John Tolos
John Tolos | |
---|---|
![]() Tolos in 1956 | |
Birth name | John Tolos |
Born | April 5, 1931 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[1] |
Died | May 28, 2009 Los Angeles, California, United States[1] | (aged 78)
Cause of death | Kidney failure |
Family | Chris Tolos (brother) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | John Tolos[2] |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[3] |
Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg)[3] |
Trained by | Wee Willie Davis[2][1] |
Debut | 1951 |
Retired | 1992 |
John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", ( April 5, 1931 – May 28, 2009[1]) was a Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.
Professional wrestling career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Freddie_Blassie_and_John_Tolos%2C_November_1971.png/200px-Freddie_Blassie_and_John_Tolos%2C_November_1971.png)
Tolos was born on April 5, 1931, in Hamilton, Ontario to Greek parents, Nicolaos and Evangelia (Evangeline) Tolos. During the 1950s and 60s, he was part of The Canadian Wrecking Crew with his brother Chris Tolos. On December 28, 1963, they captured the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in Teaneck, New Jersey in two straight falls from Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski. While both teams were heels at the time, the Tolos Brothers did a television interview prior to the title match, "looking forward" to seeing all of their fans in Teaneck. That night, they were cheered throughout. As a vicious heel known as the "Golden Greek", Tolos also engaged in a long time rivalry with "Classy" Freddie Blassie in the LeBell family's World Wrestling Association, often feuding over the Americas Championship.[4] Tolos had a run in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation from 1990 to mid-1991, managing Cowboy Bob Orton, Cactus Jack and The Power Twins as well as serving as color commentator on the UWF's Fury Hour program.
Tolos joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for a brief stint in mid-1991 as Coach (a classic coach, complete with a whistle), managing The Beverly Brothers and "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, replacing Hennig's former manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who was then moving into a full-time broadcaster's role.[5] When a back injury sidelined Hennig for more than a year, Tolos was replaced by The Genius as The Beverly Brothers' manager and departed the WWF. Tolos would return to Abrams' UWF as color commentator from 1992 through the promotion's final show in 1994. He also managed Cowboy Bob Orton, The Power Twins and Cactus Jack.
Death
[edit]Tolos died in Los Angeles, California, on May 28, 2009, from kidney failure[6] following a series of heart attacks and strokes.[1]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- 50th State Big Time Wrestling
- Big Time Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[10]
- California Pro Wrestling
- CPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[11]
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Golden Potato Award (2004)[1]
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- Heart of America Sports Attractions
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 time) – Baron von Helsinger[13][14]
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (3 times) - with Chris Tolos[15][16]
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)[17]
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (7 times) - with Tony Borne (2), Chris Tolos (2), Black Terror (1), Dutch Savage (1), and Don Leo Jonathan (1)[18]
- NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time)[19]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (3 times) - with Tony Borne (1) and Chris Tolos (2)[20]
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (10 times)[21]
- NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Great Kojika (2), Louie Tillet (1), Rock Riddle (1), Chavo Guerrero (1), and The Assassin (1)[22]
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (4 times)[23]
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Los Angeles version) (3 times)[24]
- NWA United National Championship (1 time)[25]
- NWA Los Angeles
- NWA San Francisco
- NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[27]
- NWA Western States Sports
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2007 - Inducted as a member of the Canadian Wrecking Crew (with Chris Tolos)
- Stampede Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[29]
- Southwest Sports, Inc.
- Western States Alliance
- WSA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[11]
- WSA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Victor Rivera[11]
- World Wide Wrestling Association
- WWWA American Tag Team Championship/WWWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time, final) - with Chris Tolos[34]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[35]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Oliver, Greg (May 29, 2009). ""The Golden Greek" John Tolos dies". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Wrestler Profiles: John Tolos". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
- ^ a b Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, (WWE Books, 2003).
- ^ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ John Tolos dies at 78; notorious wrestling villain known as the Golden Greek - Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-06-02.
- ^ "NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Hawaii)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "Hawaii Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ a b c Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ^ "International Tag Team Title (Toronto)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ Hoops, Brian (March 22, 2020). "Daily pro wrestling history (03/22): Dutch Mantel wins Southern title from Jerry Lawler". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (November 17, 2012). "Sat. update: Great TV show, WWE multiple releases, Austin talks WWE Hall of Fame, Best night for Bellator, PPV predictions, NWA Hall of Fame, James Storm headlines benefit show, Devitt takes another title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ "NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ "World Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ "NWA Americas Heavyweight Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA Americas Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ "Beat the Champ Television Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "Brass Knuckles Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA United National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title (San Francisco)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "World Wide Wrestling Association (1963)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ "United States Tag Team Title (Capitol/WWWF)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
External links
[edit]- 1930 births
- 2009 deaths
- 20th-century male professional wrestlers
- Canadian male professional wrestlers
- Canadian people of Greek descent
- Deaths from kidney failure in California
- Stampede Wrestling alumni
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champions
- NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version)
- NWA International Tag Team Champions (Toronto version)
- Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions
- NWA Americas Tag Team Champions
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Champions
- NWA United National Champions
- Professional wrestlers from Hamilton, Ontario
- Professional wrestling announcers
- Professional wrestling managers and valets
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- WWWF United States Tag Team Champions
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Champions
- NWA World Tag Team Champions (Detroit version)