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Post by pikemojo on May 9, 2009 22:47:24 GMT -5
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Post by captaincold on May 10, 2009 23:37:34 GMT -5
TARZAN TYLER
Master of the loaded boot -- tapped his boot three times on the mat, and his opponents would sell his kicks like they'd been shot with a rifle. A very successful heel in Montreal and the Southern U.S. Usually wore multicolour trunks in the 1970s and had bleached blond hair (allowed to go brown late in his career). Definitely had the look of a grizzled veteran in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Tyler made his debut in Montreal in the 1950s and wrestled for several years as Tarzan Tourville. Made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut under that name in 1958.
Travelled through the U.S. in the 1960s, where he was renamed Tarzan Tyler. Recognized as a world tag champion in Texas (1962) and Florida (1964). Wrestled AWA champion Verne Gagne in 1962. Challenged Lou Thesz for the NWA title at least six times in 1963, including two main events in Atlanta. Defeated Eddie Graham in Atlanta for a local version of the world title in 1963 (it was not supposed to be billed as a world title after the promotion began booking Thesz as NWA world champion, and it eventually evolved into the Eastern title, but it was still being listed as a world title when Tyler held it). Had additional shots at the NWA title against Thesz in 1964 (Miami Beach) and 1965 (Tampa). Held the NWA International tag title in Japan with Bill Watts (1967), losing the belts to the superstar Japanese team of Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. Held all of the major belts in Florida between 1964 and 1971, including the Southern title and Florida title. Also wrestled on top in Omaha, Nebraska. Again challenged AWA champion Verne Gagne in 1969. Challenged Dory Funk Jr. for the NWA world title in a Tampa main event in January 1971. Went to the WWWF later that year and teamed with Crazy Luke Graham to be recognized as the first WWWF tag champions. Challenged Pedro Morales for the WWWF title in a Madison Square Garden main event in 1971.
Moved back to Montreal in the 1970s. Initially worked for Grand Prix until it shut down and then joined Johnny Rougeau's promotion. In the late 1970s, when George Cannon moved his Superstars of Wrestling show from Toronto to Montreal, Tyler worked as a top heel. One of my favourite memories of Tyler was from this period. He boasted that he could beat some jobber with one hand tied behind his back. So they actually tied a hand behind his back and had a match, and -- surprise -- Tyler lost cleanly very quickly. In an interview after the match, he conceded that he made a mistake in issuing the challenge. Not something you're likely to see from a lead heel very often.
Made his final Maple Leaf Gardens appearance in 1982. Joined International Wrestling in Montreal as a manager and was in that role when he was killed in an automobile accident on Christmas Eve in 1985 at age 58. Tyler, Pierre "Mad Dog" Lefebvre, and referee Adrien Desbois were all killed while driving back from a show in Chicoutimi.
Prominent Titles: NWA World tag champion (Texas), with Alaskan Jay York, 1962 NWA World tag champion (Florida), with Tim Tyler, 1964 2-time NWA Southern champion (Florida), 1964-66 NWA International tag champion (Japan), with Bill Watts, 1967 NWA Southern tag champion, with Louie Tillet, 1968-69 NWA Florida champion, 1970 2-time Florida TV champion, 1970-71 2-time Florida Brass Knucks champion, 1970-71 WWWF tag champion, with Crazy Luke Graham, 1971 Columbus champion (Georgia), 1975
BARON MIKEL SCICLUNA
Billed from Malta, which may actually be legit. Began wrestling in the early 1950s. Made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut in 1957, wrestling as Mike Valentino. Used that name in Toronto through 1965. Then went to work for Vince McMahon in the northeast U.S., becoming Baron Mikel Scicluna.
Twice wrestled Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF title at Madison Square Garden in 1966. Won the Washington, DC-based U.S. tag team title with Smasher Sloan in 1966, defeating Johnny Valentine and Tony Parisi (wrestling as Antonio Pugliese).
In 1968, Scicluna -- under that name -- wrestled Whipper Billy Watson in a Maple Leaf Gardens main event. Later that year, Scicluna became a world champion in Australia, defeating Spiros Arion. He again challenged Sammartino for the WWWF title at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1969.
Scicluna won the WWWF tag title with King Curtis Iaukea in 1972, defeating Karl Gotch and Rene Goulet. Wrestled Pedro Morales for the WWWF title in a 1972 Madison Square Garden main event. Made his final Maple Leaf Gardens appearance at the end of 1974 and continued to wrestle as a prelim guy until his retirement in the early 1980s. Known for using a hidden roll of coins to knock out opponents. Stood about 6'3" and was billed at 265 pounds. Became a truck driver for a newspaper after his retirement. Came back to perform in the WWF old-timers battle royal in 1987.
