Pat O'Connor (wrestler)

Patrick Pat O'Connor (1924-1990), was a professional wrestler from New Zealand who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from 1959 to 1961. He first won the title on January 9, 1959, from amateur standout, and Lou Thesz protege, Dick Hutton, holding the belt for over two years. On June 30, 1961, O'Connor dropped the title to Buddy Rogers in front of 38,622 fans at Comiskey Park, a record that would last nearly 20 years.

In 1960, the American Wrestling Association named O'Connor as the first holder of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. O'Connor was NWA World Champion at the time and did not seek this recognition. He never defended the AWA title and was later stripped of it.

Known for his superior conditioning, as well as his athletic and technical ability, O'Connor was regarded as one of the premiere workers of his era. He was a booker for the St. Louis territory in the 1970s.

He died on August 16, 1990 of cancer. The following December, WCW held an eight-team international tag-team memorial tournament in honour of O'Connor. The Steiner Brothers, representing the United States, won the final by defeating The Great Muta and Mr. Saito, representing Japan.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature move(s)
• Sleeper
• Standing Leg Split
• O'Connor Roll (Roll-up)
• The Piledriver

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association

*AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) (First)

*AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Wilbur Snyder

• Central States Wrestling

*NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

*NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Brown

*NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (2 times) - with Sonny Myers

*NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Central States version) (3 times) (First)

*NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (4 times) - with Sonny Myers (1), Tiny Mills (1), Bob Geigel (1), and Omar Atlas (1)

• Maple Leaf Wrestling

*NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version) (1 time)

*NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Whipper Billy Watson

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

*NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) (First) †

• Midwest Wrestling Association

*Ohio Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Montreal Athletic Commission

*World Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (2 times)

• NWA Chicago

*NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) (1 time) - with Roy McClarity

• NWA New Zealand

*NWA New Zealand British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame

*(Class of 2007)

• Stampede Wrestling

*Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame

• '''St. Louis Wrestling Club

*NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Association

*WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Wilbur Snyder

• Other Titles

*Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Amateur wrestling

*1950 British Empire Games silver medal winner in the (freestyle) heavyweight division

*New Zealand Heavyweight Championship 1949 and 1950

• St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
• (Class of 2007)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Notes

References

External links

• Pat O'Connor at the NZ Olympic Committee website