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Athol Layton


Title History

 

  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Tag Team titles w/James Blears defeating Fred Atkins & Ray Eckert (????, 1953);
  • NWA (Chicago/Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/James Blears Billed as Champions upon arrival (????, 1953);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/James Blears defeating Sandor Szabo & Wilbur Snyder (March 8, 1954);
  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Tag Team titles w/James Blears defeating Tom Rice & Hard Boiled Haggerty (April 10, 1954);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/James Blears defeating Bobo Brazil & Wilbur Snyder (July 19, 1954);
  • NWA (Toronto) Canadian Open Tag Team titles w/Billy Watson defeating Karol & Ivan Kalmikoff (July 14, 1955);
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Tom Rice defeating Lucky Simunovich & Al Lolotai (April 28, 1957);
  • MWA Ohio Tag Team titles w/Ilio DiPaolo defeating Mike & Doc Gallagher (November 21, 1959);
  • AWA (Detroit) United States Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (????, 1962);
  • AWA (Detroit) United States Heavyweight title defeating Fritz Von Erich (July 20, 1963);
  • NWA (Detroit) World Tag Team titles w/Bobo Brazil defeating Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes (August 8, 1970);

 

Career Highlights

In the Beginning:

  • Athol Layton born in England, and moved to Australia at 13, where he met his wife Leah..
  • Athol Layton was discharched from the Australian Imperial Forces after World War II..
  • Athol Layton was Australia’s Heavyweight Amateur Boxing Champ for two years..Toronto Maple Leaf Wrestling:
  • Athol Layton eventually landed a job working for Frank Tunney’s Toronto-based Maple Leaf territory as a wrestler and TV commentator..
  • November 1950: Athol Laydon made his Maple Leaf Gardens wrestling debut in a main event against Sky-Hi Lee..
  • 1953: Athol Layton challenged Lou Thesz for the NWA Heavyweight title at Maple Leaf Gardens..
  • 1956: Pat O’Connor defeated Athol Layton to win the vacant British Empire title..
  • Athol Layton frequently worked as a special referee in Maple Leaf Gardens main events in the 1950s and 60s..
  • Athol Layton formed a successful tag team with Lord James Blears..
  • 1975: Athol Layton teamed with Mighty Igor against Abdullah the Butcher & Waldo Von Erich..
  • 1976: Athol Layton (age 55) in his final Maple Leaf Gardens with Lou Klein in a match against the Kelly Twins..Retirement:
  • Athol Layton was nominated to run as a Liberal in a Toronto riding in the 1963 Ontario election..
  • Athol Layton become involved with the Toronto Shriners and became a Canadian citizen in 1958. ..
  • January 18, 1984: Athol Layton died of a heart attack at the age of 63..

 

Updated:

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Trained By

Debut

1948 (in Singapore)

Birthday

1921

Hometown

Originally from England
Moved to Australia (1934)
Moved to Ontario (1950)

Gender

Height

6'5''

Weight

260 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

Favorite Move(s)

Judo Chops

Notable Feuds

Whipper Billy Watson
The Gallaghers
The Sheik
Guy Brunetti
Chris Tolos
Hans Achnabel
Dick the Bruiser
Fritz Von Erich

Status