liberation movement. The King of Wrestling felt that all were subordinate to him (men as well as women, he didn’t discriminate). However, Bobby did claim to have a soft spot for the gentler sex. “I go beyond equal rights for women, and I believe in granting them special privileges,” he stated in a Tampa program. “In the case of my valet for example, I grant her the privilege of basking in the reflected glory of my greatness as a wrestler.”

Tim “Mr. Wrestling” Woods soon emerged at the number one challenger for Shane’s Southern title. Woods had entered Florida in 1971 as the masked Mr. Wrestling, and soon voluntarily unmasked in order to get an NWA title shot. Later, he would alternate between wearing the mask and appearing without it. Shane didn’t exactly agree with Wood’s nickname. “You can call yourself President of the United States if you like, but that won’t shake Dick Nixon up,” he sneered in an open letter to Woods in a Tampa program. For some of their bouts, though, Woods wrestled without his mask, and true to form, Bobby had an opinion about that as well. “Am I supposed to be impressed because ‘what’s-his-name’ is moving his mask again?” he asked. “I don’t know what good he expects it’s going to do him. He took it off a few weeks ago and he couldn’t even beat Jackie Brisco. I think I’ll make him put it back on when I get through giving him the wrestling lesson of his life.”

Shane and Woods had a classic series of matches throughout Florida with neither man getting a clear-cut victory. On February 14 in Tampa, the two squared off and Shane emerged victorious. However, the NWA held up the Southern title after footage of the match showed that Shane had won due to outside interference from a mysterious masked man known as the Professional. Shane claimed that the masked man interfered without his knowledge or approval, and he did not take the NWA’s decision well at all.

“They can’t do this to me!” he declared in a statement to the Tampa wrestling program. “Here I am, the King of Wrestling, the holder of two major regional championships, and I get stabbed in the back by Sam Muchnick and the Alliance. I would think they’d be proud of me. Here I am, probably the greatest wrestler in the world today, and my hometown is St. Louis, headquarters of the NWA. I’ve done more to put St. Louis on the map in just a few short years than the NWA has in its entire history and they treat me like this. Jealousy is an evil, wicked thing. Just a few short years ago, these very same people were patting me on the back and giving me encouragement. Now that I’ve become successful, everyone wants to do me in. It makes me ashamed to be a member of the human race,” he concluded.

A rematch was scheduled for February 28, and few fans who were at the Tampa card that night will ever forget it. It was a fast paced, hard-hitting match that had the fans on the edge of their seats. Both men were in top form that night, and the match ended in a spectacular one hour draw. Another return match between the two rivals took place on March 14. Again, it was an intense, action packed bout, and this time, Woods was able to defeat Shane and capture the championship.

As his feud with Woods raged on, Shane remained in the thick of things. It soon became apparent that the masked Professional was indeed an associate of Bobby’s. The Great Mephisto soon became associated with the two, and shortly thereafter, the popular Bearcat Wright stunned the Florida fans by joining Shane as well. Shane had been scheduled to defend the TV title against Jack Brisco, but came down with the flu, and Wright came out as Bobby’s handpicked substitute. Shane and his entourage would spend the next several months causing much trouble for the fan favorites in Florida.

Controversy would continue to find Shane. On March 4, he refused to wrestle on television and defend his TV championship. As a result, he was stripped of that title, but he didn’t seem to mind. “I am the King of Wrestling, I have no need of a television championship,” he declared. Nevertheless, Shane would soon be busy defending yet another Florida championship, as on March 9, he and Bearcat Wright defeated Larry O'Day & Ron Miller (the Australians), for the Florida tag team championship. They held the belts until May, when Boris Malenko and Bob Roop defeated them. As a result of the title loss, Shane and Wright ended up in a feud against each other.

