Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling

Last updated
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling
Founded1930 (original); 2024 (revival)
Defunct1984 (original)
Headquarters Flag of Ontario.svg Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Founder(s)Jack Corcoran (Original)
Scott D'Amore (Revival)
Owner(s)Jack Corcoran (1930-1939)
John Tunney (1939)
Frank Tunney (1939-1983)
Jack Tunney (1983-1986)
Eddie Tunney (1983-1984)
Scott D'Amore (2024–present)
Parent National Wrestling Alliance (1948–1984)
WWE Libraries (Original Version) (1984–present)
FormerlyQueensbury Athletic Club
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Website https://mlpwrestling.com/

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion owned by Scott D'Amore.

Contents

MLP is a successor to the entity known as Maple Leaf Wrestling; which was the unofficial name of the promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 1970s and 1980s. D'Amore (owner of Border City Wrestling (BCW), and former president of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)) acquired the trademarks in 2024, and formally announced a revival of the brand on August 8 of that year.

History

As Maple Leaf Wrestling

Maple Leaf Wrestling logo Maple Leaf Wrestling Logo.jpg
Maple Leaf Wrestling logo

Queensbury Athletic Club

Cover of the program for the first game of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens (MLG) in 1931. Boxing and wrestling matches, also staple events at MLG for most of its history, are depicted on the cover along with ice hockey imagery. MLG 1931w.jpg
Cover of the program for the first game of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens (MLG) in 1931. Boxing and wrestling matches, also staple events at MLG for most of its history, are depicted on the cover along with ice hockey imagery.

The promotion, initially known as the Queensbury Athletic Club, traces its roots back to 1930, when it was launched by Jack Corcoran, who had previously promoted boxing in Toronto under the Queensbury name. Initially, Corcoran was involved in a promotional war with rival promoter Ivan Mickailoff, but after Corcoran allied himself with the new Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931, he took control of professional wrestling in Toronto.

The Gardens would remain the main venue for the promotion for more than 60 years. Wrestling kept the Gardens busy on nights when there was no hockey game. Canadian, British Empire and world title matches were all held there.

The Tunneys take over

Ring introductions at MLG of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship match between champion Dory Funk, Jr. and challenger Johnny Valentine on February 11, 1973. Note the entrance ramp at left, which was used at MLG decades before it became commonplace in other promotions. Johnny Valentine vs. NWA world wrestling champion Dory Funk Jr. at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on February 11, 1973.jpg
Ring introductions at MLG of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship match between champion Dory Funk, Jr. and challenger Johnny Valentine on February 11, 1973. Note the entrance ramp at left, which was used at MLG decades before it became commonplace in other promotions.

Corcoran stepped down in 1939 and was bought out by his assistants, John and Frank Tunney. John died just a few months later, and the promotion was then run by Frank. Through most of the 1940s and 1950s, Frank Tunney's biggest star was local hero Whipper Billy Watson, who became a two-time world champion. Starting in 1969, the shows were headlined by The Sheik for more than eight years.

In 1978, Tunney began working with promoter Jim Crockett, Jr., who ran Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in the Carolinas. The two would become partners in the Toronto promotion, along with George Scott, a key executive with Crockett who had been a preliminary wrestler for Tunney from 1950 to 1956.

Aligning with the World Wrestling Federation

Following Frank's death in 1983, the business was run by John's son Jack Tunney and Frank's son, Eddie Tunney. The Tunneys hosted National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Mid-Atlantic Wrestling matches until 1984, when Jack Tunney abandoned Crockett and signed with Vince McMahon's expanding World Wrestling Federation, with Jack serving as a figurehead on-air president of the WWF from 1984 to 1995, while also serving as the (legitimate) president of Titan Sports Canada, the local arm of the WWF's parent company.

