Tex McKenzie explained

Tex McKenzie
Birth Name:Frank Hugh McKenzie[1]
Names:Tex McKenzie[2]
Goliath
Dakota Mack
Height:6 ft 9 in[3]
Weight:280 lb
Birth Date:21 July 1930
Birth Place:Edmonds, Washington, United States
Death Place:Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Trainer:Jack Pfeffer
Debut:1950
Retired:1977

Frank Hugh McKenzie (July 21, 1930 – May 31, 2001) was an American professional wrestler. During his career, he appeared in the American Wrestling Association, IWA Australia, National Wrestling Federation and Maple Leaf Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

McKenzie wrestled in Texas during the early 50s under the name Goliath.[1] In 1954, he went to Canada to wrestle for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. He formed a tag team with Ilio DiPaolo and won the NWA Calgary Tag Team Championship by defeating Al and Tiny Mills in early November.[4] [5] McKenzie also held the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship in June with Whipper Billy Watson.

American Wrestling Association (1958, 1961–1965, 1970)

McKenzie started wrestling for the American Wrestling Association in Minnesota in 1958, competing there for many years. In 1961, he feuded with Bob Geigel and Bill Miller. On October 10, 1970, McKenzie defeated Tarzan Tyler for the AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship in Omaha, Nebraska, before dropping the title a month later to Ole Anderson and leaving the company.[6]

IWA Australia (1964–1969)

In 1964, he went to Australia to wrestle for IWA Australia, feuding with Killer Kowalski. On June 6, 1967, McKenzie defeated Kowalski for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship.[7] He dropped the title to Skull Murphy in August. A year later, he regained the title by defeating Toru Tanaka on November 13, 1968, before once again dropping the title to Murphy and leaving Australia in 1969.

Various promotions

From 1965 to 1967, he wrestled for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, forming a tag team with Nelson Royal in the late 60s.[8] McKenzie would wrestle in Toronto for Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1970 to 1975. He teamed with various partners against the Love Brothers and the Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent). In 1974, he and Red Bastien held the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship. McKenzie also did commentary for the International Wrestling Association during this time before retiring from wrestling in 1977.[1]

Death

On May 31, 2001, McKenzie died at a hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of 70, from complications of an abdominal aortic aneurysm he suffered while on a boat.[2]

Championships and accomplishments

Notes and References

  1. Book: Johnson, Steven . The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame: Heroes and Icons . Oliver . Greg . Mooneyham . Mike . . 2012 . 9781770902695 . en.
  2. Web site: Mooneyham . Mike . June 16, 2001 . Tex McKenzie Dead At 73 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110712121505/https://mikemooneyham.com/2001/06/16/tex-mckenzie-dead-at-73/ . July 12, 2011 . April 16, 2019 . The Wrestling Gospel.
  3. Web site: Tex McKenzie bio . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120911163915/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/t/tex-mckenzie/ . September 11, 2012 . June 18, 2023 . Online World of Wrestling.
  4. Web site: Canadian Tag Team Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424114917/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-can-t.html . April 24, 2023 . June 18, 2023 . Wrestling Titles.
  5. Book: Lentz III, Harris M. . Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling . . 2003 . 978-0-7864-1754-4 . 2nd . 229 . en.
  6. Web site: Midwest Heavyweight Title (Nebraska) . https://web.archive.org/web/20221202082053/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ne/awa/awa-mw-h.html . December 2, 2022 . June 18, 2023 . Wrestling Titles.
  7. Web site: IWA World Heavyweight Title (Australia) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230611234716/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/wcw/au-iwa-h.html . June 11, 2023 . June 19, 2023 . Wrestling Titles.
  8. Web site: Mooneyham . Mike . February 10, 2002 . Nellie Royal Leaves Behind Golden Memories . https://web.archive.org/web/20151002090839/https://mikemooneyham.com/2002/02/10/nellie-royal-leaves-behind-golden-memories/ . October 2, 2015 . June 18, 2023 . The Wrestling Gospel.
  9. Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 . Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart . Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show . Ed (host) . Whalen . . . December 15, 1995 . 15:38.
  10. Web site: IWA World Tag Team Title (Australia) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520200213/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/wcw/au-iwa-t.html . May 20, 2023 . June 18, 2023 . Wrestling Titles.
  11. Web site: Canadian Open Tag Team Title (Ontario) . https://web.archive.org/web/20211108231607/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/on/nwa/can-op-t.html . November 8, 2021 . June 18, 2023 . Wrestling Titles.
  12. Book: Will . Gary . Royal . Duncan . Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . Archeus Communications . 2000 . Pennsylvania . Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich] . 0-9698161-5-4 . 275–276.

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