Robbie Ellis Explained

Robbie Ellis
Birthname:	Rob Elowitch
Names:	Robbie Ellis
Weight:	180lb
Birth Date:	1943 4, mf=yes
Billed:	Portland, Maine
Trainer:	Killer Kowalski Bill Graham
Debut:	1966
Retired:	March 22, 2013

Rob Elowitch (born April 8, 1943),^[1] better known by his ring name, Robbie Ellis, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in New England and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit as well as international promotions in Europe. The co-owner of the prestigious Barridoff Galleries, he was the subject of a Sports Illustrated article^[2] as well as considerable television and press coverage from World News Tonight, The Today Show, The Osgood File, The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, Time and Again, and MTV's True Life and the National Enquirer.^[3]

In 2000 he started wrestling for Chikara, Innovative Hybrid Wrestling, Showcase Pro Wrestling, No Limit Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling America, Pro Wrestling Revolution, Independent Wrestling Entertainment, New England Championship Wrestling, as the grandfather of wrestler Ryan Matthews, and the Millennium Wrestling Federation. From January to November 2007, he went on tour with Italian Championship Wrestling. At age 64, he was the oldest wrestler on the roster.^[4]

He is the subject of a feature-length documentary Canvasman: The Robbie Ellis Story directed by Gary Robinov. In 2010, it was an official selection of the Maine Jewish Film Festival,^{[5] [6]} Atlantic City Film and Music Festival, Camden International Film Festival, South Dakota Film Festival, and Cape Ann Film Festivals; and, during 2011, the San Diego and Toronto Jewish Film Festivals, Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, and Portsmouth (NH) Film Festival among others. On May 12, 2011, it was screened on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network preceded by a half hour interview.

In 2014, Ellis returned to Chikara as the promotion's new storyline owner.^[7]

Championships and accomplishments

• Coastal Pro Wrestling

• CPW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Eastern Wrestling Alliance

• EWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Green Mountain Wrestling

• GMW World Lightweight Championship (2 times)
• International Championship Wrestling

• ICW Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^{[1] [8]}
• Independent Wrestling Entertainment

• IWE International Championship (1 time)
• New England Independent

• Personality of the Year (2005)
• New England Pro Wrestling

• NEPW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[8]
• New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame

• Class of 2008

• Entertainer of the Year (2009)

• Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
• New Wrestling Horizons

• NWH Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[9]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him #441 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991 and similar for several other years through 2008
• Ringside Wrestling / World Independent Wrestling

• Ringside Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[8]
• Yankee Pro Wrestling

• YPW Lightweight Championship (1 time)
• Other titles

• AWA North Atlantic Cruiserweight Championship (7 times)

• NAWA Lightweight Championship (1 time)^[1]

References

General

• News: Bout for the Ages . Weinstein, Joshua L. . . March 17, 2003 . April 3, 2007.
• News: Lords of the Ring . Foster, Rick . Silver City Bulletin . May 2004 . April 3, 2007.
• News: 63-year-old 'Superman' . Gill-Austern, Maggie . . September 21, 2006 . April 3, 2007.

Specific

Further reading

• News: Does That Grappler Look a Bit Familiar? . Hammer, Mike . . June 15, 1985 . April 3, 2011.
• News: From the canvas to the mat: Gallery owner gets in the ring as pro wrestler . Kandarian, Paul E. . . February 25, 1998 . September 24, 2011.
• News: Toiling on Canvas . Gomez, Cynthia . . November 26, 1999 . September 24, 2011.
• Quackenbush, Mike . Mike Quackenbush . May 2003 . From Bell To Bell . The Wrestler . London Publishing Co. .
• News: In the Ring: Robbie Ellis: A Maine Professional Wrestling Legend . Huntley, Larry . Katahdin Press . January 1, 2008 . April 3, 2011.
• News: Gaining Fame in Two Worlds . . March 2, 2008.
• News: Wrestling With Style . Spark, Debra . Maine Home and Design . June 2009 . September 9, 2010.
• News: Going Strong Go . . March 18, 2010.
• News: A Double Life . Burnham, Emily . . May 11, 2010 . September 9, 2010.
• News: Making it in the world of professional wrestling . Carson, Danny . New Brunswick Beacon . March 24, 2011 . April 3, 2011.

External links

• Robbie Ellis, Professional Wrestler, official website
  • Canvasmanmovie.com, official website of the documentary "Canvasman: The Robbie Ellis Story"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rob Ellis Profile. September 22, 2011. Online World of Wrestling.
2. News: The Walter Mitty of the Mat . . December 3, 1985.
3. News: Master of the Canvas . . December 18, 2006.
4. Spillane, Mike . January 2007 . The International Report . . London Publishing Co..
5. News: Local Color: MJFF Opens . Bouchard, Stephanie . . March 18, 2010 . April 3, 2011.
6. News: Maine Jewish Film Festival Brings 22 Films to Town . Dodge, Matt . . March 19, 2010 . April 3, 2011.
7. Web site: As Chikara returns this month, an update on everything going on . Higham . Joshua . 2014-05-04 . 2014-05-05 . Pro Wrestling Insider.
8. Book: Royal Duncan & Gary Will . Wrestling Title Histories . Archeus Communications . 2000. 4th . 0-9698161-5-4 .
9. Web site: Independent Wrestling Results - December 2005 . 2008-07-04. onlineworldofwrestling.com.