Frank Tunney

In most territories throughout the wrestling world, there were standing ribs or jokes that were often and regularly pulled on newcomers constantly. It didn't matter if you were a midget or if you were a lady wrestler or if you stood 6'10" and weighed 400 pounds, you were the object of sometimes harmless pranks put on and carried out by the best minds in the business.

I was the object of a personal joke by Frank Tunney at his offices in the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto one Sunday afternoon. I had been on the road from Montreal the evening before and had gotten only a few hours’ rest before I was to be at the Gardens for a huge super card put on by the Tunneys. The main event was the Original Sheik against Whipper Billy Watson.

Billy was a crowd favorite who had been the victim of many weeks of verbal blasts by Abdullah Farook, the manager of The Sheik. His honor and reputation were in jeopardy as mouthful after mouthful of insults had been thrown at him on Toronto television. He had been called more adjectives than I could ever come up with in a week of thinking. Farook had a way of making people mad at him just by being in the building. You could spot him in a dark room with the lights off.

I had arrived at roughly 6 p.m. for the 8 p.m. card and was getting ready for my first venture in the Maple Leaf Gardens when one of Tunney's office stooges came and told me that Mr. Tunney wanted me in his office right away. I had thought that it might have to do with license or immigration status, and I slipped my mask back on and pulled a pair of slacks over my ring tights and headed out behind the stooge.

We had to go through the main auditorium to reach the magnificent office of Mr. Tunney, and fans were trying to guess who I was as I passed them. One lady even called me Bull Curry … I stopped in my tracks and turned to her and stated that NOBODY could look that way even with a mask on. I even went as far as to lift the nose piece on the mask and show her one of my eyebrows to convince her that I was NOT Bull Curry. What a relief!!

Don Fargo, Marie LaVerne, Kay Noble and Sir Oliver Humperdink from a CAC reunion in Las Vegas. Percival: "It wasn't much after this picture that we lost Kay. She was a fighter and a great lady and I am proud that I had the opportunity to know her."

Mr. Tunney came out from the inner offices through a leather covered door and walked straight towards me with a big smile on his face and told me to follow him to his private office. The Sheik and Farook stopped what they were doing and joined me in the walk to the back of the office complex, where a huge double door with beautiful stained glass inserts stood. Jack Tunney, Frank's nephew, met us, and he invited us into the palatial private world of the Tunneys.

I was aghast at the furnishings and the beautiful view out the side windows that gave me a gorgeous view of a lot of Toronto. Jack Tunney told me to sit down in the small wooden chair against the wall that was kind of an outcast from the plush settings in the rest of the office. He went on to say that Frank wanted to talk to me. I never gave it a thought as to what was going on, with all the guys on the card coming through the door and joining me and Jack in the room.

I sat on the plain wooden chair and patiently waited. Everyone in the room was quiet now, and it seemed like forever that I waited for Mr. Tunney. Suddenly, from the bottom of the chair, a huge blast of electricity shot into the seat, and I jumped at least three feet in the air from a seated position. Everybody in the room started laughing and shouting, "He got him, too!"

Mr. Frank Tunney came out from behind a royal blue curtain that covered a corner of the room, and he had a huge grin on his reddened face. He stuck out a hand and said that I had been "Franked," and welcome to the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens. I was still shaking from the experience but took his hand in friendship. The rest of the guys in the room started coming forward and shaking my hand as well, welcoming me to the club.

I returned to the dressing room area and got ready for my first night in Toronto, one that sticks in my memory and will forever. Frank Tunney died a few years ago but is well remembered for that little electrified wooden chair in his inner offices.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Tunney.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee
2007 TCCW Hall of Fame Honoree