Les Thornton Has Died
English star was 84-years-old.
One of the finest junior heavyweights to come out of the British Isles, Les Thornton, has passed away at the age of 84.
Thornton's wife Terry confirmed the news on Facebook:
"It is with great sadness we share that Les Thornton peacefully took his leave on February 1, 2019 at 11:15 am."
The itinerant Englishman was born in Salford on 9 April 1934. He broke into the business at the age of 23, after switching disciplines from rugby. A student of Billy Robinson, Thornton eventually migrated to the States in 1970, where he became a prominent performer in Calgary's Stampede Wrestling and a number of NWA territories.
Thornton claimed titles in every region he performed in, and was one off the few talents retained by WWE when they bought out Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1984. Though his in-ring work began to wind down, the company used Thornton's vast experience to help run business in international territories including Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Thornton retired in 1990, opening a gym in Calgary where he'd settled down with his second wife.
WhatCulture.com would like to extend our condolences to Thornton's family and friends.