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Rey Urbano

[SLAM! Wrestling Article]

Title History

  • NWA (Tennessee) Southern Junior Heavyweight title (as Taro Sakuro) defeating Len Rossi (Febuary 18, 1962);
  • NWA (Mid America) United States Tag Team titles (as Taro Sakuro) w/Yoshinaosato Awarded (March 6, 1962);

Career Highlights

  • 1959-60: As “Taro Sakuro” he appeared in the Al Haft Promotion in Ohio – usually teamming with “Oyamma Kato”.
  • The (Original) Great Kabuki wrestled in the early 70’s and often went by the name ‘Kabooki’.
  • Rey Urbano worked in Japan, in the Midwest (as Kabooki in early 1970s) and in the Southwest region.
  • Rey Urbano was the first to use the painted face gimmick of the Great Kabuki but he spelt it “Kabooki”.
  • Rey Urbano was brought into the Amarillo territory using the name “Tokyo Tom” to replace “Tokyo Joe”.
  • October 16, 2007: Rey Urbano (who was of Fillipino extraction) passed away at a nursing home in Las Vegas.

    Dory Funk Jr. wrote: Rey Urbano was a part of the glory days of the Amarillo Territory in the mid 60’s. The top wrestling talent included The Sheik, Tokyo Joe, Ricky Romero, Nelson Royal, Sputnik Monroe, Danny Miller, The Viking, Dory Funk Sr., Myself and starting in 1965, Terry Funk. According to the Texas State Athletic Commission, Lubbock, Texas was the number one City in Texas in wrestling attendance figures. The hottest of the heels (No pun intended) was the Sheik, the master of the fireball, and an established heel from the late 50’s, Tokyo Joe who had a previous run-in with the law and was returning from prison to professional wrestling. Tokyo Joe was the master of the deadly Karate Thrust. After a month invested in television making Tokyo Joe the top heel featuring the deadly Karate Thrust and leaving many jobbers gurgling in their own blood and quivering in the ring. Just as Tokyo Joe was ready to face the top faces in the territory, the Texas State Athletic Commission advised us that because of Tokyo Joe’s prison record he could not appear in wrestling matches in Texas. With all that was invested in Tokyo Joe we were stuck for a top heel. It was my father’s idea to bring a friend Rey Urbano to replace Tokyo Joe and carry the heat established with the deadly Karate Thrust. Dad’s idea was to call him Tokyo Tom. For the next three years, Tokyo Tom (Rey Urbano) was one of a few top heels that carried the territory. Tokyo Tom’s Karate Thrust was so over that we came up with the first Karate Collar matches and did capacity business. Rey was a great worker who knew and understood his Karate gimmick and along with the Sheik and his Ball of Fire the Amarillo Territory had a run of fabulous business. Rey was one of the nicest most sincere “Bad Guys” I have known. Our condolences from the Funking Conservatory to the family of Rey Urbano.

 

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Trained By

Debut

1951

Birthday

April 25, 1924

Hometown

Oroville, California
Retired in Las Vegas, NV

Gender

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Salt or Chemicals in eyes

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Nick Kozack
Domenic Debnucci
Fred Curry
Pete Sanchez
The Mighty Igor
Tex McKenzie
Pampero Firpo
Bobo Brazil
Hank james
Tommy Young
Danny Miller

Status