Gus Kallio

Gustav Kallio (May 17, 1891 – March 2, 1962) 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.

Biography Gustav Kallio was born as August Hassinen in 1891 in Karttula, Finland. He immigrated to the United States with his brother Issac Hassinen in 1913 when both were in their early 20s. Issac moved on to Canada, while Gus stayed in the US wrestling under the name Gus Kallio.

Professional wrestling career Kallio was about 15 years old when Kallio and his father attended a professional wrestling event that featured Billy Sandow, a successful middleweight wrestler that participated in Barnstorming tours. Seeing the success of the relatively small Sandow inspired Kallio to become a wrestler himself. On October 3, 1921, Kallio defeated Jack Reynolds to win the National Wrestling Association's World Welterweight Championship. 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 .

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. 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.

After his wrestling career ended, Gus Kallio ran wrestling/boxing arena (promptly named Gus Kallio Arena) promoting regular shows in Monroe, Louisiana for 20 years.

Championships and accomplishments Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre NWA World Middleweight Championship (2 times)

National Wrestling Association World Middleweight Champion (5 times) World Welterweight Championship (1 time)