Tony Kozina

Tony Kozina is an American professional wrestler who is best known for his work in the Pacific Northwest especially in Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance. He has also made appearances in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Training and debut
In the summer of 1996 Kozina started training with Billy Jack Haynes and refing for Championship Wrestling USA in Washington.

Kozina than received additional training from fellow ECCW alumnus "Maniac" Matt Borne and helped train others at North American Wrestling Asylum.

1997
On January 26, 1997 he made his debut in Vancouver, Washington in a losing effort to Oly Olson for Sandy Barr's Championship Wrestling U.S.A. promotion.

Spring 97 debuts in New Westminster, B.C. Canada for Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, losing to El Antorcha. (Adam Firestorm) The two young wrestlers set the pace of what would become an explosive junior division in western Canada in the years ahead.

1998
Oct. 20th Kozina captures first championship, defeating Torch (Adam Firestorm) in Lillooet, B.C. Canada for the newly created NWA Pacific Northwest Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Oct. 21st Loses the title to Torch in 100 Mile House, B.C. Canada

Oct. 23rd Defeats Torch in Fraser Lake, B.C. Canada for a 2nd championship.

Oct. 24th Drops the belt again to Torch in Burns Lake, B.C. Canada.

Nov. 20th Wins a third NWA Pacific Northwest Junior title by defeating Torch in a ladder match in Campbell River, B.C. Canada.

1999
Jan. 29th Loses the NWA Pacific Northwest Jr. title to Ladies Choice in a lumberjack match in New Westminster, B.C. Canada.

Feb. 26th Regains the Championship for the 4th time by defeating Ladies Choice in New Westminster, B.C. Canada.

May 13th Loses championship to Disco Fury in Maple Ridge, B.C. in a three-way bout including Torch (Adam Firestorm).

May 15th Wins a 5th title by defeating Disco Fury in Powell River, B.C. Canada. Immediately issues a challenge to NWA Canadian Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Robby Royce, based out of Winnipeg. The challenge was recorded and put on the ECCW, NWA, and many other websites.

June 26th Defeats Robby Royce and Tony McGuire in a three-way match in Winnipeg, MB. to capture his first NWA Canadian Jr. title. Once again, immediately records a challenge in the backroom hallway demanding a match again NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Logan Caine.

July 22nd Vacates the NWA Pacific Northwest Jr. title to concentrate on defending the Canadian title across the country.

Sept. 25th Compete's in the NWA 51st Anniversary show's "Junior elimination Rumble" battle royal in Charlotte, N.C. The winner to get a shot against NWA World Champion later that night. Kozina was the first man out and the last eliminated in the nearly hour long royal rumble type event. Twiggy Ramirez eliminated Kozina and went on to challenge for the NWA World Jr. title that evening, vs. Logan Caine.

Nov. 12 Loses the NWA Canadian Jr. title in New Westminster, B.C. Canada to Playboy Buddy Rose Jr. in a bloody match.

Nov. 28th Regains the NWA Canadian Jr. title from Rose in Victoria, B.C. Canada.

2000
Jan. 14th Wins the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title from Vince Kaplack in North Versailles, PA.

July 22nd Kozina loses the NWA World Jr. title in a cage to Rockford 2000 in Surrey, B.C. Canada.

August 30th NWA Board of Directors award Kozina the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title a second time after reviewing a rematch between Kozina and Rockford 2000 on Aug. 26th, in New Westminster, B.C. Canada. The match resulted with NWA/ECCW promoters holding the belt up pending review by the NWA B.O.D.

October 14th Nashville, TN. NWA 52nd anniversary show. Kozina loses the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship to Vince Kaplack.

December 2000 is officially invited to participate in the 2001 ECWA Super 8 tournament.

2001
6 weeks before the Super 8 Tournament, defeats the 2000 Super 8 Winner, Christopher Daniels, by pinfall in Auburn, Washington.

Competes in the ECWA Super 8 Tournament in Newark, Delaware, and loses to Jayson Reigh in the first round.

April 28th Competes in a three-way match in Vancouver, WA. to determine a new NWA Pacific Northwest Jr. Champion against Scotty Mac and Disco Fury. Scotty Mac wins the event after pinning Disco Fury.

May 2001 Faces Sabu in Eugene, Oregon, at Mac court, in the biggest pro wrestling card in Oregon in over 10 years. Sabu defeats Kozina vis submission with the camel clutch.

May 21st Defeats Scotty Mac to claim a 6th NWA Pacific Northwest Jr. Title in Vancouver, WA.

Returns in May to ECWA and faces Reckless Youth and Amazing Red in a three-way match. Amazing Red goes on to win the bout.

