Forty-one years ago, the last Canadian Heavyweight Champion appeared for Maple Leaf Wrestling in Maple Leaf Gardens, when Angelo Mosca Jr. defeated Ivan Koloff for the title on June 10, 1984. A month later, the territory was absorbed by WWF and the title was deactivated.

Dino Bravo, Canadian Heavyweight Champion, 1978

The Canadian Heavyweight Championship succeeded the British Empire Championship in Toronto as the pinnacle of singles success in the territory, when it was created in 1978. The first champion was crowned on December 17, 1978, when Dino Bravo defeated Gene Kiniski, a perennial contender for the British Empire Championship during his earlier years in Toronto and a former NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, at Maple Leaf Gardens. Over the next six years, the championship was held by names like Sgt. Slaughter, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Big John Studd, Ivan Koloff, The Great Hossein Arab (The Iron Sheik), Dewey Robertson, Mr. Fuji, and the five-time Canadian Champion, Angelo “King Kong” Mosca.

5-time Canadian Heavyweight Champion Angelo “King Kong” Mosca (Photo: Elio Zarlenga)

On May 10, 2025 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens), MAPLE LEAF PRO presents MLP Northern Rising, where a new Canadian Champion will be crowned. Twenty superstars from around the world and across Canada will enter into a Championship Gauntlet, with each man determined to become the new standard bearer for the top prize in MAPLE LEAF PRO, the new flag bearer and King of the Great White North.

ANNOUNCED PARTICIPANTS

ALSO APPEARING

ANNOUNCED MATCHES