With Wright out of the picture, Bobby added Canadian strongman Mike Webster to his stable. “Canada’s greatest athlete,” is how Shane described Webster. Shane paired Webster with the Professional, and predicted that they would go on to dominate the tag team scene. His forecast was correct as on May 31, the duo defeated Malenko and Roop for the tag team championship. “Didn’t I say these two boys could do it?” Shane asked triumphantly after the match. “Two real powerhouses, fine wrestlers, strong athletes – what more could you ask?” They held the titles a month before dropping them to Boris Malenko and Johnny Walker. The Professional was soon pinned in a “loser leaves town” match, and returned sans mask as Red Beard. In reality, he was Doug “the Pro” (later Gashouse) Gilbert, Shane’s old buddy from Georgia.

In the summer of 1972, Miss Sherri had vacated her position as Shane’s valet (she and Bobby, sadly, had gotten divorced). Bobby’s new valet was the gangly Stephen. In addition to his valet duties, Stephen “the Body” (his rather unlikely nickname) would often join Bobby and his men in tag team matches. In addition, as he was at ringside during Shane’s matches, he would do his best to distract Bobby’s opponents. In a memorable moment on “Championship Wrestling from Florida,” Stephen interfered in a match and Eddie Graham slapped him, leaving Gordon Solie to remark that “he didn’t even rate the dignity of a punch.”

As one of Florida’s top heels, Shane found himself involved in many feuds. He and Boris Malenko had a great rivalry going. “Boris Malenko is a borderline psychotic,” Bobby declared. “And if it becomes necessary, I don’t mind teaching that Russian baboon a lesson in the ring.” In addition to wrestling, Malenko opened his own health club, which Shane dismissed as a tawdry massage parlor. “And we all know what goes on at those so-called massage parlors,” he snickered. The verbal battles between these two now-departed greats were second only to the intensity of their hard fought bouts.

Shane also found himself at war with Eddie Graham (whom he referred to as “Edwin”), and Eddie’s son, Mike. The younger Graham had not yet made his Florida pro debut, but week after week, Bobby would goad him on, referring to him condescendingly as “Edwin’s Kid,” and dismissing him as a “muscle-bound amateur.” Mike soon turned pro, and he and Shane went at it in both singles and tag team matches. In one meeting, Shane injured Mike, which set Eddie out for revenge, and on June 24 in Jacksonville, Eddie got revenge by “breaking” Shane’s leg, putting him out for nearly two months. Behind the scenes, Shane had developed knee problems and the time off had been for knee surgery. As with any such surgery, there was a chance that Shane would no longer be able to wrestle. However, showing the same gutsy determination that led him to be a wrestler in the first place, Shane faced the obstacles now in his path, vowing to overcome them and return to the ring.

As Shane’s injury angle was played out, “Championship Wrestling From Florida” sent a camera to Bobby’s hospital room, where Shane was consoled by his charges Mike Webster and the Professional, and he vowed that they would avenge his injury. “Edwin Graham, you’re in serious trouble,” Shane warned. “Don’t think you’re safe wrestling in Florida while my leg is in a cast. You can’t beat the King’s men, and they have their orders as far as you and Michael are concerned.”

In August, Shane had recovered, and was preparing for his return to the ring, and he vowed to take vengeance on his rivals. “Edwin Graham and son are about to experience the truly traumatic,” he vowed. “I have every intention of putting Edwin out of commission, then taking my time with that long-haired kid. The party’s over for the Graham clan, and the day of reckoning has arrived! Soon Edwin, very soon, the King will rejoin his loyal troops in battle. I anxiously await that day, Edwin. But what about you and the kid? You and Michael see if you can find yourselves a place to wrestle that’s so remote that I can’t find you, because that’s the only way you’re going to stay out of the hospital. Pack your bags Edwin; this is your final warning.” Though Eddie was victorious in the subsequent rematches, Shane remained a thorn in the side of the Grahams.

Shane was thankful that he was able to return to the ring, and he was in top form. In October, he defeated rival Tim Woods for the Television title (by this time, the King had overcame his aversion to appearing on television). He held the championship for nearly a month before losing it to Jack Brisco. Shane was soon amidst controversy once again, however, as his opponents began to charge that he was wearing a steel knee brace under his long tights, and using it as a weapon. On November 28 in Tampa, Sane defeated Brisco for the Florida heavyweight title. At that point, it was revealed that he had indeed used a steel knee brace to knockout Brisco, and the title was held up.

