Tom Magee

Last updated
Tom Magee
Born (1958-07-01) July 1, 1958 (age 67)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Occupations Strongman, Powerlifting, Professional wrestling, actor
Years active1982–1990 (strongman)
1985–1990 (wrestler)
1990–1993 (actor)
1981–1983 (powerlifter)
Height6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m)
TitleStrongest Man in the World
Competition record
Strongman
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
World's Strongest Man
2nd 1982 World's Strongest Man
4th 1983 World's Strongest Man
5th 1985 World's Strongest Man
Defi Mark 10 Canadian Nationals
1st1988
Le Defi Mark Ten Challenge, International
1st1984
1st1985
1st1986
3rd1988
Powerlifting
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
IPF World Powerlifting Championships
2nd1981125kg
1st1982+125kg
Canadian National Powerlifting Championships
1st1981125kg
1st1982125kg

Thomas Magee (born July 1, 1958) is a Canadian former world champion powerlifter and strongman competitor from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is also a former bodybuilder and competed in professional wrestling from 1985 to 1990.

Contents

Strength sports career

Powerlifting (1981–1983)

Magee became Canadian National Powerlifting Champion in 1981 and 1982. [1] In 1981, Tom placed second at the IPF World Powerlifting Championship in the 125 kg weight class. He totaled 927.5 kg (squatted 355 kg, bench pressed 235 kg, and deadlifted 337.5 kg). At that same competition, Magee placed ahead of future World's Strongest Man, Jon Pall Sigmarsson. [2]

In 1982, he won the IPF World Powerlifting Championships in Munich, Germany in the +125 kg super heavyweight division. He totaled 942.5 kg (squatted 362.5 kg, bench pressed 235 kg, and deadlifted 345 kg). The second place finished, Wayne Bouvier, had the same total, but Magee won by lighter body weight. [2]

Tom starred in a documentary film chronicling his training and victory at the 1982 IPF World Championships entitled Tom Magee: Man of Iron. Magee was originally planning on competing in the 125 kg heavyweight division, but decided last minute to move up to the 125+ kg super heavyweight class. Magee weighed in at just 1 pound over the weight limit at 276 lbs and was the lightest man in the weight class. [3]

Strongman (1982–1990)

Magee placed second in the 1982 World's Strongest Man. Magee was the only Canadian to have reached this position until Mitchell Hooper won the 2023 World's Strongest Man title. Magee then placed fourth in the 1983 World's Strongest Man and fifth at the 1985 World's Strongest Man competitions. [4] Magee set a then-world record with a 535 kilograms (1,179 lb) partial deadlift from 18" off the floor during the 1983 World's Strongest Man competition. [5] He also won the Le Defi Mark Ten Challenge International three consecutive times, from 1984 to 1986. [5]

Professional wrestling career

Stampede Wrestling and Japan (1985–1986)

Magee also had a brief career as a professional wrestler from 1985 to 1990, wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and in Japan. [6] Magee was primarily trained by Stu Hart in Stampede Wrestling, where he wrestled in 1985. [7] [8]

Magee was given the nickname "Mega Man" and named third runner-up for the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year in 1986, which was won by Lex Luger. [9]

World Wrestling Federation (1986–1989)

Magee was signed by the WWF shortly thereafter. He defeated Bret Hart on October 7, 1986 in Rochester, New York at a television taping. [10] The infamous match, a carry job by Hart, reportedly impressed WWF chairman Vince McMahon; the tape was thought to have been lost, as the WWE could not locate it in its vault, but was uncovered over 30 years later. [11] On May 13, 2019, the WWE Network aired a short documentary special entitled Holy Grail: The Search for WWE's Most Infamous Lost Match which detailed the legend behind the match, the recovery of the tape, and even featured a short interview with Magee himself interspersed with clips of his short career in the then-WWF. [12]

After the Hart dark match, Magee began wrestling on C-level house shows in January 1987, facing Terry Gibbs, Barry O, and Frenchy Martin. He remained undefeated through the winter and spring, but the WWF gradually cooled on Magee. [13]

Magee would be seen only sporadically afterwards. He wrestled a handful of house shows in Canada in January 1988, defeating Iron Mike Sharpe. [14] On December 6, 1988 Magee returned and faced Arn Anderson at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping in Daytona Beach, Florida, winning via countout. [11] Magee made a heel turn in the spring of 1989, wrestling as "MegaMan Magee". In April he was managed by Jimmy Hart at a Superstars of Wrestling tapings. [15] As a heel, he then faced Tim Horner in a series of house shows. [15]

Return to Japan (1988)

In March 1988, Magee returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling where worked until April of that year. [16]

New Zealand (1990)

Magee's final WWF action came on a joint WWF / Arena Wrestling Alliance tour of New Zealand in April 1990, where he defeated Royal Viking in multiple encounters. [16]

Acting

Magee left wrestling quietly in 1990 and appeared in several movies in 1990 and 1991, most notably a film titled Stone Cold. [17]

Later, Magee worked as a trainer at the world famous Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California. [6]

Assault

In May 15, 2018, Magee was the victim of an assault in front of his home in Mar Vista, California. [18] He suffered a broken jaw, broken eye socket and concussion. According to a neighbor who was an eyewitness, six men who were involved in the assault were kicking him, and punching him in the face and in the head. [19] [20]

Personal records

Powerlifting

performed in official powerlifting full meets, aged 24, in single-ply equipment [21]

Strongman

References

  1. ↑ "Tom Magee". Open Powerlifting. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  2. 1 2 "World Men Powerlifting Championships 1972 - 1991 - International Powerlifting Federation IPF".
  3. ↑ "1982 IPF Men's World Powerlifting Championships". Open Powerlifting. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  4. 1 2 "Tom Magee". strongestman.billhenderson.org. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  5. 1 2 "Strongman Archives - Tom Magee". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  6. 1 2 "Tom Magee". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  7. ↑ Nath, Rohit (2019-05-12). "Why Bret Hart Vs Tom Magee Is One Of The Most Important Forgotten Matches In WWE History". Wrestlezone. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  8. ↑ "WWF Results 1985". The History of WWE. January 16, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010.
  9. ↑ "PWI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS – PWI Pro Wrestling Illustrated". 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  10. ↑ "WWF 1986 Results". The History of WWE. 16 January 2023.
  11. 1 2 Bixenspan, David (28 March 2019). "Lost Tape Of Bret Hart's Finest Artistic Achievement In WWE Has Finally Been Found". Deadspin. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  12. ↑ Laboon, Jeff. "WWE Network to stream documentary on the infamous lost match between Bret Hart and Tom Magee". WWE . Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  13. ↑ "WWF - 1987 Results". The History of WWE. 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  14. ↑ "WWF Results 1988". The History of WWE. 16 January 2023.
  15. 1 2 "WWF Results 1989". The History of WWE. 16 January 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Matches « Tom Magee « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CAGEMATCH. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  17. ↑ Baxley, Craig R. (1991-05-17), Stone Cold (Action, Crime, Drama), Brian Bosworth, Lance Henriksen, William Forsythe, Stone Group Pictures, Vision International, retrieved 2023-07-19
  18. ↑ "Former Pro Wrestler Severely Beaten In Front Of His Home Over Parking Spot". 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  19. ↑ "Former Pro Wrestler Severely Beaten In Front Of His Home Over Parking Spot". CBS Local. 17 May 2018.
  20. ↑ Patterson, Hunter (2018-05-18). "WWF Legend Severely Beaten Near Home". Ringside Intel. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  21. ↑ "Tom Magee (M)". Openpowerlifting.org. 4 September 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
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