Dewey would also appear in tag matches with partners Brute Bernard, Swede Hansen, Ox Baker and Japanese star Tenryu. Sometime in mid-November 1980, he would switch back to face in this area and in December would team up with George Wells for a successful run winning the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles. They would only hold the belts until February 1981 losing the straps in a feud with the team of Mr. Fuji and Tenryu. Dewey would get another run as tag champ with veteran Johnny Weaver as his partner before losing to the team of Nikolai Volkoff and Chris Markoff. Meanwhile in Toronto, Angelo Mosca was by now firmly entrenched as the lead face and Dewey would move on to further his wrestling career.

Later in the year, Dewey would begin a successful stay in the Central States region winning the TV Title. He would also win the Central States Tag Team Titles with partners Jerry Valiant, Steve Regal and Ray (Hercules) Hernandez and would hold the prestigious Central States Heavyweight title twice before losing to perennial World Champ Harley Race. Dewey would appear almost exclusively in this area for the better part of two years and would continue to receive title shots against the touring NWA Champs.

When back in the area, Dewey would show up at the Gardens to showcase his skills for the hometown crowd and would remain a big fan favorite. Looking back, I would have been devastated to see my hero turn "bad" and suppose Mr. Tunney as he had displayed many times before, really knew his wrestlers and his customers!

In St Louis, he would also team up with Race in tag competition against the team of Jerry (Guy Mitchell) Valiant and Roger Kirby. Dewey would go back and forth to "the dark side" and one memorable heel turn had him turning on Dusty Rhodes in a six man tag (the other partner was Bruce (later Butch) Reed).

Dewey seemed to be used as a trainer for up and comers and as a veteran presence with others that needed "guidance". Meredith Renwick, who is helping Dewey write his autobiography told me that there were a lot of promises made to him that didn't come to fruition and led him to seek a change of scenery.

In  late 1983 The Missing Link was born and was one of the most successful characters of an ever changing mat world. I will admit that I had no idea it was Dewey under the paint because as a "face" he was fairly low key but was transformed, as the crazy heel from "parts unknown".

Starting out in the Mid-South area as Max The Missing Link, he went on to great success in the World Class area when The Von Erich Family were at their peak and later in the WWF. He would make a stop in Florida before returning to World Class as a face with Sunshine as his manager and a short stay in the UWF accompanied by Dark Journey. Also worked for Ken Mantell's group Wild West Wrestling and was said to be considering a stop in Stampede in 1989 when various health problems caught up to him.

Dewey would play the heel role to great success using the head butt and attacking anything in his path, including chairs and tables, and the occasional ring post in his crazed entrances.  Looking back, I see no record of The Link at Maple Leaf Gardens. Dewey may have thought that the hometown fans may have seen through the makeup as he was very careful to protect his "kayfabe" character.

In 1993 he had to have a kidney removed and contributed his health woes to drug and alcohol use. As it was in the ring, Dewey would win this fight and go on to contribute to drug and alcohol awareness ,and would serve on the board of directors for the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse. Still to this day, Dewey is revered by the Maple Leaf Wrestling fans who remember him as the quintessential mat hero in an era when the name on the marquee said Wrestling.

Courtesy of Canadian Writer Greg Oliver, I recently had the chance to meet Dewey and he was very friendly and happy to share some memories. Still looks great (and with a full head of hair!) and was very approachable and receptive to this longtime fan. Mentioned that he wants to tell his story about drug abuse and steroids to help others. It sure is nice when you meet someone you admire and they live up to the billing.

A true Canadian Legend

Thanks for the memories  Dewey!

Dewey Robertson Canadian Heavyweight Title Reign

9/09/79 Toronto: Canadian Title Tournament: First round:    

Dewey Robertson w Ken Patera 

Quarter Finals :  

Dewey Robertson w Gene Kiniski
 
Semi Finals :      

Dewey Robertson - bye

Final :  

Dewey Robertson w Greg Valentine - to win belt

9/23/79 Toronto:  Dewey Robertson w/subm Nick Bockwinkel (only Cdn Title on the line)                        
10/07/79 Asheville, NC: Johnny Weaver w/dq Dewey Robertson
10/15/79 Toronto: Nick Bockwinkel draw Dewey Robertson (curfew)AWA Title
10/21/79 Asheville: Rufus R. Jones w/dq Dewey Robertson 
11/04/79 Toronto:  Dewey Robertson w Ken Patera
11/11/79 Asheville: Jim Brunzell w Dewey Robertson
11/18/79 Toronto :  Dewey Robertson w Jimmy Snuka (US champ)
12/08/79 Kingsport, TN: Dewey Robertson vs. Rufus R. Jones
12/09/79 Toronto:  Dewey Robertson w/dq Jimmy Snuka CDN & US Titles
12/30/79 Toronto:  Jimmy Snuka/Ray Stevens w Ric Flair/Dewey Robertson
1/08/80 Columbia, SC:  Dewey Robertson w Rick McGraw
1/11/80 Richmond, VA: Tim Woods w Dewey Robertson
1/12/80 Raleigh, NC:   Dewey Robertson w Coco Samoa
1/13/80 Toronto:    Dewey Robertson/Ric Flair w Jimmy Snuka/Ray Stevens
1/18/80 Charleston SC: Dewey Robertson w S.D. Jones
1/19/80 Raleigh:   Dewey Robertson w Sgt. Goulet
1/22/80 Sumter, SC: Rufus R. Jones/Johnny Weaver ddq The Scorpion/Dewey Robertson
2/02/80 Hampton, VA: Swede Hansen/Dewey Robertson W Tony Garea/Tim Woods
2/09/80 Raleigh:  Dewey Robertson w Frank Monte
2/10/80 Toronto:  Dewey Robertson w Destroyer
2/22/80 Richmond:  Dewey Robertson w S.D. Jones
2/25/80 Greenville, SC:  Swede Hansen/Dewey Robertson w Johnny Weaver/S.D. Jones
3/07/80 Winston-Salem, NC:  Swede Hansen/Dewey Robertson w Tony Garea/S.D. Jones
3/09/80 Toronto:  Dewey Robertson w/dq Greg Valentine
3/16/80 Greensboro, NC:  Johnny Weaver/S.D. Jones w Brute Bernard/Dewey Robertson
4/03/80 Norfolk, VA:  Jim Brunzell/Tony Garea/S.D. Jones w Ox Baker/Dewey Robertson/Brute Bernard
4/07/80 Greenville:  Dewey Robertson dco Johnny Weaver
4/13/80 Toronto:  Harley Race w Dewey Robertson NWA Title 
4/20/80 Greensboro:  Rufus R. Jones/Buzz Sawyer w Dewey Robertson/Ox Baker
5/04/80 Toronto :  Blackjack Mulligan/Dewey Robertson w Masked Superstars
5/25/80 Toronto:  Great Hossein w Dewey Robertson - to win the belt
 * Masked Superstar #2 was unmasked on this card to reveal John Studd.

