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Don Leo Jonathan

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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.

 

Updated:

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Trained By

Debut

1949-1980

Birthday

Hometown

Langley British Columbia

Gender

Male

Height

6'5"

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Spinning Full Nelson

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Pedro Morales,
Sky Hi Lee,
Great Scott,
Buddy Rogers,
Frank Valois,
Mighty Ursus,
Pat O Conner,
Jean Ferre,
Yvon Robert,
Killer Kowalski,
Gene Kiniski,
Bob Brown,
YVon Robert

Status

Deceased