Édouard Carpentier

Édouard Carpentier
Carpentier in 1973
Birth nameÉdouard Ignacz Weiczorkiewicz
Born(1926-07-17)17 July 1926
Roanne, Rhône-Alpes, France
Died30 October 2010(2010-10-30) (aged 84)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Édouard Ignacz Weiczorkiewicz
Édouard Carpentier
Édouard Weiczorkiewicz Carpentier
Flying Frenchman
Eddy Wiechoski
Billed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Billed weight230 lb (100 kg)
Billed fromMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Debut1953
RetiredNovember 16, 1987

Édouard Ignacz Weiczorkiewicz (July 17, 1926 – October 30, 2010) was a French and Canadian professional wrestler, gymnast, and member of the French Resistance during World War II, known by his ring name, Édouard Carpentier.

Carpentier began his wrestling career in Europe, before being brought to Canada by promoters Eddie Quinn in 1956, where he quickly became a popular babyface. Over the course of his career, Carpentier held multiple world heavyweight championships, including the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Nicknamed "The Flying Frenchman", Carpentier championed a high-flying wrestling style, and was known for his athletic manoeuvres including "back flips, cartwheels and somersaults". After retiring from wrestling, he became a colour commentator for Lutte Internationale and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).