Paul LeDuc, a wrestling legend in Canada, has died at 89-years-old.
LeDuc is survived by his sons, Carl and Yan, and his daughter, Kim.
LeDuc decided to become a professional wrestler in 1957, even though people advised him against it because he was so small – only 5’10”, 195 pounds.
He started at 18, and learned the ropes in Montreal, at the same gym where Pat Patterson got his start. Paul then went to Mexico for two years, where he learned to wrestle and put on some pounds.
In the 1960s, he convinced friend Michel Pigeon to become his brother Jos LeDuc. Together, they made a formidable tag team and debuted together with Stu Hart’s Stampede wrestling in 1968. The LeDucs had great feuds with Maurice ‘Mad Dog’ and Paul ‘The Butcher’ Vachon..
Paul LeDuc may be best known for getting married in the ring at the Montreal Forum in 1971. He retired in 1978, and went to work for Quebecor. His main job for years has director general of media distribution in Montreal.
“When I first started in 1979, there were 1,200 employees [at Quebecor],” Leduc recalled. “And now there are over 45,000 all around the world. We used to know each other but not anymore!”
Decades later, Leduc’s “1-2-3” column, written in French, ran on the Canoë website.
He retired and was involved with Jacques Rougeau Jr.’s International Wrestling 2000 promotion, and managed and advised son Carl.
- With Files from Greg Oliver.