As 1972 came to a close, Shane continued to be a force to be reckoned with. On December 27, he and Chris Markoff defeated Jack and Jerry Brisco for the Florida tag team championship. They lost the belts to Tim Woods and Big Bad John in January 1973. The following month, Bobby came back with Gorgeous George Jr. to win back the belts. They held the belts only one week, however, before dropping them to Mike Graham and Kevin Sullivan. Backstage after the bout, Florida boss Eddie Graham thanked Shane and George for putting over the young team of Graham and Sullivan.

Despite his persona as a heel, the charismatic Shane had his fair share of fans, however, as there were many who admired him for being outspoken, self-confident, and doing whatever it took to win a match. He went on to become such a fixture in Florida that his reputation went beyond the squared circle, and even people who knew nothing about wrestling had heard of Bobby Shane. Among his trademarks were the cigars that he often smoked, and soon, the Tampanela Cigar Factory named a cigar after him. It was marketed not only in the Florida wrestling programs, but in the mainstream press as well, and it became quite a popular brand (“Shane – A truly fine cigar,” was the ad slogan}. As a testament to Shane’s popularity as a villain, many fans soon bought the cigar. Florida had become Bobby’s favorite place to wrestle, and he rented out a lavish apartment in Palm Beach. “I like it here,” he stated in a wrestling program. “The people here have real class – they know how to live. I’m even giving some thought to settling down here.”

Outside the ring, Bobby had many varied interests. He loved to play chess, and even if he couldn’t find someone to have a game with, he would spend a lot of time in front of a chessboard working out different strategies. When he owned a home in Atlanta, he enjoyed working in his garden, swimming in his built-in pool, and he was an avid reader as well. “I discovered reading almost by accident,” he stated in an April 1973 Inside Wrestling article. “I was in a hospital, in traction from an auto accident. I was going nuts and had nothing to do. A friend brought some books by and I started leafing through them. I wasn’t much for reading books in school, I guess because I had to. But once I wasn’t forced to, I began enjoying them. Now, on a day off when I’m recovering from various bruises, I can spend a day relaxing in my big lounge chair, smoking a cigar and reading.” Shane also enjoyed different kinds of music, dining out, having a couple of beers or unwinding with a glass of white wine after a match.

In1973, Shane was kept busy on many fronts. As “Championship Wrestling From Florida” was syndicated and shown in many states across the nation, the grapplers of the Sunshine State made many guest appearances nationwide. Shane made two appearances in Boston. He defeated Tim Woods on a January card, and dropping a match to Jack Brisco in February. He also appeared for several matches in the Eastern states (pre Mid Atlantic area). Among his bouts in that area were a January match with Nelson Royal, and he main evented in March against Eastern States champion Jerry Brisco. In addition, he made several appearances in the Gulf Coast, battling Ken Lucas, the Lumberjack, and joining forces with Prince Pullins in a tournament for the United States tag team championship.

Also in 1973, Shane returned to Georgia (giving fans in that state their first look of him as a heel). Shane and other Florida grapplers such as Tim Woods and Buddy Colt were sent to the Peach State as a result of a promotional war that had broken out between Paul Jones’ NWA Georgia territory and Ann Gunkel’s All South Championship Wrestling. In Georgia, Bobby had a new valet, Winston. In March, he had a series of matches with the legendary 6-time former NWA champion Lou Thesz. “He must have been thrilled to be facing him,” Charlie Bent stated. “He was one of Bobby’s heroes.”

