76/06/06 -- George Cannon's Superstars, CNE Coliseum Attendance: 600

Luis Martinez DNC Wild Bill Curry

Eric the Red LDQ Tony Parisi

Flying Fred Curry/Don Serrano W Handsome Hartford Love/Beautiful Bruce Swayze

McGuire Twins W Executioners

Danny War Cloud/Billy Eagle W Bob Steele/Jim Hutchison

Hagar the Horrible D Kimba Kahn

Pepe Pasquale D Frenchy Martin

Lou Thesz D Crusher Cortez

Quotable: "Sunday's card is like a repeat of 50 years ago, that night we had a sellout to see Jim Londos and Gino Garibaldi. It  drew 15,000 and the gate was about $13,000. This week we should sell out again, but now there are 17,000 seats and the gate is about $100,000. We've got Ric Flair against Harley Race, Andre The Giant against Killer Kahn, and Angelo Mosca against Big John Studd."

Frank Tunney on the eve of the 50th anniversary show (50 years at MLG) 
The Globe and Mail Nov 14 1981 

Fiction: The Toronto area was monopolized by the WWF after 1984

Fact: It's true the Gardens would only house the WWF shows, but the smaller venues around the city would continue to bring exciting mat action.

Here is a local report from March 14 1986.

St Lawrence Market, Toronto Attendance 500

Tony Newberry beat Tank Martin

Silver Rose beat Sheena The Voodoo Queen

Farmer Pete beat Frenchy Lamont

Joey War Eagle (D'Manno) & Terry Essard beat The Superstar & Jet Starr

The Sheik beat Ricky Johnson in a bloody match

The Mosca's (Angelo Sr & Jr) beat Sweet Daddy Siki & Killer Karl Krupp

At these shows the word was getting around that Superfly Jimmy Snuka would be joining The Wildman's tour for the summer. It was not to be however, as the legendary high flyer ended up going to the AWA and appeared on Wrestlerock 86. Also note an early appearance of Terry Essard - The Sheik's nephew that was later to become Sabu.

The smaller venues would continue to offer an alternative to WWF with most of the local wrestlers appearing alongside stars from Quebec and the U.S. These shows would continue the tradition of lots of action and many bloodbaths between the grizzled veterans and the many newcomers to the scene.

We were also fortunate to get International Wrestling out of Quebec during a great run in that region. Some intense feuds and an exciting TV show made for essential viewing. We could tune in each week and see stars such as Rick Martel, Dino Bravo, The Long Riders, The Freebirds and young Samoan wrestler Alofa the Polynesian Prince (Solofa Fatu), who would later become Rikishi. 

The AWA would also make a local appearance down the road in Niagara Falls N.Y. in April 1986. Despite stars including Bruiser Brody, Nick Bockwinkel and The Road Warriors, the debut of Verne Gagne's promotion would only draw about 4,000 fans.

This card was presented in co-operation with Keystone Promotions, with involvement from The Destroyer (Beyer, who appeared on a team with Sgt. Slaughter and Scott Hall in a 6 man tag).

The fans would be disappointed by several no-shows including Jerry Blackwell (scheduled to take on Brody), Curt Hennig and The Midnight Rockers, leaving the impression that the Buffalo WWF shows were much better.

The NWA would also make occasional forays into the area including the Mosca-Mania shows in Hamilton promoted with Angelo Mosca. The February 1986 show drew well (12,000) and featured a Ric Flair/Dusty Rhodes NWA Title match, the area debut of The Road Warriors, and the return of Abdullah The Butcher.

It is remembered mainly because of the fans cheering for long time favorite Flair and booing (a then face) Rhodes. The "American Dream" would receive the jeers while his manager/valet Baby Doll (Roberts) would interfere on behalf of her charge. The event got lots of mainstream publicity mainly due to the involvement of local legend Mosca, including a great shot in the next day papers of Baby Doll choking Flair during the match. 

The return show scheduled for 5 weeks later was cancelled amid rumors of low/non-payouts, and Mosca would try again later in the year (Kitchener), but the show suffered with numerous no-shows and only drew about 1,500 people.

The second "Mosca-Mania" card held in February 1987 also had it's share of no-shows and drew only 3,000 despite a Flair/Nikita Koloff Title match. Much like Frank Tunney had protected his territory in the past, the WWF fought off this incursion with a head to head show that drew about 15,000 fans to MLG to see a stacked card (including Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat).

