What do you think?
Rate this book
From Nanjo to The Sheik: Tales from Toronto Wrestling
A look at the boom of wrestling in Toronto. Lou Thesz and the NWA Title, Bruno Sammartino, Lord Layton, Yukon Eric, Gene Kiniski, Fritz Von Erich, Sweet Daddy Siki, Bulldog Brower, Jack Corcoran, Frank, & the Office, The Titles, Attendance, TV, Did you know? and much more. With memories from -and featuring the photos of- Roger Baker. For Toronto wrestling fans this is a ‘must have’ book. So much great info.
-Jeff Marek Sports TV & Radio, LAW The rich history of professional wrestling in Ontario comes alive in chaotic detail in a new book by a pair of veteran Canadian wrestling journalists...
-Marshall Ward. for Slam Wrestling This was a really enjoyable read if you’re into the history of Toronto wrestling and the key people involved running the city. Tons of historical notes on attendance, ups and downs in the city, the good and bad of The Sheik from ‘69-‘77, the Mid-Atlantic years and into the WWF’s foothold from ‘84 onward.
-John Pollock. Post Wrestling I really enjoyed this book, learned a lot about MLG wrestling, good read.
-Mark Bujan. So much information on the great history of Toronto’s Maple Leaf Wrestling. It will be a great reference guide for anyone interested in learning more about Maple Leaf Wrestling as we know it today!
-Wes Maidment.
This book digs deep into the history of wrestling in Toronto and the characters that helped to create the legendary Maple Leaf Wrestling territory. I enjoyed it immensely.
-Vance Nevada
-Jeff Marek Sports TV & Radio, LAW The rich history of professional wrestling in Ontario comes alive in chaotic detail in a new book by a pair of veteran Canadian wrestling journalists...
-Marshall Ward. for Slam Wrestling This was a really enjoyable read if you’re into the history of Toronto wrestling and the key people involved running the city. Tons of historical notes on attendance, ups and downs in the city, the good and bad of The Sheik from ‘69-‘77, the Mid-Atlantic years and into the WWF’s foothold from ‘84 onward.
-John Pollock. Post Wrestling I really enjoyed this book, learned a lot about MLG wrestling, good read.
-Mark Bujan. So much information on the great history of Toronto’s Maple Leaf Wrestling. It will be a great reference guide for anyone interested in learning more about Maple Leaf Wrestling as we know it today!
-Wes Maidment.
This book digs deep into the history of wrestling in Toronto and the characters that helped to create the legendary Maple Leaf Wrestling territory. I enjoyed it immensely.
-Vance Nevada
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 17, 2021
As a Canadian fan of wrestling who is very interested in it's history I found a lot to enjoy in this book - unfortunately I think too often the stories devolve into pages of short paragraphs consisting just of attendance figures and the main events that are painfully dry. I think a more focused approach would've benefited the book a lot, but this is clearly a passion project and im definitely glad it was written.
The collected photographs and newspaper clippings are excellent, and Roger's personal anecdotes about being in the arena during many of these events and meeting the wrestlers really stand out.
The collected photographs and newspaper clippings are excellent, and Roger's personal anecdotes about being in the arena during many of these events and meeting the wrestlers really stand out.
August 19, 2026
Here we have a history of professional wrestling in the Toronto area. Most of it is under the umbrella of Frank Tunney's organization. Tunney's television show was the second pro wrestling program I started watching. For the record the first was All-Stat Wrestling out of which was carried at that time by both the London CTV station and Barrie CBC station. Why, I have absolutely no idea. At least when I was watching the NWF out of Buffalo NY it was on a Buffalo television station.
Now onto the book itself. This volume is not really a chronological history of pro wrestling in Toronto. It is broken up into sections, lots of them actually. The sections are chronological mind you. Some of them concern a specific period of time, while others cover indivual wresters. There is even one for referees.
