Bill Longson

Title History

  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Sandor Szabo (November 15, 1938);
  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Bobby Managoff (June 10, 1941);
  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Frank Sexton (August 9, 1941);
  • NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Sandor Szabo (February 19, 1942);
  • NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Bobby Managoff (February 19, 1943);
  • NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (November 21, 1947);
  • NWA (Central States) Heart of America Heavyweight title defeating Sonny Myers [Tournament] (May 18, 1950);
  • NWA (Texas) World Tag Team titles w/Ike Eakins (August 1958);
  • NWA Texas Brass Knuckles title defeating Fritz Von Erich (August 5, 1958);

Career Highlights

  • Bill Longson had his back broken by Man Mountain Dean in a match that took place in the San Francisco territory..
  • ~~~18 months later, Bill Longson returned to SF under a mask (as The Purple Shadow) to get his revenge on Dean..
  • ~~~The Purple Shadow broke Man Mountain Dean’s leg and pulled off his mask and revealed his true identity….
  • Bill Longson was a partner in the St. Louis territory/office after being the city’s biggest consistent draw of all-time
  • December 12, 1982: Bill Longson passed away at the age of 76..
  • 2006: Bill Longson was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Schenectady, New York..

 

Updated:

Trained By

Debut

Birthday

June 8, 1906

Hometown

Salt Lake City, Utah
Moved to St. Louis, Missouri

Gender

Height

Weight

240 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

The Piledriver

Favorite Move(s)

The Headlock
Airplane spin
The Flying Leap

Notable Feuds

Man Mountain Dean
Lou Thesz
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Gorgeous George

Status