"If you knew Red Bastien, he was a character. He was always playing jokes, he was very talented, respected and loved by his fellow wrestlers and his fans... Outside the ring, he was a friend to everyone.''Pro Wrestling Historian George Schire
Wrestling legend Red Bastien was one of the best pure talents ever in professional wrestling, one of the best trainers ever. He was a prolific pro wrestler primarily throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s. He was considered one of the best in-ring scientific wrestlers of his time. He was a master of ariel moves, primarily the dropkick and the flying head scissors, in a time when that was not commonplace. I met Red in the mid 60's. He was a good friend and I am proud to know him.
Born in Bottineau, N.D. Bastien went to Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
Bastien wrestled in high school, but never got into it. Instead, he started training at 16 with old pros at Citizens Club in Minneapolis, because he wanted to be a pro wrestler right away. He wasn't even remotely interested in amateur wrestling.
Bastien made his wrestling debut in 1956.
He was considered "too small" to be a top card singles star but dominated the tag team ranks, amassing 13 various tag team championships with 10 different partners all across the country. Of all of his teams he is mostly fondly remembered for his partnerships with his "brother" Lou Bastien (Lou Klein) and Billy "Red" Lyons, who of course were named The Flying Redheads.
Probably the best known team was the "Flying Redheads". During their runs together in Midwest and Texas, Bastien and Lyons showed that the greatest gimmick of all was true wrestling ability.
"There was no greater than Red Bastien and Red Lyons. They were the greatest team of all time.
In 1979, Bastien started promoting in Modesto, Calif. He was a visionary in many ways, bringing lucha stars such as Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. to California to perform.
In 2007, Bastien was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, and that same year, the CAC began the Red Bastien Friendship Award, given to a "super fan" who contributed much to professional wrestling.
Away from the ring, Bastien took up scuba diving and loved to use his underwater movie camera in Florida so he could film in the deep.
Alzheimer's started to take its effect in the late 2000s, with Bastien able to recount -- with great vigour -- stories from the past, but unable to recognize people or remember what happened moments ago. In 2010, he was admitted to a long-term care facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his daughter, who is a nurse, could oversee his care.
He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War, working with a repair squadron for the Sixth Fleet, stationed near Naples, Italy.
Bastien is survived by five children; Roy, Rene, Stephanie, Denise, David & Jeffrey, a sister, Olive of Paynesville, Minn., and his companion of 25 years, Carol of Dallas.
Cause of death: Alzheimer's disease.
*******************
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Alliance
AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Lou Bastien
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hercules Cortez and replacement partner The Crusher (1)
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times) - with Lou Bastien
Cauliflower Alley Club
President (2001-2007)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
International Wrestling Alliance (Japan)
IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Howard
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Jim Hady
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Billy Red Lyons (1) and Tex McKenzie (1)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Andre Drapp (1) and Roy Heffernan (1)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
IWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Mario Milano
Wrestling legend Red Bastien was one of the best pure talents ever in professional wrestling, one of the best trainers ever. He was a prolific pro wrestler primarily throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s. He was considered one of the best in-ring scientific wrestlers of his time. He was a master of ariel moves, primarily the dropkick and the flying head scissors, in a time when that was not commonplace. I met Red in the mid 60's. He was a good friend and I am proud to know him.
Born in Bottineau, N.D. Bastien went to Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
Bastien wrestled in high school, but never got into it. Instead, he started training at 16 with old pros at Citizens Club in Minneapolis, because he wanted to be a pro wrestler right away. He wasn't even remotely interested in amateur wrestling.
Bastien made his wrestling debut in 1956.
He was considered "too small" to be a top card singles star but dominated the tag team ranks, amassing 13 various tag team championships with 10 different partners all across the country. Of all of his teams he is mostly fondly remembered for his partnerships with his "brother" Lou Bastien (Lou Klein) and Billy "Red" Lyons, who of course were named The Flying Redheads.
Probably the best known team was the "Flying Redheads". During their runs together in Midwest and Texas, Bastien and Lyons showed that the greatest gimmick of all was true wrestling ability.
"There was no greater than Red Bastien and Red Lyons. They were the greatest team of all time.
In 1979, Bastien started promoting in Modesto, Calif. He was a visionary in many ways, bringing lucha stars such as Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. to California to perform.
In 2007, Bastien was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, and that same year, the CAC began the Red Bastien Friendship Award, given to a "super fan" who contributed much to professional wrestling.
Away from the ring, Bastien took up scuba diving and loved to use his underwater movie camera in Florida so he could film in the deep.
Alzheimer's started to take its effect in the late 2000s, with Bastien able to recount -- with great vigour -- stories from the past, but unable to recognize people or remember what happened moments ago. In 2010, he was admitted to a long-term care facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his daughter, who is a nurse, could oversee his care.
He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War, working with a repair squadron for the Sixth Fleet, stationed near Naples, Italy.
Bastien is survived by five children; Roy, Rene, Stephanie, Denise, David & Jeffrey, a sister, Olive of Paynesville, Minn., and his companion of 25 years, Carol of Dallas.
Cause of death: Alzheimer's disease.
