Andres Labrakis
Encyclopedia
Andres Labrakis is a Greek
retired professional wrestler
who had extensive and successful careers in both Australia
and the United States
. Known as Spiros Arion and The Golden Greek, he debuted in 1961 and retired in 1978.
wrestler named Andre Bollet. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1961 in Paris
under the ring name "Spiros Arion". For over four years, he wrestled around Europe
before settling in Australia
.
n wrestling scene under the ring name "The Golden Greek" and quickly became a favorite among Greek
wrestling fans. He joined World Championship Wrestling and wrestled there until its end in 1978. He also wrestled in IWA Australia. In 1965, he went on to win the IWA World Heavyweight Title and IWA Tag Team Championship.
. He feuded with Kowalski over the IWA Title. He became a popular wrestler in Australia and Greece and was a fan favorite
. In 1966, he defended the IWA Title successfully against the 400 pounder King Kong Czaja. He was a part of many storylines in IWA and WCW. In 1974, he was awarded the IWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship and he defended the title against the likes of Bobby Shane.
and debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation
. Arion quickly became a major star, defeating top opponents, including Dr. Bill Miller, Cowboy Rocky Fitzpatrick (Bob Orton Sr.), Gorilla Monsoon
, Johnny Valentine, Crazy Luke Graham, Bull Ortega, The Shiek etc. His finishing move was often "the hotseat", later renamed "the Greek backbreaker". In his second match in the U.S., he teamed with Tony Parisi
to defeat Baron Mikel Scicluna and Smasher Sloan on Washington, DC television for the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship
. Parisi and Arion won the titles, and were never defeated for the belts. In June 1967, Parisi gave his half to Arnold Skaaland marking his second US Tag Team Title Reign. On 10 July 1967, they lost the titles to the Sicilians (Lou Albano
and Tony Altimore). He became a protege of WWWF World Heavyweight Champion
Bruno Sammartino
and they both beat up the Sicilians on 24 July to become the final U.S. Tag Team Champions.
Sammartino and Arion teamed up to main event at Madison Square Garden, twice against Gorilla Monsoon & Professor Toru Tanaka.
Monsoon & Tanaka won the first match on disqualification; Arion & Sammartino won a decisive victory in a "Texas Death Match" rematch, 2 falls to 1.
Spiros Arion returned to the WWWF in 1974 and was instantly a fan favorite. His popularity increased when he teamed with Chief Jay Strongbow. The fans thought that this duo would take the WWWF tag team belts from Captain Lou Albano's Valiant Brothers, but they were sadly mistaken.
Before Arion and Strongbow took on the Valiant Brothers, there were signs that this tag team would not last. While Arion was in a singles match with Killer Kowalski, the latter had the upper hand. Strongbow came to Arion's assistance, but the Greek was enraged because Strongbow's outside interference cost him the match via disqualification. Even though it was a disqualification, Arion complained that it was his first loss of any kind in the U.S.
In their match against the Valiant Brothers, Arion suddenly turned on his partner. He quickly went from fan favorite to heel when the fans learned that Fred Blassie now took him under his management. Various story lines intensified the fans' hatred for the Iron Greek. The worst was when Arion ripped Strongbow's Indian headdress to shreds.
Arion signed for a match against Bruno Sammartino's protege, Larry Zbyszko at Madison Square Garden. On a TV interview, the announcer wanted to know why Arion signed for the match -- it was deemed a mismatch. Arion laughed, and said that "Larry is my friend". Arion demolished Zbyszko in the Garden, and Bruno Sammartino ran in at the end, after the pin, to prevent further harm by Arion.
Arion then feuded with Strongbow, pinning him in numerous arenas; and went on to a 3 bout series at Madison Square Garden against WWWF champ Bruno Sammartino.
In early 1976, Arion left the WWWF, yet returned in late 1977. In 1978 he partnered with Fred Blassie's newest turncoat, the once popular Victor Rivera.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
retired professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who had extensive and successful careers in both Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Known as Spiros Arion and The Golden Greek, he debuted in 1961 and retired in 1978.
Europe (1961-1964)
Andres Labrakis was trained by a FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
wrestler named Andre Bollet. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1961 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
under the ring name "Spiros Arion". For over four years, he wrestled around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
before settling in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Australia (1964-1978)
In July 1964, he arrived on the AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n wrestling scene under the ring name "The Golden Greek" and quickly became a favorite among Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
wrestling fans. He joined World Championship Wrestling and wrestled there until its end in 1978. He also wrestled in IWA Australia. In 1965, he went on to win the IWA World Heavyweight Title and IWA Tag Team Championship.
Popularity
Spiros Arion finished 1965 as IWA world champion. He dropped the belt to the legendary Killer KowalskiKiller Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
. He feuded with Kowalski over the IWA Title. He became a popular wrestler in Australia and Greece and was a fan favorite
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
. In 1966, he defended the IWA Title successfully against the 400 pounder King Kong Czaja. He was a part of many storylines in IWA and WCW. In 1974, he was awarded the IWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship and he defended the title against the likes of Bobby Shane.
World Wide Wrestling Federation (1966-1975)
In 1966, he headed to AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. Arion quickly became a major star, defeating top opponents, including Dr. Bill Miller, Cowboy Rocky Fitzpatrick (Bob Orton Sr.), Gorilla Monsoon
Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella , better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play announcer, and booker...
