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Don Leo Jonathan


Last updated by M.A LeBlanc on October 14, 2018

Dlj-06

Title History

  • MWA Ohio tag team titles w/ Ray Stern defeating Great Scott and Buddy Rogers (September 2, 1954);
  • MAC (Montreal) International heavyweight title defeating Pat O` Connor (June 8, 1955);
  • MAC (Montreal) International heavyweight title defeating Yvon Robert (August 24, 1955);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) International Television tag team titles w/ Lord Carlton defeating Tom Rice and Lee Henning (May 7, 1956);
  • NWA Texas heavyweight title defeating Pepper Gomez (April 19, 1957);
  • NWA (Toronto) Canadian Open tag team titles w/ Gene Kiniski defeating Yukon Eric and Billy Watson (October 29, 1959);
  • NWA Texas heavyweight title defeating Torbellino Blanco (July 22, 1960);
  • AWA (Omaha) world heavyweight title defeating Dr. X (January 7, 1961);
  • AWA (Omaha) world heavyweight title defeating Dr. X (April 3, 1961);
  • AWA (Omaha) world heavyweight title defeating Bobo Brazil (May 20, 1961);
  • AWA (Ohio/Indiana) world heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski [Tournament] (March 4, 1962);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) International Television tag team titles w/ Fred Blassie defeating Mr. Moto and Bearcat Wright (August 3, 1963);
  • NWA (Calgary) Canadian heavyweight title (1964);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Kinji Shibuya defeating Dory Funk Jr. and Dory Funk Sr. [Tournament] (January 20, 1964);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Roy McClarty defeating Roy Heffernan and Al Costello (September 28, 1964);
  • NWA (Calgary) Canadian heavyweight title defeating Stan Stasiak (1965);
  • NWA (Winnipeg) International tag team titles w/ Billy Watson defeating Roy Heffernan and Al Costello (January 9, 1965);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Gene Kiniski defeating Roy Heffernan and Al Costello (January 11, 1965);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Jim Hady defeating Roy Heffernan and Al Costello (May 17, 1965);
  • NWA (Winnipeg) International tag team titles w/ Jim Hady defeating Roy Heffernan and Al Costello (June 26, 1965);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Haystacks Calhoun defeating Tony Borne and John Tolos (July 4, 1966);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Dominic DeNucci defeating Don Jardine and Dutch Savage (October 31, 1966);
  • NWA (Vancouver) world tag team titles w/ Dominic DeNucci defeating Don Jardine and Dutch Savage (December 26, 1966);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Rocky Johnson defeating John and Chris Tolos (April 3, 1967);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Ski Hi Jones defeating Assassins (March 25, 1968);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Haystacks Calhoun defeating Assassins (June 3, 1968);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Paddy Barrett defeating Armand Hussein and Abdullah the Butcher (July 22, 1968);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Johnny Kostas defeating Stan Stasiak and Dutch Savage (September 23, 1968);
  • IWA (Australia) world tag team titles w/ Antonio Pugiliese defeating Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy (Febuary 21, 1969);
  • IWA (Australia) world tag team titles w/ Antonio Pugiliese defeating The Spoiler and Mario Milano (March 1969);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ John Tolos defeating Bob Brown and Dutch Savage (August 25, 1969);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast heavyweight title defeating Gene Kiniski (June 22, 1970);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Duncan McTavish defeating Bob Brown and John Quinn (September 7, 1970);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Steven Little Bear defeating Yasu Fuji and Chati Yokouchi (November 9, 1970);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast heavyweight title defeating Bob Brown (December 28, 1970);
  • EWU (South Africa) world super heavyweight title defeating Jan Wilkens (1975);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast heavyweight title defeating Guy Mitchell (April 21, 1975);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast heavyweight title defeating Gene Kiniski (January 5, 1976);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Jimmy Snuka defeating Seigfried Steinke and Gene Kiniski (April 12, 1976);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ John Anson defeating Kinji Shibuya and John Quinn (October 4, 1976);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast heavyweight title defeating John Quinn (December 13, 1976);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ Dutch Savage defeating Kurt Von Hess and John Quinn (January 17, 1977);
  • CWA (Catch Wrestling Association) heavyweight title defeating Otto Wanz (September 1, 1977);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian tag team titles w/ John Quinn defeating Don Wayt and Black Avenger (Febuary 27, 1978);

