The Canadian Wrecking Crew

This week’s column will remember one of the toughest men to ever lace up a pair of boots, Chris Tolos. He was a friend to many and a great guy to know in the wrestling profession. I had a few matches with him and will remember just getting out of the ring after the beating he gave me.

I remember setting him up for a big match with Bobo Brazil in Mansfield, Ohio. I was the ring announcer and utility man for World Wide Sports out of Detroit, Michigan. That particular evening, Chris had beaten every bone out of his opponent, literally, and had grabbed the microphone from me, as I was a guest ring announcer for promoter Frances Fleser.

He began to rant and rave about him being the Golden Greek and that he wanted tougher competition. He screamed out that the promoter had been hiding the best that the Great Lakes territory had to offer. After listening to him rant for nearly five minutes, I asked for him to please give me the microphone.

I asked him if he would meet ANYBODY here in Mansfield. He answered with another five-minute session of how he was the Golden Greek and that NOBODY was tougher than him.

Calmly, I pulled out a contract that had been signed and asked if he would like to meet this person in two weeks here in Mansfield in the Main Event. He grabbed my pen and quickly wrote his name on the folded part of the paper that I showed to him.

Then, he began to yell out to the crowd that he was the very best wrestler in the universe. I had two ringside fans and one of the security officers to witness his signature. When he tossed me the microphone back, he started to get out of the ring when I made the announcement that I was taking the contract back to the offices in Detroit the following morning. I also stated that he would be meeting the United States Champ, Bobo Brazil, here in two weeks.

Chris went absolutely ballistic on me. He grabbed me by the lapels and tried to get the contract out of my hands. I threw it to the security guard and turned just in time to get a huge right fist to my jaw. It knocked me out of the ring and onto the arena floor.

Tolos followed me onto the floor and pounded on me all the way back to the dressing room. He slammed the door on his dressing room and left me on the floor pretty battered. A riot squad followed a short time later to get Chris Tolos out of the building to a waiting car.

The next day, I saw Bobo at the offices, and he noticed that I was pretty badly bruised and asked who had done that to me. I told him that Chris Tolos was very angry with me for tricking him into signing a contract for the following card in Mansfield against Bobo.

Bobo held back the anger he had for what Chris had done to me until that night in Mansfield. He righted what had been wronged to me and paid Tolos back by nearly ending his wrestling career.

God has now taken both of these great warriors into his fold.

Rest in peace, Chris Tolos.

TOLOS, Chris - December 5, 1929 - August 12, 2005 Peacefully on Friday, August 12, 2005 at St. Peter's Hospital, our dearest Chris breathed his last. Beloved and devoted son of the late Nikolaos and Evangelia. Left to mourn the loss of their loving and very dear brother are Mary and John. Left to mourn the loss of his keen and caring uncle is Chris of Woodland Hills, California. Chris' passing will sadden relatives, friends and former colleagues in Canada, the United States and abroad. The family will receive friends at the DODSWORTH & BROWN Funeral Home, ROBINSON CHAPEL (King Street East at Wellington) on Sunday, August 14th from 7-9 p.m. and Monday, August 15th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Prayers to be held Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Service from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (22 Head Street, Hamilton, Ontario) on Tuesday, August 16th at 11 a.m. Interment at Woodland Cemetery will follow. A tree will be planted in Woodland Cemetery in his memory. If so desired, donations to MUMC would be appreciated by the family. A book of condolence will be place online at "dbrobinson.com" "Rest in Peace, Chris. Oh, how you shall be missed." Date Posted: 2005-08-13 Hamilton Spectator ... Hamilton, Ontario.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree