Tex McKenzie

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Tex McKenzie
Jack Pfeffer[2]
Debut1950[2]
Retired1977[1]

Frank Hugh McKenzie (July 21, 1930 – May 31, 2001) was an American

professional wrestler. During his career, he appeared in the American Wrestling Association, IWA Australia, National Wrestling Federation and Maple Leaf Wrestling
.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

McKenzie wrestled in Texas during the early 50s under the name Goliath.[3][1] In 1954, he went to Canada to wrestle for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. He formed a tag team with Ilio DiPaolo and won the NWA Calgary Tag Team Championship by defeating Al and Tiny Mills in early November.[4][5] McKenzie also held the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship in June with Whipper Billy Watson.[5]

American Wrestling Association (1958, 1961–1965, 1970)

McKenzie started wrestling for the

Bill Miller. On October 10, 1970, McKenzie defeated Tarzan Tyler for the AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship in Omaha, Nebraska, before dropping the title a month later to Ole Anderson and leaving the company.[6]

IWA Australia (1964–1969)

In 1964, he went to Australia to wrestle for IWA Australia, feuding with Killer Kowalski. On June 6, 1967, McKenzie defeated Kowalski for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship.[7] He dropped the title to Skull Murphy in August.[7] A year later, he regained the title by defeating Toru Tanaka on November 13, 1968, before once again dropping the title to Murphy and leaving Australia in 1969.[7]

Various promotions

From 1965 to 1967, he wrestled for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, forming a tag team with Nelson Royal in the late 60s.[3][8] McKenzie would wrestle in Toronto for Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1970 to 1975. He teamed with various partners against the Love Brothers and the Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent). In 1974, he and Red Bastien held the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship.[9][5] McKenzie also did commentary for the International Wrestling Association during this time before retiring from wrestling in 1977.[5][1]

Death

On May 31, 2001, McKenzie died at a hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of 70, from complications of an abdominal aortic aneurysm he suffered while on a boat.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Tex McKenzie bio". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Mooneyham, Mike (June 16, 2001). "Tex McKenzie Dead At 73". The Wrestling Gospel. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Canadian Tag Team Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ a b "Midwest Heavyweight Title (Nebraska)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d "IWA World Heavyweight Title (Australia)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (February 10, 2002). "Nellie Royal Leaves Behind Golden Memories". The Wrestling Gospel. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  9. ^ .
  10. ^ Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
  11. ^ "IWA World Tag Team Title (Australia)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Canadian Open Tag Team Title (Ontario)". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2023.

External links