Pat O'Connor (wrestler)
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Patrick Pat O'Connor (1924-1990), was a professional wrestler from New Zealand who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from 1959 to 1961. He first won the title from amateur standout, and Lou Thesz protege, Dick Hutton, holding the belt for over two years. On June 30, 1961, O'Connor dropped the title to Buddy Rogers in front of 38,622 fans at Comiskey Park, a record that would last nearly 20 years. He was named the first AWA World Heavyweight Championship holder in 1960, becoming the only man to simultaneously hold both the NWA and AWA World Heavyweight Titles. Known for his superior conditioning, as well as his athletic and technical ability, O'Connor was regarded as one of the premiere workers of his era. He was a booker for the St.Louis territory in the 1970s.
He died on August 16, 1990 of cancer. The following December, WCW held an eight-team international tag-team memorial tournament in honour of O'Connor. The Steiner Brothers, representing the American team, won the final by defeating the Japanese duo of The Great Muta and Mr. Saito.
[edit] Profile
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Weight: 230 lb (118 kg)
- Birthday: 1924 (Born in Raetihi, New Zealand)
- Hometown: Wanganui, New Zealand
- Date of Death: August 16, 1990 (Cancer)
- Finishing and signature move(s): Sleeper, Standing Leg Split
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Wilbur Snyder
- Midwest Wrestling Association
- Ohio Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Montreal Athletic Commission
- World Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (2 times)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- World
- National
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Sonny Myers
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Central States version) (3 times)
- Regional
- NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version) (1 time)
- NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- NWA New Zealand British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (4 times) - with Sonny Myers (1), Tiny Mills (1), Bob Geigel (1), and Omar Atlas (1)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) (1 time) - with Roy McClarity
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Inducted in 2007
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Other Titles
- Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Amateur Wrestling
- New Zealand Heavyweight Championship 1949 and 1950
- 1950 British Empire Games, silver medal, heavyweight division
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