John Tolos

John Tolos
Born	September 18, 1930 Hamilton, Ontario[1]
Died	May 29, 2009 (aged 78)[1] Los Angeles, California[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	John Tolos Coach[2] Golden Greek
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Billed weight	240 lb (110 kg)[3]
Trained by	Willie Davis[2][1]

John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", (September 18, 1930 – May 28, 2009^[1]) was a Greek-Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.

Professional wrestling career

John was born on the 18th of September 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario to Greek parents, Nicolaos and Evangelia (Evangeline) Tolos. During the 1950s and 60s, Tolos was part of the Canadian Wrecking Crew with his brother Chris Tolos. 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] Tolos was also know as "The Maniac"Tolos.<personal memory >

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 full-time 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.

Tolos then had a run in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation, managing Cowboy Bob Orton, Cactus Jack and The Power Twins as well as serving as color commentator on the UWF's Fury Hour program.

Death

Tolos died in Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2009. His death was from kidney failure ^[6] followed by a series of heart attacks and strokes.^[1]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Corkscrew knuckle grind to the temple^[2]
• Wrestlers managed
  • Mr. Perfect
  • The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake)
  • Cowboy Bob Orton
  • Cactus Jack
  • The Power Twins (David and Larry Power)
• Nicknames
  • "(The) Golden Greek"^[3]
  • "The Maniac" ≤personal memory of a big fan≥

Championships and accomplishments

• California Pro Wrestling
  • CPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[7]
• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Golden Potato Award (2004)^[1]
• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos^[8]
• Heart of America Sports Attractions
  • NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 time) – Baron von Helsinger^[9][10]
• Maple Leaf Wrestling
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (3 times) - with Chris Tolos^[11]
• National Wrestling Alliance
  • NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)^[12]
• 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)^[13]
  • NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time)^[14]
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (3 times) - with Tony Borne (1) and Chris Tolos (2)^[15]
• NWA Detroit
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos^[16]
• NWA Hollywood Wrestling
  • NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (10 times)^[17]
  • NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Great Kojika (2), Louie Tillet (1), Rock Riddle (1), Chavo Guerrero (1), and The Assassin (1)^[18]
  • NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (4 times)^[19]
  • NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Los Angeles version) (3 times)^[20]
  • NWA United National Championship (1 time)^[21]
• NWA Los Angeles
  • NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Gene Kiniski^[22]
• NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
  • NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[23]
  • NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version) (1 time)^[24]
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Steve Strong^[25]
• NWA San Francisco
  • NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Chris Tolos^[26]
• NWA Western States Sports
  • NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mr. Sato^[27]
• 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^[28]
• Southwest Sports, Inc.
  • NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Duke Keomuka^[29]
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• 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^[30]

References

1. Oliver, Greg. ""The Golden Greek" John Tolos dies". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
2. "Wrestler Profiles: John Tolos". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
3. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
4. "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, (WWE Books, 2003).
5. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
6. John Tolos dies at 78; notorious wrestling villain known as the Golden Greek - Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-06-02.
7. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
8. "NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
9. 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.
10. "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
11. "International Tag Team Title (Toronto)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
12. Meltzer, Dave (2012-11-17). "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 2012-11-17.
13. "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
14. "NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
15. "World Tag Team Title (Vancouver)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
16. "NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
17. "NWA Americas Heavyweight Title (Detroit)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
18. "NWA Americas Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
19. "Beat the Champ Television Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
20. "Brass Knuckles Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
21. "NWA United National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
22. "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
23. "NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
24. "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Hawaii)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
25. "Hawaii Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
26. "NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title (San Francisco)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
27. "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
28. "NWA Western States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
29. "Texas Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
30. "United States Tag Team Title (Capitol/WWWF)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-05-29.

External links

• Canadian Wrestling Page of Fame biography
• SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Chris & John Tolos
• Championship Wrestling from Florida - John Tolos
• Profile at Online World of Wrestling