, Johnny Valentine, Crazy Luke Graham, Bull Ortega, The Shiek etc. His finishing move was often "the hotseat", later renamed "the Greek backbreaker". In his second match in the U.S., he teamed with Tony Parisi
Antonio Pugliese
Antonio Pugliese , born in Cosenza, Italy, was a professional wrestler. He is better known by his ring name Tony Parisi. Pugliese was primarily a tag team wrestler, and he won tag team titles in several organizations, including the National Wrestling Alliance , World Wide Wrestling Federation , and...
to defeat Baron Mikel Scicluna and Smasher Sloan on Washington, DC television for the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship
WWWF United States Tag Team Championship
The WWWF United States Tag Team Championship was a major tag team title in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1963 until 1967. Originally, the WWF was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance operating out of the Northeast and was called the Capitol Wrestling Corporation...
. Parisi and Arion won the titles, and were never defeated for the belts. In June 1967, Parisi gave his half to Arnold Skaaland marking his second US Tag Team Title Reign. On 10 July 1967, they lost the titles to the Sicilians (Lou Albano
Lou Albano
Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995....
and Tony Altimore). He became a protege of WWWF World Heavyweight Champion
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
and they both beat up the Sicilians on 24 July to become the final U.S. Tag Team Champions.
Sammartino and Arion teamed up to main event at Madison Square Garden, twice against Gorilla Monsoon & Professor Toru Tanaka.
Monsoon & Tanaka won the first match on disqualification; Arion & Sammartino won a decisive victory in a "Texas Death Match" rematch, 2 falls to 1.
Spiros Arion returned to the WWWF in 1974 and was instantly a fan favorite. His popularity increased when he teamed with Chief Jay Strongbow. The fans thought that this duo would take the WWWF tag team belts from Captain Lou Albano's Valiant Brothers, but they were sadly mistaken.
Before Arion and Strongbow took on the Valiant Brothers, there were signs that this tag team would not last. While Arion was in a singles match with Killer Kowalski, the latter had the upper hand. Strongbow came to Arion's assistance, but the Greek was enraged because Strongbow's outside interference cost him the match via disqualification. Even though it was a disqualification, Arion complained that it was his first loss of any kind in the U.S.
In their match against the Valiant Brothers, Arion suddenly turned on his partner. He quickly went from fan favorite to heel when the fans learned that Fred Blassie now took him under his management. Various story lines intensified the fans' hatred for the Iron Greek. The worst was when Arion ripped Strongbow's Indian headdress to shreds.
Arion signed for a match against Bruno Sammartino's protege, Larry Zbyszko at Madison Square Garden. On a TV interview, the announcer wanted to know why Arion signed for the match -- it was deemed a mismatch. Arion laughed, and said that "Larry is my friend". Arion demolished Zbyszko in the Garden, and Bruno Sammartino ran in at the end, after the pin, to prevent further harm by Arion.
Arion then feuded with Strongbow, pinning him in numerous arenas; and went on to a 3 bout series at Madison Square Garden against WWWF champ Bruno Sammartino.
In early 1976, Arion left the WWWF, yet returned in late 1977. In 1978 he partnered with Fred Blassie's newest turncoat, the once popular Victor Rivera.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Atomic drop
- Diving knee drop
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
s- Freddie BlassieFred BlassieFrederick Kenneth Blassman , better known as "Classy" Freddie Blassie, was an American professional wrestling villain and manager born in St. Louis, Missouri. Renowned as "The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling" , Blassie was a master at antagonizing the crowd, and inspired legendary animosity...
- Freddie Blassie
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI Match of the Year (1975) vs. Bruno SammartinoBruno SammartinoBruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
on March 17
- PWI Match of the Year (1975) vs. Bruno Sammartino
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- IWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipIWA World Heavyweight Championship (WCW Australia)The IWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from its founding in 1964 until 1971....
(6 times) - IWA World Tag Team ChampionshipIWA World Tag Team Championship (WCW Australia)The IWA World Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling title in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from 1966 through 1971....
(2 times) - with Mario MilanoMario MilanoMario Bulfone, better known by his ring name Mario Milano is a former professional wrestler. Milano got his start in wrestling in Venezuela and later competed in the United States and Australia.-Early career:...
(1) and Mark LewinMark Lewin-Career:Mark Lewin broke into wrestling in the early '50s and had great early success in a matinee-idol babyface tag team with Don Curtis, headlining in major territories like New York and Chicago. The team's brief heel turn was a shock to its many fans... - NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship was the top singles professional wrestling title in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from 1972 until the promotion's 1978 closure....
(3 times) - NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Austra-Asian Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling title in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from 1972 through the promotion's 1978 closure....
(1 time) - with Mark LewinMark Lewin-Career:Mark Lewin broke into wrestling in the early '50s and had great early success in a matinee-idol babyface tag team with Don Curtis, headlining in major territories like New York and Chicago. The team's brief heel turn was a shock to its many fans...
- IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- World Wide Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWWF United States Tag Team ChampionshipWWWF United States Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWWF United States Tag Team Championship was a major tag team title in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1963 until 1967. Originally, the WWF was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance operating out of the Northeast and was called the Capitol Wrestling Corporation...
(3 times) - with Tony ParisiAntonio PuglieseAntonio Pugliese , born in Cosenza, Italy, was a professional wrestler. He is better known by his ring name Tony Parisi. Pugliese was primarily a tag team wrestler, and he won tag team titles in several organizations, including the National Wrestling Alliance , World Wide Wrestling Federation , and...
(1), Arnold SkaalandArnold SkaalandArnold Skaaland was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager.-Career:Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he became a professional wrestler and debuted in 1946 as "Arnold Skaaland"...
(1), and Bruno SammartinoBruno SammartinoBruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
(1)
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship