Tiger Joe Tomasso
Canadian professional wrestler (1922–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph DiTomasso (1922 – April 30, 1988) was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tiger Joe Tomasso. He is most known from his matches in Stampede Wrestling and American Wrestling Association.
Assassin #2
The Bat
Joe Tomasso
Tiger Tomasso
Tiger Joe Tomasso
Tiger 'Tweet Tweet' Tomasso[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph DiTomasso[1] 1922 |
| Died | April 30, 1988 (aged 65–66) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Assassin Assassin #2 The Bat Joe Tomasso Tiger Tomasso Tiger Joe Tomasso Tiger 'Tweet Tweet' Tomasso[2] |
| Debut | 1952[1] |
| Retired | 1976 |
Early life
DiTomasso was born in Montreal, Quebec, but moved to Hamilton, Ontario at a young age.[3]
Professional wrestling career
Tomasso debuted in 1952 for Stampede Wrestling, then known as Big Time Wrestling, where he lost his debut match against George Scott.[4] His second match was against Stu Hart where he once again lost.[5] In his third match, Joe, Chico Garcia and Ripper Leone defeated George Scott, Sandy Scott and Sugy Hayamaka.[5]
During the 1950s, he engaged in a long-running series of NWA regional American midwest grudge matches against Bobby Nelson.[6]
In 1960, Tomasso was defeated by Bob Rasmussen in one of his first American Wrestling Association matches.[7]
In 1976, Joe was defeated by Karl von Schotz.[8] After two years of not wrestling, Tomasso had his last wrestling match in 1980 where he defeated Smith Hart by disqualification.[9]
Personal life
According to wrestling book Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, Tomasso was in a friendly "clique of Alberta wrestlers", including Tiny Mills.[10]
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Idaho Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[11]
- NWA Western Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[11]
- NWA Western Tag Team Championship/NWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times)[11] - with Rocky Monroe, Mitsu Arakawa, Tony Borne and Eric The Great
- Stampede Wrestling
- Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (4 times)[3][11] - with Gil Hayes, Earl Black and Dave Ruhl
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)[12][13]
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times)[11] - with Assassin #1