Tony Garea

Anthony Gareljich (born 20 September 1946) is a New Zealand retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tony Garea.

Garea left New Zealand on 16 March 1972 and went to the United States where he signed a contract with Vince McMahon, Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).

He made his WWWF debut at a TV taping in the Philadelphia Arena on 20 September 1972 as a babyface, defeating Davey O'Hannon.

They held the titles for five and a half months before losing them to the Valiant Brothers (Jimmy and Johnny) on 8 May 1974 episode of All Star Wrestling.

Garea continued his singles career for three years before forming a tag team with new partner Larry Zbyzsko in August 1977.

[6][11] They held the titles for four months before losing them to Valiant Brothers (Jerry and Johnny) on edition of 24 March 1979 of Championship Wrestling.

The two participated in a tag team tournament for the titles, where they were defeated by The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) in the finals on 27 September 1980.

They defeated Wild Samoans on 8 November for Garea's fourth and Martel's first WWF Tag Team Championship.

On 8 June, Garea beat a young rookie named Man Mountain Canyon in Madison Square Garden, who returned to WWF four years later as King Kong Bundy.

[1] Garea teamed with newcomers to the WWF such as Eddie Gilbert and B. Brian Blair in 1983 and 1984, but was unable to recapture the success he previously enjoyed as a tag-team champion.

[1] Garea participated in a World Wrestling Federation "Legends" battle royal, which was won by Lou Thesz on November 16, 1987.

[20] When WWE came to New Zealand on 11 June 2008 in Auckland, Garea was a guest on the first international V.I.P Lounge along with Bushwacker Butch.

On 3 March 2009 he was featured on WWE.com exclusive segment Top-rope Theater posing as "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan.

Garea, circa 1978
Garea (right) and Eddie Gilbert (left), circa 1983