Pat O'Connor (wrestler)
| Pat O'Connor | |
|---|---|
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| Birth name | Patrick John O'Connor |
| Born | 22 August 1924 Raetihi, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand |
| Died | 16 August 1990 (aged 65) |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Alma mater | Massey University |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Pat O'Connor |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Billed from | Wanganui, New Zealand |
| Trained by | Len Levy |
| Debut | 1950 |
| Retired | 1990 |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's wrestling | ||
Representing  New Zealand
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| British Empire Games | ||
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1950 Auckland | Heavyweight |
Patrick John "Pat" O'Connor (22 August 1924 – 16 August 1990), was a New Zealand professional wrestler.
Regarded as one of the premier workers of his era, O'Connor held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championship simultaneously, the latter of which he held for approximately two years. He was also the inaugural AWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Patrick John O'Connor was born on 22 August 1924 in Raetihi, New Zealand to parents John Frederick and Isabella. While he attended high school at Feilding Agricultural High School, he also helped tend to the sheep and cattle on his parents' farm. He later attended Massey University, and later served for six months in the New Zealand Royal Air Force in 1945.
Before entering the world of professional wrestling, O'Connor was an amateur wrestler. He trained under Dave Sparrow, and later Don Anderson, while working as a blacksmith to pay the bills. After a tournament in 1947, he joined the Wellington wrestling team and trained under Anton Koolmann. In 1948, he represented New Zealand in the Pan American games. O'Connor won the New Zealand Heavyweight Championship in amateur wrestling in both 1949 and 1950. The 1949 win earned him entry into the 1950 British Empire Games. At the Empire Games, O'Connor, once again representing New Zealand, won a silver medal winner in the (freestyle) heavyweight division. He later trained to be a professional wrestler under Len Levy.
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