Following the WWF takeover in 1984, the name Maple Leaf Wrestling continued to be used for the federation's Canadian TV program (a staple of Hamilton station CHCH-TV for many years), which the WWF took over production of after the Tunneys split from the NWA. The show was hosted by Angelo Mosca and Jack Reynolds. TV tapings for the show were held in Brantford and other cities in southern Ontario for the next two years, until the WWF ceased the tapings in 1986 and decided to simply use the Maple Leaf Wrestling name for the Canadian airings of WWF Superstars of Wrestling . In these Canadian episodes there was some Canadian footage, usually matches from Maple Leaf Gardens and updates by on-air announcer and former wrestler Billy Red Lyons. These tapings were the precursor to the WWF's Wrestling Challenge , which became the "B" show to WWF Superstars Of Wrestling. Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura were the hosts for the Canadian tapings (with Ventura doing his famous "The Body Shop" segment). When those tapings morphed into Challenge in 1986, Ventura was moved to WWF Superstars Of Wrestling. Bobby Heenan replaced Ventura as the Canadian tapings became WWF Wrestling Challenge.

In 1995, McMahon chose to run the shows in Toronto without any involvement from the Tunneys. The final show at the Gardens was held on September 17, 1995.

Revival

On April 14, 2024, Michael E. Dockins filed a trademark for "Maple Leaf Wrestling". The address listed on the filing was for Border City Wrestling (BCW), owned by former Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) president Scott D’Amore. [1] [2]

On August 8, D’Amore announced a relaunch of the Maple Leaf Wrestling brand dubbed Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP). Its inaugural two-night event, "Forged in Excellence", is scheduled to take place between October 19 and 20 at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and will stream live on Triller TV. [3] The promotion has since began uploading archival footage of the original Maple Leaf Wrestling, as well as classic content from BCW, on its new YouTube and social media platforms. [4]

On August 19, 2024, MLP announced the formation of the Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA) with Qatar Pro Wrestling (QPW) and Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW). [5]

On August 22, 2024, Mauro Ranallo was announced as "The Voice" of MLP; handling announcing, promotional vignettes, commercials and match previews. [6]

On September 4, 2024, MLP announced in a press release that All Elite Wrestling (AEW) personality, and former TNA co-executive vice president, Don Callis would be the promotion's colour commentator. The promotion also revealed its production crew; including former WWE director Timothy J. Walbert, producer Kevin M. Sullivan, and former World Championship Wrestling (WCW), TNA, and AEW executive producer Keith Mitchell. [7]

On October 7, 2024, MLP and the PWA announced former NXT UK star Rohan Raja and Jake Something would compete on night one of "Forged in Excellence" for the inaugural Champion’s Grail, a title to be defended across all PWA members. The Champion's Grail combines the lineage of Rikidozan and Toyonobori's 1962 trophy from Japan with Kenny Omega's 2011 Wrestling Retribution Project trophy from Hollywood. [8]

Notable names who appeared in the original Maple Leaf Wrestling include:

Championships

Current Champions:

Championship:Current champion(s):Held since:
PWA Champion’s Grail Jake Something or Rohan RajaOctober 19, 2024

Retired Championships:

ChampionshipLast Recognized ChampionFromUntilOther namesNotes
NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship Whipper Billy Watson 19411967  
NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship Ilio DiPaolo and Billy Red Lyons 19521961  
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship The Sheik 19621977  
NWA International Tag Team Championship The Crusaders
(Billy Red Lyons and Dewey Robertson)		19611977  
NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship Angelo Mosca Jr.19781984  
NWA Canadian Television Championship Brian Adidas 19821984  

See also

Works cited

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References

  1. ↑ "Trademark Filed For 'Maple Leaf Wrestling'".
  2. ↑ "WWE News" . Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Currier, Joseph (August 8, 2024). "Former TNA executive Scott D'Amore announces revival of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Legendary Canadian wrestling brand gets a reboot thanks to this former grappler". CBC News . August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Maple Leaf Pro, Qatar Pro Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling Form Pro Wrestling Alliance". Wrestlezone. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Scott D'Amore: Mauro Ranallo Has Agreed To Be The Voice Of Maple Leaf Pro". Wrestlezone. August 22, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Top AEW Performer Joins Scott D'Amore's Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling As Commentator". eWrestling. September 4, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Jake Something To Face Rohan Raja To Crown Inaugural Champion's Grail At Maple Leaf Pro Forged In Excellence". Fightul. October 7, 2024.
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