Aug. 15th faces The Amazing Red and Billy Bax to unify the IWA and PWF Junior Heavyweight titles in Pottstown, PA. Bax wins the match and walks off with Tony's NWA-PNW Jr. Heavyweight title belt as well, although that title was not on the line, since it was out of the PNW jurisdiction.

Aug. 16th Reading, PA. Kozina faces Bax for his newly won IWA and PWF Jr. titles. They wrestle to a 20 minute draw.

Sept. 2001 Surrey, B.C. Canada. Defeats "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson by pinfall to retain the NWA Pacific Northwest Jr. title. (This marks Kozina's last title defense. It was later stripped off him due to inactivity).

Sept. 2001 Tours across Canada for Western Extreme Championship Wrestling. Competes in Red Deer, AB. Edmonton, AB. Swift Current, SK. Lethbridge, AB. and Calgary, AB., where Kozina faced Highlander and "Hot Shot" Johnny Devine in a three-way match, which was won by Devine.

Nov. 2001 Debuts for Big Time Wrestling in the San Francisco area defeating Wildstorm by pinfall in Newark, CA.

2002
Tony Kozina returns to ECWA and wrestles AJ Styles and Amazing Red in a three-way, which was won by Amazing Red.

Kozina debut's for Jersey All Pro Wrestling and scores a submission victory over Low-Ki.

In June, Kozina debut's in Los Angeles for EPIC Pro Wrestling with a loss to B-Boy.

In late 2002 Kozina ventures out to Woonsocket, Rhode Island to compete in the NWA Super X tournament, hosted by NWA New England. Kozina makes it to the final four, alongside, Reckless Youth, Jason Rumble, and Kahagas.

Dec. 2002 Kozina competes in APW's Golden Gate Invitational Tournament, losing to Super Dragon in the first round. Hayward, CA.

2003
Jan. 4th debuts for the brand new Portland Wrestling TV show in Portland, Oregon. Defeats Damon Scythe by pinfall.

Feb. 22nd teams with Adam Firestorm and Bryan Danielson, and cornerman "Rowdy" Roddy Piper to main event the final episode of Portland Wrestling TV again "The Army Of Darkness" (Dr. Luther, Damon Scythe, and Black Dragon (Brett Como)) The team of Kozina, Firestorm and Danielson defeat the A.O.D. when Danielson pins Scythe to close the short lived show.

On August 10, 2003, Tony Kozina teamed up with Buddy Wayne on an episode WWE Heat. They lost to the team of Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade.

2004
April 2nd, 2004 Surrey, B.C., Kozina captures a third NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Championship defeating Major Hardway.

May 7th, 2004 Kozina and Adam Firestorm compete in the first ECCW Pacific Cup Tag Team Tournament. The duo defeat Memphis Raines and MR2 in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

May 8th, 2004, Firestorm and Kozina lose to Asian Cougar and Ueno Yukihide in New Westminster, B.C. Canada, and are eliminated from the tournament

May 22nd Returns to PWG in Santa Ana, CA. Kozina is defeated by Puma.

In June, debut's for Pro Wrestling IRON, in the San Francisco area, scoring a win over Vito Thomaselli.

July 2004 debuts for Ring Of Honor in Elizabeth, NJ with a pinfall victory over Azriel at ROH Do Or Die.

July/August Kozina travels to Santa Monica, CA. to work for New Japan Pro Wrestling U.S.A. as both a wrestler, and an agent behind the scenes. The shows are filmed for the NJPW USA Toukon Fighting Spirit TV show.

August 20th Kozina faces NWA Pacific Northwest Champion Vance Nevada in Nanaimo, B.C. Canada in Champion versus Champion main event. Kozina scores a victory via dq.

August 21st NWA Canadian Jr. Heavyweight title defense versus Ice. Retains title via pinfall. Nanaimo, B.C. Canada.

August 22nd NWA Canadian Jr. Heavyweight title defense versus Mike Dempsey. Retains title via pinfall. Nanaimo, B.C. Canada.

Oct. 23rd, 2004 loses the NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Championship to Disco Fury in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

2005
Kozina would work in many independent promtions. On January 14, Kozina would work a match for Pro Wrestling WAR where he teamed up with Chris Bosh in tag team match against B-Boy and Scorpio that ended in a no contest. The next night on January 15, 2005, Kozina would also work a match in Southern California Championship Wrestling. He would go onto defeat Davey Richards and El Generico in a triple threat match.

He started to do some work for Full Impact Pro. On March 25, Kozina would defeat Don Juan in his debut match. The next night on March 26, 2005, he would be defeated by Steve Madison.

