[Tony Garea GALLERY]
Title History
- WWWF Tag Team titles w/Haystacks Calhoun defeating Toru Tanaka & Mr Fuji (05/20/73-09/11/73);
- WWWF Tag Team titles w/Dean Ho defeating Toru Tanaka & Mr Fuji (11/14/73-05/08/74);
- WWWF Tag Team titles w/Larry Zbyszko defeating The Yukon Lumberjacks (11/21/78-03/06/78);
- WWWF Tag Team titles w/Rick Martel defeating The Wild Samoans (11/08/80-03/17/81);
- WWWF Tag Team titles w/Rick Martel defeating The Moondogs (07/21/81-10/13/81);
- NWA (San Francisco) Tag Team titles w/Pat Patterson defeating Don Muraco & Invader 1 (May 15, 1976);
Career Highlights
In The Beginning:
- Tony Garea was an accomplished sprinter and Rugby player before turning to wrestling..
- Tony Garea & Rick Martel’s tag team partnership was originally formed in NWA New Zealand..
- 1972: Tony Garea left New Zealand to further his career in the United States..
- Tony Garea also wrestled occasionally in Australia while being primarily based in the USA..
- Tony Garea (while wrestling in Australia) caught the eye NWA President Eddie Graham, who was visiting the counry..
- ~~~Tony Garea was offered the opportunity to wrestle for Eddie Graham’s Florida territory..
- ~~~Tony Garea was to work his way to try and re-establish himself in United States..
- ~~~He eventually joined the WWWF headed by Vince McMahon Sr. and made the move to New York..
NWA San Francisco:
- 1973: Tony Garea & Bob Orton Jr. co-won Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year..
- May 15, 1976: Tony Gaea & Pat Patterson defeated Don Muraco & Invader 1 to win the NWA San Francisco Tag Team titles..
- September 18, 1976: The Royal Kangaroos defeated Tony Garea & Pat Patterson for the NWA San Francisco Tag Team Titles..
World (Wide) Wrestling Federation:
- Tony Garea won five separate WWWF Tag Team titles with 4 partners; Haystacks Calhoun, Dean Ho, Larry Zbyszko & Rick Martel..
- March 17, 1979: The Valiant Brothers & Lou Albano vs Larry Zbyszko & Ivan Putski & Tony Garea..
- September 22, 1980 – WWF/NWA: Larry Zbysko beat Tony Garea by disqualification..
- November 8, 1980: Tony Garea & Rick Martel defeated The Wild Samoans to win the WWWF Tag Team titles..
- December 1980 – MSG: Tony Garea & Rick Martel vs The Moondogs..
- January 10, 1981: The Moondogs beat Rick Martel & Tony Garea via DQ so Martel/Garea retain their titles..
- February 14, 1981: Tony Garea & Rick Martel defeated The Moondogs to retain the Tag titles..
- March 16, 1981 – MSG: Tony Garea vs Bulldog Brower..
- March 21, 1981: Tony Garea vs Stan Hansen..
- March 18, 1981: Tony Garea & Andre the Giant beat Moondog Rex & Sgt Slaughter..
- March 18, 1981: Tony Garea defeated Hulk Hogan (yes, that’s correct)..
- May 4, 1981: Tony Garea/Rick Martel/Gorilla Monsoon vs Stan Hansen/Lou Albano/Moondog Rex..
- May 23, 1981: Tony Garea vs George Steele..
- June 21, 1981: Tony Gary & Rick Martel defeated The Moondogs to win the WWWF Tag Team titles..
- October 13, 1981: Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea & Rick Martel for the WWWF Tag Team titles..
- January 16, 1982: Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito vs Tony Garea & Rick Martel..
- June 28, 1982: Tony Garea vs Adrian Adonis..
- November 1982: Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito vs Tony Gary & Rocky Johnson..
- January 1983: The Wild Samoans vs Tony Garea & Eddie Gilbert..
- April 30, 1983: Tony Gary vs Ray Stevens..
- February 18, 1984: Mr. Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee vs Tony Garea & Eddie Gilbert..
- March 21, 1984: Andre the Giant & Tony Garea & Jimmy Snuka defeated The Wild Samoans..
- July 23, 1984 – Brawl to End it All: The Iron Sheik pinned Tony Garea..
- October 5, 1985 – SNME: Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine beat Lanny Poffo & Tony Garea..
- August 28, 1985 – Michigan State Fair: King Kong Bundy beat Tony Garea..
- January 2, 1986 – TNT: Terry Funk breaks a bottle over Tony Garea`s head in a saloon type brawl..
- August 28, 1986 – The Big Event: Ted Arcidi beat Tony Garea via submission..
- Tony Garea settled into an office position with the World Wrestling Federation for nearly 20 years!
- October 3, 2005 – WWE Homecoming: Tony Garea participated in a Legends Ceremony which included roughly 24 Legends..
- June 24, 2007 – Vengeance (Night of Champions): Tony Garea made an appearance as a former World Tag Team Champion..
- ~~~Rick Martel & Tony Garea got physically involved saving Sgt. Slaughter & Jimmy Snuka from Deuce & Domino..
- March 29, 2010–RAW: Christian defeated Ted DiBiase Jr. in a Legends Lumberjack match..
- ~~~Lumberjacks: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, IRS (Mike Rotundo), Arn Anderson, Pat Patterson, Tony Garea ..
- ~~~Lumberjacks: Rowdy Roddy Piper, Nick Bockwinkel, Sgt. Slaughter, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, & Jerry “The King” Lawler ..
- Tony Garea’s younger brother Johnny Garcia (Garea) also wrestled in New Zealand and had a brief stint in the WWF.