Tarzan Tyler

Camille Tourville (December 4, 1927 – December 24, 1985) was a Canadian professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Tarzan Tyler. He was one-half of the first WWWF World Tag Team Champions, along with Luke Graham.

Tarzan Tyler
Birth name	Camille Tourville
Born	December 4, 1927 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	December 24, 1985 (aged 58) Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, Quebec, Canada
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	The Boot La Bottine Tarzan Tyler Tarzan Tourville
Billed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Billed weight	270 lb (120 kg)[1]
Billed from	Miami Beach, Florida[1]
Trained by	Jacques Rougeau, Sr. Édouard Carpentier Yvon Robert Jr
Debut	1949[1]

Professional wrestling career

Tarzan Tyler began competing in the United States during the 1960s after having spent nearly 10 years wrestling in Canada.[1] Tyler competed for World Championships against such stars as Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, and Dory Funk Jr.[1] His greatest success came as a tag team competitor, as he and Crazy Luke Graham defeated the team of Dick the Bruiser and The Shiek in 1971 to become the first WWWF World Tag Team Champions.[1] Tyler also challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Championship during his tenure with the promotion. In 1980 he fought Angelo Mosca Sr. for the Canadian Heavyweight title in Toronto.

While working as a heel manager for Gino Brito`s Lutte Internationale, Tarzan Tyler died, along with fellow wrestler Pierre 'Mad Dog' Lefebvre and referee Adrien Desbois, in Laurentides Wildlife Reserve upon returning from a wrestling event in Chicoutimi, Quebec on December 24, 1985, in a car crash.

He was a three-time heavyweight champion for Grand Prix Wrestling in Montreal in the 1970s.

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association

• AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Big Time Wrestling
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Alaskan[2][3]
• Central States Wrestling

• NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (2 times)
• NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Florida Television Championship (2 times, inaugural)[4]
• NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (2 times)
• NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Louie Tillet
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (2 times) - with Tim Tyler (1) and Freddie Blassie (1)

• Japan Wrestling Association

• NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Watts

• Mid-South Sports

• NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (1 time) - with Lenny Montana
• NWA International Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (1 time) - with Lenny Montana

• World Wide Wrestling Federation

• WWWF International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Luke Graham
• World Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) - with Luke Graham

• International Wrestling Association (1970s)

• IWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Stampede Wrestling

• Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mighty Ursus

References

1. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
2. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
3. "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
4. Hoops, Brian (January 17, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.

External links

• Online World of Wrestling profile