Shane soon found himself at odds with Bob Orton Sr. Bobby had injured Bob Orton Jr. during a televised workout, which had the senior Orton, whom Shane had faced previously in Nebraska, seeking revenge. Shane also continued his feud with Tim Woods, and in a memorable angle, he was suspended for a time after breaking Woods’ leg. Bobby also feuded with such men as Mr. Wrestling II, Bob Armstrong, Robert Fuller, and Bobo Brazil. Under the management of Gary Hart, he and Gorgeous George Jr. teamed to defeat Bob Armstrong and Robert Fuller for the Georgia Tag team championship. Also on the tag team front, Bobby teamed for a time with Jerry Lawler, and Shane gave Lawler his blessing on his (Lawler’s) use of the King gimmick in Tennessee, and he even gave Lawler his first crown.

Thinking ahead to the future when he would no longer be an active wrestler, Shane began to get involved in the business end of the sport. He helped Les Thatcher in the writing of the Ringsider - the programs that were sold at the arena matches in Atlanta. In addition, promoter Jerry Jarrett hired Bobby as an assistant booker in Georgia. As a result, in late 1973, Bobby received and offer to wrestle and promote in Australia. It was a great opportunity, and it would be a big move for him behind the scenes. After giving it much thought, Shane accepted the offer, and in February 1974, he headed to Australia.

Throughout 1974, Bobby appeared as both a wrestler and manager in Australia while attending to his behind-the-scenes duties. He managed Brute Bernard, and his opponents included former partner Gorgeous George Jr., Tony Parisi, and Cyclone Negro (whom he defeated for the U. S. Brass Knuckles title). He shared the Austro-Asian tag team title with Mr. Wrestling (George Barnes was the man under the mask, not Shane’s nemesis Tim Woods), and on occasion, he was accompanied to the ring by a very beautiful woman known as Miss Channel Nine, whom he met when he appeared on the wrestling program on the television station she represented.

Shane enjoyed the experiences he had while working in Australia, though he did miss his family and friends back home. Wanting to share part of the experience with his parents, he had them flown over for a visit (over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Schoenberger had visited Bobby in various places that he wrestled).

Bobby was quite taken by the beauty of Australia, and the friendliness of the people. “He really loved Australia,” his cousin Joan stated. As 1974 came to a close, however, he decided that it was time to return to the United States. “I miss the States very much, it’ll be good to get back home,” he had said upon his departure from Australia. After bidding a fond farewell to the friends he had made there, he returned just in time for the holidays. He landed in Los Angeles where he visited some friends. He wrestled in a few cards at the famed Olympic Auditorium, facing Andre the Giant, Edouard Carpentier, and Black Gordman. Next, he returned to St. Louis for a visit with his parents, and then he headed to the southwest.

In January 1975 it was announced on “Championship Wrestling From Florida” that Shane would be returning. His return was in early February as he joined Gordon Solie as a special guest color commentator. He was also slated to do some booking for Eddie Graham, and he wrestled on some cards in Georgia and Alabama.

On February 19, 1975, there was a wrestling card at the Miami Beach Auditorium. Like so many times before, the wrestlers prepared for their matches as the fans filled the building. The main event was a special challenge match between former Texas Outlaws partners Dusty Rhodess and Dick Murdoch. One of the other matches that evening saw the returning Shane join forces with Buddy Colt to take on Dominic DeNucci and Tony Parisi. After the card, the wrestlers got ready to leave for Tampa, where they were due to appear the next might, and Shane was going to rent a car for the long drive north. However, there was an extra seat on Buddy Colt’s single engine Cessna 173 aircraft. Shane accepted an offer to join Colt, “Iron” Mike McCord, and “Playboy” Gary Hart for the ride. As they approached Tampa International Airport, Colt was informed that a front was moving in, and he was advised to land at Peter O’Knight Airport on the tip of Davis Island in Hillsboro Bay. As they approached the runway, the thick clouds made it almost impossible to see, and at approximately 1:30 A. M. on the morning of February 20, the plane crashed into the pitch-black water of Hillsboro Bay just off the runway. Colt and Hart were thrown from the plane. McCord’s seatbelt was jammed shut, and he had to pull himself out of his pants to escape from the plane. As the three met on the surface of the water, they looked around for Shane. Realizing that Bobby must still be down in the plane, they tried going back for him, diving into the water. It was to no avail, however, and they had to swim over 200 yards to shore. The three men were taken to a nearby hospital. When the plane was brought to the surface a few hours later, Shane’s body was found. His seatbelt was still on, and his leg was pinned under his seat. At the young age of 29, Robert “Bobby Shane” Schoenberger was dead.

