PAGE OF FAME: Tiger Tasker

Tiger Tasker

Tiger Tasker
Real name: Ken Tasker
Wrestler from 1936 to 1964, and then a referee in Toronto until his retirement from wrestling in 1978. From East York, although initially billed from Alaska (and wrestled as The Alaskan in some areas). Short and powerful, Tasker's primary finishing hold is today best known as Lex Luger's torture rack.
Tasker was a friend of Whipper Watson, and the two trained together in Toronto and then went to England together in the late 1930s. Returned to North America in 1940 and established himself as a regular performer for promoter Paul Bowser in Boston. Made his Maple Leaf Gardens debut in 1948 and wrestled there, off-and-on, until 1961. He won his MLG debut match and only won once more there over the next 13 years. Wrestled for Stampede Wrestling in 1958.
In the early 1960s, Tasker moved to Niagara Falls, New York and worked for Buffalo promoter and former world champion Ed Don George for a year, before coming back to Toronto. He wrestled for a few more years, and became a referee in 1964.
"Tiger Tasker is a newcomer in Eastern mat circles who has made a hit at shows conducted by Rudy Dusek. In his first pro bout, he found himself opposed to Bull Curry, whom he defeated in quick time. He was then offered a match in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he downed Bull Montana. He spent three and a half years in Europe. In June of 1939 he returned to the United States and toured with success through Michigan and Illinois. With a peculiar "back breaker" he defeated dozens of opponents. Tasker is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 215 pounds. He is very fast, rough and tough and with his fistic proclivities he is a real power on the wrestling mat." (From THE RING, December 1940)
"Tiger Tasker, Canadian veteran from Winnipeg, has a voracious appetite, it appears. In a recent Toronto bout, he chawed on Ronnie Etchison's arms and legs when the men were in close contact. However, when Etchison took a bite of Tasker's cauliflower ear, the latter decided on a different approach to the task at hand." (From WRESTLING LIFE, November 1957)