Rockin' Robin (wrestler)

Robin Denise Smith (born October 9, 1964), better known by her ring name Rockin' Robin, is an American retired professional wrestler. The daughter of Grizzly Smith, she is a second-generation wrestler; her brother Sam Houston and half-brother Jake "The Snake" Roberts also wrestled. Smith is best known for her appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1987 to 1990, where she held the WWF Women's Championship. She is one of the longest reigning women's champions, with a reign that lasted for 502 days.

This article is about the American professional wrestler. For the song, see Rockin' Robin (song).

Rockin' Robin
Birth nameRobin Denise Smith
Born (1964-10-09) October 9, 1964[1][2]
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States[3]
Parent(s)Grizzly Smith (father)[1]
FamilyJake "The Snake" Roberts (half-brother)[1]
Sam Houston (brother)[1]
Baby Doll (ex-sister-in-law)[4]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Rockin' Robin[3]
Billed height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[3]
Billed weight136 lb (62 kg)[3]
Billed fromCharlotte, North Carolina
Trained byNelson Royal[3][5][4]
Debut1986[3]
Retired1992[3]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1986–1987)

Smith grew up in a wrestling family and enjoyed going to wrestling shows, where she claims she and her siblings were treated like celebrities.[6] Smith later decided to become a professional wrestler and trained, along with her sister-in-law Nickla Roberts (known by her ring name Baby Doll), under Nelson Royal.[5][7][4] During 1987, Smith competed as Rockin' Robin in Wild West Wrestling, where she feuded with Debbie Combs and Sue Green.

World Wrestling Federation (1987–1990)

When the World Wrestling Federation decided to restart their women's division in the late 1980s, both Smith and Nickla Roberts tried out for the company, but the role ultimately went to Smith.[4] Smith, as Rockin' Robin, debuted in the WWF in late 1987.[8] She competed at the first Survivor Series as a member of The Fabulous Moolah's team, which they were victorious.[9] Throughout 1988, she feuded with Sensational Sherri for the WWF Women's Championship.[7]

On October 7, 1988, she defeated Sensational Sherri, who had held the title for fifteen months prior, for the Women's Championship in Paris.[10][11][12] At the Royal Rumble in 1989, she defended the title against Judy Martin.[13] Smith defended the belt against Martin for the first six months of 1989.[14] In the meantime, at WrestleMania V, she sang "America the Beautiful" to open the show.[8][15][10] Smith continued to defend the Women's title against Martin throughout the summer of 1989. She held the championship until 1990, when she left the company. At that time, the title was retired by the WWF due to inactivity. Smith is still in possession of the title belt.[10][12] The title remained inactive until 1993.[8][10]

Late career (1990–1992)

Unlike some former WWF wrestlers, Smith was able to continue using her ring name after leaving the company because she owned the rights to it.[16] In 1990, wrestler Hiro Matsuda, who had feuded with her father in the 1960s, picked Smith to tour for All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling.[7] In Japan, Smith teamed with Luna Vachon.[7] The Japanese bookers gave the girls a positive review for their work with the company.[17]

In the United States, Smith defeated Peggy Lee Leather for the Ladies Major League Wrestling's International Championship.[7] She still occasionally defended the WWF Women's Championship, even though the title was officially declared vacant by the World Wrestling Federation. In May 1991 she defended the WWF Women's Championship against "Japanese Women's Champion" Madusa Miceli on a Great Lakes Wrestling Association event.[18] On June 9, 1991, she defeated Candi Devine in Herb Abrams's Universal Wrestling Federation to become the first UWF Women's Champion at UWF Beach Brawl.[7] She also competed in the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (LPWA), forming a tag team with Wendi Richter.[7] She competed at LPWA's only pay-per-view, LPWA Super Ladies Showdown.[7]

She retired in 1992.

Personal life

Smith and her brother Sam Houston are the children of Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith and were born after his first marriage dissolved.[19] Her half-brother is Jake "The Snake" Roberts, who was born during their father's first marriage.[19] Robin and her brothers all wrestled in the WWF at the same time in the 1980s, but their relationship was never mentioned on-screen at the request of Robin.[6] Author and former National Wrestling Alliance president Howard Brody alleges in his book Swimming with Piranhas that Robin was a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her father.[19] According to Brody, Robin was removed from her father's care when her mother discovered what had been happening.[19]

After leaving the WWF in 1990, Smith was married to a man named Harvey Zitron.[17] Zitron was sentenced to 81 months in federal prison for 10 counts of filing false tax returns, identity theft and access device fraud. After divorcing, she moved to Louisiana and opened a telemarketing company that sold industrial chemicals and precious metals.[7][17] During this time, Smith had a drinking problem but eventually was able to quit altogether.[17]

In 2005, Smith's home and all of her belongings were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.[17] During the aftermath of the hurricane, she stayed with family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[17] She now runs a real estate appraisal business in Hammond, Louisiana.[7]

Filmography
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2021 Dark Side of the Ring Herself Season 3 episode 6: "In the Shadow of Grizzly Smith"

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Laprade, Pat; Murphy, Dan (2017). Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 241–242. ISBN 978-1-77305-014-0.
  2. Lentz III, Harris M. (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2 ed.). McFarland & Company. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
  3. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Rockin' Robin". Cagematch.net. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. Elliott, Brian (July 8, 2010). "Baby Doll: From star attraction to single mom". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  5. Johnson, Steven; Oliver, Greg; Mooneyham, Mike (2013). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons. ECW Press. p. 541. ISBN 978-1-77090-269-5.
  6. Van Der Griend, Blaine (December 10, 2009). "Family matters in pro wrestling". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  7. "2011 Women's Wrestling Award: Rockin' Robin". Cauliflower Alley Club. January 12, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
  8. Shields, Brian and Kevin Sullivan (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK/BradyGAMES. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  9. "Survivor Series 1987: Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  10. "Women's Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  11. Oliver, Greg (June 15, 2007). "Sherri Martel dead at 49". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  12. Ellison, Lillian (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-06-001258-8.
  13. "Royal Rumble 1989: Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  14. Johnson, Steven (August 8, 2007). "Judy Martin: Return of a "Glamour Girl"". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  15. Artus, Matthew (March 16, 2018). "34 fun facts you need to know about WrestleMania 34". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved June 6, 2021. While her rendition might not be as memorable as Aretha Franklin's version in 1987 or her encore two decades later, Rockin' Robin is the only one of 20 "America the Beautiful" performers at WrestleMania who was also an active champion.
  16. Brody, Howard. Swimming with Piranhas, p.190.
  17. Brody, Howard. Swimming with Piranhas, p.403–405.
  18. "Request Info for Booking Rockin Robin Appearance". Athlete Promotions.com. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  19. Johnson, Steven; Oliver, Greg (June 12, 2010). "Grizzly Smith dies at 77". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  20. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

References
  • Brody, Howard (2009). Swimming with Piranhas: Surviving the Politics of Professional Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-867-0.
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