Tony Borne | |
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![]() Tony Borne, circa 1960 | |
Birth name | Anthony Wayne Osborne |
Born | [1] Columbus, Ohio, U.S.[1] | July 13, 1926
Died | August 27, 2010[1] Oak Grove, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 84)
Children | Matt Osborne |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Tony Borne |
Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] |
Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st)[1] |
Trained by | Ali Pasha[1] Karl Pojello[1] |
Debut | September 23, 1952 |
Retired | 1981 |
Anthony Wayne Osborne (July 13, 1926 – August 27, 2010) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Tough" Tony Borne.[1]
Osborne was an amateur wrestler in both high school and in the United States Navy.[1] Promoter Al Haft first convinced him to try professional wrestling.[1] His initial trainers were Ali Pasha and Karl Pojello.[1] Pojello convinced Osborne to shorten his ring name to Borne.[1]
In the 1950s, he wrestled mostly in Texas and Pacific Northwest territories, becoming a mainstay in the NWA Pacific Northwest under promoter Don Owen.[1] in 1953, he had a stint in Mexico, where he wrestled the Blue Demon.[1]
Throughout his career he wrestled for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Pat O'Connor, Gene Kiniski and Lou Thesz.[2] In the early 1960s in the Omaha territory for promoter Joe Dusek, Osborne had matches with AWA World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne. He influenced up-and-coming wrestlers who spent time in the Pacific Northwest such as Roddy Piper, Rick Martel, Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver, Lonnie Mayne and Billy Jack Haynes.
After his son Matt became a professional wrestler, the duo worked occasionally as a tag team.[1]
Osborne married Nona Faye Muller in 1955, and was the father of late professional wrestler Matt Osborne.[1] After retiring from professional wrestling, Osborne prospered in real estate.[1] A pacemaker was inserted in his heart in August 2010, but he died at his home on August 27 of that year.[1]