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John Tolos


Last updated by Chris George on October 2, 2015

[John Tolos GALLERY]

[The Tolos Brothers]

[Memories of John Tolos]

Title History

  • NWA (San Francisco) Pacific Coast Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Ramon & Enrique Torres (October 27, 1953);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) International Television Tag Team titles w/Gene Kiniski defeating Bobo Brazil & Wilbur Snyder (October 13, 1954);
  • Stampede International Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating ??????????? (????, 1958);
  • NWA Texas Tag Team titles w/Duke Keomuka defeating Larry Chene & Pepper Gomez (June 24, 1958);
  • MWA Ohio Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Doc & Mike Gallagher (March 28, 1960);
  • AWA (Indiana) World Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Ray & Roy Shires (November 5, 1960);
  • NWA (Toronto) International Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Hurricane & Cyclone Smith (December 7, 1961);
  • NWA (Toronto) International Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Yukon Eric & Billy Watson (January 4, 1962);
  • NWA (Toronto) International Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Bill Soloweyko & Billy Watson (March 15, 1962);
  • WWWF United States Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Killer Kowalski & Gorilla Monsoon (December 28, 1963);
  • NWA (Detroit) World Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos Awarded (????, 1964);
  • NWA (Florida) World Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Abe Jacobs & Don Curtis (June 11, 1964);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Black Terror defeating Tom Geohagen & Paddy Barrett (January 31, 1966);
  • NWA (Vancouver) World Tag Team titles w/Tony Borne defeating ????????? (June ??, 1966);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Dominic Denucci & Don Leo Jonathan (January 16, 1967);
  • NWA (Vancouver) World Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Dominic Denucci & Don Leo Jonathan (January 16, 1967);
  • NWA (Vancouver) World Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Don Jardine & Dutch Savage (March 4, 1967);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Chris Tolos defeating Rocky Johnson & Don Leo Jonathan (April 24, 1967);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Dutch Savage defeating Johnny Kostas & Don Leo Jonathan (December 9, 1968);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Don Leo Jonathan defeating Bob Brown & Dutch Savage (August 25, 1969);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Tag Team titles w/Great Kojika defeating Tony Rocco & Pantera Negra (June 12, 1970):
  • NWA (Los Angeles) United National Heavyweight title defeating Pantera Negra (November 20, 1970);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) United National Heavyweight title Awarded (March ??, 1971);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Fred Blassie (May 7, 1971);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Beat the Champ Television title defeating Earl Maynard (July 24, 1971);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Don Carson (July 30, 1971);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Beat the Champ Television title defeating Black Gordman (August 24, 1971);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Killer Kowalski (March 10, 1972);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Beat the Champ Television title defeating Kinji Shibuya (June 10, 1972);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Black Gordman (July 14, 1972);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Victor Rivera (August 24, 1973);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Pak Song (January 15, 1974);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Brass Knuckles title defeating Fred Blassie (July ??, 1974);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Brass Knuckles title defeating Duane Allen (August ??, 1974);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Pampero Firpo (November 8, 1974);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Pampero Firpo (November 27, 1974);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Tag Team titles w/Louie Tillet defeating Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown (Febuary 28, 1975);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Greg Valentine (March 27, 1975);
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Al Madril (May 14, 1975);
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Al Madril (September 16, 1975);
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Buddy Wolfe (November ??, 1975);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Tag Team titles w/Rock Riddle defeating Mando Lopez & Mickey Doyle (December 16, 1975);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Tag Team titles w/Chavo Guerrero defeating Great Goliath & Black Gordman (Febuary 13, 1976);
  • NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Heavyweight title defeating Kinji Shibuya (July 12, 1976);
  • NWA (Hawaii) North American Heavyweight title Awarded (July ??, 1977);
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Bill Francis defeating Jesse Ventura & Steve Strong (November ??, 1977);
  • NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Steve Strong (Febuary ??, 1978);
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Steve Strong defeating Buddy Rose & John Studd (June 14, 1978);
  • NWA Western States Tag Team titles w/Mr. Sato defeating Akihisa Takachiho & Ricky Romero (May 3, 1979);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Walter Johnson (August 8, 1980);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Tag Team titles w/The Assassin defeating Al Madril & Tom Prichard (????, 1981);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Chris Adams (????, 1981);

Career Highlights

  • John Tolos was born in Hamilton, Ontario and was trained for wrestling by Wee Willie Davis..
  • 1950s/60s: John Tolos formed a very successful tag team with his older brother Chris Tolos known as the Tolos Brothers..
  • 1971 Dory Funk Jr. cemented his changing image by teaming with John Tolos in Los Angeles..
  • 1991: John Tolos worked briefly for the World Wrestling Federation as “Coach”, the manager of Mr. Perfect & The Beverly Brothers..
  • John Tolos managed Bob Orton in Herb Abram’s U.W.F. promotion..
  • John Tolos also worked as a security guard at Universal Studios in Hollywood..
  • May 28, 2009: John Tolos passed away from kidney failure at the age of 78.. ARTICLE..
  • John Tolos is survived by his son Chris, his sister Mary, his nephew Nick, and ex-wife Joanne of Vancouver..
  • John Tolos had suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes in recent years, and shied away from public appearances.

    Mike Aldren wrote (May 31, 2009): Tolos was born on April 5, 1931, to Greek immigrant parents in Hamilton, Canada. As a teenager he followed his older brother Chris (who died of cancer in November 2005) into the business, and they became a tag team touring as the Canadian Wrecking Crew. They won numerous championships before going solo. Chris typically stayed close to home, very dedicated to his disabled sister, allowing John to hit the road and become a singles star, particularly in Los Angeles following his epic feud with Blassie. John went on to work for numerous promoters such as Paul Boesch, Vince McMahon Sr., Frank Tunney, Herb Adrams, Bill Watts and Eddie Graham. Modern day fans may remember him best for a brief 1991 run with the WWF under the name Coach as the manger of Curt Hennig and the Beverly Brothers. Tolos had suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes in recent years, and shied away from public appearances. He is survived by his son Chris, his sister Mary, his nephew Nick, and ex-wife Joanne of Vancouver. A funeral service will be held this coming Thursday at 10pm at St. Nicolas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge, CA. Messages of condolences can be sent to 23012 Bigler Street, Woodland Hills, CA.