Jack Tunney
| Jack Tunney | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
John Tunney Jr. January 21, 1935 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | January 24, 2004 (aged 69) Waterdown, Ontario, Canada |
| Cause of death | Myocardial infarction |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Tunney |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Frank Tunney (uncle) |
John "Jack" Tunney Jr. (January 21, 1935 – January 24, 2004) was a Canadian professional wrestling promoter. He was known worldwide for his appearances on World Wrestling Federation television as the promotion's figurehead president. Tunney's tenure was during the company's initial worldwide popularity boom in the 1980s, the peak days of "Hulkamania".
Tunney was born in 1935 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He had three younger siblings who largely stayed out of the Wrestling business. His mother died due to complications at childbirth and his father, promoter John Tunney died of a heart attack, just weeks later. He and his siblings were then raised by their uncle longtime Toronto promoter Frank Tunney.
Tunney met his wife Ann in the fourth grade, and they had two daughters. Ann died of cancer in 1991.
In 1930, Jack Corcoran set up Toronto's Queensbury Athletic Club (QAC, later known by the unofficial name of Maple Leaf Wrestling), along with Jack's father, John Tunney Sr., his uncle, Frank Tunney, and Toots Mondt.
In 1952, Jack entered into employment with the promotion, first as a referee and later in the booking office working alongside Frank, Norm Kimber, Frank Ayerst, Ed Noonan, and wrestlers Whipper Billy Watson and Pat Flanagan, as they promoted all over southern Ontario. The offices were in Maple Leaf Gardens for many years. In the mid 1970`s the office was moved across the street on Carlton St.
On March 16, 1956, the first title change to take place in Maple Leaf Gardens happened when Whipper Billy Watson defeated Lou Thesz, ending Thesz's near 7-year reign. Thesz again lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship again at the Maple Leaf Gardens on November 14, 1957 when he lost the title to Dick Hutton.
In 1960, Frank Tunney replaced Sam Muchnick at the NWA's helm, for a year, as president. He also went on to serve as a vice president to Vince McMahon, Sr. in the WW(W)F, as well as having close ties with Japanese promoters. This meant non-stop action in Maple Leaf Gardens approximately every two weeks.
On Jan 24, 1963, a classic match at Maple Leaf Gardens directly led to the WWWF being formed after Lou Thesz beat World Champion Buddy Rogers and was declared champion. After the event, however, Northeastern promoter Vincent J. McMahon refused to recognize the title change and withdrew his operation from the NWA, becoming the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE), with Rogers as the star performer. The WWWF recognized Rogers as its first world champion in April 1963.
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