John Tolos
| John Tolos | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Ring name(s) | John Tolos Coach[1] Golden Greek |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (110 kg)[2] |
| Born | September 18, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario[3] |
| Died | May 29, 2009 (aged 78)[3] Los Angeles, California[3] |
| Trained by | Willie Davis[1][3] |
John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", (September 18, 1930 – May 28, 2009[3]) was a Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.
Contents |
[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] Canadian Wrecking Crew
During the 1950s and 60s, Tolos was part of the Canadian Wrecking Crew with his brother Chris Tolos. He also had a brief managerial career in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation, managing Bob Orton, Jr. and the Power Twins. On December 28, 1963, John and Chris 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 Los Angeles territory, often feuding over the Americas Championship.[4]
[edit] World Wrestling Federation
Tolos joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for a brief stint in mid-1991 as Coach (a classic coach, whistle and all), managing The Beverly Brothers and "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, replacing Hennig's former manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who was then moving into a broadcaster's role.[5] Mr. Perfect lost his Intercontinental Title to Bret Hart at SummerSlam, after which an injury would sideline Hennig from competition for more than a year. With Hennig indefinitely out of action, along with The Beverly Brothers getting a new manager in The Genius, Tolos quietly left the WWF.
[edit] Personal life
Tolos died in Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2009. His death was from renal failure [6] followed a series of heart attacks and strokes.[3]
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Corkscrew knuckle grind to the temple of a seated opponent[1]
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- California Pro Wrestling
- CPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[7]
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Golden Potato Award (2004)[3]
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (3 times) - with Chris Tolos[9]
- 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)[10]
- NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time)[11]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (3 times) - with Tony Borne (1) and Chris Tolos (2)[12]
- NWA Detroit
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[13]
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (10 times)[14]
- NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Great Kojika (1), Louie Tillet (1), Rock Riddle (1), Chavo Guerrero (1), and The Assassin (1)[15]
- NWA Beat the Champ Television Championship (3 times)[16]
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Los Angeles version) (3 times)[17]
- NWA United National Championship (1 time)[18]
- NWA San Francisco
- NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[23]
- 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[25]
- Western States Alliance
- WSA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[7]
- WSA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Victor Rivera[7]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chris Tolos[27]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Wrestler Profiles: John Tolos". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/john-tolos.html. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ a b c Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 160. ISBN 978-075664190-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g Oliver, Greg. ""The Golden Greek" John Tolos dies". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/05/29/9616266.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "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 978-075664190-0.
- ^ John Tolos dies at 78; notorious wrestling villain known as the Golden Greek - Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-06-02.
- ^ a b c Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-nwa-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "International Tag Team Title (Toronto)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/on/nwa/on-int-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/bc/nwa/bc-can-t.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/bc/nwa/bc-pc-h.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "World Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/bc/nwa/bc-nwa-t.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/mi/nwa/mi-nwa-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Americas Heavyweight Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-h.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Americas Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-t.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "Beat the Champ Television Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-tv.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Brass Knuckles Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/la-bk.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA United National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/un.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/nwa/int-tv-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/nwa/hi-h.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.[dead link]
- ^ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Hawaii)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/nwa/hi-us-h.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Hawaii Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/hi-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title (San Francisco)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/sf/nwa/sf-pc-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/amarillo/ws-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/ab-int-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Texas Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ^ "United States Tag Team Title (Capitol/WWWF)". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-us-t.html. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
