| 👁 Image Curry, circa 1973 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fred Thomas Koury Jr. (1943-06-12)June 12, 1943[3] |
| Died | April 3, 2026(2026-04-03) (aged 82) |
| Family | Bull Curry (father) Fred Curry Jr. (son) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Fred Curry |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Billed from | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Trained by | Bull Curry[1] |
| Debut | 1963[2] |
| Retired | 1980 |
Fred Thomas Koury Jr. (June 12, 1943 – April 3, 2026) better known by his ring name "Flying" Fred Curry, was an American professional wrestler of Lebanese descent.
The son of "Wild Bull" Curry, Koury was one of the most popular stars in the Midwest United States and the rest of the world during the 1960s and 1970s.[4][5] Flying Fred Curry had notable feuds with wrestling legend The Sheik.[6] Flying Fred was a sensational star in Texas in the 1960s and teamed up with Fritz von Erich.[7]
Flying Fred Curry is noted as one of the greatest highflyers and dropkickers of all time. His most famous feat was throwing 15 to 20 dropkicks in a matter of 10 seconds. He was chosen the most popular wrestler in the world in 1972.[8][3]
Career
[edit]In the 1960s, Koury, Jr. took up wrestling under the name "Flying" Fred Curry. Unlike his father, Fred was a slimball high flying wrestler, and a fan favorite. The two Currys teamed up on a regular basis during the early part of the younger Curry’s career. The two won the NWA International Tag Team Championship in 1964 and held it until 1966,[9] as well as beating Nikolai and Boris Volkoff for the Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[1]
Later in his career Fred Curry struck out on his own trying to get away from his father’s legacy of rulebreaking. Fred’s attempts to get out of his father’s shadow never caused any problems between the two Currys.[9]
In December 1972, he defeated Kurt Von Hess and Karl Von Shotz along with Tony Marino to win the Detroit version of NWA World Tag Team Championship a second time. On January 5, 1973, they lost the titles back to Von Hess and Von Shotz. They received their third Detroit titles on February 2 and lost it back to Von Hess and Von Shotz on February 18.[10][11]
Later life and death
[edit]Curry's son Fred III is currently pursuing a career in pro-wrestling and was being trained by Dory Funk, Jr. Fred III has taken the high-flying style similar to his father. He is currently wrestling in the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States.[12][13]
Curry died on April 3, 2026, at the age of 82.[14]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- 50th State Big Time Wrestling
- NWA Detroit
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (9 times) - with Billy Red Lyons (1), Dan Miller (1), Tony Marino (4), Luis Martinez (1), Bobo Brazil (1), and Hank Miller (1)[15][17]
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Fritz Von Erich[18][19]
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with "Wild Bull" Curry[15][20]
- NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[15][21]
- National Wrestling Federation
- NWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Luis Martínez[22]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1972) tied with Jack Brisco[23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Fred Curry's Profile at Online World of Wrestling". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ Koury In Supporting Bout At Mountain Park, Transcript-Telegram, 1963, retrieved March 13, 2023
- ^ a b "Fred Curry". wrestlingclassics.com/currys/.com. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ Upton, Felix (April 3, 2026). "Former NWA Champion Flying Fred Curry Passes Away At Age 82". Ringside News. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Boone, Matt (April 3, 2026). "Pro Wrestling Legend "Flying" Fred Curry Passes Away At Age 82". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Clark, Ryan (April 4, 2026). "'Flying' Fred Curry Passes Away". eWrestlingNews.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ "The Texas Wrestling War: How Fritz Von Erich Conquered The Lone Star State". Under The Iron Claw. September 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Conner, Floyd. Wrestling's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Pro Wrestling's Outrageous Performers, Punishing Piledrivers and Other Oddities. Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's, 2001. ISBN 1-57488-308-9 (pg. 210)
- ^ a b Inside Wrestling (October 1972). "Fred Curry's Heartbreaking Decision: "I Had to Leave My Father to Restore our Good Name!"". London Publishing Co.
- ^ Stern, Karl. "Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1973". WhenItWasCoo.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ "Fred Curry Jr. - Online World of Wrestling". Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Memories, World Class. "World Class Memories: Fred Curry". World Class Memories. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Upton, Felix (April 3, 2026). "Former NWA Champion Flying Fred Curry Passes Away At Age 82". Ringside News. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "N.W.A. Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ "N.W.A. International Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "N.W.A. Texas Junior Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "NWF World Tag Team Title (Ohio/Upstate New York)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ "PWI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS". Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
External links
[edit]- Wild Bull Curry Official Website Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine - including The Walking Riot book written by Flying Fred Curry
- The Curry Family official Website
- The Way It Was: Fred Curry at the Wayback Machine (archived October 28, 2009)
- CageMatch.de - Fred Curry Sr.
- Fred Curry at IMDb
- 1943 births
- 2026 deaths
- American male professional wrestlers
- American people of Lebanese descent
- Professional wrestlers from Connecticut
- Sportspeople from Hartford, Connecticut
- Sportspeople of Lebanese descent
- 20th-century male professional wrestlers
- 20th-century American professional wrestlers
- NWF World Tag Team Champions
- NWA International Tag Team Champions
- WCWA World Tag Team Champions
- NWA World Tag Team Champions (Detroit version)
