Chris Tolos
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| Chris Tolos | |
|---|---|
| File:Chris Tolos.jpg Tolos walks to the ring in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens | |
| Born | December 5, 1929 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Died | August 13, 2005 (aged 75) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Chris Tolos[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Debut | 1951[1] |
| Retired | 1980 |
Chris Tolos (December 5, 1929 – August 13, 2005) was a Canadian professional wrestler.[1]
Early life
Chris was the oldest of the three children born on December 5, 1929 to Greek parents, Nicolaos and Evangelia (Evangeline) Tolos, in Hamilton, Ontario where he and his brother John played football, hockey, lacrosse and track, and learned to wrestle. Chris got into professional wrestling via Wee Willie Davis and made his debut in Buffalo around 1951.[1]
Wrestling career
Chris debuted as a heel at first, losing preliminary bouts to such performers as Johnny Barend, Sandor Kovacs and Don Beitelman (Curtis), all of whom he would fight many times over the years.[1]
He soon formed a team with his brother John. They held numerous tag titles, including the WWWF U.S. tag titles in 1963, the NWA World tag titles in Florida in 1964 and in Detroit that same year, the World and Canadian tag titles in Vancouver in 1967 and the Pacific Coast tag belts in California in 1953.[1]
In 1972, Chris went to Los Angeles and teamed with John as babyfaces, against Black Gordman and Goliath, one of his few stints as a babyface.[1]
In the late 1960s he feuded with Iron Mike Dibiase in Omaha, and was a contender for the NWA World title.[1]
Death
Chris Tolos died of cancer on Friday, August 13, 2005.[1] His brother and tag team partner John died in May 2009.[2]
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Pulaski
- Big Time Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with John Tolos
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (3 times) - with John Tolos
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with John Tolos[3]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with John Tolos[4]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2007 - Inducted as a member of the Canadian Wrecking Crew (with John Tolos)
- Stampede Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) - with John Tolos
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with John Tolos
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Oliver, Greg (August 13, 2005). "Chris Tolos Dies Of Cancer". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- ^ Noland, Claire (June 1, 2019). "John Tolos dies at 78; notorious wrestling villain known as the Golden Greek". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ "World Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- 1929 births
- 2005 deaths
- 20th-century professional wrestlers
- Canadian male professional wrestlers
- Canadian people of Greek descent
- Professional wrestlers from Hamilton, Ontario
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Stampede Wrestling alumni
- NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version)
- NWA International Tag Team Champions (Toronto version)
- Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions