Gene would appear at Maple Leaf Gardens through four decades and leave a lasting impression on those who watched him. While holding the NWA Title, Kiniski would defend often at MLG facing Whipper Watson, Johnny Valentine and newcomer Ernie Ladd among others. In 1982, Gene's eldest son Kelly would make his debut in Toronto and even appear on the same card as his father in June of that year. Kelly would team with popular Johnny Weaver in a tag match while Gene (of course as a vicious heel) would oppose Canadian Champ Angelo Mosca in a losing (but entertaining) cause. Gene would make his last Toronto appearance on the next card (June 27 1982) while Kelly would stay around until late 1983. Gene's other wrestling offspring Nick would appear at MLG under the WWF banner in 1987.

Area Rankings November 1974

U.S. Champion - The Sheik

1) Tiger Jeet Singh
2) Andre The Giant
3) Edouard Carpentier
4) Crusader Robertson

International Tag Team Champions - The Love Brothers

1) The Crusaders
2) Domenic Denucci & Tony Parisi
3) Angelo Mosca & Vic Rossitani
4) The Beast (McKigney) & Luis Martinez

10 Notable Title Changes In Toronto:

1) March 15 1956 - Whipper Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz for the NWA World Title

* Local hero begins his 2nd reign as World Champ, and defends the title locally against Gorgeous George, Pat O'Connor, Hardboiled Haggarty and others

2) February 6 1977 - Harley Race beats Terry Funk for the NWA World Title 

*Race begins 2nd run with the title, NWA President Sam Muchnick is in attendance, special referee Pat O'Connor is replaced by Fred Atkins for the historic bout

4) November 19 1976 - Thunderbolt Patterson beats The Sheik for the U.S. Title

* Patterson hands The Sheik one of his very few losses in Toronto. Longtime rival Bobo Brazil would also accomplish the feat for a short reign in 1977

5) November 14 1957 - Dick Hutton beats Lou Thesz for the NWA World Title

*Hutton would defend the belt locally against both Watson & Thesz during his reign as well as Yukon Eric and former title holder Wild Bill Longson

6) December 28 1980 - Angelo Mosca beats Hossein The Arab for the Canadian Heavyweight Title

* Big Ange, inside a steel cage, ends the hated Arab's reign and begins his 2nd run with the title. He would be a five time winner when his final reign ended in early 1984

7) May 11 1962 - Whipper Watson & Bruno Sammartino beat Bulldog Brower & Sweet Daddy Siki for the International Tag Team Titles

*Former and Future World Champs team up prior to Bruno's historic 1963 Title win.

8) August 24 1975 - The Crusaders beat The Kelly Twins for the International Tag Team Titles

* Red Lyons and Robertson regain the belts, and would become the last holders of these titles which were abandoned in 1978

9) August 22 1982 - Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat The Privates (Kernodle/Nelson) to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles

* A 2/3 falls match that never made it to the record books. Steamboat and Youngblood may have been the most popular team of the late 70's to early 80's period 

10) June 10 1984 - Angelo Mosca Jr. beats Ivan Koloff for the Canadian Heavyweight Title

*Angelo Jr. is the last recognized Canadian champ when the WWF takes over in 1984

Holders of the short lived Canadian TV Title 1982-1984:

Flashback:

"Look Out, Zeb, Whipper's On The Warpath"

Toronto Globe & Mail Nov 16 1951

"There's nothing like the unmasking of a varmint to make the wrestling public perk up like with a shot in the arm and, if you would believe Whipper Watson, who takes care of all kinds of varmints, from English lords to disguised football players, that's what's in store next Thursday at the Gardens as wrestling revives itself after a two-week layoff. 

The Whipper, who has been watching from the wing the antics of a fellow who goes under the name of The Zebra, has been saying that it's high time someone plucked the mask from the face of the fast fat man. The 305-pound Whatsits who has been terrorizing hero and villain alike in these parts for too many months may just possibly have overreached himself in pounding Mons. Francois Tunney's desk, demanding a match with the British Empire champ. 

Too, he wants a shot at Lou Thesz, the NWA world champ, and one of the quickest ways to do it is to beat the Whip. Also on the card are a couple of Sumo Japs (remember them?) taking on two local characters, Steve Stanlee and Mayes McLain, in a tag team match. That should be something! And, for those who missed it last time, there's Maedayama, the Sumo grand champ, and Yakatayama in a real Sumo match. Also prelims. Gee Whiz!"

Thanks to Gary Will

NEXT MONTH: 

We will begin a look at Wrestling on TV