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Les Thornton

Title History

  • Stampede North American Heavyweight title defeating Abdullah the Butcher (April 23, 1971);
  • Stampede North American Heavyweight title defeating John Quinn (December 6, 1974);
  • Stampede International Tag Team titles w/Frankie Laine defeating Mike & Pat Kelly (January ??, 1975);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Don Muraco (May 16, 1975);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Tony Charles defeating Bob Backlund & Jerry Brisco (December ??, 1975);
  • NWA Texas Tag Team titles w/Tony Charles defeating Rocky Johnson & Jose Lothario (????, 1977);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Moondog Mayne defeating Buddy Rose & Jesse Ventura (June 4, 1977);
  • NWA (New Zealand) British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title defeating ????????? (January ??, 1978);
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Ron Starr via forfeit (March ??, 1980);
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Jerry Stubbs (January 31, 1981);
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Terry Taylor (June 20, 1981);
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Jerry Brisco (October 16, 1981);
  • WCCW (World Class) Television title (as Checkmate) defeating Bill Irwin (October 4, 1982);
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight title won a tournament (November ??, 1983);
  • Stampede British Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Smith (September 18, 1986);

Career Highlights

  • Les Thornton was known as a shooter and a hooker and a very tough and reliable in-ring worker..
  • Les Thornton worked as a preliminary guy for the WWF in the mid 1980s..
  • June 9, 1986 – WWF House Show: B. Brian Blair defeated Les Thornton.
  • June 13, 1986 – WWF House Show: Mike Rotundo defeated Les Thornton.
  • June 15, 1986 – WWF House Show: The American Express (Danny Spivey & Mike Rotundo) defeated Iron Mike Sharpe & Les Thornton.
  • June 21, 1986 – WWF House Show: David Sammartino defeated Les Thornton.
  • June 22, 1986 – WWF House Show: Cousin Luke defeated Les Thornton.
  • June 30, 1986 – WWF House Show: King Tonga defeated Les Thornton.
  • July 24, 1986 – WWF House Show: Brickhouse Brown defeated Les Thornton.
  • July 26, 1986 – WWF House Show: Scott McGhee defeated Les Thornton.
  • July 27, 1986 – WWF House Show: Lanny Poffo defeated Les Thornton.
  • August 2, 1986 – WWF House Show: Tiger Chung Lee defeated Les Thornton.
  • August 6, 1986 – WWF House Show: Billy Jack Haynes defeated Les Thornton.
  • August 7, 1986 – WWF House Show: Dick Slater defeated Les Thornton.
  • August 17, 1986 – WWF House Show: SD Jones defeated Les Thornton.
  • August 25, 1986 – MSG Network: Nick Kiniski defeated Les Thornton.
  • September 13, 1986 – Superstars Of Wrestling: The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid) defeated Jack Foley & Les Thornton to retain the World tag team titles.
  • September 19, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton defeated Johnny Smith to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title.
  • September 20, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton defeated Johnny Smith to retain the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title.
  • September 25, 1986 – Stampede: Viet Cong Express (Viet Cong Express 1 & Viet Cong Express 2) defeated Ben Bassarab & Les Thornton.
  • September 26, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton defeated Keith Hart.
  • October 3, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton defeated Johnny Smith to retain the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title.
  • October 4, 1986 – Stampede: George Skaaland & Johnny Smith defeated JR Foley & Les Thornton.
  • October 11, 1986 – Stampede: Ben Bassarab, Johnny Smith & Owen Hart defeated Les Thornton, Viet Cong Express 1 & Viet Cong Express 2.
  • October 17, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton defeated George Skaaland.
  • October 18, 1986 – Stampede: Les Thornton vs. Owen Hart ended in a time limit draw. Thornton retains the  Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title.
  • October 24, 1986 – Stampede: Ben Bassarab defeated Les Thornton.
  • October 25, 1986 – Stampede: Owen Hart defeated Les Thornton to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title.
  • November 9-11, 1986 – WWF House Show: Nick Kiniski defeated Les Thornton.
  • April 5, 1991 – CNWA TV Taping: Les Thornton vs. Randy Thatcher ended in a double count-out.
  • April 12, 1991 – CNWA TV Taping: Bob Brown & Les Thornton defeated Makhan Singh & Ron Ritchie.
  • February 1, 2019: Les Thornton has passed away at the age of 84.
Updated:

Trained By

Billy Riley

Debut

1957-1991

Birthday

Hometown

Originally from United Kingdom
Retired in Calgary, Alberta

Gender

Male

Height

5' 9" (175 cm)

Weight

231 lbs (105 kg)

Finishing Move(s)

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Status

Deceased