"The giant Maltese was kicked in the throat by Emile Dupree several years ago, damaging his windpipe and reducing the power of his voice to a whisper. He's recently completed his 20th year as a world class wrestler and in another couple of months, he'll pass his 4,000th match. To show for all this, he has a lovely home in Toronto, a beautiful wife, and a son who will soon be 14. Although his tactics are dubious -- some say they're downright dirty -- Scicluna is respected for his ring savvy." (From WRESTLING SPORTS STARS OF 1973)
Prominent Titles: WWWF U.S. tag champion, with Smasher Sloan, 1966 IWA World champion (Australia), 1968 IWA World tag champion (Australia), with Ciclon Negro, 1968 WWWF tag champion, with King Curtis Iaukea
TIGER JEET SINGH
Popular wrestler in Toronto in the late 1960s and 1970s. Wrestled as a crazed heel in most other areas. Used the cobra (sleeper) as his finisher.
Made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut in 1965, wrestling as a heel. His first main event in Toronto was in a tag match late that year, teaming with Professor Hiro to take on the team of Johnny Powers and Sweet Daddy Siki. Began teaming with Fred Atkins in 1966. Became the top team in Toronto by defeating Whipper Billy Watson and Bulldog Brower for the international tag title in July 1966. Singh and Atkins wrestled at or near the top of the card through 1966 and 1967.
Made his solo debut in a Maple Leaf Gardens main event in April 1967, defeating the Mighty Igor. Defeated Johnny Valentine for the Toronto version of the U.S. title the following month. Wrestled Gene Kiniski for the NWA title in the summer of 1967 and, in the fall, twice challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF title. With Wild Bull Curry, again defeated Watson and Brower to win the international tag title in 1968. Turned babyface late in 1968. In February 1971, wrestled The Sheik in the main event of the first wrestling show in Maple Leaf Gardens history to attract a sell-out crowd of over 18,000 (there had been sell-outs before, but more seats had since been crammed into the Gardens to allow a capacity crowd of 18,000). Wrestled The Sheik 12 times at the Gardens from 1971-1974. I think it's fair to say that Singh learned a lot from Sheik, since his wildman persona in Japan, Australia, and most areas of the world outside of Toronto was very similar to Sheik.
Won the IWA tag title in Australia in 1971 with Mr. Fuji, defeating Mark Lewin & King Curtis Iaukea. Began wrestling in Japan in 1973, arriving with a bang by attacking Antonio Inoki outside a Tokyo department store in October. Inoki got even by "breaking Singh's arm" in a 1974 match. Defeated Inoki to win the NWF world title in 1975. Lost the belt to Inoki three months later. Defeated Seiji Sakaguchi in 1976 to win the NWF Asian title and remained champion until jumping to All Japan in mid-1981. Wrestled in the main event of the joint New Japan-All Japan card in Tokyo in 1978, teaming with Abdullah the Butcher to take on the Japanese dream team of Inoki & Giant Baba. Defeated El Canek to win the UWA heavyweight title in Mexico in 1980. Lost the title to Inoki a couple months later, regained it, and then dropped it back to Canek in 1981.
Back in Toronto, had one final match for Frank Tunney against Sheik in 1977 when he subbed for no-show Dusty Rhodes. Defeated Ric Flair in Toronto in 1979 and, in the same year, challenged Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA title at the Gardens. Made his final Gardens appearance for Tunney in 1983.
Continued to wrestle in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s, and would make occasional appearances on indie shows in the Toronto area. In 1990, teamed with Inoki to defeat Big Van Vader & Animal Hamaguchi in the main event of Inoki's 30th anniversary show in Yokohama. Feuded with Atsushi Onita in FMW in 1992. Wrestled in the main event of the first Heisei Ishingun card in Tokyo in 1994, losing to Shiro Koshinaka with Inoki as referee.
His palatial 14,000 sq. ft. home can be spotted from Highway 401 on the south side near Milton. A 1997 newspaper article put his net worth at $9.6 million, based on court documents from a criminal fraud charge against Singh and others (charges against Singh were dropped in 1994, but in 1997 a judge said he had not been forthright in his testimony).
His son Mick (Gurdip) has wrestled as Tiger Ali Singh in the WWF and as Tiger Jeet Singh Jr. in Japan.
"Tiger Jeet Singh, sensational 24-year-old lad from Punjab, India, is the new United States Champion by virtue of a victory over Johnny Valentine following a hectic match in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. Managed and trained by that "Hard Rock from Down Under" Fred Atkins, Singh has swept aside all opposition. Atkins is high in his praise of his newest protege and feels he is entitled to a championship match with either Bruno Sammartino or Gene Kiniski. Singh is an expert in judo and karate and uses those tactics to wear down his foes, then finishes them off with his feared Cobra hold, one of the most dangerous in the business." (From WRESTLING REVIEW, August 1968)
Prominent Titles: U.S. champion (Toronto), 1968-72 IWA World tag champion (Australia), with Mr. Fuji, 1971 International champion (Montreal), 1974 Canadian tag champion (Vancouver), with Dennis Stamp, 1975 NWF World champion (New Japan), 1975 NWF Asian champion (New Japan), 1976 NWF North American tag champion (New Japan), with Umanosuke Ueda, 1977 NWF North American champion (New Japan), 1979 2-time UWA World heavyweight champion (Mexico), 1980-81 NWA International tag champion (All Japan), with Umanosuke Ueda, 1983 WWA World Martial Arts champion (Japan), 1992
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