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John Tolos
4/5/1931 - 5/28/2009
There Was And Will Always Be Only One Way To Spell Wrestling... and that's
T-O-L-O-S
by longtime Tolos Brothers Fan Club President
Dr Mike Lano
Veteran Woody Farmer just called with along with his wrestling son Rex a few moments ago. Tith the horrible news, and Golden Greek John Tolos has indeed passed; it's a sad day for this business. One of the all-time greats, in-ring, on the mike, in every department and phase of wrestling possibly gone.
Loved, respected, cherished by his peers. What a long career. And in many of his classic promos, he mentioned that there was no place he'd rather be from than Hamilton. Ontario. Canada. Well before announcers did the Calgary thing for Bret and Owen. It was John Tolos, 242 pounds from Hamilton. Ontario. Canada. Dramatic and respectful of his Canadian roots and his beloved Hamilton which began so many of the classic, great talents of all time. "My brother Chris and I are the pride of Hamilton! Isn't that right, brother Chris?" Chris retorting "you're absolutely right brother John!"
At his last Cauliflower Alley Club meeting, he was poignant and sad all
at once at the podium saying how rough it was for him to see so many of
his closest peers dying before their time. Many didn't know how much 24/7
aide, the Golden Greek gave taking loving care of his longtime friend
since 1949, Vic Christy for example. And for many years while Vic wasted
away. I've never seen anyone so dedicated to helping others and with so
many friendships he'd made since his debut match and that he'd maintained.
Or his weekly trips wherever they were, to cheer up other pals hospitalized
like Count Billy Varga. Or Baron Michelle Leone before that. Or Mr. Charlie
Moto. Or Jules Strongbow. Or Sandor Szabo. This was one caring legend
who loved his friends.
Even the weekly phone calls to cheer up Lord James Blears over in the
islands. Or to King Curtis Iaukea when diabetes began pounding at him.
Like Red Bastien or Billy "Red" Lyons; there is no one who's
ever said an unkind word about John Tolos.
For those of us blessed to have seen him come to rightful prominence in the Eaton/Lebell Los Angeles territory after decades of tag magic with "brother Chris," we got to watch all phases of John; marveling at his WWA title persuit of Bobo Brazil
And those battles over the America's title with his greatest singles opponent Fred Blassie, the stuff of magic.
Magic. Set-up, booking, promotional, mike-work and the action itself. Dog-collar matches, surprise boxes with snakes, Monsel's powder angles(the greatest angle ever IMO and I've seen 'em all) at KCOP tv when Blassie was being presented by the fan's award by the great Dick Lane for most popular wrestler of 1970-71 and John went into ringside Dr Bernhardt Schwartz' medical bag, grabbing the Monsel's and tossing it into Fred's eyes and destroying the large trophy, going berserk.
Turning face for the first time in '72, taking the belt from monster heel Killer Kowalski in a battle of beloved stars who worked often in Canada. Besting Billy Graham, the Sheik, and even Ernie Ladd. Turning on Victor Rivera in the "scientific hair vs hair match" soon after Rivera had beaten the Sheik amidst a grueling tournament and being nicknamed "The Maniac Tolos" by Lane and Gene Lebell.
And always ending his classic, one-of-a-kind interviews with "and the only way to spell wrestling, is T-O-L-O-S!"
There is no replacing this one. Respected to the hilt by the boys, fans, everyone. And there's no one to replace him. Ever.
Arguably and perhaps the greatest feud ever next to the decades-long Sheik-Brazil one which comain-evented Tolos-Blassie that windy night in August of 1971 at the fabled outdoor Los Angeles Coliseum where rivals USC and UCLA's finest college football greats played in front of capacity 103,000 crowds. That huge outdoor wrestling show, ushered in closed-circuit for L.A. territory wrestling at theatres throughout SoCal, held records for attendance and gate that were only recently bested by WWF/E.
Tolos vs Blassie soldout the Olympic Aud for years, running from 1970 until one last caged tag match in '82 before Mike Lebell I believe quit to become Vince's West Coast WWF promoter with that long-standing working relationship between Lebell and the McMahon family. John said his going out for the famous match with Bruno was more about behind the scenes work but most WWWF'ers will never forget all the incredible mike work John set up for it in Hamburg, etc. Later on, when they both worked for Herb Abrams UWF, the two friends reconnected and always spoke highly of one another. And it doesn't get better than Tolos and Bruno.
I'll have more memories and an exclusive SLAM photo gallery of Big John, but my friends. We're losing the greatest of the greats since Thesz passed and John was one of Lou's favorite people on the planet. Eddie and Jerry Graham. Santo Sr. Baba.
I'm hoping against hope what I'm seeing and hearing aren't true and that John is still battling the stroke that took away one of his great gifts in the promo area.
He was truly golden. A Hamilton, Ontario lad devoted to his brother, sister and mom. And of course his son Chris named after "guess who."
There is no replacing the incredible John Tolos. Not this one. Never.
More memories, angles, ribs and stories to come.
*********
