Al Tomko

Al Tomko (22 November 1931 – 5 August 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.

Professional wrestling career Tomko started out as a wrestler in his hometown of Winnipeg on 9 July 1954, with the Madison Wrestling Club, losing his debut match to John DePaulo. During that same period, he ran his own promotion in Winnipeg, the Olympia Wrestling Club. After he shut down the Olympia Club to pursue non-wrestling ventures, but he rejoined the larger Madison Club in the 1960s to become one of that promotion's top heels. He bought the Madison Club in 1967 and merged it with the American Wrestling Association in 1968.

Tomko acted as the AWA's Winnipeg promoter from 1966 through to the mid-1970s, and he was credited with launching the career of Roddy Piper. He also competed sometimes in Stampede Wrestling under a mask as Cosmo #1, and later wrestled without the mask in Stampede and in Vancouver's NWA All Star Wrestling as "Crazy Legs" Leroy Hirsch.

On 5 August 2009, Tomko died, aged 77, after a two-month bout with pancreatic cancer.

Championships and accomplishments Madison Wrestling Club MWC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Stan Mykietowich NWA All-Star Wrestling NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) (5 times) NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) – with Igor Volkoff (1) and Bob Brown (1) NWA International Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) – with Moose Morowski (1) and Bob Brown (1) UWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) West Coast Championship Wrestling WCCW Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time)