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	(1927-12-04)December 4, 1927 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	December 24, 1985(1985-12-24) (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 (191 cm)^[1]
Billed weight	270 lb (122 kg)^[1]
Billed from	Miami Beach, Florida, United States^[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 in 1966. 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' Lefébvre and referee Adrien Desbois, in Laurentides Wildlife Reserve upon returning from a wrestling event in Chicoutimi, Québec on December 24, 1985, in a car crash.

He was a three-time heavyweight champion for Grand Prix Wrestling in Montréal 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

• Tarzan Tyler's profile at Cagematch.net, Internet Wrestling Database