Paul LeDuc (wrestler)
Paul LeDuc is a former Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for teaming with his kayfabe (storyline) brother Jos LeDuc.
Career
LeDuc began wrestling professionally in 1957 at age 18. He began his training in Montreal, Quebec and later moved to Mexico for further instruction. He talked a friend, Michel Pigeon, into becoming a wrestler as well. Pigeon agreed and took on the ring name Jos LeDuc, as the pair pretended to be brothers.[1] They first worked together in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary, Alberta. The LeDucs used a lumberjack gimmick to honor deceased professional wrestler "Yukon" Eric Holmback.[2] While wrestling in Stampede Wrestling, the pair held the Stampede International Tag Team Championship.[3]
The LeDucs next moved back to Montreal. They feuded with the Rougeau family as well as the Vachon brothers (Maurice and Paul).[4] During a wrestling show in Montreal, Paul LeDuc was legitimately married in the wrestling ring. They also held the Grand Prix Wrestling Tag Team Championship twice in 1972 and 1973.[5]
The LeDucs also wrestled in Florida, where they were known as the Canadian Lumberjacks.[6] In December 1973, they defeated Dusty Rhodes and Dick Slater to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship.[7]
Retirement
LeDuc retired from wrestling in 1978 and began working for Quebecor, a communications company, the following year.[1][8] He later accepted a position writing about professional wrestling for Canadian Online Explorer.[8]
LeDuc's long-time friend and tag team partner died in 1999. The pair had played the role of brothers so well that, when it was revealed that they were not related, the news was widely discussed on talk shows in Quebec.[4][9] Paul LeDuc's son, Carl, is also a professional wrestler.[10]
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jos LeDuc[7]
- Grand Prix Wrestling (Montreal)
- Grand Prix Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jos LeDuc[5]
- Stampede Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) - with Jos LeDuc[3]
References
- 1 2 "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Paul LeDuc". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ↑ "Cauliflower Alley Club Posthumous Award: Yukon Eric". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- 1 2 "Stampede International Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- 1 2 "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Jos LeDuc - SLAM! Wrestling". Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- 1 2 "Jos Leduc and Paul Leduc". Canadian Pro Wrestling Page of Fame. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Championship Wrestling from Florida #5". Kayfabe Memories. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- 1 2 "Florida Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- 1 2 "Paul Leduc to write for Canoë". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ↑ Oliver, Greg; Steven Johnson (2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. ECW Press. p. 230. ISBN 1-55022-759-9.
...the LeDucs were such an institution in Quebec that when it was revealed, following Jos' death in 1999, that they were not brothers, a mini-scandal erupted.
- ↑ "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Carl LeDuc". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-07.