Originally written for KayfabeMemories.com

The 1960s were an exciting time in pro-wrestling and the touring world champs made Toronto and area the site of many exciting and historical matches. In 1961 Buddy Rogers would capture the NWA World Title and defend regularly in Toronto against the local stars. That same year Rogers retained his title when Whipper Billy Watson was counted out after being attacked by hated rival Bulldog Brower. Rogers would also lose to future WWWF Champ Bruno Sammartino at MLG but the Italian Strongman would refuse to take the belt from an injured Rogers.

On January 24 1963, Thesz would beat Rogers, but the win would be contested by promoters in the Northeast and would lead to the formation of the World Wide Wrestling Federation, who would name Rogers as their first Champ. Two weeks later at the Gardens Thesz would cleanly beat Rogers to solidify his claim to the (NWA) World title.

Thesz would appear back at MLG in March and faced Sammartino in an exciting match that was noted because Sammartino was the fan favorite and Thesz, wrestling as the heel, suffered the wrath of the crowd. Sammartino would pound Thesz mercilessly and the champ would barely regain his title when he beat the referee's ten count after a mid ring collision.

London, Ontario was also the site of many great cards, including Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Valentine in 1964 with a return bout the next night at the Gardens. Thesz would appear in London often, with bouts against Watson, Siki and Brower.

Valentine would continue his winning ways as U.S Champ and battled against the likes of Bobo Brazil, John Paul Henning, Professor Hiro, Giant Baba and Enrique Torres. The rugged Seattle native would also find time to tag with Brower and Siki in a 6-man tag match in London against Sammartino, Watson, and Jim Hady and hold a share of the tag belts with Hady.

Tag team wrestling was also at the forefront in the 60's and featured such teams as The Tolos Brothers, Hurricane and Cyclone Smith, Fred Atkins and Tiger Jeet Singh, Billy Red Lyons and Sam Steamboat, Dino Bravo (the original) and Domenic Bravo (later Dom Dennucci), and The Kalmikoffs.

Whipper Watson would remain the king of Maple Leaf constantly upholding the forces of good against the never-ending parade of characters the fans loved to hate. Some of Whippers rivals would include Dick "The Bulldog" Brower, Sweet Daddy Siki, The Beast, and Hans Schmidt.

Watson would hold the British Empire many times while embroiled in feuds with former titleholders Gene Kiniski and Fred Atkins and would also hold a share of the International Tag Titles with partners including The Brute and Bruno Sammartino. Whipper also had celebrated feuds with the Singhs (Nanjo and Mohan) including an incident where the villains picketed Watson's house for publicity.

Some of the other regulars on the circuit included Stan Stasiak, Seaman Art Thomas, Yukon Eric, Killer Kowalski, Tony Parisi, and a young Gene Dubois (Wildman McKigney) and Terrible Ted, his wrestling bear.

In 1964 Sammartino would begin defending the WWWF Title on a fairly regular basis including a feud with Johnny Powers in 1965. Bruno would face all his old rivals at MLG including Valentine, Waldo Von Erich, Maddog Vachon, and in 1969, a series of matches against The Sheik. Sammartino liked working for Tunney and the big Italian community here loved Bruno as he continued to defend his title into the seventies.

In 1966 local star and former AWA Champ Gene Kiniski would win the NWA World Title, and would defend his belt against the local contenders on his trips through the region. He would face old rival Whipper Watson in October 1966 and earn the win after throwing Watson out of the ring rendering him unable to continue. He would face most of the regulars over his three-year title reign and would continue to grace our rings into the early 1980's.

Some of the stars that would change persona's later included, Dick Beyer (The Destroyer), Gino Marella (Gorilla Monsoon), Emperor Jones (Tom Jones), Mike Valentino (Baron Scicluna), and The Destroyer (Joe Christie).

The stars of the 1950's had developed into superstars in the '60s, and helped pave the way into the "Sheik Era". When Watson's career was cut short in 1971, it cemented the end of an era. A few of the local guys would go on to worldwide acclaim and many of the future champs had left their legacy on Maple Leaf Wrestling in the decade that was the 60's.

Thanks to Gary Will for historical info, & Terry Dart

Toronto Wrestling History

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