Eastern Sports Association
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Sports Association, often referred to in the business simply as "the Maritimes," was a Canadian
professional wrestling promotion
based in Halifax, Nova Scotia
. It ran during the spring and summer months from 1969 to 1976.
(1975-76), was owned by Al Zink in partnership with Rudy Kay (1969-75) and Bobby Kay (1975-76) and promoted wrestling under the marquee name International Wrestling. In 1977, the ESA dissolved and Bobby Kay formed Trans-Canada Wrestling, and Al Zinck continued to promote International Wrestling under the name 'Maritime International Sports Ltd' with George Cannon and later Don Carson as bookers. At the end of the 1977 season, Al Zinck retired from promoting until 1984, when he reactivated International Wrestling with James J. Dillon
as booker.
They ran cards seven nights a week across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
. The nightly cards were almost identical for the week, so they could be promoted by one TV show. The week would start Saturday nights in New Glasgow
, with their main stop at the Halifax Forum
every Tuesday night, followed by a TV taping on Wednesday morning at the CJCH-TV
studios on Robie Street in Halifax. This show would be broadcast across the Maritimes Saturday on the ATV
network. Host Clary Fleming would announce the matches, do the play by play and interview the wrestlers. Eight events a week, including the TV show, was a heavy schedule, but it was for only about six months a year (May-October). In the winter months, hockey dominated arena bookings, and poor driving conditions on the roads could keep fans home and make it difficult for the wrestlers to travel from town to town on schedule. The first card of each new wrestling season would feature a Battle Royal.
The Cormier brothers (Rudy Kay, Bobby Kay, Leo Burke
and The Beast
[Ivan]) were the top faces, along with Johnny Weaver (1975) and Tommy Gilbert (1976-77). The top heels were Freddie Sweetan, Mike Dubois, Killer Karl Krupp, Jim Dillon, "Bulldog" Bob Brown
, Lord Alfred Hayes, The Brute, Bolo
& Gito Mongol and The Mercenaries. The Stomper and Eric Pomeroy were heels who turned face.
Future stars Rick Martel
, Roddy Piper
, Tony Atlas
, Rocky Johnson
and Terry Gordy
also paid their dues here. As well, former world champions Pat O'Connor
, Harley Race
, Dory Funk Jr. and Lou Thesz
made appearances. Jack Brisco
, Terry Funk
and Rick Martel defended their World Titles under the banner of International Wrestling.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
based in Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. It ran during the spring and summer months from 1969 to 1976.
History
The ESA, a member of the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
(1975-76), was owned by Al Zink in partnership with Rudy Kay (1969-75) and Bobby Kay (1975-76) and promoted wrestling under the marquee name International Wrestling. In 1977, the ESA dissolved and Bobby Kay formed Trans-Canada Wrestling, and Al Zinck continued to promote International Wrestling under the name 'Maritime International Sports Ltd' with George Cannon and later Don Carson as bookers. At the end of the 1977 season, Al Zinck retired from promoting until 1984, when he reactivated International Wrestling with James J. Dillon
James J. Dillon
James J. "J.J." Dillon is a retired American professional wrestler and manager.He is best known for being the strategic leader of the original Four Horsemen that consisted of Nature Boy Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson. He is most remembered as a manager in pro wrestling...
as booker.
They ran cards seven nights a week across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. The nightly cards were almost identical for the week, so they could be promoted by one TV show. The week would start Saturday nights in New Glasgow
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
, with their main stop at the Halifax Forum
Halifax Forum
The Halifax Forum is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is the former home of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League. Other former tenants include the Halifax Junior Canadians, Halifax Wolverines , and the Maritime Major Hockey League's Halifax St. Mary's. The Voyageurs moved...
every Tuesday night, followed by a TV taping on Wednesday morning at the CJCH-TV
CJCH-TV
CJCH-DT is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is an O&O of the CTV Television Network.It is the flagship of the CTV Atlantic regional system in the Maritimes, producing all of the system's programming except for some commercials and local news inserts on the...
studios on Robie Street in Halifax. This show would be broadcast across the Maritimes Saturday on the ATV
CTV Atlantic
CTV Atlantic is a system of four television stations in the Canadian Maritimes, owned and operated by the CTV Television Network, a division of Bell Media...
network. Host Clary Fleming would announce the matches, do the play by play and interview the wrestlers. Eight events a week, including the TV show, was a heavy schedule, but it was for only about six months a year (May-October). In the winter months, hockey dominated arena bookings, and poor driving conditions on the roads could keep fans home and make it difficult for the wrestlers to travel from town to town on schedule. The first card of each new wrestling season would feature a Battle Royal.
