Eastern Sports Association

Eastern Sports Association
Founded	1969
Headquarters	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Founder(s)	Al Zinck and Rudy Kay
Owner(s)	Al Zinck (1969-1975); Rudy Kay (1969-1975); Bobby Kay (1975-1976)
Parent	National Wrestling Alliance (1975-1976)

The Eastern Sports Association, often referred to in the business simply as "the Maritimes," was a Canadian

Halifax, Nova Scotia

. It ran during the spring and summer months from 1969 to 1976.

History

The ESA, a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (1975–76), was owned by Al Zinck in partnership with Rudy Kay (1969–75) and Bobby Kay (1975-76) and promoted wrestling under the marquee name International Wrestling. In 1977, the ESA dissolved and Bobby Kay formed Trans-Canada Wrestling, and Al Zinck continued to promote International Wrestling under the name 'Maritime International Sports Ltd' with George Cannon and later Don Carson as bookers. At the end of the 1977 season, Al Zinck retired from promoting until 1984, when he reactivated International Wrestling with J. J. Dillon as booker.

They ran cards seven nights a week across Nova Scotia and

CJCH-TV studios on Robie Street in Halifax. This show would be broadcast across the Maritimes on Saturdays on the ATV

network. Host Clary Fleming would announce the matches, do the play by play and interview the wrestlers. Eight events a week, including the TV show, was a heavy schedule, but it was for only about six months a year (May–October). In the winter months, hockey dominated arena bookings, and poor driving conditions on the roads could keep fans home and make it difficult for the wrestlers to travel from town to town on schedule. The first card of each new wrestling season would feature a Battle Royal.

The Cormier brothers (Rudy Kay, Bobby Kay,

Bolo & Geeto Mongol and The Mercenaries. The Stomper

and Eric Pomeroy were heels who turned face.

Future stars Rick Martel, Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas, Rocky Johnson and Terry Gordy also paid their dues here. As well, former world champions Pat O'Connor, Harley Race, Dory Funk Jr. and Lou Thesz made appearances. Jack Brisco, Terry Funk and Rick Martel defended their World titles under the banner of International Wrestling.

Championships

Title notes	Last champion(s)
IW North American Heavyweight Championship (1969-77 & 1984)	Leo Burke
International Tag Team Championship (represented by a trophy) (1969–76)	Jack & Jerry Brisco
Canadian Heavyweight Championship (1977)	David Schultz
World Tag Team Championship (1977)	Dennis Condry & Phil Hickerson
Maritime Heavyweight Championship (1976–77)	Leo Burke
Maritime Tag Team Championship (1976–77)	Leo Burke & Hubert Gallant
Taped Fist Championship (1973–77)	Rudy Kay
International Heavyweight Championship (1984)	J. J. Dillon
Global Tag Team Championship (1984)	Samoans(Tio and Tapu)

Former personnel

External links

Eastern Sports Association title histories

v t e Professional wrestling in Canada
Active promotions	Border City Wrestling Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling Great Canadian Wrestling International Wrestling Syndicate Northern Championship Wrestling Femmes Fatales Prairie Wrestling Alliance
Defunct promotions	All-Star Wrestling BSE Pro Canadian Wrestling Association Eastern Sports Association Grand Prix Wrestling High Impact Wrestling Hart Legacy Wrestling International Wrestling Alliance Lutte Internationale Maple Leaf Wrestling Maximum Pro Wrestling Stampede Wrestling
Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances	AWA Superstars of Wrestling (2005–2007) National Wrestling Alliance (1948–2017) United Wrestling Network (2013–2020)
Television and streaming channels	Fight Network Impact Plus WWE Network (Canada)
Other	Attendance records Canadian Death Tour Hart wrestling family Superstars of Wrestling WWE in Canada Montreal Screwjob
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