Fred Thomas Koury Jr. (born June 12, 1943
) better known by his
ring name ”Flying” Fred Curry, is an American
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
of
Lebanese descent. The son of
"Wild Bull" Curry, Fred Koury was one of the most popular stars in the
Midwest United States
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
and the rest of the world during the 1960s and 70s'. Flying Fred Curry had notable feuds with wrestling legend The Sheik. Flying Fred Was a sensational star in Texas in the sixties and teamed up with Fritz von Erich. Flying Fred Curry is noted as one of the greatest highflyers and dropkickers of all time. His most famous feat is throwing 15 to 20 dropkicks in a matter of 10 seconds. Curry was chosen the most popular wrestler in the world in 1972.
Career
In the 1960s, Koury, Jr. took up wrestling under the name "Flying" Fred Curry. Unlike his father, Fred was a clean cut, high flying wrestler, and a fan favorite. The two Currys teamed up on a regular basis during the early part of the younger Curry’s career. The two won the
NWA International Tag Team Championship
''This was a regional NWA championship based in Japan. For the version of this title that was promoted in NWA All Star Wrestling in Canada, see NWA International Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version).''
The NWA International Tag Team Champio ...
in 1964 and held it until 1966,
as well as beating Nikolai and Boris Volkoff for the
Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
Later in his career Fred Curry struck out on his own trying to get away from his father’s legacy of rulebreaking. Fred’s attempts to get out of his father’s shadow never caused any problems between the two Currys.
In December 1972, he defeated
Kurt Von Hess
William Terry (April 10, 1942 – March 13, 1999) was a Canadian professional wrestler, known by his ring name Kurt Von Hess, who competed in North American and international promotions during the 1970s and 1980s, including International Wrest ...
and
Karl Von Shotz along with
Tony Marino
Tony Silipini (April 20, 1931 – May 28, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tony Marino.
Professional wrestling career Early career (1954-1963)
Tony Silipini was born in 1931. He started wrestling i ...
to win the
Detroit version of NWA World Tag Team Championship. On January 5, 1973, they lost the titles back to Kurt Von Hess and Karl Von Shotz. They received their second Detroit titles on February 2 and lost it back to Kurt Von Hess and Karl Von Shotz on February 18.
A family business
Curry's son Fred III is currently pursuing a career in pro-wrestling and was being trained by
Dory Funk, Jr.
Dorrance Earnest Funk (born February 3, 1941), known professionally as Dory Funk Jr., is an American retired professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. The son of Dory Funk (Dorrance Wilhelm Funk) and brother of Terry Funk, he was the promote ...
Fred III has taken the high-flying style similar to his father. He is currently wrestling in the
independent circuit in the
Northeastern United States.
Championships and accomplishments
*
50th State Big Time Wrestling
50th State Big Time Wrestling (sometimes referred to as NWA Hawaii or Mid-Pacific Promotions) was a professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States that promoted professional wrestling matches throughout Ha ...
**
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and is defended in the US state of Hawaii. The title, which is still currently defended, began in
1935. From February ...
(
1 time)
*
NWA Detroit
**
NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Detroit version)'' (
9 times) - with
Billy Red Lyons
Willem Snip (17 May 1932 – 22 June 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler, who wrestled under the ring name Billy Red Lyons. He was an active wrestler between 1956 and 1985, and won numerous championships throughout his career. He worked for ...
(1), Dan Miller (1),
Tony Marino
Tony Silipini (April 20, 1931 – May 28, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tony Marino.
Professional wrestling career Early career (1954-1963)
Tony Silipini was born in 1931. He started wrestling i ...
(4), Luis Martinez (1),
Bobo Brazil
Houston Harris (July 10, 1924 – January 20, 1998) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bobo Brazil. Credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling, Harris is considered one ...
(1), and Hank Miller (1)
*
NWA Big Time Wrestling
**
NWA American Tag Team Championship
The WCWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary professional wrestling tag team championship (professional wrestling), championship promoted by the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area–based World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA). The cham ...
(
1 time) - with
Fritz Von Erich
Jack Barton Adkisson Sr. (August 16, 1929 – September 10, 1997), better known by his ring name Fritz Von Erich, was an American professional wrestler, wrestling promoter, and the patriarch of the Von Erich family. He was a 3-time world champio ...
**
NWA International Tag Team Championship
''This was a regional NWA championship based in Japan. For the version of this title that was promoted in NWA All Star Wrestling in Canada, see NWA International Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version).''
The NWA International Tag Team Champio ...
(
1 time) – with
"Wild Bull" Curry
**NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation (NWF) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970 to 1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin. The revive ...
**
NWF World Tag Team Championship (
1 time) - with Luis Martínez
*''
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publi ...
''
**
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year
This is a list of both active and inactive ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' awards which are voted on by ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') readers every year from 1972 onwards, expanding to more categories in later years.
Unlike other wrestling ...
(1972)
tied with Jack Brisco
Freddie Joe "Jack" Brisco (September 21, 1941 – February 1, 2010) was an American amateur and professional wrestler. As an amateur for Oklahoma State, Brisco was two-time All-American and won the NCAA Division I national championship. He tu ...
References
External links
Wild Bull Curry Official Website- including The Walking Riot book written by Flying Fred Curry
The Curry Family official Website*
CageMatch.de - Fred Curry Sr.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Curry, Fred
1943 births
American male professional wrestlers
American people of Lebanese descent
Professional wrestlers billed from Connecticut
Professional wrestlers from Connecticut
Sportspeople from Hartford, Connecticut
Living people
Sportspeople of Lebanese descent
20th-century professional wrestlers
NWF World Tag Team Champions
NWA International Tag Team Champions