Quotable:

"I think the people of Hamilton have answered the call for Mosca Mania, and from what I've heard they can't wait for the second one. Hamilton has a good future in wrestling. It's good clean fun, and the fans enjoy it. As far as I'm concerned, the National Wrestling Alliance is here to stay." 
Angelo Mosca Feb 3 1986 

Fiction: Billy Red Lyons was a preliminary star and announcer

Fact: The popular redhead from Hamilton was a staple of the Ontario mat scene for 4 decades, battling the sports biggest heels and teaming with Dewey Robertson in the popular team "The Crusaders".

Red Lyons, as he was sometimes called, would challenge for the world singles titles (AWA and NWA) and was part of the highly vaulted tag team "The Redheads" with Red Bastien in the AWA.

The southern U.S. would be a major stomping ground for some of our more familiar stars. Lyons would find himself competing against the likes of old foes Waldo Von Erich, or Dr X (Beyer, The Destroyer) and earn fan support throughout the territories.

Lyons would add to his legacy in the Tri State area forming successful teams with Cowboy Bill Watts and Tom Jones, and wearing the areas tag titles numerous times.

Near the twilight of his career he became "the voice" of Maple Leaf Wrestling, still occasionally donning the tights in the warm-up matches. He was even involved in an angle with Roddy Piper in the years after 1984 and was still loved by the fans.

An exciting and skilled wrestler whose star shone wherever he chose to battle, Billy Red Lyons was an important ingredient in the success of Maple Leaf Wrestling through the years.

Reality:

1/24/1963 Toronto, Ontario

Billy Red Lyons teams with popular Sam Steamboat in a losing cause to the evil Hans Schmidt & Bulldog Brower

7/24/1969 Winnipeg, Manitoba

Billy Red Lyons and Red Bastien team to beat Larry Hennig and old friend/foe Dr. X

8/2/1969 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Billy Red gets a well- deserved shot at AWA Champ Verne Gagne. The champ retains his title with the win

12/28/1970 Shreveport, Louisiana

U.S. Tag Champs Billy Red Lyons and & "Cowboy" Bill Watts beat Toronto area legend Waldo Von Erich and Karl von Brauner in a best of 5 falls match 

11/22/1971 Shreveport, Louisiana

U.S. Tag Title match

Billy Red as U.S. tag champ again with new partner Tom Jones beat Bruiser

Bob Sweetan & Great Mephisto in a best-of-5 falls match

5/8/1972 Fort Worth, Texas

Billy Red gets a DQ win over The Spoiler (Don Jardine); former partner Red Bastien beats Toru Tanaka in the co-main-event

12/16/1973 Toronto, Ontario

Billy Red try's to take the U.S. Title from The Sheik but like many before him can't wrest the belt from the wily Sheik

9/22/1974 Toronto, Ontario

Billy Red takes on NWA Champ Jack Brisco in a mostly scientific match with Lyons getting a close pin with a reverse cradle. Brisco would retain his belt in spite of the crowd support for the popular redhead

8/24/76 Simcoe, Ontario

On the Ontario Independent circuit Billy Red regains the N.A. Championship from Crazy Chris Colt

11/19/1976 Toronto, Ontario

Under the mask as one half of The Crusaders (w/Dewey Robertson) The International Tag Champs go to a 20-minute draw with Al Costello & Don Kent

8/9/1981 Toronto, Ontario

Billy Red Lyons meets The Destroyer again in the twilight of their careers.

2/12/1984 Toronto, Ontario

Billy Red Lyons (in approx. his 30th year) teams with fellow veteran Johnny Weaver (also up around 30 years) in a losing cause to Terry & Rudy Kay

Quotable:

"Likable Red Lyons from Canada is a newcomer to the Mid-West. He has been wrestling professionally for 2 ½ years. Red  participated in football at Westdale College, and has tangled with some of our top matmen. Red tells us he believes every sport goes through a cycle of ups and downs. He firmly believes TV will help bring wrestling back to its well deserved place in the sports world."

Ringside Wrestling- 1956

Files from Globe & Mail June 5 1976, Toronto Star June 2 1976

Courtesy of- and Special Thanks to Gary Will, Jim Zordani and Greg Warren