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PWInsider.com is sad to report the passing of Bobby Duncum Sr. at the age of 81.
Duncum, trained for professional wrestling by former NWA World Champion Dory Funk Jr., broke into the business after being a three-year letterman for the West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft and played four games for the team in 1968.
Transitioning into professional wrestling, Duncum adopted a tough heel cowboy persona that emphasized toughness and intimidation. He worked for a number of territories, breaking into the Amarillo territory in the late 1960s, working against The Funks and also teaming at times with Terry.
Duncum toured Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling and its predecessor The JWA. He teamed with Curt Hennig in the 1983 MSG Tag League. He moved through a number of NWA territories in the 1960s and ‘70s, including St. Louis, Texas’ Big Time Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic and Championship Wrestling from Florida.AWA where he was a member of The Bobby Heenan Family, teaming with Blackjack Lanza, holding the AWA World Tag Team belts for almost a year.
In the WWWF, Duncum challenged a number of top heroes, including Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. In 1975, Duncum was a regular challenger for Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, beating him by DQ or going to no contests in order to build to Texas Death rematches with Gorilla Monsoon as the special referee.
In the late 1970s, he was a regular challenger to Bob Backlund's WWF Championship including a most interesting match in Madison Square Garden. While it was never acknowledged at the time, Backlund lost the title to Antonio Inoki in Japan in November 1979. A week later, they fought to a no contest. Backlund returned to the States and the idea was that the title was held up. He faced Duncum in The Garden, won a Texas Death match and was awarded the championship, filling the vacancy. The entire situation has rarely, if ever, been acknowledged by WWE in their official history.
In Florida, Duncum had an extended run, holding the Southern Heavyweight Championship, the Florida TV title, The Brass Knuckles Championship and numerous Tag Team title runs with Killer Karl Kox, Don Jardine, Angelo Mosca and Dick Murdoch.
In the 1980s, Duncum had a short run as, no kidding, The Mummy, for Southwest Championship Wrestling, where he feuded with Bruiser Brody, culminating with a steel cage match. Duncum transitioned out of the ring by the mid-1980s.
His son, Bobby Duncum Jr., later wrestled for WCW, ECW and All Japan Pro Wrestling, among other companies. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 34.
PWInsider.com sends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Bobby Duncum Sr.
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