RIP: The Life and Career of "Flying" Fred Curry
One of the first "flyers" in Pro Wrestling and a true and genuine second generation star of the Territory Era
Fred Thomas Koury Jr., better known to wrestling fans worldwide as “Flying” Fred Curry, was one of professional wrestling’s most innovative and beloved performers during the territorial era of the 1960s and 1970s. Born on June 12, 1943, in Hartford, Connecticut, and of Lebanese descent, Curry passed away on April 3, 2026, at the age of 82.
His death, announced by fellow wrestler Bobby Fulton, and widely mourned across the wrestling community, marked the end of an era for one of the sport’s earliest true high-flyers. Fulton posted on Facebook, “The legendary ‘Flying’ Fred Curry, one of the first ‘high flyers’ in wrestling has passed! He helped me with many opportunities! He’ll be deeply missed & my heart is broken! My prayers for his wife, children & family!”
Unlike many of his contemporaries who relied on brute strength or brawling, Curry dazzled audiences with speed, agility, and aerial offense—most famously executing 15 to 20 dropkicks in a matter of seconds. He was a consummate babyface (fan favorite), a multi-time champion across multiple territories, and a bridge between the hardcore style of his father, “Wild Bull” Curry, and the more athletic, entertainment-driven wrestling that would dominate later decades. His career not only restored and elevated the family name but also helped lay the groundwork for modern high-flying techniques seen in stars from Shawn Michaels to Rey Mysterio.
Curry grew up in the shadow of his father, Fred Thomas Koury Sr. (better known as “Wild Bull” Curry), a legendary heel famous for his violent, riot-inciting style that pioneered elements of hardcore wrestling decades before the 1990-decade hardcore push. Bull Curry’s chaotic persona—brass knuckles, brawls that spilled into the crowd, and bans in multiple countries—defined an era of tough, unpredictable wrestling. Young Fred, however, charted a different path. An outstanding all-around athlete at Hartford Public High School, he excelled in football (earning All-District, All-State, and All-American honors and serving as team captain), wrestling, and track. He continued his football career at the University of Connecticut on a scholarship, again captaining the team and earning a degree in education.
This athletic background was crucial. While many wrestlers of the time entered the business through carnival strongman circuits or sheer toughness, Curry’s formal training in speed, coordination, and conditioning gave him a natural foundation for an aerial style. Growing up around the business—watching his father and absorbing the territorial system—provided insider knowledge, but he deliberately chose to differentiate himself. Rather than emulate his father’s rule-breaking brawls, Fred focused on technique, flight, and showmanship. As one archive described it, he became “THE WORLD’S GREATEST BABYFACE,” soaring from the top rope and thrilling crowds in ways that predated the high-flying revolution of the 1980s and 1990s.
Trained by his father, Curry debuted in 1963 and quickly adopted the ring name “Flying” Fred Curry. Early in his career, he teamed with Bull Curry, a natural pairing that drew on family legacy while showcasing generational contrast. The duo captured the NWA International Tag Team Championship in 1964 (holding it until 1966) and the Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Nikolai and Boris Volkoff. These early successes established Fred as a star in his own right. He was slim, agile, and explosive—a sharp stylistic departure from his father’s rugged image—yet the partnership helped him gain immediate credibility and bookings in major Midwest territories like Detroit’s Big Time Wrestling.
Pictured: Father and son, “Wild Bull” Curry and “Flying” Fred Curry
As he matured, Curry consciously distanced himself from his father’s controversial tactics to “restore the family’s good name.” This independence never strained their relationship; instead, it highlighted Fred’s maturity and respect for wrestling’s traditions. By the mid-1960s, he was headlining cards not just through familial ties but on the strength of his own athleticism.
Curry’s prime spanned the height of the territorial system, where he became a sensation in Detroit, Texas, Hawaii, and beyond, with international stops in Japan, Australia, Canada, and California. In Texas (NWA Big Time Wrestling), he formed a successful partnership with Fritz von Erich, winning the NWA American Tag Team Championship. He also claimed the NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Tito Carreon.In Hawaii, he held the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship in 1972. Back in Detroit, he amassed an astonishing nine reigns as NWA World Tag Team Champion (Detroit version), teaming with partners including Tony Marino (four times), Billy Red Lyons, Bobo Brazil, and others. He also won the NWF World Tag Team Championship with Luis Martínez.