Kozina would continue to work the independent circuit by working a match for NWA Central States on May 21. He would fall in defeat to Jaysin Strife in Lawrence, Kansas.

On June 10, Kozina was entered into the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup which was put on by NWA Florida. Kozina would fall in defeat to Matt Sydal in the first round. The next night on June 11, Kozina teamed up with Sal Rinauro to defeat the team of Fast Eddie Vegas and Todd Sexton. Kozina would return to Full Impact Pro in the month of June. On June 24, Kevin Dunn of The Ring Crew Express would defeat Kozina in a singles contest. The Next night on June 25, Spanky would also defeat Kozina in a singles contest.

October 21 would see Kozina return to Pro Wrestling WAR. He took on Austin Aries which ended in a no contest. The next night on October 22, Kozina teamed up with Davey Richards to take on the team of Aaron Aguilera and Al Katrazz in the southern California promotion Alternative Wrestling Show, but would end up falling in defeat.

2006
March 11th Kozina debuts for NWA Virginia, defeating Chris Escobar in Chilhowie, VA.

May 13th Kozina wins the NWA Virginia State Junior Heavyweight Championship defeating Rex Sterling, Grail, and Mike Vaughan in a four-way match in Martinsville, VA.

Competes in the 2006 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup in Florida, under the mask as Canadian Cougar. Defeats Jake Manning with an armbar submission in round one, and falls in defeat to Ruckus on the second night.

2007
June 10th returns to PWG in Burbank, CA. vs. TJ Perkins. TJ defeats Kozina, and the two get a standing ovation from the crowd.

Aug. 31st-Sept. 2nd Competes in PWG 2007 Battle Of Los Angeles Tournament. Kozina is defeated in the first round by El Generico.

Oct. 19th Las Vegas, NV. Returns to Ring Of Honor at the 2007 Survival of the Fittest. Loses to Human Tornado and Shane Hagadorn in a three-way match.

Oct. 21st San Francisco Cow Palace- Teams with TJ Perkins vs. The No Remorse Corps (Rocky Romero and Davey Richards). NRC defeats Kozina and Perkins when Richards taps out Perkins with a kimura shoulder-lock.

2008
Kozina wrestled only twice in 2008. Frustrations after not breaking through to the next level, saw him return to school, and leave wrestling behind until the end of the year.

Jan. 19th Bellingham, WA. NWA Washington State. Kyle O'Reilly defeats Kozina with a sunset flip.

Dec. 5th Kozina returns to Ring Of Honor in Collinsville, IL. Kozina is defeated by Bao Nguyen with a german suplex.

2009
April 29th 2009 Tony Kozina faces Mil Mascaras in Ottawa, Kansas. The bout is featured on the Mexican feature film Mil Mascaras: Aztec Revenge.

Oct. 10th vs. Grizzly Redwood. Ring Of Honor. Collinsville, IL. Defeated via pinfall.

2010
August debuts for 2CW in waterbury, NY., losing to Pepper Parks.

2011
Feb. 4th Kozina becomes number one contender to the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship after beating TC3, and Chase McCoy in a three-way bout in Waukesha, WI.

Feb. 5th Kozina wrestles Craig Classic for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship in Streator, IL. Classic secures the pinfall, but the referee fails to see Kozina's foot over the bottom rope. Tony protests the decision to the local promoter, and NWA Midwest management, seeking a rematch.

April 9th Vandelia, IL. Confronts NWA Midwest X Champion Oliver Cain after Cain's title defense. No physical contact was made, and it's unknown what was said before the confrontation was broken up by Davey Richards, who talked Tony down, and walked him outside.

In wrestling

 * Finishing moves
 * Sky Twister
 * Figure Four leglock
 * Vortex(spinning facebuster)
 * Managers
 * Kharma


 * Wrestlers managed
 * Kyle O'Reilly
 * Davey Richards


 * Wrestlers trained
 * Kyle O'Reilly
 * Davey Richards
 * Damon Scythe
 * Dustin Snyder
 * Eric Baeden


 * Nicknames
 * "Tornado" Tony Kozina

Championships and accomplishments

 * AWA Pinnacle
 * AWA Pinnacle Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)


 * AWA Washington
 * AWA Washington Tag Team Championship (2 times) with - Davey Richards (1), Mr. Phil Goode (1)


 * '''Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
 * NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
 * NWA Pacific Northwest Junior Heavywight Championship (6 times)


 * National Wrestling Alliance
 * NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
 * NWA Virginia Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)


 * Pro Wrestling Illustrated
 * PWI ranked him #179 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 2002


 * Slam! Wrestling
 * Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame