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Big Brother Could Shoot Too ….
The wrestling world has never been short of a Robinson. Alf, Bill, Bob, Don, Phil, Ray, Tom, a couple of Jacks, and at least four Joes. Apologies to any Robinsons we have overlooked.
Although none of us are old enough to remember him those that did know Joe Robinson of Wigan reckon he was the best of the lot, some have said better than Billy Riley. Although his younger brother, Bob, found more enduring success in the professional ring, Joe should not be overlooked.
Joe was said to be a meaner and a harder wrestler with more of a killer instinct than his highly acclaimed brother. It was Joe Robinson that taught Karel Istaz when he came to Wigan to learn catch wrestling, and he played his part in training the great Billy Robinson. Karel Istaz said that Joe Robinson was the best of the Wigan wrestlers, better even than Riley. He was one of the few that Riley would permit to train the Wigan proteges when he was not present.
Joe Robinson was born on 10th June, 1902, the eldest son of Samuel and Mary, Father Samuel was a coal hewer, a miner who loosens rock, and Joe followed his dad down the mine to do the same job.
It is said that it was a case of temperament rather than ability that prevented Joe receiving the public acclaim that his brother received. Brother Bob (Billy Joyce) was a man dedicated, some said driven, to perfection, whilst Joe was less focused and more relaxed.
Another reason, and likely just as important, was more a matter of timing. Joe was fourteen years older than his brother.
His peak years were the 1930s. When the Second World War ended Joe was 43 years old. Whilst there were very good wrestlers of that age it is a bit old to develop in a business that was reinventing itself; promoters wanted to invest in young wrestlers who could be moulded into the new style of wrestling and management. Aged 29 Bob fitted into that role, able to develop into the television era, and serve the promoters well for another 25 years. Joe was a bit too old.
Joe Robinson appeared on the wrestling scene in the mid 1930s and was last seen in 1944. His wrestling was confined to northern England.
One of the best, but when it came to the new fangled post war world of pro wrestling a square peg in a round hole.
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