When Wrestling was Fun

[Fun For All]

Superstar Billy Graham was all look and no talent, Bruno Sammartino had to carry him through all their matches. Vince took Graham's image and created Hulk Hogan.

Billy Red Lyons replaced Lord Athol Layton as Maple Leaf Wrestling's TV promoter. Since he was so much a part of my childhood, I did a background check. Lord Athol Layton was born in England and grew up in Australia. He started his professional wrestling career in the Singapore circuit. He eventually made his way to Maple Leaf Wresting where he became a main event draw and got his biggest paycheques.

In the early 60's he started working with Edward Farhat, they became close friends. Farhat was starting a new circuit in Detroit called Big Time Wrestling and Layton went there to help the promotion get off the ground. It was during that time that Farhat became The Shiek and Irwin Roth (who was forced to retire due to injury) became Adbullah Farouk. The Sheik and Layton had many bouts, eventually becoming part of the NWA, then working MSG for Vince McMahon Sr's WWF. An injury forced Layton to retire, he'd made a home for himself in Mississauga. It didn't dull his mic work and he became Maple Leaf Wrestling TV promoter. Lord Athol Layotn died of a heart attack in 1984.

Edward Farhat's nephew would become the legend of ECW as Sabu...the manager is annoying I hope he gets guzzled.

Some would call him Lord Asshole Layton.

 

[Insidious Von]

Some would call him Lord Asshole Layton.

As John Cleese said, "please explain the logic underlying your conclusion".

 

[shack]

Superstar Billy Graham was all look and no talent, Bruno Sammartino had to carry him through all their matches. Vince took Graham's image and created Hulk Hogan.

Billy Red Lyons replaced Lord Athol Layton as Maple Leaf Wrestling's TV promoter. Since he was so much a part of my childhood, I did a background check. Lord Athol Layton was born in England and grew up in Australia. He started his professional wrestling career in the Singapore circuit. He eventually made his way to Maple Leaf Wresting where he became a main event draw and got his biggest paycheques.

In the early 60's he started working with Edward Farhat, they became close friends. Farhat was starting a new circuit in Detroit called Big Time Wrestling and Layton went there to help the promotion get off the ground. It was during that time that Farhat became The Shiek and Irwin Roth (who was forced to retire due to injury) became Adbullah Farouk. The Sheik and Layton had many bouts, eventually becoming part of the NWA, then working MSG for Vince McMahon Sr's WWF. An injury forced Layton to retire, he'd made a home for himself in Mississauga. It didn't dull his mic work and he became Maple Leaf Wrestling TV promoter. Lord Athol Layotn died of a heart attack in 1984.

Edward Farhat's nephew would become the legend of ECW as Sabu...the manager is annoying I hope he gets guzzled.

Good read. Billy Red Lyons was mentored by Whipper Watson, I believe.

 

[shack]

Some would call him Lord Asshole Layton.

First I heard of that. Just a play on words or more?

 

[Fun For All]

First I heard of that. Just a play on words or more?

Yes, a play on words I've heard in the 60s.

 

[Fun For All]

 

[kherg007]

It's funny anytime my mates and I are at some function and we see lightweight folding chairs we ask the host: "Are you expecting wrestlers?" LOL

 

[Fun For All]

It's funny anytime my mates and I are at some function and we see lightweight folding chairs we ask the host: "Are you expecting wrestlers?" LOL

 

[Fun For All]

 

[kherg007]

Jesse Ventura was the greatest wrestling colour commentator. It was so awesome to have a bad guy in the booth and his back and forth w Vince McMahon.

 

[Fun For All]

 

[goldengirl]

 

[bigdickdean]

A

Windsor's Walter "Killer" Kowalski started investing his money in gold in the 60's, when the Arab oil Embargo hit, he became very rich.

When my family immigrated to Toronto, Maple Leaf Wrestling was the only game in town. When the CHIN Picnic began, Tony Parisi would hold wrestling event at it. Domenic DeNucci, The Beast, Bo Bo Brazil and a freaky looking dude named Pampero Firpo would show up. DeNucci ran a wrestling school in Pittsburgh some of his pupils were Shane Douglas, Mick Foley and Steve Austin.

[/QUOT

This is Academy Award material.

 

[Fun For All]

 

[Fun For All]

 

[Insidious Von]

The Sheik vs Tiger Jeet Singh was a continuous main event for both Maple Leaf Wrestling and Big Time Wrestling, their matches were wild.

Tiger Jeet Singh has a high school named after him in Milton.

 

[Insidious Von]

In those days, Tiger Jeet Singh is probably the wrestler I watched the most. Being local he had a vested interest in promoting Maple Leaf Wrestling.

All Japan Wrestling: Singh vs Terry Funk...entering to Pink Floyd's , One of These Days, no less.

 

[Fun For All]

The Sheik vs Tiger Jeet Singh was a continuous main event for both Maple Leaf Wrestling and Big Time Wrestling, their matches were wild.

Tiger Jeet Singh has a high school named after him in Milton.

The Sheik, during his MLG arum would wrestle Singh in 3 main events in a row....I remember Luis Martinez would too.

 

[Insidious Von]

I'm not sure if Lord Athol Layton played a part in this.

Maple Leaf Wrestling went big time when they sold out MLG for a wrestling show in 1971. Frank Tunney (Maple Leaf Wrestling) and Edward "The Sheik" Farhat (Big Time Wrestling) concluded a deal to make Ontario-Michigan one territory. It worked out exceptionally well for both. Tiger Jeet Singh was back in the Punjab at the time to meet his bride when Frank Tunney called him, telling him there was big money to be made in the wrestling game.

Richard Garza started his career in Big Time Wrestling, as The Mighty Igor he became a glorious jobber for both Singh and Farhat.

 

[Insidious Von]

As a unified circuit, they drew in other stars from without. John Farre became in headliner in 1975.