*******************
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Alliance
AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Lou Bastien
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hercules Cortez and replacement partner The Crusher (1)
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times) - with Lou Bastien
Cauliflower Alley Club
President (2001-2007)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
International Wrestling Alliance (Japan)
IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Howard
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Jim Hady
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Billy Red Lyons (1) and Tex McKenzie (1)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Andre Drapp (1) and Roy Heffernan (1)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
IWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Mario Milano
"If you knew Red Bastien, he was a character. He was always playing jokes, he was very talented, respected and loved by his fellow wrestlers and his fans... Outside the ring, he was a friend to everyone.''Pro Wrestling Historian George Schire
Wrestling legend Red Bastien was one of the best pure talents ever in professional wrestling, one of the best trainers ever. He was a prolific pro wrestler primarily throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s. He was considered one of the best in-ring scientific wrestlers of his time. He was a master of ariel moves, primarily the dropkick and the flying head scissors, in a time when that was not commonplace. I met Red in the mid 60's. He was a good friend and I am proud to know him.
Born in Bottineau, N.D. Bastien went to Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
Bastien wrestled in high school, but never got into it. Instead, he started training at 16 with old pros at Citizens Club in Minneapolis, because he wanted to be a pro wrestler right away. He wasn't even remotely interested in amateur wrestling.
Bastien made his wrestling debut in 1956.
He was considered "too small" to be a top card singles star but dominated the tag team ranks, amassing 13 various tag team championships with 10 different partners all across the country. Of all of his teams he is mostly fondly remembered for his partnerships with his "brother" Lou Bastien (Lou Klein) and Billy "Red" Lyons, who of course were named The Flying Redheads.
Probably the best known team was the "Flying Redheads". During their runs together in Midwest and Texas, Bastien and Lyons showed that the greatest gimmick of all was true wrestling ability.
"There was no greater than Red Bastien and Red Lyons. They were the greatest team of all time.
In 1979, Bastien started promoting in Modesto, Calif. He was a visionary in many ways, bringing lucha stars such as Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. to California to perform.
In 2007, Bastien was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, and that same year, the CAC began the Red Bastien Friendship Award, given to a "super fan" who contributed much to professional wrestling.
Away from the ring, Bastien took up scuba diving and loved to use his underwater movie camera in Florida so he could film in the deep.
Alzheimer's started to take its effect in the late 2000s, with Bastien able to recount -- with great vigour -- stories from the past, but unable to recognize people or remember what happened moments ago. In 2010, he was admitted to a long-term care facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his daughter, who is a nurse, could oversee his care.
He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War, working with a repair squadron for the Sixth Fleet, stationed near Naples, Italy.
Bastien is survived by five children; Roy, Rene, Stephanie, Denise, David & Jeffrey, a sister, Olive of Paynesville, Minn., and his companion of 25 years, Carol of Dallas.
Cause of death: Alzheimer's disease.
*******************
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Alliance
AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Lou Bastien
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hercules Cortez and replacement partner The Crusher (1)
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times) - with Lou Bastien
Cauliflower Alley Club
President (2001-2007)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
International Wrestling Alliance (Japan)
IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Howard
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Jim Hady
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Billy Red Lyons (1) and Tex McKenzie (1)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Andre Drapp (1) and Roy Heffernan (1)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
IWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Mario Milano
Wrestling legend Red Bastien was one of the best pure talents ever in professional wrestling, one of the best trainers ever. He was a prolific pro wrestler primarily throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s. He was considered one of the best in-ring scientific wrestlers of his time. He was a master of ariel moves, primarily the dropkick and the flying head scissors, in a time when that was not commonplace. I met Red in the mid 60's. He was a good friend and I am proud to know him.
Born in Bottineau, N.D. Bastien went to Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
Bastien wrestled in high school, but never got into it. Instead, he started training at 16 with old pros at Citizens Club in Minneapolis, because he wanted to be a pro wrestler right away. He wasn't even remotely interested in amateur wrestling.
Bastien made his wrestling debut in 1956.
He was considered "too small" to be a top card singles star but dominated the tag team ranks, amassing 13 various tag team championships with 10 different partners all across the country. Of all of his teams he is mostly fondly remembered for his partnerships with his "brother" Lou Bastien (Lou Klein) and Billy "Red" Lyons, who of course were named The Flying Redheads.
Probably the best known team was the "Flying Redheads". During their runs together in Midwest and Texas, Bastien and Lyons showed that the greatest gimmick of all was true wrestling ability.
"There was no greater than Red Bastien and Red Lyons. They were the greatest team of all time.
In 1979, Bastien started promoting in Modesto, Calif. He was a visionary in many ways, bringing lucha stars such as Konnan and Rey Mysterio Jr. to California to perform.
In 2007, Bastien was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, and that same year, the CAC began the Red Bastien Friendship Award, given to a "super fan" who contributed much to professional wrestling.
Away from the ring, Bastien took up scuba diving and loved to use his underwater movie camera in Florida so he could film in the deep.
Alzheimer's started to take its effect in the late 2000s, with Bastien able to recount -- with great vigour -- stories from the past, but unable to recognize people or remember what happened moments ago. In 2010, he was admitted to a long-term care facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his daughter, who is a nurse, could oversee his care.
He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War, working with a repair squadron for the Sixth Fleet, stationed near Naples, Italy.
Bastien is survived by five children; Roy, Rene, Stephanie, Denise, David & Jeffrey, a sister, Olive of Paynesville, Minn., and his companion of 25 years, Carol of Dallas.
Cause of death: Alzheimer's disease.
*******************
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Alliance
AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Lou Bastien
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hercules Cortez and replacement partner The Crusher (1)
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times) - with Lou Bastien
Cauliflower Alley Club
President (2001-2007)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
International Wrestling Alliance (Japan)
IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bill Howard
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Jim Hady
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Billy Red Lyons (1) and Tex McKenzie (1)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Andre Drapp (1) and Roy Heffernan (1)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
IWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Mario Milano