The Cormier brothers (Rudy Kay, Bobby Kay, Leo Burke
Leo Burke
Leonce Cormier is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. He was born in Dorchester, New Brunswick. He competed across Canada, in several American promotions, and wrestled internationally for both Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council and the National Wrestling Alliance in New Zealand...
and The Beast
The Beast (wrestler)
Yvon Cormier was a Canadian professional wrestler. Competing primarily under the ring name The Beast, he and his three wrestling brothers made up the Cormier wrestling family. He wrestled in many countries but regularly returned to Canada, where he competed for the Eastern Sports Association and...
[Ivan]) were the top faces, along with Johnny Weaver (1975) and Tommy Gilbert (1976-77). The top heels were Freddie Sweetan, Mike Dubois, Killer Karl Krupp, Jim Dillon, "Bulldog" Bob Brown
Bob Brown (wrestler)
Robert Harold Brown was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Bulldog" Bob Brown.- Early life :...
, Lord Alfred Hayes, The Brute, Bolo
Bill Eadie
Bill Eadie is a professional wrestler who has competed under the names of Ax as part of Demolition and The Masked Superstar...
& Gito Mongol and The Mercenaries. The Stomper and Eric Pomeroy were heels who turned face.
Future stars Rick Martel
Rick Martel
Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
, Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
, Tony Atlas
Tony Atlas
Anthony White better known by his ring name "Tony Atlas" is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr...
, Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. Quite popular in his own right in the 1970s and 1980s, he is also known for being the father of actor and professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson...
and Terry Gordy
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray 'Bam Bam' Gordy, Sr. was a professional wrestler who was best known in North America for being a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.-Career:...
also paid their dues here. As well, former world champions Pat O'Connor
Pat O'Connor (wrestler)
Patrick John "Pat" O'Connor , was a professional wrestler from New Zealand. O'Connor was regarded as one of the premier workers of his era...
, Harley Race
Harley Race
Harley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
, Dory Funk Jr. and Lou Thesz
Lou Thesz
Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz was a United States professional wrestler and 18-time world heavyweight champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days , longer than anyone else in history...
made appearances. Jack Brisco
Jack Brisco
Freddie Joe Brisco was an American professional wrestler, better known as Jack Brisco or Uvalde Slim. He performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance , becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco...
, Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
and Rick Martel defended their World Titles under the banner of International Wrestling.
Championships
| Title notes | Last champion(s) |
| IW North American Heavyweight Championship IW North American Heavyweight Championship This is a list of people who held the "North American Heavyweight Title" under the banner of International Wrestling from 1969 to 1984. The promotion was owned by the Eastern Sports Association from 1969 until 1976... (1969-77 & 1984) |
Leo Burke |
| International Tag Team Championship ESA International Tag Team Championship Eastern Sports Association's International Tag Team Title was represented by a Trophy, and was defended in the Maritimes from 1969-75.- International Tag Team Champions :... (represented by a trophy) (1969-76) |
Jack Jack Brisco Freddie Joe Brisco was an American professional wrestler, better known as Jack Brisco or Uvalde Slim. He performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance , becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco... & Jerry Brisco Gerald Brisco Floyd Gerald "Jerry" Brisco is a former American professional wrestler, and prior to June, 2009, worked as a road agent for WWE on its Raw brand.... |
| Canadian Heavyweight Championship NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Halifax version) The Halifax version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship was defended in the Eastern Sports Association only in 1977, the year the promotion closed. The title was imported from George Cannon's 'Canadian Wrestling' based in Ontario.-History:... (1977) |
David Schultz David Schultz (professional wrestler) David Schultz is an American retired professional wrestler. Although he is known for competing in North American regional promotions such as Stampede Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association during the late 1970s and 1980s, he is perhaps best remembered for... |
| World Tag Team Championship (1977) | Dennis Condry & Phil Hickerson |
| Maritime Heavyweight Championship (1976-77) | Leo Burke |
| Maritime Tag Team Championship (1976-77) | Leo Burke & Hubert Gallant |
| Taped Fist Championship (1973-77) | Rudy Kay |
| International Heavyweight Championship (1984) | James J. Dillon |
| Global Tag Team Championship (1984) | Samoans(Tio and Tapu) |