SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Little Beaver
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Little Beaver and Little Panther. Photo by Terry Dart. |
REAL NAME: Lionel Giroux
4-foot-four-inches, 60 pounds
BORN: In Quebec
DIED: December 4, 1995 at age 60
One of the greatest midget wrestlers of all time, Little Beaver was an
amazing athlete
and a comic genius. Wrestling for more than four decades, Little Beaver
brought joy to
children and adults around the world (and more than a little pain to
referees who might
be in the way).
His drawing power was such that, when in the ring against real-life good
friend Sky
Low Low (Maurice Gauthier, also from Quebec), the two midget superstars could
command upwards of 15% of the gate.
Little Beaver's last in-ring appearance was at age 52 at 1987's WrestleMania
III at the
Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan where he suffered a legit back injury at the
hands of
King Kong Bundy. The actual match featured Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver and Hatii Kid vs. King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo and Lord Littlebrook, with
Hillbilly's team winning.
He died on December 4, 1995 of chronic emphysema in Saint-Jerome, Quebec.
Memories
"With his pomaded Mohawk, fringed loincloth and body-length headdress ... he
was a sight to behold."
Globe & Mail, Dec. 23, 1995
I remember Little Beaver at WrestleMania 3 when he teamed up with
Hillbilly Jim and others to face King Kong Bundy. It was sad to see what
Bundy had done to the little guy at the end.
Jason
I remember a match between One Man Gang and Hillbilly Jim at the
Boston Garden in the mid-eighties. Little Beaver was working the crowd,
helping Hillbilly Jim out, and got a little (pardon the pun) too into the
match. The little guy jumped into the ring, and started wailing on the
Gang. Poor Little Beaver, no match for the 460-pounder. The Gang picked
him up, and gave him a powerslam I'll never forget. We were speechless as
they carried the Beaver out in a stretcher. Only until I saw Little Beaver
on WWF TV a couple of weeks later, did I know he was ok.
-EJK
I remember when in 1975, Bob Backlund and Billy Graham were in a match
and Little Beaver ran in and started pounding the hell out of Billy
Graham because the night before Graham sneaked attacked him during an
interview that was the greatest thing he ever did to Graham
Barb & Brian Andrews
I believe Little Beaver was the best midget wrestler of all time. I
remember watching him night after night slug away with them iron fists of
his. I remember the
first time I saw Wrestle Mania 3, I couldn't believe how skilled he was.
Little Beaver should go down in wrestling history as a great wrestler.
ANDMAY
I remember Little Beaver selling autographed pictures of himself during
an outdoor show in New Castle Pa a lady pinched him on the cheek and
called him cute He let out an x-rated choice of words that made my
grandmother blush.
Dennis Black
I remember Beaver indeed and these are not rose tinted spectacles I visualize his scrawny little frame in. My pocket rocket as someone once referred to this little marvel, words I could not or need not surpass. I too recall the fracas with Bundy, a sprawling mass of flesh, co-ordinated like a Rhino on a dune buggy. Did he ever think it was fair to challenge our little minuscule stick of dynamite? Hell no. How I recall those halcyon days of Beaver Fever with pride in my heart and what can only be described as a lump in my throat. Thank you dear Beaver for glorious memories, punctuated by endless
hours anticipating your next bout. Although we knew victory was indeed unlikely, sometimes even a nonsensical notion,
the thrill of seeing you in your fetching attire squaring up to these monstrous buffoons thrilled me deeply. Your memory
burns eternally,
Dr Dermot Nugent
