Andres Labrakis

Infobox_Wrestler
name=Andres Labrakis
names=Spiros Arion
The Golden Greek
height=height|foot=6|inch=5
weight=convert|285|lb|kg|abbr=on
birth_place=Australia
trainer=Andre Bollet
debut=1961 in Paris

Andres Labrakis was an Australian professional wrestler of Greek heritage, known as Spiros Arion and The Golden Greek. He debuted in 1961 and retired in 1978.

Career

Europe (1961-1964)

Andres Labrakis was trained by a French wrestler named Andre Bollet. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1961 in Paris under the ring name Spiros Arion. For over four years, he wrestled around Europe before settling in Australia.

Australia (1964-1978)

In July 1964, he arrived on the Australian wrestling scene under the ring name The Golden Greek and quickly became a favorite among Greek wrestling fans. He joined World Championship Wrestling and wrestled there until its end in 1978. He also wrestled in IWA Australia. In 1965, he went on to win the IWA World Heavyweight Title and IWA Tag Team Championship.

Popularity

Spiros Arion finished 1965 as world champion. He dropped the belt to the legendary Killer Kowalski. He feuded with Kowalski over the IWA Title. He became a popular wrestler in Australia and Greece and was a fan favorite. In 1966, he defended the IWA Title successfully against the 400 pounder King Kong Czaya. He was a part of many storylines in IWA and WCW. In 1974, he was awarded the IWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship and he defended the title against the likes of Bobby Shane.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1966-1975)

In 1966, he headed to America and debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation. On 8 December 1966, he teamed with Tony Parisi to take on Dr. Bill Miller and Dan Miller for the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. Parisi and Arion won the titles. In June 1967, Parisi gave his half to Arnold Skaaland marking his second US Tag Team Title Reign. On 10 July, they lost the titles to Sicilians. He became a protege of WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino and they both beat up Sicilians on 24 July to become the final U.S. Tag Team Champions. He stayed as protege of Sammartino until 1975 when he turned heel and turned on Sammartino. His manager was Freddie Blassie. Later he became a star in South Africa and England..

In wrestling

*Managers
**Freddie Blassiecite web|title=Sprios Arion|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/spiros-arion|accessdate=2008-02-29]

Championships and accomplishments

*"'World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
**IWA World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)cite web|title=IWA World Heavyweight Title (Australia)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/au-iwa-h.html|accessdate=2008-02-29]
**IWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Mario Milano (1) and Mark Lewincite web|title=IWA World Tag Team Title (Australia)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/au-iwa-t.html|accessdate=2008-02-29]
**NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship (3 times)cite web|title=Austra-Asian Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/aa-h.html|accessdate=2008-02-29]
**NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mark Lewincite web|title=Austra-Asian Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/australia/aa-t.html|accessdate=2008-02-29]

*World Wide Wrestling Federation
**WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Tony Parisi (1), Arnold Skaaland (1), and Bruno Sammartino (1)cite web|title=United States Tag Team Title (Capitol/WWWF|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-us-t.html|accessdate=2008-02-29]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Match of the Year (1975) vs. Bruno Sammartino on March 17

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/spiros-arion Profile At OWW]