55 Facts About Tony Atlas

Anthony White was born on April 23,1954 and better known by his ring name Tony Atlas is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport.

Tony Atlas is known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr USA", the nom de guerre the "Black Superman", as well as an alter ego named Saba Simba.

Tony Atlas returned as an on screen manager for WWE, appearing on its now-defunct ECW brand.

Tony Atlas re-signed with WWE in a legends deal in mid-2012.

The match finished with Tony Atlas winning the fall for his team with a sleeper hold on The Blue Scorpion.

Tony Atlas was the very first man to press slam and pin Hulk Hogan though Hogan's foot was on the rope and the referee did not see it.

Tony Atlas later teamed with Mr Wrestling II, Thunderbolt Patterson, Kevin Sullivan, and Rocky Johnson.

Tony Atlas debuted in the World Wrestling Federation on October 23,1979, defeating Johnny Rodz at a Championship Wrestling taping.

Two months after departing the World Wrestling Federation, Tony Atlas resurfaced in Verne Gagne's AWA.

At the time the AWA was being raided for talent by the WWF; this represented a swing in the opposite direction and Tony Atlas received a push upon joining the promotion.

Tony Atlas scored a win against Bob Orton and a non-title victory over WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine at the Steel Cage Turmoil round robin tournament in Hartford, CT on November 23,1984, but suffered his first defeat on his comeback when he lost to David Shultz.

At this point Tony Atlas began to transition to a mid-card performer and would lose several matches, including bouts with Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, Don Muraco, and Roddy Piper.

Tony Atlas programmed him into several short-lived tag-teams with Ivan Putski, Lanny Poffo and George Wells.

Tony Atlas made his PPV debut in 1986 when he appeared in the Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 2 being eliminated by William Perry.

Tony Atlas began to be shunted further down the card, losing to Big John Studd, Iron Sheik, Dory Funk Jr.

Tony Atlas's final match was a loss to Adrian Adonis in a bout that took place in Madison Square Garden and which aired on September 8,1986, on Prime Time Wrestling.

Tony Atlas made a one match return on August 28,1987, when he teamed with The Junkyard Dog to defeat Kamala and Sika at the WWF Paul Boesch Retirement Show.

Two months later Tony Atlas joined the Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling where he adopted the moniker of "The Black Superman".

Tony Atlas made his initial appearance on November 11,1986, and defeated Tim Brooks in Fort Worth, TX.

In January 1987, Tony Atlas competed in a tournament to crown the Texas Heavyweight Champion, beating Tim Brooks in the opening round but falling to Matt Borne in the quarter-finals.

On July 16,1988, Tony Atlas was appearing at a WWC event in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where he was one of the 2 witnesses, the other being Dutch Mantel to the fatal assault on wrestler Bruiser Brody.

Tony Atlas ran to the shower and saw Brody bent over and holding his stomach.

Tony Atlas said that he was asked to be in the trial but never got a call back because the case was already finalized.

Tony Atlas then moved on to Southern Ontario area in late 1988.

Tony Atlas joined International Championship Wrestling where he turned heel and under the management of The Duke won the ICW Heavyweight title from Joe Savoldi.

Tony Atlas lost the belt to Vic Steamboat in Middletown, NY.

In 1990 Tony Atlas returned to the WWF where he wrestled as "Saba Simba" for the remainder of 1990 and into January 1991.

Tony Atlas made his first appearance in his comeback on August 4,1990, when he pinned Haku at a house show in Augusta, GA.

On December 13,2010, Tony Atlas appeared on Right After Wrestling and credited the Saba Simba character with saving his life as he was homeless and living on a park bench before getting a phone call from McMahon.

Tony Atlas played a warrior of a Ugandan tribe and was intended to feud with Akeem, but the feud never took place after Akeem departed from the promotion.

Tony Atlas defeated Jimmy Snuka on an independent show on June 28,1992, in Wallingford, CT.

Tony Atlas later left IWCCW which left the IWCCW title vacant.

Tony Atlas suffered his first pinfall when he was defeated by Tom Zenk in Chicago, IL on October 31,1992.

Tony Atlas entered the King of Cable tournament but was defeated by Big Van Vader in the quarterfinals.

On January 2,1993, Tony Atlas entered a tournament to crown a new United States Heavyweight Champion following the vacating of the title by an injured Rick Rude.

Tony Atlas became part of a storyline where a bounty had been placed on rookie Erik Watts head; Tony Atlas entered a house show series in January 1993 with the young Watts but was winless.

Tony Atlas made an appearance on Clash of the Champions XXII in Milwaukee, WI on January 13,1993, and lost an arm wrestling contest to Vinnie Vegas.

Tony Atlas returned to IWCCW in the fall of 1993 and faced Tommy Dreamer, Johnny Gunn, Tito Santana, and Primo Carnera III.

Tony Atlas wrestled for the CWA in 1994, and in 1995 joined the upstart American Wrestling Federation.

Tony Atlas teamed with Koko B Ware to face Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich for the vacant AWF Tag-Team Championship.

Apart from his AWF appearances Tony Atlas wrestled primarily with the CWA in 1995 through 1997.

Tony Atlas made a return to Puerto Rico's WWC defeating Dutch Mantel on July 16,2000, at WWC 27th anniversary event.

On November 19,2005, Tony Atlas defeated Tracy Smothers at CCW A Tribute to Starrcade in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Tony Atlas teamed with Bushwhacker Luke to defeat Eric Johnson and Thad Hairy Howett at UCW in Kentville, Nova Scotia, on April 28,2018.

Tony Atlas made a surprise return to the WWF on the March 10,1997, edition of Monday Night RAW.

Tony Atlas appeared on the July 8,2008, airing of ECW where Theodore Long appointed him the special guest ring announcer for the main event featuring Tommy Dreamer with then-babyface, Colin Delaney in his corner against then-heel, ECW Champion Mark Henry.

Tony Atlas attacked Delaney, which in turn distracted Dreamer, allowing Henry to gain the victory.

Tony Atlas then announced Henry the winner of the bout, although the official result was a double countout.

Tony Atlas helped Mark Henry retain his title at SummerSlam by disqualification, attacking Matt Hardy once a win by Hardy appeared to be imminent.

Tony Atlas helped Henry retain his championship on the August 19,2008, episode of ECW against Hardy.

Tony Atlas wrestled Evan Bourne on the June 9,2009, episode of ECW in a losing effort.

Tony Atlas would continue to appear on ECW during The Abraham Washington Show as Abraham Washington's sidekick, until ECW went off air in February 2010.

Tony Atlas was released from his WWE contract on April 30,2010.

In 2014, Tony Atlas was a regular cast member on the WWE Network original reality show, Legends' House.

Tony Atlas was born in Roanoke, Virginia, where he attended Patrick Henry High School.