 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Fotie (1928-03-13)March 13, 1928[1] |
| Died | April 29, 1969(1969-04-29) (aged 41)[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | John Foti Bobby Bell |
| Billed weight | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Billed from | Buffalo,New York Hamilton, Ontario |
| Debut | 1954 |
John Fotie (March 13, 1928 – April 29, 1969) was a Canadianprofessional wrestler and a painter, better known by hisring name,John Foti. He was best known inStu Hart'sStampede Wrestling in Calgary from 1955 to 1969. He also wrestled in theAmerican Wrestling Association andNational Wrestling Alliance.[1]
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan and alter raised inHamilton, Ontario. He worked in the gym where he befriendedGeorge Scott,Sandy Scott,Skull Murphy andBilly Red Lyons. Got into wrestling he started his career in upstate New York and Ontario. In 1957 he wrestled for theAmerican Wrestling Association in Minnesota.
In 1955 Foti debuted inStu Hart'sStampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta where he became a household name for the territory. Billed from Hamilton, Foti would draw sellouts crowds in matches againstWhipper Billy Watson,Lou Thesz, andKiller Kowalski. On June 6, 1959, Foti won the NWA Calgary Canadian Heavyweight Title by defeating Charro Azteca. He feuded withMad Dog Vachon, and Vachon's brotherPaul. The title was vacated in July of that year. In 1960 he won the Stampede International Tag Team titles with Don Kindred and dropped the titles toLuther Lindsay and Oattman Fisher. Foti once again won the NWA Calgary Canadian Heavyweight Title as he defeated John Smith on June 9, 1961, and lost the title toKiller Kowalski on November 17. In 1963 he left Calgary to wrestle for other territories in Canada and the United States.
In 1966 he returned to Stampede where he feuded withGil Hayes from 1967 to 1969, andBob Sweetan in 1969.
Foti spent time in Buffalo'sNational Wrestling Federation, Vancouver'sAll-Star Wrestling, and Portland'sPacific Northwest Wrestling. Between 1963 and 1966 he wrestled in Toronto'sMaple Leaf Wrestling. In 1964 he wrestled in the Northeast territory forWorld Wide Wrestling Federation as a journeyman.
He was also a painter. He struggled with alcoholism in his later years. On April 29, 1969, Foti committed suicide in his home in Calgary. He was 41.[1]
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