Don Curtis
| Don Curtis | |
|---|---|
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Don Curtis The Buffalo Bomber |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Billed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Trained by | Lou Thesz |
| Debut | 1951[2] |
| Retired | 1981 |
Donald B. Curtis (born Donald Beitelman) (May 22, 1927 – March 6, 2008) was an American professional wrestler, best known for being a member of a tag team with Mark Lewin in the 1950s and 1960s. During his partnership with Lewin, they won the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Curtis was a wrestling promoter in Jacksonville, Florida, until 1981.
Professional wrestling career
Beitelman decided to become a professional wrestler in 1951, after working out with Lou Thesz.[2] During his early career, he worked in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, appearing as "Don Curtis."[2]
In 1958 promoter Eddie Graham teamed Curtis with Mark Lewin.[2] Curtis and Lewin held the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) twice in 1958,[3] trading it with Graham and his "brother" Jerry.[2]
Curtis teamed up with Graham in May 1960 to win the
In 1962, Curtis moved to Florida
In November 1969, he won the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version).
By the mid 1970s, he wrestled only part time until his last match in 1980.
Personal life and death
Curtis attended the University at Buffalo, where he played football and was an amateur wrestler.[2] He was the wrestling team captain during 1949 and 1950.[2]
After retiring from professional wrestling, Curtis worked in real estate as well as managing the Jacksonville Coliseum.[2] In 1980, he was inducted into the University of Buffalo Athletic Hall of Fame for wrestling and football.[5]
On February 26, 2008, Curtis suffered a "massive
Championships and accomplishments
- Capitol Wrestling Corporation
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Other honoree (1997)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) - (1 time)
- Jose Lothario(1)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (4 times) - with Mark Lewin (2), Joe Scarpa (1) and Abe Jacobs (1)[4]
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) - (1 time) - with Joe Scarpa
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2012[7]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
See also
- List of professional wrestling promoters
References
- ^ "Upstate NY". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Oliver, Greg and Steven Johnson (2009). "Mark Lewin and Don Curtis". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
- ^ Note:They were the first holders of the championship, defeating Hans Schmidt and Dick the Bruiser
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ a b "Don Curtis". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
- ^ "United States Television Title - Capitol Wrestling". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Kurt Angle and Don Curtis to enter Hall of Fame". WCFCourier. 12 October 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
External links
- Don Curtis's profile at Cagematch.net , Internet Wrestling Database
