Larry Davies (1944 – 30 June 1997) was an Australian professional wrestler best known as Larry O'Dea. He was one half of the tag team known as "The Australians" with Ron Miller.[2][3]
| Larry O'Dea | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Larry Davies |
| Born | 1944 Canberra, Australia |
| Died | 30 June 1997 (aged 53)[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Larry O'Dea Larry O'Day |
| Trained by | Hal Morgan Jim Deakin |
| Debut | c. 1964 |
Larry made his professional wrestling debut in the 1960s for George Gardiner Promotions in Australia then soon left for New Zealand[4] before joining World Championship Wrestling in 1964.[5] In 1971 Davies started teaming up with Ron Miller as one-half of the tag team "The Australians" touring the United States and in 1973 he went on a tour of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling[6][7] Davies became a co-owner of Australian wrestling company WCW Australia along with Ron Miller in 1974 up until 1978.[8][9]
In 1980, he went back to New Zealand.[10]
Davies had a match with his son, Jeff O'Day, at World Championship Wrestling's Clash of the Champions XIX as participants in a tag team tournament for the then vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship. They were eliminated in the first round by The Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy).[11]
In December 1993, he wrestled a tour of India for Indo-Asian Wrestling.[12][13][14]
Larry remained involved in the wrestling industry until his death from liver cancer on 30 June 1997.[15]
Championships and accomplishments edit
- NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ron Miller[19]
- NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (9 times) - with Ron Miller (4), Bobby Hart (2), Ed Wiskoski (1), Rick Martel (1) and Mario Milano (1)
- NWA Austra-Asian Television Championship (1 time)[20]
- NWA Australia
- Australian Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
References edit
- ^ Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. 2015. ISBN 9781476605050.
- ^ "Australians « Tag Teams Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 12 November 2014.
- ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Tag Team "Australians"". Wrestlingdata.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Remembering Larry O'Day - NZ Wrestling". www.nzwrestling.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
- ^ "Smacka Fitzgibbon taps the mat - Jack the Insider Blog | the Australian". Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Matches « Larry O'Day « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ^ "All Japan Sumo Hall Show 1970s".
- ^ "Forgotten Titles: Chapter Four - NWA (WCW) Austra-Asian Heavyweight Title - the Home of Historical Wrestling". Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "read the profile of NZ wrestling legend Larry O'Day - Kiwi Pro Wrestling". www.kiwiprowrestling.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
- ^ "On the Mat - 29 July 1980 | Television | NZ On Screen".
- ^ "Larry O'Dea: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)".
- ^ "Indo-Asian Wrestling « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Indo-Asian Wrestling « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Indo-Asian Wrestling « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ^ Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. 2015. ISBN 9781476605050.
- ^ "British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Australasian Tag Team Title (New Zealand)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Florida Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (22 March 1974). "WCW Event 22.03.1974". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
Further reading edit
- Miller, Ron. Interview by Barry York. "Interview with Ron Miller, professional wrestler and promoter." National Library of Australia. 19 Jan. 2000. CD-R.
External links edit
- Larry O'Dea at OWW.com
- Larry O'Dea at Cagematch.net
- Larry O'Dea at KiwiProWrestling.co.nz