Turned Pro: 1972

Trained By: Tito Montez

Hometown: Rogue River, Oregon

Height: 6'0"

Wrestling Weight: 225 pounds

Territories Worked In: Washington State, Canada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California

Toughest Opponent: Hercules Stevenson

Best Match: It's hard to pick just one match when you faced such great opponents as Jody Arnold, Hercules Stevenson, The Lumberjacks and The Monster.

Favorite Move: Western Bulldog

Titles Held: Western States Heavyweight Championship, Western States Junior Heavyweight Championship, Western States Tag Team Championship, Southwestern Junior Heavyweight Championship

When people think of Arizona Wrestling, especially under the Western States Wrestling banner, the name "Cowboy" Bob Yuma comes immediately to mind. Yuma, along with ring greats such as Jody Arnold and Tito Montez made Arizona the wrestling hotbed that it was.

Although the "Cowboy" was on the lighter end of the weight scale, he achieved great success in both the Junior Heavyweight and Heavyweight ranks. He was also equally successful as a singles wrestler or tag team competitor. Those qualities are very rare indeed.

Bob wrestled in Arizona from 1973 thru 1990. Following his career in wrestling, he started to work behind the scenes as a promoter. In 2000, he, and some associates, worked to revive the Western States Wrestling banner and bring real professional wrestling back to Arizona for a new generation of wrestlers and fans.

Although that association only lasted a couple of years, that hasn't stopped "Cowboy" Bob Yuma. He still promotes wrestling from time-to-time and has become the guardian of Arizona Wrestling's legacy.

Sadly, Bob passed away on May 23, 2006 following a lengthy illness. Toward the end of his life, his greatest joys were spending time with his family and friends.

Here's a great article on "Cowboy" Bob Yuma from the January 1984 edition of "Official Wrestling" magazine.

Dr. Thom Parks recalls the night he first met "Cowboy" Bob Yuma.