WRESTLER PROFILES

	Wrestler: "Judo" Gene LeBell Real Name: Ivan Gene LeBell Birthday: October 9, 1932 Hometown: Los Angeles, California Marital Status: Married to Midge w/2 kids Height & Weight: Trained by: Ed "Strangler" Lewis Debut: Previous Names: The Hangman "Judo" Gene LeBell Finishing Move: The Sleeper Ankle Breaker Favorite Moves: Figure Four Leg-lock The Hangmans Noose Judo Locks Notable Feuds: Wilbur Snyder Mitsu Arakawa Pepper Martin Count Billy Varga Bob Ellis
NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Ed Francis (1956); WWA (Los Angeles) World Junior Heavyweight title defeating "Count" Billy Varga (1958); NWA North American Heavyweight title (); NWA Texas Brass Knucks title (); MWCW World Tag Team titles w/Hangman #2 (Roy Staggs) defeating Krusher Kowalski & Chico Garcia (November 1967); Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles (); Central States Mid-America title ();
Wrestling: 1956: Gene LeBell defeated Ed Francis for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title 1958 Gene LeBell defeated "Count" Billy Varga to win the WWA World Junior Heavyweight title.. March 24, 1960: Reports indicate that Gene LeBell defeated NWA Champion Pat O'Connor in Amarillo, Texas.. ~~~However, as LeBell began to celebrate, he swung the title belt and accidently struck a wrestling official.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This caused him to be disqualified and lose the match and the title.. September 18, 1964: Pat Patterson & The Hangman (Gene LeBell) defeated Pepper Martin & ????????.. Early 1967: The Hangman was joined by Hangman # 2 (Roy Staggs) and started wreaking havoc on tag teams in the mid-west.. ~~~The Hangmen, noted for rough tactics and using a noose as a weapon, were also masters of throws and submission holds! November 1967: The Hangmen defeated Krusher Kowalski & Chico Garcia to win the MWCW World Tag Titles in Columbus.. Hollywood: Late 1960s: Gene LeBell left the wrestling business and concentrated on a Hollywood acting career.. Gene LeBell's career in films, as a stuntman are legenday. He's worked on more than 250 major films/TV shows! Gene LeBell has appeared in such films as "Men In Black," "The Castle," "Nowhere to Run," "Death Wish 4," and others.. Gene LeBell has appeared on such TV shows as "Taxi," "The X-Files," "Married With Children" to "Knight Rider" many more Gene LeBell has worked with such greats as Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Chuck Norris, Jan-Claude van Damme, & Bruce Lee Gene LeBell had an alledged altercation with actor Steven Seagall on set, that lead to LeBell taking the action star down.. Gene LeBell was fired! Martial Arts: Gene LeBell was promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt in judo by the U.S. Ju-Jitsu Federation Gene LeBell operated a martial arts training center in Los Angeles.. ~~~Trained many fighters who appear in UFC, Pride, and King of the Ring events, ex: Karo Parisyan, and Harout Tezyan.. Gene LeBell was the referee in the famous Wrestler vs Boxer match that pitted Muhammad Ali against Antonio Inoki.. 2005 - UFC 55: Gene LeBell was honored for his contributions to the sport of mixed martial arts! Gene LeBell has truly lived up to the hype of "the World's Toughest Guy" Retirement: 2005: Gene LeBell was awarded the "Frank Gotch Award" at the Tragos/Thesz Wrestling Legends Hall of Fame induction ceremony..