2021/08/16
Welcome to AustralianWrestling.org!
The website devoted to preserving the history of Australian wrestling.
We're in the process of renovating and moving some things around so some things may look a little strange but the aim is to minimise disruption.
This website was designed in 2012 with a scope of covering present and past wrestling in Australia.
The scope will change to prioritise the older stuff and make that a bit more accessible.
Thank you for your patience.
I also have another website (with my good buddy Greg) The Wrestling Roadshow which has more of a global scope. We have a podcast by the same name too and discuss all sorts of wrestling.
-CD
Pat O'Connor
Name: - Pat O'Connor
Height: - 6'0” (183cm)
Weight: - 230lb (100kg)
Born: - 22 August, 1924
From: - Raetihi, New Zealand
Trained by: - Len Levy
Debut: - 1950
Retired: - 1982
Died: - 16 August, 1990 (Cancer)
Toured Australia: - 1967
One of the great champions in history. Wrestled as an amateur, winning a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games. Turned pro late in 1950 and moved to the US. Defeated Dick Hutton to win the NWA World Hwt title in 1959. When Verne Gagne created the AWA, he recognised then-NWA champ O'Connor as the first AWA champion, on the provision that O'Connor defended the title against Gagne within 90 days. O'Connor never defended the AWA title, and was stripped of 'recognition'.
O'Connor dropped the NWA belt to Buddy Rogers on 30 June, 1961. Was based around Central States and Missouri, but toured Australia in 1967, wrestling upper mid-card. Wrestled in AWA in 1967-69, teaming with Wilbur Snyder and defeating Harley Race and Chris Markoff for the AWA World Tag title. Lost the title in late 1967 to Mr Moto and Mitsu Arakawa. Wrestled around Iowa during the 70s, and bought a share of Sam Muchnick's St. Louis Wrestling Club in 1982.
After his death, Crockett Promotions held the Pat O'Connor Memorial International Tag Cup tournament.
Titles held: - NWA World Hwt, AWA World Hwt, MAC World Hwt (2), (Toronto) British Empire Hwt, (NZ) British Commonwealth Hwt (2), NWA US Hwt (3), Central States Hwt (3), Eastern States Hwt, Rocky Mountains Hwt, Ohio Hwt, AWA World Tag (w/ Wilbur Snyder), (Chicago) NWA World Tag (w/ Roy McClarity), (Central States) NWA World Tag (4, w/ Sonny Myers, w/ Tiny Mills, w/ Bob Geigel, w/ Omar Atlas), WWA World Tag (w/ Wilbur Snyder), NWA North American Tag (2, w/ Sonny Myers), Canadian Open Tag (w/ Whipper Watson)
Credit: Mark Dalgleish, Wikipedia, Puroresu.com, Libnan Ayoub's 100 Years of Australian Professional Wrestling
Photo credit: Obssesedwithwrestling.com
