Wally Steele

No one could ever accuse Wally Steele of copying George "Animal" Steele namewise or in any other area, for he was around long before George lumbered and drooled unto the scene.

Wally emerged in the Arizona/New Mexico in the 1950s, where he was especially popular in Tucson and Yuma. He used powerful leg locks and a wicked-looking airplane spin to win his matches, though he was not above a brawl or two when provoked.

One of Steele's most torrid feuds came in 1959 when he was pitted against the upcoming heel, John Tolos, who at this time was not grappling alongside his brother Chris on the Arizona circuit. Though new to the game at the time, Tolos showed the earmarks of a style that would make him immortal in the wrestling world. He had tremendous talent for gaining heat on the microphone and givng the most obnoxious interviews known to man. He likewise employed sneaky little things like a thumb to the throat or an illegal object pulled from his tights, which would later make him a legend among villains.

Steele, as the fan favorite, ahd to endure the tactics Tolos dumped upon him as he in turn, grew in vaillainry. The odd part was though Steele was a fitting opponent, it was Tolos who would become far more famous between the two of them.

Over the the next two decades, Steele would wretsle infrequently in Arizona and other areas, as he reportedly had a number of daytime business interests to tie him down.

The last match I personally recall for him would have been in Phoenix in either 1977 or 1978, when he happened to show up as a spectator, intending only to say hello to old friends such a sTito Montez and Nano Ortega.

When a wrestler no showed, he ended up put on the card as a filler, but many people still remembered him. While using a borrowed pair of tights and boots, he faced Woody Farmer, but lost to him. He did, however, get the job done so to speak and still demonstrated a few moments of brilliance in the ring.

Whatever happened to him after that is anyone's guess. If someone out there has some added data on him, please feel free to post a comment.