Pictured: NWF World Tag Team Champions: Luis Martinez and “Flying” Fred Curry
His popularity peaked in 1972 when Pro Wrestling Illustrated named him (tied with Jack Brisco) the Most Popular Wrestler in the World—a rare honor that reflected his connection with fans. He appeared in the WWWF (precursor to WWE), notably in matches against Unpredictable Johnny Rodz and others, and was a fixture on television tapings. Headlining arenas from Cobo Hall in Detroit to Texas venues, Curry embodied the territorial star: reliable, exciting, and capable of drawing crowds with pure athletic spectacle.
What set Curry apart—and earned him the “Flying” moniker—was his revolutionary offense. Long before the Hardy Boyz, Shawn Michaels, or Rey Mysterio popularized high-flying, Curry was executing flying body presses, headscissors, and especially blistering dropkick combinations. Contemporary accounts and tributes consistently describe him firing off 15–20 dropkicks in roughly 10 seconds, a feat that remains legendary. His style was fast, aggressive, and visually spectacular, turning matches into crowd-pleasing spectacles. In an era dominated by larger, ground-based brawlers and technicians, Curry proved that wrestling could be graceful, athletic, and airborne. As Bobby Fulton later reflected, “Fred was one of the first high flyers in wrestling!”
This innovation was not just flashy; it was influential. Curry helped shift audience expectations toward more dynamic, high-risk maneuvers, paving the way for the aerial revolution that transformed the sport in the 1980s and beyond.
Curry’s most notable feud was with the legendary heel The Sheik (Ed Farhat) in Detroit, where their matches delivered high drama and bloody intensity. He also clashed with a who’s-who of territorial stars, including opponents like Zebra Kid, Roger Kirby, and others in Texas programs. Partnerships with icons like Fritz von Erich, Bobo Brazil, and Tony Marino further elevated his status.
Pictured: The Sheik (Ed Farhat) backs “Flying” Fred Curry into a corner
Off-camera, Curry was remembered as a consummate professional and loving family man. In a 2015 interview while promoting his biography of his father (The Walking Riot), he spoke warmly of Bull’s showmanship and legacy, motivated by ongoing fan mail: “All these years had passed … (It’s) kind of touching… So that just motivated me.” He emphasized preserving the Curry name for future generations. Bobby Fulton’s tribute paints a vivid portrait of Curry as a mentor, storyteller, and ribber who loved his fans deeply—even on his deathbed, he reportedly said, “I’ll always live, and remember I’m fighting for you!” Fulton noted Curry’s deep respect for his father, he wouldn’t smoke cigars around him, and how traveling with the Currys launched his own career. Noted historian Tom Burke recalled Curry’s cooking expertise, “He was not only a master of in-ring work but also a master chef, his hummus was incredile!”
Curry retired around 1980 after nearly two decades in the ring. He later wrote his own autobiography (in progress at the time of interviews) and saw the family legacy continue through his son, Fred Curry Jr. (“Rocket” Fred Curry), and grandson, both of whom wrestled.
“Flying” Fred Curry’s contributions extend far beyond titles. In an era when wrestling was still largely regional and grounded in toughness, he introduced speed and spectacle that anticipated the athletic boom of later decades. He was a second-generation star who succeeded on his own terms, proving that family legacy could evolve rather than merely replicate. His dropkick mastery and high-flying prowess influenced countless performers, even if the national spotlight of the 1980s Hulkamania era overshadowed many territorial pioneers.
Pictured: Bobo Brazil on the microphone as “Flying” Fred Curry watches
Tributes poured in after his passing. Fulton, the Ohio Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (which inducted the Curry family), and wrestling historians hailed him as a trailblazer. His style bridged the hardcore roots of his father’s generation and the entertainment-focused future of pro wrestling. As one obituary noted, he was “the first real high-flyer of the sport” and “one of the greatest highflyers and dropkickers of all time.”
In the broader context of wrestling history, Curry exemplified the territorial system’s strengths: regional heroes who built lifelong fanbases through consistent, high-quality performances. His life also underscores themes of family, reinvention, and respect—carving his own identity while honoring his roots.
“Flying” Fred Curry soared through an era of giants and brawlers, leaving an indelible mark as a pioneer of high-flying wrestling. From Hartford high school fields to sold-out arenas across North America and beyond, his dropkicks, leaps, and charisma captivated generations. Though he retired quietly in 1980, his influence echoes in every top-rope dive and springboard move today. As Bobby Fulton and countless fans remember, Curry didn’t just wrestle—he fought for the audience, lived for the legacy, and flew higher than most ever dreamed. His wings may be still, but the spirit of one if the world’s greatest babyfaces will forever soar in the annals of professional wrestling.
Rest in peace, Flying Fred.
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