Career History

  • September 16, 1961: Verne Gagne defeated Don Leo Jonathan for the Omaha version of the World title!
  • September 14, 1962: Karl Krauser (AKA: Karl Gotch) wins the MWA title from Don Leo Jonathan in Columbus, OH.
  • May 1972: Don Leo was in one of the most famous main events in Montreal history, the “Battle of the Giants” match against Jean Ferre.
  • ~~~The event drew 16,000 fans, paying a reported $87,000 – DLJ won by DQ when Ferre wouldn’t break a choke.
  • Don Leo defeated Yvon Robert for the International title in Montreal, but later lost the belt to Killer Kowalski.
  • Don Leo was twice recognized as World champion in Omaha (affiliated with the AWA), defeating Dr. X (Bill Miller) both times.
  • Don Leo won the Pacific Coast title in Vancouver by defeating Bob Brown (1970), Gene Kiniski (1976), and John Quinn (1976-77).
  • Don Leo formed tag teams with Gene Kiniski Kiniski, Rocky Johnson, John Tolos, Jimmy Snuka, Haystack Calhoun, and Roy McClarity.
  • July 24, 1978 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Jake Roberts defeated Gene Kiniski & John Anson in the 1st round. Don Leo Jonathan & Jake Roberts defeated Denny Alberts & Eric Froelich in the semi-finals. Texas Outlaw & The Iron Sheik defeated Don Leo Jonathan & Jake Roberts to win the tournament and vacant NWA Vancouver Canadian tag team titles.
  • October 16, 1978 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated The Iron Sheik.
  • October 26, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Billy Samson.
  • October 27, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Mal Kirk.
  • October 29, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated John Quinn.
  • October 31, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Oscar Verdu.
  • November 2, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Bobby Gaetano.
  • November 4, 1978 – CWA: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Gilles Poisson.
  • November 7, 1978 – CWA: Ivan Strogoff defeated Don Leo Jonathan.
  • November 20, 1978 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Jake Roberts defeated Moose Morowski & Texas Outlaw.
  • December 4, 1978 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: The Alaskan defeated Don Leo Jonathan in a lumberjack match.
  • December 20, 1978 – Big Time Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Tor Kamata.
  • January 2, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Gene Kiniski.
  • January 8, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated The Alaskan.
  • January 22, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Mike Sharpe defeated Don Leo Jonathan.
  • February 1, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Sandor Novak.
  • February 26, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated UFO.
  • March 5, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Sal Martino defeated Gene Kiniski & UFO.
  • March 12, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated UFO.
  • March 19, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Igor Volkoff & The Mongol defeated Don Leo Jonathan & Joe Ventura.
  • March 26, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Sal Martino defeated Igor Volkoff & The Mongol.
  • April 2, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Sal Martino defeated Igor Volkoff & The Mongol.
  • July 16, 23, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Siegfried Steinke.
  • August 20, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Moose Morowski defeated Jean Louie & Siegfried Steinke.
  • August 27, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan vs Siegfried Steinke ended in a time limit draw.
  • September 3, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Jean Louie by disqualification.
  • September 10, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Yaki Joe defeated Bobby Jaggers & Johnny Mantell.
  • September 17, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Yaki Joe defeated Johnny Mantell & Siegfried Steinke.
  • September 24, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Johnny Mantell.
  • October 15, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Chris Colt.
  • October 21, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Siegfried Steinke by disqualification.
  • October 29, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan defeated Ed Moretti.
  • December 3, 1979 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Don Leo Jonathan & Roddy Piper defeated Chris Colt & Siegfried Steinke.
  • March 10, 1980 – Vancouver All-Star Wrestling: Andre The Giant, Don Leo Jonathan & Roddy Piper defeated Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) & Buddy Rose.
  • July 12, 1980 – CWA: Otto Wanz defeated Don Leo Jonathan to retain the World heavyweight title.
  • October 2018: Don Leo Jonathan has passed away at the age of 87.