Bobby Shane

Robert Lee Schoenberger (August 25, 1945 – February 20, 1975),[1] better known as Bobby Shane, who also wrestled as Bobby Schoen and as The Challenger, was an American professional wrestler known for his time in NWA Florida in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a well-known "heel" in the National Wrestling Alliance and considered a future wrestling star at the time of his death.[2]

Bobby Shane
Birth nameRobert Lee Schoenberger
Born(1945-08-25)August 25, 1945[1]
St. Louis, Missouri[1]
DiedFebruary 20, 1975(1975-02-20) (aged 29)[1]
Tampa, Florida[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bobby Shane
Bobby Schoen
The Challenger
Billed height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1]
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg)[1]
Trained byWild Bill Longson
Debut1963

Professional wrestling career

The son of St. Louis referee Gus Schoenberger, he started his career in the American Wrestling Association in Minnesota. Eventually winning titles in the Mid-west and Hawaii. By 1968 he went to Georgia where he became popular. In 1970, he was the masked Challenger teaming up with The Professional (Doug Gilbert) winning the NWA Georgia Tag Teams titles in a tournament. Later that year he defeated Nick Bockwinkel for the NWA Georgia Television Championship.

In 1971 he moved to the NWA's Florida territory where he became a big name. He won the Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship from George Gaiser, as well as the NWA Florida Television Championship winning it two times from Bob Roop and Tim Woods in 1972. Shane won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship with Chris Markoff, Bearcat Wright and Gorgeous George, Jr. from 1972–1974. Jack Brisco would have a feud with Shane during his time in Florida. He became known as the "King of Wrestling". In 1974 he went to World Championship Wrestling in Australia and feuded with Mario Milano.

Death

On February 20, 1975, Shane was accompanied by Gary Hart, Austin Idol and Buddy Colt, who was piloting the Cessna 182, when they took off from Opa Locka Airport, located in Miami to Peter O. Knight Airport, located in Tampa. The aircraft crashed into the Tampa Bay following a stall after Colt attempted a go-around.[3] Amidst the crash, the Tampa Police Department retrieved the aircraft from the water where they found Shane's body and announced that Shane had died from drowning. It is believed his foot was caught in the wreckage of the aircraft. Shane died at 29 years old and the other wrestlers survived with minor and critical injuries.[2][4][5] Hart was thrown from the plane and had suffered serious injuries (broken arm, wrist, knee, back, sternum, collarbone and vertebrae; right eye knocked loose; a partially severed nose; head trauma). Despite this, he managed to locate Idol and swim him to shore, then swim back and rescue Colt. However, swimming out a third time, Hart was unable to find Shane; reportedly he was plagued by the memory and for decades wondered whether he had done everything he could.

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References
  1. "Bobby Shane Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  2. Guzzo, Paul (February 1, 2015). "Wrestlers recall plane crash off Tampa that changed their careers". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  3. "What Ever Happened To . . . Buddy Colt?". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  4. Siege, Mike (2004). "CWF #9 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
  5. "Manager". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  6. "Nebraska Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  7. Oliver, Greg (June 11, 2006). "Race & Hennig go over at Cauliflower Alley Club Banquet". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  8. "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Central States)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  9. "Iowa Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  10. "NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  11. "NWA Florida Television Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  12. "Florida Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  13. "NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  14. "NWA Georgia Television Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  15. "City of Mobile Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  16. "NWA Georgia Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  17. "NWA Macon Tag Team Title (Georgia)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  18. "NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  19. "NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  20. "SCW Western States Tag Team Title (Washington)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  21. "NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title (Australia)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
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