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HANGMAN BOBBY JAGGERS PASSES AWAY

By Mike Johnson on 2012-10-02 22:01:25
"Hangman" Bobby Jaggers, who worked a number of territories in the 1970s and 1980s, passed away today following what I was told was a lengthy illness. He was 64 at the time of his passing.

Jaggers, real name Robert Jeadouin, was a Washington State native billed from Kansas and to some fans, was best known for his team in Jim Crockett Promotions with Dutch Mantel as the Kansas City Jayhawks, a really rough, fighting team.

Jagger, however, had a number of top singles runs in different promotions, including a memorable run on top in the Pacific Northwest, a stint at the Southern Heavyweight champion in Continental and even singles belts in Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Jaggers broke into the business after being trained by Tito Montez and Kurt Von Steiger. He was originally billed under the ring name Bobby Mayne, with the idea he was Lonnie "Moondog" Mayne's younger brother. During that era, he was managed by Johnny Mann.

Jaggers worked as a top name for Don Owens' Pacific Northwest Wrestling, holding the top title there several times in the mid-1980s, feuding with Tom Zenk, Rip Oliver and Ricky Vaughn (aka the future Lance Von Erich), among others. Jaggers also held the PNW tag straps with both Rip Oliver and The Assassin.

During a time period where a wrestler could travel to different territories for regular work, Jaggers worked all over and held a number of different tag belts - in Florida, in Oklahoma, for the Blanchards' Southwest Wrestling (where he appeared on the USA Network before WWF was on the cable channel) in Texas, and of course in Central States.

It was in Florida where Jaggers, now sporting blonde hair, really began to excel and stand out as a personality. He would end up beating Barry Windham for the Florida title and had long running feud working with Dusty Rhodes.

Jaggers would take crazy bumps, bleed and talk a good game. He was the perfect foil for the babyfaces of that era and was the type of talent that probably wouldn't have gotten a shot today because he didn't fit the cosmetic expectations of what most national companies look for - something that would be the business' loss.

Jaggers was also a regular in Puerto Rico, capturing the WWC North American title in 1982. At one point, he had revisited the Kansas Jayhawks tag team name, only this time, teaming with Dan Kroffat (Phil Lafon). After being present in the locker room where Bruiser Brody was murdered, he slowly shifted his life away from the business, eventually retiring in 1991.

Jagger had distanced himself from the business for many, many years, although he did make a rare convention signing appearances a few years back for K&S Wrestlefest in New Jersey and did work as a Commissioner for independent promotion Bad Boys of Wrestling as well.

Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Bobby Jaggers.

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