Terrible Ted: Tales of the Wrestling Bear

Bears are intelligent and potentially dangerous creatures who do not belong in captivity or a wrestling ring. Still, once upon a time, a 7-foot tall, 600-pound black bear named Terrible Ted travelled to various territories, competed against future legends and captivated audiences.

The Early Years

Born in late 1949 or early 1950, Ted would have his claws and teeth extracted as a cub, meaning he was destined for captivity. While inhumane, Ted posed much less of a threat to humans with his natural weapons removed. That said, he would eventually become a 600-pound bear, which didn’t make him any less intimidating at first glance.

Travelling the carnival circuit, records show that Ted’s first match was against Tony Galento on April 1, 1950, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In the following months, they rematched against each other in Coral Gables, Florida and Marion, Ohio. While the winner of the matches isn’t stated, it’s safe to assume that Ted got his paw raised.

After the carnival went bankrupt, Ted the Wrestling Bear was purchased by Dave McKigney, who also competed as a wrestler under the name ‘Gene Dubois.’ After putting a significant amount of time into training Ted, Dave would grow out his hair and beard while competing under various wildman gimmicks. Now named Terrible Ted, the 600-pound black bear would compete in front of much bigger audiences with Dave by his side or often as his competitor.

In the southern territories, it wasn’t uncommon for a wrestling bear or another large animal to compete against heel managers. Still, Dave competing against Ted minimized any potential risk since they were quite comfortable with each other.

The two travelled across North America, appearing for Maple Leaf Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and even Stampede Wrestling.

Terrible Ted vs Gene Gene Dubois [Pic: YouTube]

Adventures with The Hart Family

Ted briefly stayed at the infamous Hart House, residing under the front porch.

At one point, Stu locked Ted in the basement at the Hart House without telling his wife Helen. While going downstairs to do some laundry, she was greeted by a grunting bear. Needless to say, this situation didn’t occur again as Helen threatened to leave.

In an April 2004 blog entry, Bret Hart described his experience growing up with Ted:

When I was a young boy around five years of age my dad had a wrestling bear living in a cage. Under the back porch steps. I’d let my Revel ice cream drip on my bare toes and dangle my feet between the wooden steps so the bear could lick it off. Us Hart kids thought that was pretty cool. I figured it was a good way to keep my feet clean - and it kind of tickled too.

It just so happened that I was invited to the next door neighbor’s birthday party, which was going to be held up at CFCN at a kiddie show called The Headhunter Show.

I’d never been to a birthday party or been on a TV show so I was pretty hyped when I got on the set and took my seat on the bench. Out from behind the curtain suddenly came Terrible Ted - that very same bear who lived under our porch!

The bear handler scuffled around with Ted just long enough to amuse us kids. Some of the kids were even scared, but not me! Heck, me and Ted were practically on a first name basis and no doubt he appreciated the ice cream drips!

By the end of the show Headhunter, the host, came around interviewing various kids. When he came to me he innocently asked, “Wouldn’t you like to have a bear like that in your back yard?” It seemed like a pretty stupid question. I matter of factly told him, “I already have a bear like that living in my back yard.”

No one enjoyed wrestling Ted in the spring since he would understandably be grumpy following hibernation. He also frequently urinated in the ring.

Despite Dave maintaining control of Ted, there were occasions when the 600-pound bear would fall out of the ring, which terrified the audience and the bear himself.

In the book Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, Diana Hart notes the following after Ted fell out of the ring:

“The fans were reluctant to take their seats again. Little kids were still whimpering and the adults were all shaking.”

A Reward for Pinning Ted

By 1966, Dave McKigney had devised a new idea offering $3,000 to any audience member who could successfully pin Ted. Many tried, and just as many failed, although one individual named John Szigeti got the better of Ted. Desiring money for truck repairs, Szigeti successfully pinned Ted until McKigney intervened.

John would recall his experience for a newspaper called ‘The Phoenix’ on May 7, 1968:

“I fell on top of him and he was under me, down. He tries to push but he can’t. I am flat on his stomach and his legs are in the air. I hold that for maybe 15 seconds.”

He recalled saying to Dave: “I pin the bear. I want my money. This made the owner mad. He took the muzzle off the bear and told him to “jump” and everybody yelled, “Phoney!” The bear jumped me and I got knocked to the floor.”

Ultimately, McKigney did not live up to his word and refused to pay the money promised to John Szigeti, resulting in a lawsuit.

The Final Years

Terrible Ted would continue to compete throughout North America, appearing for various promotions such as the World Wrestling Association, Roy Shire’s Big Time Wrestling and even Vince McMahon’s Sr’s World Wide Wrestling Federation.

By all accounts, Terrible Ted’s final wrestling match transpired in March of 1975 at the Armory in Akron, Ohio, defeating Canadian Wolfman.

Following his wrestling career, Ted would reside in Aurora, Ontario, with his owner Dave McKigney until a tragedy changed the trajectory of their lives forever.

Dave also owned another bear named wrestling named Smokey, but unlike Ted, this bear still had its teeth and claws. After accidentally leaving Smokey’s cage door open, the bear would maul his girlfriend to death. Attempting to intervene, Dave sustained injuries after the bear attacked his hand and back, but he managed to survive.

Due to this gruesome situation, the Ontario Humane Society took Smokey and Terrible Ted away from Dave.

Ted’s fate was never revealed, but since he was older, declawed and detoothed, one would hope that he spent his final years at a sanctuary or zoo, but it’s most likely he was euthanized.

The unbelievable story of Terrible Ted offers many takeaways, but perhaps most apparent is the fact that keeping wild animals as pets (or performers) can be extremely dangerous and while popular in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, exploiting them for our entertainment isn’t humane.

David McKigney with his other wrestling bear Smokey [Pic: Canada History]