Tarzan Tyler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tarzan Tyler |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Camille Laurent 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) | Tarzan Tyler Tarzan Tourville |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Billed weight | 270 lb (122 kg) |
| Billed from | Miami Beach, Florida, United States |
| Trained by | Jacques Rougeau, Sr. Édouard Carpentier Yvon Robert Jr |
| Debut | 1949 |
Camille Laurent Tourville (born December 4, 1927 – died December 24, 1985) was a Canadian professional wrestler. He was best known by his wrestling name, Tarzan "The Boot" Tyler. He was famous for being one of the first WWWF World Tag Team Champions with his partner, Luke Graham.
Contents
Becoming a Wrestling Star
Camille Tourville started his journey as an amateur wrestler. A local promoter named Sylvio Samson noticed his talent and helped him begin his professional career. In the early 1950s, he started wrestling in Montreal, Canada, using the name Tarzan Tyler.
His first big match in the Montreal Forum was against Don Leo Jonathan. At that time, Tourville was a "face," which means he was a good guy that fans cheered for. He also wrestled under the name Tarzan Tourville. In 1958, he wrestled for the first time at Maple Leaf Gardens.
On May 27, 1960, Tarzan Tyler teamed up with Mighty Ursus. They won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship. This was a big achievement for them.
Wrestling in the United States
Around the 1960s, after wrestling in Canada for almost ten years, Tyler moved to the United States. He found great success wrestling in Texas. There, he won the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Jay York.
In 1964, he started wrestling in Florida. He became a "heel," which means he played the role of a bad guy that fans would boo. He also worked as a "booker," helping to plan the wrestling shows and matches.
Big Matches and Championships
By 1965, Tyler began wrestling for the WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation). He challenged famous wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Championship, but he didn't win. He also competed for other world championships against stars such as Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, and Dory Funk Jr..
A major moment in his career happened on June 3, 1971. Tarzan Tyler and Crazy Luke Graham defeated Dick the Bruiser and The Sheik. This victory made them the very first WWWF World Tag Team Champions.
Later that year, he wrestled Pedro Morales in the main event at Madison Square Garden. On November 12, he and Graham also won the WWF International Tag Team Championship from The Mongols. However, they lost their World Tag Team Championship on December 6 to Karl Gotch and Rene Goulet.
"The Boot" Nickname
In 1973, Tyler got hurt during a match with the famous André the Giant. This injury was serious and left him unable to move for several months. When he returned to wrestling, Tyler started using a special move. He would tap his boot on the mat three times, which allowed him to secretly use a hidden object. Then, he would kick his opponent. This move earned him his famous nickname, "The Boot."
In the 1970s, he went back to Montreal. He wrestled for Grand Prix Wrestling and later became a top "heel" for George Cannon's Superstars of Wrestling. Before he passed away, Tyler also worked as a manager for Gino Brito's Lutte Internationale.
Life Outside the Ring
Camille Tourville grew up in Montreal. When he was just ten years old, his friends started calling him "Tarzan." This nickname stuck with him throughout his life and career.
Sadly, on December 24, 1985, Tourville died in a car crash. He was with fellow wrestler Pierre 'Mad Dog' Lefébvre and referee Adrien Desbois. They were returning from a wrestling event in Chicoutimi, Québec, when their car slid on a curve in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and hit a tow truck. Camille Tourville was 58 years old when he passed away.
Wrestling Achievements
Tarzan Tyler won many championships during his wrestling career:
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Big Time Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Alaskan
- 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)
- 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
- WWWF 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
