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John Tolos#Canadian Wrecking Crew

{{short description|Greek-Canadian professional wrestler and manager}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = John Tolos

|names = John Tolos{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: John Tolos|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/john-tolos.html|access-date=2008-05-05}}

|image = John Tolas - Wrestling Key City Sportarium program - 27 August 1956.jpg

|birth_name = John Tolos

|caption =Tolos in 1956

|family = Chris Tolos (brother)

|height = 6 ft 2 in{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/160 160]|publisher=DK|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/160}}

|weight = 240 lb

|death_cause = Kidney failure

|birth_date = April 5, 1931

|birth_place = Hamilton, Ontario, Canada{{cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|title="The Golden Greek" John Tolos dies|work=SLAM! Wrestling|date=May 29, 2009 |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2009/05/29/the-golden-greek-john-tolos-dies/|access-date=2022-01-05}}

|death_date = {{death date and age|2009|05|28|1931|04|05}}

|death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|trainer = Wee Willie Davis

|debut = 1951

|retired = 1992

}}

John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", (April 5, 1931 – May 28, 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.

Professional wrestling career

File:Freddie Blassie and John Tolos, November 1971.png bites Tolos's face during a 1971 match]]

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."Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, (WWE Books, 2003). 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 early-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.{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/65 65]|publisher=DK|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/65}} 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

Tolos died in Los Angeles, California, on May 28, 2009, from kidney failure[http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-john-tolos1-2009jun01,0,5561561.story John Tolos dies at 78; notorious wrestling villain known as the Golden Greek] - Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-06-02. following a series of heart attacks and strokes.

Championships and accomplishments

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

  • [http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/canada/tolos.htm Canadian Wrestling Page of Fame biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020035439/http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/canada/tolos.htm |date=October 20, 2006 }}
  • {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120719111429/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling/tolos.html SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Chris & John Tolos]}}
  • [http://cwfarchives.com/Wrestler.php?id=523 Championship Wrestling from Florida - John Tolos]
  • {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=1305|wrestlingdata=1709|iwd=john-tolos-3317}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolos, John}}

Category:1930 births

Category:2009 deaths

Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers

Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers

Category:Canadian people of Greek descent

Category:Deaths from kidney failure in California

Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni

Category:NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champions

Category:NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version)

Category:NWA International Tag Team Champions (Toronto version)

Category:Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions

Category:NWA Americas Tag Team Champions

Category:NWA Americas Heavyweight Champions

Category:NWA United National Champions

Category:Professional wrestlers from Hamilton, Ontario

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Category:WWWF United States Tag Team Champions

Category:NWA Texas Heavyweight Champions

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Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen