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| Edouard Carpentier |
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| Real Name: Edouard Wiecz Born: Rouannes, Loire, France July 17th, 1926 FACT: Carpentier never came back to wrestle in his native country, France. The only France-native to ever win an AWA belt. His moves: a slap to the opponent in the corner before executing a back flip. Finishing move was several rollovers on the body, sort of a flying steamroller... |
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| Copyright 2004, DeUxKonE, Montr�al, Qc |
| Qu�bec Wrestling |
| One of the most spectacular wrestlers ever to compete in the squared circle, �douard Carpentier was never meant first to become a wrestler. |
| Born from immigrant Polish parents, young �douard Wiecz studied Physical Education. He lived the horrors of the Second World War where he joined the French R�sistance and risked his life. He got decorated for his heroism. |
| After the war, Wiecz got a degree in Physical Education and represented France in Mens'Gymnastics in the 1948 Olympics in London. A short while after, he joined late actor Lino Ventura's stunt team. He mostly doubled for actor Eddie Constantine in his action movies. But Ventura was also a pro wrestler in France (the sport is called "�Catch") and saw the fighting abilities of young �douard. He convinced him to try in that sport. |
| In a short while, Wiecz added and adapted his gymnic abilities with the basic wrestling moves and became a big attraction in wrestling rings in France. |
| Champion wrestler Yvon Robert was on tour in Europe at the time Eddy was becoming popular. He heard about him and was very impressed with his performance. Robert invited him finally in Qu�bec, where he could become a sensation. In 1954, Wiecz arrived in Qu�bec and didn't deceived the demanding wrestling fan over there. He changed his name to Carpentier to maintain a French flavour. His rivalries were against big time heels such as Wladek Kowalski, Don Leo Jonathan and Maurice Vachon. |
| In the 1960's, Carpentier became champion. In the meantime, he started to teach pro wrestling to young Qu�bec hopefuls. He travelled a lot between the U.S. (AWA), Canada (with the Hart's STAMPEDE WRESTLING) and Japan.Once in a while, though he never went back to his homeland, he invited other wrestlers from France to tour in Qu�bec. Among them were Jacky Wiecz and �douard �thifier. He also asked a future superstar to try his luck in North America with his giant stature. His name�: Andr� Roussimoff, better known as Andr� the Giant... |
| Carpentier worked in the Grand Prix promotion in the 70�'s, then when the promotion closed, Carpentier often toured with Gino Brito and several wrestlers in hope to revive a major wrestling promotion. It happened in 1980 with INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING, managed by the late Frank Valois. Along with his wrestling activities, he became the host for the promotion's television show LES �TOILES DE LA LUTTE in Qu�bec's regional TV networks (the french show was blacked out in the Montr�al area for unknown reasons...). This successful show shown on Sunday mornings was the main vehicle of success for the promotion until the end of 1984. |
| In 1985, Vince McMahon hired Carpentier and his analyst Guy Hauray for the French version of WWF Superstars of Wrestling. Then Carpentier took a retirement from the ring activities to concentrate in his TV host activities as well as teaching pro wrestling to future hopefuls. In the beginning of the 90's, Carpentier left the WWF microphone to retire definitely from the sport. |
| Carpentier teached wrestling in a Gym in a Montreal Sports Center, did a comeback as special interviewer for the Rougeaus at INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING 2000 and remained in top shape until his age came back as he has an ACV in the beginning of this century. He recovered and these days, Carpentier takes it easy and promotes a geriatric vitamin made from deer horns. |
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