| Billy Anderson | |
| Birth Name: | William Anderson |
| Birth Date: | 10 November 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1] |
| Names: | Billy Anderson Bill Anderson Black Knight White Shadow Mercenario II Star Man[2] |
| Weight: | 229lb |
| Trainer: | Kurt von Steiger |
| Debut: | June 16, 1974 |
| Retired: | 1996 |
William Anderson (born November 10, 1956) is an American professional wrestler and trainer better known by his ring name Billy Anderson best known for working in California and Arizona, the World Wrestling Federation from 1983 to 1993, American Wrestling Association, and Japanese and Mexican promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s.[3] [4]
Anderson made his professional wrestling debut in 1974 against Buddy Rose in Tucson, Arizona. In 1982, Anderson became the very last NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champion when he defeated Killer Kim in Los Angeles.
Anderson made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1983.[5] Would spend many years with the WWF whenever they were in Los Angeles, California or Phoenix.[6] [7] He would work against Adrian Adonis, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Harley Race, One Man Gang, and Tito Santana.[8] [9]
In 1986, Anderson worked in Mexico and became the very first WWA World Heavyweight Champion defeating Tinieblas. He dropped the title to Tinieblas in January 1987.
Also in 1986, Anderson worked for American Wrestling Association whenever they were in Las Vegas until 1988.
In November 1988, Anderson became the masked Black Knight in the World Wrestling Federation.[10] [11] [12] DUirng this time he also refereed matches and the ring announcer in Los Angeles whenever WWF was in town. He left the WWF in 1991.[13]
In 1990, he worked for Herb Abrams's Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) as the Black Knight until 1991.
In 1991, he traveled to Tijuana, Mexico with Tim Patterson and his student Louie Spicolli, with whom he formed a stable known as "Los Mercenarios Americanos" ("The American Mercenaries"). They were a trio of masked villains who feuded with Los Villanos (Villano I, Villano III, Villano IV and Villano V). The Mercenarios were forced to unmask in July 1991.[14]
Then in late 1991, the Los Mercenarios Americanos made their debut in Japan for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. They disbanded in 1992. In 1992, he worked as Star Man.
In January 1993, Anderson returned to World Wrestling Federation as the masked White Shadow. His last match in the WWF was a lost to Kamala (wrestler) on April 6, 1993 for WWF Wrestling Challenge which aired on April 25.[15]
In 1994, he worked for the Las Vegas-based promotion National Wrestling Conference. He retired from wrestling in 1996.
After wrestling, Anderson trained many wrestlers at a school in California. He trained The Ultimate Warrior, Sting, Cheerleader Melissa, Louie Spicolli, Rocky Romero, Candice LeRae, TJ Perkins, Frankie Kazarian Steve DiSalvo, Keiji Sakoda, Tom Howard (wrestler), Cincinnati Red, Tim Patterson, Doug Anderson (father of Cheerleader Melissa),[16] [17] and many others. His school would shut down in 2001.
After retiring from wrestling and training wrestlers, Anderson accepted two invitations from Armed Forces Entertainment to travel overseas to entertain the troops. He went around world in Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Egypt and Turkey.[18]
He was best friends with Louie Spicolli teaming together in Japan and Mexico until Spicolli's death in 1998.
Anderson has been an active member of the Cauliflower Alley Club since 1985 and was honored in 2000. He was also inducted in the Southern California Pro Wrestling and Western States Halls of Fame.
In October 2009, Anderson released his first book, Big” Bill Anderson Remembers… The School of Wrestling! The book covers Anderson's career, the wrestling school and the students he taught.[19]
In April 2013, Anderson released his second book part 2 of "Big" Bill Anderson Remembers....His Fallen Friends of Wrestling! which covered ore of his career and his friends that have passed away.[20] Superstar Billy Graham forward the book.[21]