Title History
- MAC (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski (May 8, 1957);
- NWA (Chicago) World Tag Team titles w/Verne Gagne defeating Boris & Nicoli Volkoff (May 25, 1957);
- NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (June 14, 1957);
- (Los Angeles) World Heavyweight title Lou Thesz (June 14, 1957);
- (Omaha) World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (June 14, 1957);
- (Georgia) World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (June 14, 1957);
- AAC (Boston) World Heavyweight title defeating Lou Thesz (June 14, 1957);
- WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/Sandor Szabo defeating Legs Wilson & Art Michalik (June 1, 1960);
- WWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Billy Varga (June 22, 1960);
- MAC (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski (September 21, 1960);
- WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/Nick Bockwinkel defeating The Preacher & Stan Holek (January 4, 1961);
- IWA (Chicago) World Heavyweight title (July 1962);
- MAC (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski (January 30, 1963);
- WWA (Los Angeles) World Heavyweight title defeating Bearcat Wright via forfeit (December 16, 1963);
- WWA (Los Angeles) World Tag Team titles w/Ernie Ladd (February 1964);
- WWA (Los Angeles) World Tag Team titles w/Bob Ellis defeating Hard Boiled Haggerty & The Destroyer (December 9, 1964);
- IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Hans Schmidt (June 7, 1966);
- IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Hans Schmidt (October 3, 1966);
- TWWA (IWE) World Junior Heavyweight title Awarded (1967);
- IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating The Sheik (November 6, 1967);
- NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating John Tolos (December 25, 1974);
- IWA (Montreal) International Tag Team titles w/Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon (February 1978);
- IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Java Ruuk (aka Johnny Rodz) (1980);
Career History
- Edouard Carpentier is originally Polish, not French..
- 1980-84: Édouard Carpentier hosted “Les Étoiles de la lutte” in Sherbrooke, Quebec..
- 1984-90: Édouard Carpentier hosted WWF Superstars of Wrestling’s French broadcast..
- October 30, 2010: “The Flying Frenchman” Édouard Carpentier passed away at the age of 84..
Dave Meltzer wrote: Edouard Carpentier, The Flying Frenchman, one of pro wrestling’s biggest drawing cards from the late 50s into the early 70s, was reported as having passed away on Saturday night. Carpentier was 84. Details are still forthcoming.
Carpentier was part of a controversial NWA world title situation in 1957 where he defeated Lou Thesz for the title, but due to a falling out between the NWA and Carpentier’s promoter, Eddie Quinn, the situation turned into a mess and Thesz ended up regarded as champion.
Carpentier used that win to go to several territories including Omaha, Boston and Los Angeles, and lose the title that he won to create splinter world championships. A version of the AWA title history includes the back story of Verne Gagne beating Carpentier making him a rightful champion. The WWA title in California dated to Carpentier arriving billed as the world heayvweight champion.
Mike Aldren wrote: The oldest surviving former NWA Heavyweight Champion Edouard Carpentier, The Flying Frenchman, died on Saturday at age 84 in Montreal, QC after suffering a heart attack. Carpentier led a fascinating life which included joining the French underground resistance during the period of German occupation in World War II; competed in both the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games in gymnastics; won a controversial NWA title over Lou Thesz in 1957–which some territories recognised while others did not; and gave a helping hand in launching the career of Andre the Giant. Carpentier’s last major role in pro wrestling was as host for WWE’s French edition of Superstars, a position he held from the mid-80s until 1992.