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Pat O'Connor
Pat
O'Connor
Real Name: Patrick O'Connor
Stats: 6' 230 lbs.
Born: 1924
Pat
O`Connor was one of the absolute best wrestlers on
the planet (as well as one of the most famous and
popular) during the 1940's, 1950's, and through the
1960's. His time in the ring actually lasted until
the mid-1970's, marking a career spanning some 30
years! Throughout his career, the athletic New Zealander
was a loved hero known worldwide for his skill and
sportsmanship, not to mention being renowned as a
multi-time World Champion and regional titleholder.
Always the consummate champion, O`Connor -- with his
friendly New Zealander accent -- was known as a true
professional, both in and out of the ring. His reputation
proceeded him, and through his worldwide travels,
he established himself as unquestionably one of pro
wrestling's biggest attractions during his day...
O`Connor
won one of his first championships, the Florida Heavyweight
title, in 1944. He also won the prestigous AWA/IWA
(Montreal) World Heavyweight title twice -- both by
defeating his longtime nemesis Killer Kowalski, once
in 1954 and again in 1955. Among other titles O`Connor
won throughout his illustrious career were two Central
States Heavyweight championships in 1962 and 1963,
two Missouri Heavyweight titles in 1962 and 1967,
and the A.W.A. World Tag Team title on November 11,
1967 in Chicago with partner Wilber Snyder. However,
O`Connor will forever be remembered for one title
reign in particular... On January 9, 1959 Pat O`Connor
defeated Dick Hutton in St. Louis, MO. to win the
N.W.A. World Heavyweight title...and forever go down
in history as a World Champion.
Pat
O`Connor was one of the most beloved (at the time)
NWA champion in years, and as a result of his popularity,
he held the sports' most important and coveted title
-- the N.W.A. World Championship -- for 2 1/2 years.
The hard-working O`Connor defended his World title
5 nights a week against the very best wrestlers of
his era...men like Killer Kowalski, Buddy Rogers,
Dick Hutton, Bob Geigel, Dick The Bruiser, Dory Funk
Sr., Lou Thesz, and many, many others.
In
May of 1960, O`Connor was named the inaugural A.W.A.
World Heavyweight Champion...thus making him the first
(and only) simultaneous N.W.A.- A.W.A. World Champion.
O`Connor, who was recovering from an injury at the
time, was given 90 days to defend the title against
the #1 contender Verne Gagne. O`Connor did not face
Gagne within the allotted 90 day period and was stripped
of the A.W.A. World title on August 16, 1960.
His
N.W.A. World title reign continued on for another
year, though, during which time O`Connor continued
to defend his N.W.A. championship nightly against
the sport's best...until he was defeated by "Nature
Boy" Buddy Rogers on June 30, 1961 in Chicago
in front of over 30,000 spectators. It would be the
last time Pat O`Connor would ever wear the World Heavyweight
title belt...
He
continued on with much success for the next 10 years,
but as the 1970's rolled in, the aging O`Connor began
to "lose" more frequently. He always put
up a good fight against the younger and stronger competition
he wrestled throughout the Midwest during the 1970's,
fighting bravely -- but often losing more than winning
-- against up-and-comers like Bobby Jaggers (pictured),
Crusher Blackwell, and other Central States performers.
Eventually he became a part-time lower-card wrestler,
referee, and booking assistant in the Central States
and Missouri promotions until his retirement.
On
the surface, it might appear to be a sad way to end
a great career. But when you dig a little deeper,
you realize that O`Connor loved wrestling, and saw
the twilight of his career as an opportunity to pass
on some of his wealth of knowledge to the younger
wrestlers, to build them up in the fans' eyes by losing
to them, as well as a way to continue to be involved
in the sport he loved so much. The man gave everything
he had to pro wrestling, even after the spotlight
was no longer on him personally. Pat O`Connor died
on August 15, 1990 at the age of 66. The sport will
forever remember him as a great sportsman, teacher,
and champion.
Credit:
The Ring Chronicle / Wrestling Museum
Links:
Wrestling
Directory
New
Zealand Pro Wrestling Directory
Wrestling
Legends
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