Tony Kontellis
Encyclopedia
Tony Kontellis is a former Australian professional wrestler.
Kontellis has worked for many wrestling promotions throughout his career, including WCW Australia
and WWWF
for Vince McMahon Sr..
team for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia but a training injury forced him to withdraw. Travelling to South Australia
to visit relatives, he was convinced to enter professional wrestling by a local wrestler. He was training in a gym when he was noticed by a visiting American wrestler, Lou Newman, who served as a mentor during Kontellis's early career. In 1957, Kontellis teamed with Norm Ryan to compete for the vacant Australian Tag Team Championship. They faced Jon and Frank Morro to determine the new champions but were unable to win the title belts.
In 1960, he travelled to Pakistan and feuded
with King Kong Czaja before moving on to Canada. Whilst in Toronto, Canada Kontellis wrestled for Frank Tunney
's Maple Leaf Wrestling
promotion. In 1966, Tony Kontellis returned to Australia and New Zealand, facing such wrestlers as Czaja, The Great Zorro, Wadi Ayoub and Steve Rickard
.
In 1972, while in the WWWF, Kontellis wrestled opponents such as Joe Nova, Fred Curry
and Jimmy Valiant
. In 1974, Kontellis defeated Don Carson, Bill Dundee
, Mr. Moto
and Les Thornton
while competing in Australia. He also won the Australasian Tag Team titles on 5 April with Pat Barrett
by defeating George Barnes and Bobby Shane in a tournament final. Two weeks later, they dropped the title to Shane and Mr. Wrestling.
In 2003, Kontellis became a trainer for the World Wrestling Alliance wrestling school in Cabramatta, Sydney along with his son Paul and Libnan Ayoub. Kontellis went on to train the roster of the now defunct United Wrestling Federation in Adam Asixx, Mikey Lord, Bane Youngblood, and many more. In 2007, Kontellis discontinued the school, and now resides in Sydney.
Kontellis has worked for many wrestling promotions throughout his career, including WCW Australia
WCW Australia
World Championship Wrestling was an Australian professional wrestling promotion that ran from 1964 until 1978.-History:The promotion gained valuable publicity through televising programs through the Nine Network which was presented at noon on Saturdays and Sundays.An average of 6,500 people...
and WWWF
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...
for Vince McMahon Sr..
Career
Kontellis participated in the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
team for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia but a training injury forced him to withdraw. Travelling to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to visit relatives, he was convinced to enter professional wrestling by a local wrestler. He was training in a gym when he was noticed by a visiting American wrestler, Lou Newman, who served as a mentor during Kontellis's early career. In 1957, Kontellis teamed with Norm Ryan to compete for the vacant Australian Tag Team Championship. They faced Jon and Frank Morro to determine the new champions but were unable to win the title belts.
In 1960, he travelled to Pakistan and feuded
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with King Kong Czaja before moving on to Canada. Whilst in Toronto, Canada Kontellis wrestled for Frank Tunney
Frank Tunney
Francis Martin “Frank” Tunney was a Canadian professional wrestling promoter, based in Toronto.-Early years:...
's Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
promotion. In 1966, Tony Kontellis returned to Australia and New Zealand, facing such wrestlers as Czaja, The Great Zorro, Wadi Ayoub and Steve Rickard
Steve Rickard
Sydney Mervin "Merv" Batt , best known by his ring name Steve Rickard, is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...
.
In 1972, while in the WWWF, Kontellis wrestled opponents such as Joe Nova, Fred Curry
Fred Curry (wrestler)
Fred Thomas Koury, Jr. better known by his ring name ”Flyin'” Fred Curry, was an American professional wrestler of Lebanese descent. The son of "Wild Bull" Curry, Fred Koury was one of the most popular stars in the Midwest United States during the 1960s.-Career:In the 1960s, Koury, Jr. took up...
and Jimmy Valiant
Jimmy Valiant
James Harold Fanning is a former professional wrestler and author better known as Jimmy Valiant.-Personal life:...
. In 1974, Kontellis defeated Don Carson, Bill Dundee
Bill Dundee
William "Bill" Cruickshanks is a Scottish born-Australian professional wrestler better known by his stage name Bill Dundee. Cruickshanks is the father of Jamie Dundee and the father-in-law of wrestler Bobby Eaton....
, Mr. Moto
Tor Kamata
McRonald Kamaka was an American/Canadian professional wrestler known by the ring name Tor Kamata. He won several Heavyweight and Tag Team championships, including one World Tag Team title. He was a classic "bad guy" wrestler...
and Les Thornton
Les Thornton
Les Thornton is a retired British professional wrestler who competed in European and North American regional promotions throughout the 1970s and 1980s including Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance...
while competing in Australia. He also won the Australasian Tag Team titles on 5 April with Pat Barrett
Pat Barrett
Patrick "Pat" Barrett is a former Irish professional wrestler who is best known for his time with NWA and WWWF. He has wrestled in many areas which include Ireland, Pacific Islands, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States of America.-Career:The Irish wrestler Pat Barrett started wrestling...
by defeating George Barnes and Bobby Shane in a tournament final. Two weeks later, they dropped the title to Shane and Mr. Wrestling.
In 2003, Kontellis became a trainer for the World Wrestling Alliance wrestling school in Cabramatta, Sydney along with his son Paul and Libnan Ayoub. Kontellis went on to train the roster of the now defunct United Wrestling Federation in Adam Asixx, Mikey Lord, Bane Youngblood, and many more. In 2007, Kontellis discontinued the school, and now resides in Sydney.
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- Australasian Tag Team Championship - with Pat BarrettPat BarrettPatrick "Pat" Barrett is a former Irish professional wrestler who is best known for his time with NWA and WWWF. He has wrestled in many areas which include Ireland, Pacific Islands, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States of America.-Career:The Irish wrestler Pat Barrett started wrestling...