Dewey's partners over the years:

Vic Rossetani, Fred Atkins, Murray Cummings, Haystacks Calhoun, Mighty Igor, Ben Justice, Nick DeCarlo, Sweet Daddy Siki, Bobo Brazil, Lou Klein, Mike Loren, Reg Parks, Edouard Carpentier, Michele Barone, Bulldog Brower, Lord Athol Layton, Dennis Stamp, Billy Red Lyons, The Beast, Johnny Weaver, Ric Flair, The Scorpion, Swede Hansen, Brute Bernard, Ox Baker, Blackjack Mulligan, Gene Lewis, Tenryu, George Wells, Sweet Ebony Diamond, Ron Ritchie, Frank Monte, Jake Roberts, Steve Muslin, Terry Latham, Rufus R Jones,  Steve Regal, Hercules Hernandez, Bruiser Brody, John Studd  , Bobby Heenan, The Grappler (Texas), Iceman King Parsons, Chavo Guerrero, Gene Kiniski, Mike George, Ricky Romero, Mark Romero, Harley Race, Buzz Tyler, Art Crews, Spike Huber, Dick the Bruiser, Roger Kirby, Kim Duk, Tio, M Fernandez, Bruce Reed, Dusty Rhodes, Greg Valentine, Crusher Ayala, Eddie Mansfield, Skandar Akbar, Mr. X, Mr. Pogo, Bobby Heenan,

Notable Matches

2/11/67 Pittsburgh, PA (TV): Dewey gets "bested" by former AWA Champ Bill Miller 

2/23/68 Ft Lauderdale, FL: Dewey is tested by former judo champ and Japanese legend Seiji Sakaguchi

1/18/70 Toronto, Canada : Dewey gets disqualified in a U.S. Title shot against The Sheik at Maple Leaf Gardens

4/07/74 Toronto : The Sheik beats The Crusader (with Mgr John St. John), as a stipulation for the match, The Crusader has to unmask and reveals Dewey

9/23/79 Toronto: Canadian Champ(Toronto) Dewey Robertson makes AWA Champ Nick Bockwinkel submit (only Dewey's Cdn Title on the  line)                        

10/15/79 Toronto: Cdn Champ Robertson goes to a curfew draw with AWA Champ Nick Bockwinkel (AWA Title on the line)

12/09/79 Toronto: Cdn Champ Dewey Robertson wins by dq over U.S Champ(Mid Atlantic) Jimmy Snuka (both titles on the line)

1/11/80 Richmond, VA: Dewey, wrestling out of the heel corner loses to Carolina's legend Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods

7/04/80 Richmond : Dewey gets a win over former WWWF champ Pedro Morales

1/13/80 Toronto: Dewey teams with Ric Flair to beat Jimmy Snuka and veteran Ray Stevens

4/13/80 Toronto: NWA Champ Harley Race beats Dewey in a title defense

4/28/82 Topeka, KA : NWA Champ Ric Flair beats. Dewey in one of several title shots he receives while Flair is touring the Central States region.

5/14/82 St Louis, MO :  Dewey beats former NWA Champ Jack Brisco in a big match at Kiel Auditorium
 
5/13/83 St Louis : Dewey beats fellow Canadian legend Rick Martel a year before the former WWWF tag champ would win the AWA World Title

7/24/85 Buffalo, NY :  Dewey, as The Missing Link loses to Bruno Sammartino during the former champs brief comeback

Time Capsule -1971

 Top Wrestlers
·       The Sheik
·       Tex McKenzie
·       Lord Athol Layton
·       Tiger Jeet Singh
·       Luis Martinez

 Top Tag Teams
·       Whipper Watson and Haystacks Calhoun
·       The Love Brothers
·       The Fabulous Kangaroo's
·       Mitsu Arakawa and Mr. Sato
·       Mighty Igor and Ivan Kalmikoff

Credit for results
Gary Will, Allan Barrie, Scott Teal

Thanks to all the folk at the KM Message Board

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The Almanac - A look back at the 60's