Saying how incredibly sad this tragedy was is a gross understatement. Bobby left behind his parents, and a huge extended family, all of whom would miss him deeply. His many friends and colleagues would feel the loss as well, and the fans would be without one of the greatest and most colorful wrestlers to ever don a pair of tights.

A memorial service was held in Tampa, and then Bobby’s parents brought his body back to St. Louis for the wake and funeral. The wake was held at a funeral parlor right on the next block from the house that he grew up in. Wrestlers, promoters, and fans joined Bobby’s family and friends, as all were there to pay their final respects to a most memorable man. “That funeral parlor really wasn’t equipped for a wake of that size,” Bobby’s uncle, Larry Schoenberger, recalled. “I remember all the wrestlers and friends who came to say goodbye, and all the flowers at the wake!” Charlie Bent related. “You should have seen the flowers,” former neighbor Mrs. Johnson recalled. “They were sent from as far away as Hawaii and Japan. It was incredible,” she added. At the church, before heading out to Laurel Hill Memorial Park and Gardens, words could not describe the sadness of those gathered, especially Bobby’s parents. “They thought the world of their only son,” Bobby’s cousin, Linda, stated. “At the church, as Bobby’s casket was wheeled down the aisle, Leroy (Bobby’s father) said ‘Goodbye, Son’ and everybody started crying,” she continued.

To this day, over 27 years since his passing, friends and colleagues remember Bobby Shane as an exceptional wrestler who gave his whole heart to the sport. “Bobby loved the business, and he always gave it extra care,” Nick Bockwinkel recalled. “He was an asset to the game, regardless of what territory he was in. It was a tragedy to lose him so young,” he added. “Bobby was a great pro, and a great talent,” Jack Brisco related. “He had a great mind for the business, with many great ideas for matches and angles. I was saddened when he died in that plane crash,” he continued. “Bobby Shane was in the league with the Buddy Rogers type wrestler,” Don Curtis stated. “Losing him, in the manner that he died, and at a time where he was going upwards in his career, is such a tragedy,” he added. “Bobby was very good in the ring, and a perfect gentleman out of the ring,” Cowboy Bob Kelly recalled. “He was very good for the business. In my opinion, he would have been in the same class as Ric Flair if his life hadn’t been cut so short. We lost a great one,” he concluded.

“He was a great guy with a gentle way about him. I never knew Bob to be anything but a gentleman,” high school friend John Castellano stated. “When he died, I couldn’t believe that it was really Bobby in that airplane. I’ll always be proud I knew him and shared a part of his life,” he added. “We were best friends all through high school, and I was proud to have known him,” Charlie Bent stated. “I was also proud of him and his total dedication to his goals, at such a young age. He was a great man, and a fun man. I still think about him and miss him,” added. .

Bobby Shane came a long way from that five year old boy who sat in an arena, mesmerized by the action in the ring. He faced a long, hard road to the top, but he made it, and he always gave the fans their money’s worth in the ring. He accomplished more in eleven years than many wrestlers did in twenty, and he was rightfully proud of his accomplishments, but sadly, it ended much too soon. As many of his colleagues have stated, wrestling suffered a tremendous loss the day that Bobby died.

What is the legacy of Bobby Shane? It is the undying love in the voices of family members and friends as they recall the life he lived. It is the praise and deep respect of colleagues that he worked with so long ago. It is also the passion and the vivid memories of the many fans whom he thrilled during his spectacular, yet all-too-short eleven-year career. Bobby was indeed one of a kind, and he will never be forgotten by the sport that he loved so much that he made it his life. Rest in peace, champ!

- Alfred Ticineto