Good morning!
We are celebrating here at The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Daily Chronicle because this is our 100th issue!
Today I will be sharing a wrestler story about a performer from Canada who was very well known here in Missouri from the 1960s through the 1980s. HE wasn't well known as his real name, which by the way, is one of the most famous families in pro wrestling, and he wasn't known as the same name he was known as in his native Canada.
I will tell you the story in today's special issue.
But first, let's look at our daily pro wrestler tributes.
July 24th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Rufus R Jones 1913
Tony Altomare 1928
Skip Young 1951
Joe Savoldi 1957
Happy Birthday:
Torrie Wilson (50)
Zack Sabre, Jr (38)
Gary Gordon\Angelo Dawkins (35)
Levi Cooper\Tucker Night (35)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Hercules Cortez 7-24-1971 at the age of 39
Ronnie P. Gossett 7-24-2007 at the age of 63
Leonce Cormier\Leo Burke 7-24-2024 at the age of 76
Wrestler Profile Flashback: Leo Burke, A Missouri Legendary Wrestler but Not as Leo Burke
Leo Burke, who passed away one year ago today and whose real name was Leonce (Leo is short for Leonce) Cormier, one of the four wrestling Cormier brothers from New Brunswick, Canada.
He made his professional wrestling debut in 1966 after he had decided at age six, he wanted to be in professional wrestling like the rest of his family. While Burke is known broadly across wrestling as being a Canadian, he wrestled throughout the United States with the kayfabe last name of Martin. Burke was actually a very well-known wrestler in Missouri wrestling history.
Allow me to explain why.
Leo Burke, as Tommy Martin, made his debut for Central States Wrestling in March of 1968 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City where he defeated Stan the Moose. After an extended program against "Bulldog" Bob Brown, Burke defeated him for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship on October 11th, 1968. He was joined in the Kansas City territory by his brother, Romeo Cormier, wrestling also under the Martin name, he was promoted as Terry Martin. The brothers then defeated Brown and Bob Geigel for the NWA North American Tag Team Titles.
Tommy & Terry Martin held the tag team belts for an entire 7-day week before losing them to The Texas Outlaws, Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch. The, in November, after holding the Central States singles title, he was defeated by Dusty Rhodes for the title. That was the first exposure of the Martins (Cormiers) to the fans in Central States, particularly in the Missouri cities of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Sedalia and others. Yes, I know that Memorial Hall is technically in Kansas but trust me, 95% of the fans in the building were always from Missouri.
After spending the majority of the early 1970s in Canada wrestling for his brother, Jean-Louis' promotion, Leo came back to work down in the Amarillo Territory, this time teaming with another brother, Yvon, who wrestled as The Beast. They held the territory's tag team titles, the NWA Western States Tag Titles for around two months before losing to the area's long-term champs, Dory Funk, Jr and Ricky Romero.
Pictured: Tommy and Terry Martin
Then, the long streak in Missouri and Central States began again late in 1974 and into 1975. Burke again wrestled as Tommy Martin along with his brother, Terry Martin had some of the best matches Missouri had ever seen against another brother team, Jerry and Ted Oates for a stretch from January through April in 1975. Tommy Martin had been in the territory in 1974, having a great Central States Heavyweight Title program against Jerry Oates, trading the title back and forth before Tommy (Leo) and Ted Oates could join. This time, The Oates Brothers were the NWA World Tag Team Champions, and the two sets of brothers did several hour-long broadways for the tag belts.
Tommy Martin was absent from this territory then for another 6 years before returning in 1981 and once again he won the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title on November 19th where he defeated Bob Sweetan for the championship. He held the title for almost an entire month before losing it back to Sweetan as part of their program together on December 10th.
Leo Burke had many fans, won many titles and drew a lot of money in Central States and Missouri, just not as Leo Burke.
RIP Leonce and thank you.
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History
Leonce Cormier (Leo Burke/Tommy Martin) was one of four pro wrestling brothers. They were Jean-Louis (Rudy Kay), Yvon (The Beast), and Romeo (Terry Martin/Bobby Kay).
Thank You for Reading
I'm Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, paid subscribers get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Paid Subscribers.
Congrats on 100 issues!