Millions of viewers who watch WWE don’t realize it, but when they watch their favorite superstars face off in the ring, they see more than the scripted fights that take place between the ropes. The forgotten Pensacola Wrestling territory, known by three names-Southeastern Wrestling, Continental Championship Wrestling, and CWF-left an indelible mark on WWE. Its influence lingers in the ring, shaping the stars and storylines of today’s wrestling world.
This article delves into the life and career of Billy Two Rivers, a Mohawk wrestler who achieved international fame. From his early training to championship victories and cultural impact, we will explore the remarkable journey of this wrestling icon.
Early Life and Training
Two Rivers was trained by Don Eagle, a former World Heavyweight Champion in the Boston-based American Wrestling Association. When he, also from Kahnawake, returned to the reservation on a break from wrestling, he met 16-year-old Two Rivers, became his guardian and took him to Columbus, Ohio, for training.
Professional Wrestling Career
He began wrestling professionally in 1953 and retired in 1977, having worked in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Two Rivers made his professional debut in February 1953 in Detroit, facing Rose Martino of Italy.
Early Years in the United States
He spent the next several years in the United States, first in Ohio and then throughout the Atlantic Coast. He worked against such wrestlers as "Wild Bull" Curry and Larry Hamilton. He also formed a tag team with Don Eagle from 1956 to 1959. As a team, they faced a wide variety of opponents, including Ray Stevens, Boris Malenko, and Fritz Von Erich.
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Championship Success
With George Becker, Two Rivers held his first championship belt. On April 6, 1959, they won the Southern version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship by defeating Alberto and Enrique Torres. They held the title for three months before dropping them to the team of Mr. Moto and Duke Keomuka.
Venturing Overseas
After losing the championship, Two Rivers considered moving to Calgary, Alberta, to work for Stampede Wrestling. Ray Napolitano, a wrestler from the United Kingdom, told him to consider moving overseas. Wrestling in England and Scotland, Two Rivers gained fame due to his First Nations heritage.
He wore a feathered headdress, had a Mohawk hairstyle, and performed a war dance during some of his matches. Two Rivers returned to the United States in September 1965 and resumed wrestling in North Carolina.
Return to North America
In 1971 and 1972, Two Rivers had several matches in Ontario and Quebec, often as part of a tag team with Johnny War Eagle. The following year, he returned to the United Kingdom, where he stayed to wrestle until late in 1974. At that point, he wrestled several matches in Germany before returning to Canada. He returned because his family asked him to spend more time at home.
In the Montreal-based Grand Prix Wrestling (GPW), he held the GPW Tag Team Championship while teaming with Jean War Eagle in 1974. He remained in Canada, facing such wrestlers as Sailor White, The Sheik, and Kurt Von Hess, for the rest of his career.
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His final title victory came on August 3, 1976, when he defeated Serge Dumont to win the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship.
| Championship | Date Won |
|---|---|
| NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (with George Becker) | April 6, 1959 |
| GPW Tag Team Championship (with Jean War Eagle) | 1974 |
| Canadian International Heavyweight Championship | August 3, 1976 |
Role in the Oka Crisis
In 1990, Two Rivers helped lead the Mohawk nation during the Oka Crisis. A golf course in the village of Oka, Quebec, planned to expand onto land claimed by the Mohawk as traditional land. The Mohawk people objected to the plan to cut down a sacred grove of pines and build on their burial ground.
Oka Crisis
Billy Two Rivers: A Winemaking Story!
Legacy in Popular Culture
Two Rivers' name has entered popular culture in many forms. A British racing horse shared it. The British band The Dogs D'Amour named a song after him on its In the Dynamite Jet Saloon album in 1988. He plays a large role in Pulitzer Prize-winner Paul Muldoon's poem "My Father and I and Billy Two Rivers". After learning a photograph of him was to be featured on the cover of Van Morrison's September 2017 album Roll with the Punches, Two Rivers sued the singer and his label, Universal Music Group, in July, claiming they did not seek permission to use his likeness.
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