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"Tough" Tony Borne, Northwest Wrestling Legend, Passes Away

"Tough" Tony Borne, Northwest Wrestling Legend, Passes Away

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Oklafan was saddened to learn of the death of Pacific Northwest wrestling legend "Tough" Tony Borne, who died August 27 at the age of 84.

Borne, who was born Tony Osborne and had an amateur background and competed in high school and the U. S. Navy, began training Ali Pasha and debuted in the early 1950s. While he spent part of his early career in Texas and even made a mark in Mexico (he was one of the first American competitors to do so), Borne is perhaps best remembered as a mainstay of the Pacific Northwest region. Borne formed a long time tag team with "Moondog" Lonnie Mayne and the duo held the Pacific Northwest Tag Team Titles on 11 different occasions (Borne would go on to titles a total of 20 times, with 9 different partners.) Borne also won the Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title a total of 9 times. Partnerships with John Tolos led to tag team success in Canada for him as well.

Borne was never the biggest competitor in the ring, standing just 5' 9" and weighing 225 lbs. So he learned an unorthodox style which included constant chatter in the ring and the unique tactic of rubbing his beard like a brillo pad across the face of his opponent. And just as bizarre as his tactics were some of the matches he ended up in, such as the "Night of the Jackass", which saw the end of a feud between him and Danny McShain. The loser of the match had to bathe the jackass at the Houston Civic Centre and Borne's manager, Leo Newman, ended up doing the honours in that situation.

Borne retired in 1981, but returned to help his son Matt Borne begin his career. Tony would tag frequently with his son in his early career and even seconded him at ringside on occassions on WCCW.

After retiring, Borne began to sell real estate and was also a licensed superintendent for the American Kennel Club. In August he had a pacemaker installed, although at the time of this writing the cause of his death is unknown.

Borne has 6 documented appearances in Oklahoma spanning from November 4 to December 9 in 1963. He wrestled to a draw opposite Jerry Kozak on November 4, then teamed with Al Lovelock and defeated Kozak and Joe McCarthy on November 11. McCarthy won a 2-out-of-3 Falls main event on November 18. Another draw between Kozak and Borne opened the November 25 card. His final docurmented appearance in Oklahoma was a victory over Lovelock in a Texas Rules Match.

Oklafan extends its condolensces to the family and friends of Tony Borne at this time.

 

Tags: Tony Borne, John Tolos, Danny McShain, Matt Borne, Al Lovelock, Jerry Kozak, Joe McCarthy

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1

Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1979 The Spoiler def. El Halcon for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 2005 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Michael York for the FCW Heavyweight Title
  • 2017 Chandler Hopkins def. El Fuego for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 2017 Damon Windsor def. Dane Griffin for the IWR Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 10-04 to Sat: 10-10

  • 10-04 1973 Stan Kowalski & Kim Duk def. Alex Perez & El Gran Tapio for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 10-04 2014 Patient Zero became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 10-04 2014 Psycho Sawyer def. Cody Burns for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-04 2014 The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) became the OECW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-04 2014 The Brotherhood of Mayhem (Malice & Menace [2nd]) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-04 2025 Dan Webber def. Wrangler Rhett for the WFC Prime Title
  • 10-04 2025 Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) def. Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 10-04 2025 T. R. A. P. (Remy Devereaux & Marquez Warren) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi the Mad & Tank Bryson) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-05 2002 Butch Dalton def. Rocco Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 10-05 2003 Dexter Hardaway def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-05 2003 John O'Malley def. Dexter Hardaway for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-05 2019 The Brotherhood of Holy Hell (Terry Pantera & Dean Lambert) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-05 2019 Blade [2nd] def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 10-05 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 10-05 2019 Karnage def. Naomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Ray Martinez def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Shawn Sanders def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Giganto def. Shawn Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Ray Martinez def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Elijah Sparks def. Ray Martinez for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Karnage def. Elijah Sparks for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 10-05 2024 Brandon Groom became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 10-05 2024 Tribal Nation (Nashoba & Brandon Warhawk & Marlboro Slim) became the LCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-05 2024 Red River Brawler & Cage Adams def. Tribal Nation (Brandon Warhawk & Nashoba) for the LCW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-05 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 10-06 1972 Chris Colt & Bobby Duncum def. The Flying Redheads (Red Bastien & Billy Red Lyons) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 10-06 2007 Shane Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 10-06 2012 Austin Tacious became the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-06 2012 Austin Tacious def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 10-06 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 10-06 2018 Era of Chaos (Jerry Storm & Thrash) def. Space Age (Paul Puertorico & Aeronaut) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 10-06 2018 Spike the Silverback def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 10-07 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 10-07 1979 The Spoiler def. El Halcon for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 10-07 2005 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-07 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Michael York for the FCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-07 2017 Chandler Hopkins def. El Fuego for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 10-07 2017 Damon Windsor def. Dane Griffin for the IWR Heavyweight Title
  • 10-08 2002 Li'l Joe def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-08 2002 Jef Tiger def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 10-08 2005 Beau Dalton def. Lily McKenzie for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 10-08 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 10-08 2006 Cody Jones def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 10-08 2011 Steven Sterling def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 10-08 2011 The New Age Syndicate/The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Bud Barnes) def. Shane Scott & Tyson Jaymes (substituting for Devan Scott) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-08 2011 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 10-08 2016 Paul Puertorico became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 10-08 2016 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 10-08 2016 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 10-08 2016 Mikey [2nd] def. Tyson Jaymes for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-08 2022 Beau Betten def. MLP for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 10-08 2022 Bad & Bourgeois/The Sons of Baskin (Flex Zerba & Niles Plonk) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-08 2022 Michael Duplanti def. Mike Gunns for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-08 2022 Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) def. Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 10-08 2022 Nova Phoenix became the UWO Women's Champion
  • 10-08 2022 Sam Stackhouse def. Super Beast for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-09 1968 The Blue Demons (Blue Demon #1 & Blue Demon #2) def. Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 10-09 1981 Porkchop Cash & Doug Somers def. Frank Hill & Eric Embry for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-09 2009 The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the MWA Tag Team Titles
  • 10-09 2009 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 10-09 2010 Bad Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 10-09 2010 Mr. Ooh, La, La became the UWE Regional Champion
  • 10-09 2010 Big Smooth def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 10-09 2021 Dan Webber def. Sam Stackhouse for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 10-10 1960 Don Kent became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-10 2004 Payton Scott & Matt Garza became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-10 2004 Tyler Bateman & John O'Malley def. Payton Scott & Matt Garza for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 10-10 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 10-10 2009 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 10-10 2009 The Canadian Red Devil def. Cold Blooded Chris for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 10-10 2009 Michael H def. Running Wolf for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
  • 10-10 2009 Dennis Williams & Ryan Reed def. Blue Thunder & The Unknown for the 412PE Tag Team Titles
  • 10-10 2010 Bad Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) became the MERC Tag Team Champions
  • 10-10 2015 Michael Duplanti def. Rolling Thunder for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 10-10 2015 Damon Windsor def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 10-10 2015 Simply the Future (Alex & J. D.) def. The Soul Ryders (Mr. Nasty & Tim Rockwell) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 10-10 2015 S. L. U. G. G. became the BCW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 10-10 2015 Brandon Groom became the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 10-10 2021 Drake Gallows def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
10-07
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  • Sam Houston Oct 11th
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