Tiny Mills
Encyclopedia
Henry Mittlestadt was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name
, Tiny Mills. He often teamed with his brother Al Mills.
in 1953 at the age of 42. He wore his hair very long and wild for the era. Teaming with his brother Al Mills, they were billed as "Murder Incorporated." Al & Tiny won Toronto's Canadian Open tag title in 1953, defeating the Canadian dream team of Whipper Billy Watson
& Yvon Robert
. They drew huge houses at Maple Leaf Gardens that year. They traded the title with Watson & Hombre Montana and Ernie Dusek & Emil Dusek in 1954. They won the title again in 1955, the year of Al's final Toronto appearance.
In the late 1950s, Tiny formed a new version of Murder Inc. with Stan "Krusher" Kowalski. They held the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Championships
twice in NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club
. When that promotiion became American Wrestling Association
in 1960, Mills and Kowalski became the first AWA World Tag Team Champions
.
Later that year, as a single wrestler, Mills had a title shot against NWA World Champion
Pat O'Connor
at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1960. With Kowalski, Tiny Mills again won the Canadian Open tag title, defeating Watson and Ilio DiPaolo
on the last Maple Leaf Gardens show of 1960. They lost the title early in 1961, and Mills never came back to Toronto. After retirement, Tiny became a sheriff in Minnesota.
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:...
, Tiny Mills. He often teamed with his brother Al Mills.
Career
Tiny Mills started his wrestling career at Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in 1953 at the age of 42. He wore his hair very long and wild for the era. Teaming with his brother Al Mills, they were billed as "Murder Incorporated." Al & Tiny won Toronto's Canadian Open tag title in 1953, defeating the Canadian dream team of Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
& Yvon Robert
Yvon Robert
Yvon Robert was a French Canadian professional wrestler who was best known to fans as Yvon "The Lion" Robert.- American Wrestling Association :...
. They drew huge houses at Maple Leaf Gardens that year. They traded the title with Watson & Hombre Montana and Ernie Dusek & Emil Dusek in 1954. They won the title again in 1955, the year of Al's final Toronto appearance.
In the late 1950s, Tiny formed a new version of Murder Inc. with Stan "Krusher" Kowalski. They held the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Championships
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version)
The NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until August 1960, when the American Wrestling Association came into existence.-Title history:-See also:*National Wrestling Alliance...
twice in NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
. When that promotiion became American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
in 1960, Mills and Kowalski became the first AWA World Tag Team Champions
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
.
Later that year, as a single wrestler, Mills had a title shot against NWA World Champion
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
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...
at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1960. With Kowalski, Tiny Mills again won the Canadian Open tag title, defeating Watson and Ilio DiPaolo
Ilio DiPaolo
Ilio DiPaolo , was an Italian professional wrestler and restaurateur who lived in the Buffalo, New York area.-Professional wrestling career:...
on the last Maple Leaf Gardens show of 1960. They lost the title early in 1961, and Mills never came back to Toronto. After retirement, Tiny became a sheriff in Minnesota.
Championships and accomplishments
- Central States WrestlingHeart of America Sports AttractionsHeart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was an American professional wrestling promotion that ran shows mainly in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa...
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version)NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version)The Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1958 to 1960, 1962 to 1963 and then from 1973 until 1979 which was promoted by Central States Wrestling...
(2 times) - with Al Mills and Pat O'ConnorPat 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...
- Maple Leaf WrestlingMaple Leaf WrestlingMaple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
- NWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Canadian Open Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling championship in the Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Wrestling from 1952 through 1961. The title was then replaced with the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship.-Title history:...
(6 times) - with Al Mills (5) and Stan Kowalski (1)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship WrestlingJim Crockett PromotionsJim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)The NWA Southern Tag Team Championship was the Mid-Atlantic territory version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship and was defended between 1953 until 1968 when it became the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship...
(1 time) - with Jim Austeri - NWA Mid-AmericaContinental Wrestling AssociationThe Continental Wrestling Association was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. The CWA was the name of the "governing body" for the Championship Wrestling, Inc. promotion which was usually referred to as Mid-Southern Wrestling...
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)AWA Southern Tag Team ChampionshipThe AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship from its inception through 1977, when it was renamed the AWA Southern...
(1 time) - with Jim Austeri
- NWA San FranciscoNational Wrestling AllianceThe 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...
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version)NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version)The San Francisco, California version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1950 until 1961, and then from 1968 until 1979.-Title history:...
(1 time) - with Hombre Montana
- NWA Mid-Pacific PromotionsNational Wrestling AllianceThe 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...
- NWA Hawaii Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Hawaii Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title of NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions and was defended between 1952 until 1978 when it was abandoned. The title was later revived by the current incarnation of NWA Hawaii in 2000...
(1 time) - with Stan Kowalski
- NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club / American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
- AWA World Tag Team ChampionshipAWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
(1 time) - with Stan Kowalski - NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version)NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version)The NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1957 until August 1960, when the American Wrestling Association came into existence.-Title history:-See also:*National Wrestling Alliance...
(2 times) - with Stan Kowalski
- Southwest Sports, Inc.World Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- NWA Texas Tag Team ChampionshipWCWA Texas Tag Team ChampionshipThe WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship was the secondary tag team championship in World Class Championship Wrestling, originally known as the NWA Texas Tag-Team title until 1981 where they were abandoned. The titles were brought back in 1987 as the WCWA Texas Tag-Team titles but once the WCWA joined...
(1 time) - with Duke KeomukaHisao TanakaHisao "Martin" Tanaka was a professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestler Pat Tanaka and referee Jimmy Tanaka.-Career:In the 1950s, Duke Keomuka formed a very successful tag team with Hiro Matsuda...
- Stampede WrestlingStampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version)NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version)The Calgary version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship was established in 1954 as the original top tag team championship in Stampede Wrestling; it held that status until 1959, when the title was abandoned in favor of Stampede's then-newly created International Tag Team Championship.-Title...
(2 times) - with Al Mills - NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) - with Jack Daniels
- Other Titles
- Manitoba Tag Team titles (1 time) - with Al Mills
- North Dakota Heavyweight Championship (1 time)