Tony Condello (born August 8, 1942) is an Italian retired

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 or ...

and promoter most known for founding

International Wrestling Alliance The International Wrestling Alliance (IWA) was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the province of Manitoba in Canada. It was initially founded as the West Four Wrestling Alliance (WFWA) in 1973 by Tony Condello , under whic ...

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

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Professional wrestling career

Early career

Tony Condello began his career in professional wrestling in 1958. He wrestled throughout Manitoba for several years, winning tag team titles on multiple occasions as one half the duo known as "The Flying Italians" with his partner Guy Vinci. After the local wrestling club was purchased by the

American Wrestling Association The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The territory was originally part o ...

, Condello turned to promoting in order to pave the way for Canadian wrestlers to have a home.

Life as a promoter

While booking events throughout Manitoba, Condello worked alongside many future stars, such as

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, Ron Ritchie, Kerry Brown, & Buddy Lane. Condello's greatest success came in 1986, when he struck a deal with Eddie Sharkey's

Pro Wrestling America Pro Wrestling America is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1980s and early 1990s. Founded and promoted by retired wrestler Eddie Sharkey, a longtime veteran of the American Wrestling Association ...

promotion, which would include a talent exchange and dual promotion. Several stars that were included in this exchange were

Ricky Rice Ricky Rice is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearance with the Minneapolis-based promotions Pro Wrestling America and the American Wrestling Association. Professional wrestling career Early career Trained ...

Derrick Dukes Derrick Dukes (born January 4, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler and boxer. He best known for his appearances in the American Wrestling Association in the late-1980s as one-half of the tag team "The Top Guns" with Ricky Rice. Pr ...

, The Terminators, Chris Markoff, and

Buck Zumhofe Eugene Otto "Buck" Zumhofe (born March 21, 1951) is a convicted sex offender and former American professional wrestler better known as "The King of Rock n' Roll" Buck Zumhofe. In 2014, Zumhofe was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criminal sexu ...

, as well as stars such as "Bulldog" Bob Brown and

Bruiser Brody Frank Donald Goodish (June 18, 1946 – July 17, 1988) was an American professional wrestler who earned his greatest fame under the ring name Bruiser Brody. He also worked as King Kong Brody, The Masked Marauder, and Red River Jack. Over the yea ...

"Death Tour"

For over 30 years, Tony Condello had promoted an annual " Death Tour" of Inuit communities in

northern Manitoba Northern Manitoba (also known as NorMan or Nor-Man) is a geographic and cultural List of regions of Manitoba, region of the Provinces and Territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Originally encompassing a small square around the Red ...

. The tour is well known for its rough conditions. Wrestlers are required to pack at least one bag of food to last them the entire tour. There are also no hotel accommodations with wrestlers having to either sleep in cars on the side of the road or at venues they perform.

Personal life

Condello has two daughters. Liana is a gerontologist and Sarina is the creator of a reality show on the

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network called ''Way Off Broadway''. Condello himself helped coordinate fight scenes for the performances seen on the show.

Championships and accomplishments

* West Four Wrestling Alliance **

WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship The WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship was the title contested for in the Manitoba-based professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Alliance, West Four Wrestling Alliance. Title history See also *Professional wrestling in Can ...

( 4 times) **WFWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Dave Gobeil

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Condello, Tony 1942 births 20th-century professional wrestlers Canadian male professional wrestlers Italian emigrants to Canada Italian male professional wrestlers Living people Professional wrestlers from Manitoba Professional wrestling promoters Sportspeople from Calabria Sportspeople from Winnipeg