Gus Kallio
Encyclopedia
Gustav Kallio was a Finnish
born professional wrestler
known under the ring name
Gus Kallio or Gust Kallio. Kallio's wrestling career peaked in the 1920s and 1930s where he was known as the "King of the Welterweights" and later on "king of the Middleweights" as he held multiple world titles in those two weight divisions.
, Finland
. Kallio was less than 5 years old when his parents emigrated to the United States.
, a successful middleweight wrestler that participated in Barnstorming
tours. Seeing the success of the relatively small Sandow inspired Kallio to become a wrestler himself. Kallio made his debut in the 1910s under the name "Gus Kallio" (some placed he was billed as "Gust Kallio") and began competing in the Welterweight division, a weight class with a top weight limit of 155 lb (70.3 kg). Kallio's conditioning earned him the nickname "the Finnish strong boy". On October 3, 1921 Kallio defeated Jack Reynolds to win the National Wrestling Association
's World Welterweight Championship. Kallio retained the title through at least 1923, earning the nickname "the Welterweight King". During the 1920s Kallio often travelled around the united states, facing regional champions such as the Navy champion Jack Rich, Royal Van Dusen or Canadian Champion . On August 7, 1928 Kallio became the top Middleweight in the world, defeating Charlie Fisher to become the World Middleweight Champion
in two and a half hour long match. Kallio later proved his incredible condition when he wrestled Henry Jones in a three hour match before winning the bout.
In 1930 Kallio defeated both Ralph Parquat and Ray Carpenter, two of the top Middleweights in the United States to once again become recognized as the World Middleweight Champion. With his second reign as Middleweight champion he proved that he was "King of the Middleweights". In 1932 he lost, then regained the title from George Sauer making him a three time world champion. Each year the National Wrestling Association would meet and determine who was the recognized champion of their heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. In 1933 the NWA confirmed that Gus Kallio was still the "king of the middleweights" and imposed a $500 bond for promoters wishing to book Kallio. Just like when he held the Welterweight title, Kallio travelled the United States facing local Middleweight competitors. In one match he lost to a wrestler who did not start out as his opponent. On April 16, 1935 Kallio wrestled against the Irish Middleweight Champion McBride, McBride had to be removed from the ring due to an injury after the first fall, which saw Nashville local Joe Gunther enter the ring and take McBride's place, defeating Kallio to win the title.
By the late 1930s Kallio was in his fifth reign as Middleweight champion but the lower weight divisions became less and less popular in the United States. By the late 1930s the Middleweight division was mainly active in Mexico, which led to Gus Kallio touring Mexico with the title. In 1938 or 1939 Mexican promoter Salvador Lutteroth
created a Mexican version of the World Middleweight Championship
for his Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(EMLL) and awarded the title to Kallio. Kallio defended and lost both the NWA and the Mexican version of the World Middleweight title to Octavio Gaona on February 19, 1939, which was the last time he would hold a wrestling championship. Gus Kallio was still an active wrestler as late as the early 1950s.
The exact date of Gus Kallio's death has not been recorded.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
born professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
known under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Gus Kallio or Gust Kallio. Kallio's wrestling career peaked in the 1920s and 1930s where he was known as the "King of the Welterweights" and later on "king of the Middleweights" as he held multiple world titles in those two weight divisions.
Biography
Gustav Kallio was born in the 1880s in HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Kallio was less than 5 years old when his parents emigrated to the United States.
Professional wrestling career
Kallio was about 15 years old when Kallio and his father attended a professional wrestling event that featured Billy SandowBilly Sandow
Wilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow , was the manager of professional wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s...
, a successful middleweight wrestler that participated in Barnstorming
Barnstorm (sports)
Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches....
tours. Seeing the success of the relatively small Sandow inspired Kallio to become a wrestler himself. Kallio made his debut in the 1910s under the name "Gus Kallio" (some placed he was billed as "Gust Kallio") and began competing in the Welterweight division, a weight class with a top weight limit of 155 lb (70.3 kg). Kallio's conditioning earned him the nickname "the Finnish strong boy". On October 3, 1921 Kallio defeated Jack Reynolds to win the National Wrestling Association
National Wrestling Association
The National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
's World Welterweight Championship. Kallio retained the title through at least 1923, earning the nickname "the Welterweight King". During the 1920s Kallio often travelled around the united states, facing regional champions such as the Navy champion Jack Rich, Royal Van Dusen or Canadian Champion . On August 7, 1928 Kallio became the top Middleweight in the world, defeating Charlie Fisher to become the World Middleweight Champion
World Middleweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)
The National Wrestling Association World Middleweight Championship was a professional wrestling title sanctioned by the National Wrestling Association, an offshoot of the National Boxing Association...
in two and a half hour long match. Kallio later proved his incredible condition when he wrestled Henry Jones in a three hour match before winning the bout.
In 1930 Kallio defeated both Ralph Parquat and Ray Carpenter, two of the top Middleweights in the United States to once again become recognized as the World Middleweight Champion. With his second reign as Middleweight champion he proved that he was "King of the Middleweights". In 1932 he lost, then regained the title from George Sauer making him a three time world champion. Each year the National Wrestling Association would meet and determine who was the recognized champion of their heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. In 1933 the NWA confirmed that Gus Kallio was still the "king of the middleweights" and imposed a $500 bond for promoters wishing to book Kallio. Just like when he held the Welterweight title, Kallio travelled the United States facing local Middleweight competitors. In one match he lost to a wrestler who did not start out as his opponent. On April 16, 1935 Kallio wrestled against the Irish Middleweight Champion McBride, McBride had to be removed from the ring due to an injury after the first fall, which saw Nashville local Joe Gunther enter the ring and take McBride's place, defeating Kallio to win the title.
By the late 1930s Kallio was in his fifth reign as Middleweight champion but the lower weight divisions became less and less popular in the United States. By the late 1930s the Middleweight division was mainly active in Mexico, which led to Gus Kallio touring Mexico with the title. In 1938 or 1939 Mexican promoter Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's promotion, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre , has been the dominant Mexican promotion since its founding in 1933, until Lutteroth left the company in the 1950s...
created a Mexican version of the World Middleweight Championship
NWA World Middleweight Championship
The NWA World Middleweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship, promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
for his Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(EMLL) and awarded the title to Kallio. Kallio defended and lost both the NWA and the Mexican version of the World Middleweight title to Octavio Gaona on February 19, 1939, which was the last time he would hold a wrestling championship. Gus Kallio was still an active wrestler as late as the early 1950s.
The exact date of Gus Kallio's death has not been recorded.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Flying headlock
- Self-strangle hold (Trapped arm sleeper)
Championships and accomplishments
- Empresa Mexicana de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipNWA World Middleweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Middleweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship, promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
(2 times)
- National Wrestling AssociationNational Wrestling AssociationThe National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
- World Middleweight ChampionWorld Middleweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)The National Wrestling Association World Middleweight Championship was a professional wrestling title sanctioned by the National Wrestling Association, an offshoot of the National Boxing Association...
(5 times) - World Welterweight Championship (1 time)