Tom Magee

Thomas Magee (born July 1, 1958) is a Canadian former world champion powerlifter and strongman competitor from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is also a former bodybuilder and competed in professional wrestling from 1985 to 1990.

Strength sports career

Powerlifting (1981–1983) Magee became Canadian National Powerlifting Champion in 1981 and 1982. In 1981, Tom placed second at the IPF World Powerlifting Championship in the 125 kg weight class. He totaled 927.5 kg (squatted 355 kg, bench pressed 235 kg, and deadlifted 337.5 kg). At that same competition, Magee placed ahead of future World's Strongest Man, Jon Pall Sigmarsson.

In 1982, he won the IPF World Powerlifting Championships in Munich, Germany in the +125 kg super heavyweight division. He totaled 942.5 kg (squatted 362.5 kg, bench pressed 235 kg, and deadlifted 345 kg). The second place finisher, Wayne Bouvier, had the same total, but Magee won by lighter body weight.

Strongman (1982–1990) Magee placed second in the 1982 World's Strongest Man. Magee was the only Canadian to have reached this position until Mitchell Hooper won the 2023 World's Strongest Man title. Magee then placed fourth in the 1983 World's Strongest Man and fifth at the 1985 World's Strongest Man competitions. Magee set a then-world record with a partial deadlift from 18" off the floor during the 1983 World's Strongest Man competition.

Professional wrestling career

Stampede Wrestling and Japan (1985–1986) Magee also had a brief career as a professional wrestler from 1985 to 1990, wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and in Japan. Magee was primarily trained by Stu Hart in Stampede Wrestling, where he wrestled in 1985.

Magee was given the nickname "Mega Man" and named third runner-up for the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year in 1986, which was won by Lex Luger.

World Wrestling Federation (1986–1989)

Magee was signed by the WWF shortly thereafter. He defeated Bret Hart on October 7, 1986 in Rochester, New York at a television taping. The infamous match, a carry job by Hart, reportedly impressed WWF chairman Vince McMahon; the tape was thought to have been lost, as the WWE could not locate it in its vault, but was uncovered over 30 years later. On May 13, 2019, the WWE Network aired a short documentary special entitled Holy Grail: The Search for WWE's Most Infamous Lost Match which detailed the legend behind the match, the recovery of the tape, and even featured a short interview with Magee himself interspersed with clips of his short career in the then-WWF.

After the Hart dark match, Magee began wrestling on C-level house shows in January 1987, facing Terry Gibbs, Barry O, and Frenchy Martin. He remained undefeated through the winter and spring, but the WWF gradually cooled on Magee.

Magee would be seen only sporadically afterwards. He wrestled a handful of house shows in Canada in January 1988, defeating Iron Mike Sharpe. On December 6, 1988 Magee returned and faced Arn Anderson at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping in Daytona Beach, Florida, winning via countout. As a heel, he then faced Tim Horner in a series of house shows.

New Zealand (1990) Magee's final WWF action came on a joint WWF / Arena Wrestling Alliance tour of New Zealand in April 1990, where he defeated Royal Viking in multiple encounters.

Later, Magee worked as a trainer at the world famous Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California. He suffered a broken jaw, broken eye socket and concussion. According to a neighbor who was an eyewitness, six men who were involved in the assault were kicking him, and punching him in the face and in the head.

Personal records Powerlifting performed in official powerlifting full meets, aged 24, in single-ply equipment Squat – in 80s marathon squat suit (1983 CPU British Columbia Championships) Bench press – (1983 CPU British Columbia Championships) Deadlift – (1983 CPU British Columbia Championships) Total – (1983 CPU British Columbia Championships)

Strongman Cheese Deadlift (Silver dollar setup) – (1983 World's Strongest Man) (Former World Record) Cement block Squat (on smith machine/ not to parallel depth) – (1982 World's Strongest Man)