I should note that the reference to Nanjo in the title is to the wrestler Nanjo Singh, who was a major heel in the early days, somewhat like The Sheik when I started watching Maple Leaf Wrestling, as the program was known. What caught my eye was that there were references to Nanjo's brother Tiger Jeet Singh. Tiger Jeet Singh was apparently a heel at this time. When I started watching the show he had changed into a face. He was not the only one. Sweet Daddy Siki was a major face when I was watching but had apparently started out as a heel. Even Gene Kiniski made the switch from heel to face. Another amusing bit concerns the wrestler Waldo von Erich. In a section on him Roger Baker, one of the authors, refers to him as Wally. Somehow I can't envision von Erich, who I knew as a major heel, being referred to as Wally. Mind you some of this turning heel to face may have been because a wrestler was paired with Whipper Billy Watson, the face in Toronto until his accident, to take on a particularly hated tag team.
So, how was the book. I enjoyed it. As someone who really didn't start watching wrestling until the mid-seventies I learned a lot from this book. Some of the names were familiar, but others were before my time and thus were not. As well I did notice that some wrestlers I followed are not given mention, but I suppose it would have made for a really thick volume if you mentioned everyone. I had been aware that Lord Athol Layton had started out as a heel before becoming a face. Unfortunately by the time I was watching he had become the announcer for the television show and thus I never got to see him wrestle. As to the time period covered, it is basically from the beginning to when the WWF took over the operation. The book's set up, with it broken down into sections/topics rather than a straight historical narrative works well here. As for who may want to add this volume to their bookshelves I can think of two categories, those who are pro wresting fans and those interested in the history of the city of Toronto.
Happy reading.
Now onto the book itself. This volume is not really a chronological history of pro wrestling in Toronto. It is broken up into sections, lots of them actually. The sections are chronological mind you. Some of them concern a specific period of time, while others cover indivual wresters. There is even one for referees.
I should note that the reference to Nanjo in the title is to the wrestler Nanjo Singh, who was a major heel in the early days, somewhat like The Sheik when I started watching Maple Leaf Wrestling, as the program was known. What caught my eye was that there were references to Nanjo's brother Tiger Jeet Singh. Tiger Jeet Singh was apparently a heel at this time. When I started watching the show he had changed into a face. He was not the only one. Sweet Daddy Siki was a major face when I was watching but had apparently started out as a heel. Even Gene Kiniski made the switch from heel to face. Another amusing bit concerns the wrestler Waldo von Erich. In a section on him Roger Baker, one of the authors, refers to him as Wally. Somehow I can't envision von Erich, who I knew as a major heel, being referred to as Wally. Mind you some of this turning heel to face may have been because a wrestler was paired with Whipper Billy Watson, the face in Toronto until his accident, to take on a particularly hated tag team.
So, how was the book. I enjoyed it. As someone who really didn't start watching wrestling until the mid-seventies I learned a lot from this book. Some of the names were familiar, but others were before my time and thus were not. As well I did notice that some wrestlers I followed are not given mention, but I suppose it would have made for a really thick volume if you mentioned everyone. I had been aware that Lord Athol Layton had started out as a heel before becoming a face. Unfortunately by the time I was watching he had become the announcer for the television show and thus I never got to see him wrestle. As to the time period covered, it is basically from the beginning to when the WWF took over the operation. The book's set up, with it broken down into sections/topics rather than a straight historical narrative works well here. As for who may want to add this volume to their bookshelves I can think of two categories, those who are pro wresting fans and those interested in the history of the city of Toronto.
Happy reading.
January 15, 2024
If you like Professional Wrestling you’ll enjoy this book.
If you’re from Canada and like Pro Wrestling, you will absolutely love this book! Andrew Calvert delivers the best history book based on Toronto Ontario Canada.
If you’re from Canada and like Pro Wrestling, you will absolutely love this book! Andrew Calvert delivers the best history book based on Toronto Ontario Canada.
June 4, 2021
This was a really fasicinating book. It read more like a text book sort of book then a well written chronological story but I've always loved to learn about maple leaf gardens in general and learn more about maple leaf wrestling and this book provided me with a very interesting time in Canadian wrestling. I enjoy it. If you're a fan of wrestling history in general, well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews