George 'Hitman' Julio Announced As First Australian Wrestling Pioneer

A name almost everyone involved in Australian wrestling will know — especially if you’re from Victoria — is George ‘Hitman’ Julio.

It is our privilege here at PWdownunder.com to announce George ‘Hitman’ Julio as the first recipient of the Australian Wrestling Pioneer award. This makes George Julio the very first Australian Wrestling Pioneer recognised by PWdownunder.com.

George has had a profound impact on the Victorian wrestling scene as a wrestler, promoter and trainer.

Born in Malta, George spent his early years competing in boxing, amateur wrestling, and bodybuilding. At the age of 17, he moved to Australia, where his wrestling journey would soon begin.

George shared the story of how fate led him to the ring: one day, his wife was approached in a supermarket by another woman, whose husband happened to be a local wrestling promoter. After being introduced, George was invited to a gym in Melbourne’s CBD, where he began training. He recalled how, on his very first visit, fellow wrestlers were immediately struck by his impressive physical build.

In 2004, Julio played a key role in launching New Age Wrestling (NAW), a promotion based in Melbourne’s west that would quickly become a proving ground for some of Victoria’s brightest future stars.

George would go on to make his mark both in and out of the ring, but his greatest contribution to Australian wrestling has arguably been as a trainer. Over the decades, hundreds of wrestlers have passed through George’s wrestling school, which operated from a humble but iconic shed in the backyard of his home in Sunshine, in Melbourne’s western suburbs — a training ground that has helped shape much of Victoria’s wrestling scene for over 20+ years.

Names like JXT, Mitch Waterman, Enforcer, Kellie Skater, Krackerjack, Jungle Cat, Jake Navara, Lochy Hendricks, Kellyanne, Iron Horse Morrison, Candyman, Mad Dog, Mike Manson, Vixsin, Chuck E Chaos, Xavier Black, Stephan Cool, James ‘The Beast’ Jackson, Fun Time Phil, Lobo and many many more.

In 2015, George announced his retirement from active competition, a moment that captured mainstream media attention. His farewell match took place at the beloved NAW venue in Albion, Melbourne, where at the age of 69, George teamed with Lobo to face fellow legends The Enforcer and Mad Dog McCrea in a steel cage match — a fitting send-off for a career that spanned generations. But, as is often the case in wrestling, retirement didn’t last. George laced up his boots again in 2017, returning to action for several matches in NAW. Most recently, he stepped into the ring for Victorian Professional Wrestling (VPW), competing in a hard-hitting street fight against Mason Stoneheart — one of the many wrestlers George helped train.

Now, in 2025, at the age of 80, George Julio is still contributing to the Australian wrestling scene. Whether it’s offering advice, sharing wisdom, or guiding the next generation, his influence remains as strong as ever. Just recently, he appeared at the Mayhem School of Professional Wrestling to pass on over 60 years’ worth of knowledge to Victoria’s rising stars.

George’s former business partner and owner of Alpha Pro Wrestling Mike Manson had the following to say on George’s legacy..

“George’s legacy is Victorian Wrestling, and it’s clear that without his teaching, none of us would be here today. When I first started wrestling, the old-timers, such as Mario Milano, would not teach anyone outside their group, but George made an exception and opened the doors to outsiders.”

“Before him, you had to be related to someone in the industry or be invited to participate. George was the first to change that, and now anyone can join.”

“As a result, his training schools have produced a wide range of wrestlers, including those from PCW. In fact, anyone involved in Victorian Wrestling today has trained with George at some point.”

“Without George, there would be no Victorian Wrestling. For years, including throughout the Independents, it has consistently been strong, and that’s attributable to George.”

PWdownunder.com Content Manager Marek Indyka said..

“I feel it’s important to acknowledge names from the past that have had a major impact on the Australian wrestling scene. The Pioneer award signifies that extra level of influence our recipients had on others. From the people I’ve been in contact with and the stories I’ve heard of George it’s a privilege to be able to use our platform here at PWdownunder.com to honor George and his legacy.”

Mike Manson spoke about some of the lessons he learnt from George..

“I was fortunate to learn a great deal from George, including the importance of in-ring timing, understanding how to connect with the crowd, and presenting myself as a professional wrestler. He also taught me about the business side of wrestling, how to conduct myself in the locker room, and how to carry myself as a wrestler. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from him for so long, and I believe that his influence is still evident in my approach to professional wrestling.”

In partnership with Mayhem Pro, Australian Wrestling Cards and Alpha Trophies a special presentation will be held for George on June 28th with an event entitled ‘Bad To The Bone’. George used the song ‘Bad To The Bone’ by George Thorogood & The Destroyers as his entrance music for many years.

On the night special limited edition trading cards produced by Australian Wrestling Cards will be available to purchase, personally signed by George Julio.