The WAWLI Papers # 001...

OCTOBER 20, 1915: THE BEGINNING??

For the heck of it, let's say that Wrestling As We Liked It (WAWLI) began reaching fruition during the World War I years. Specifically, let's pick a date which points to the rise of Ed (Strangler) Lewis as the premier drawing card of the WAWLI era, a position he only relinquished through the handicaps of strong drink, diminishing eyesight and that other great equalizer, advancing years. One of his "proteges," Lou Thesz, then took over on top and was the dominant figure in the game until finally bowing out from the "world championship" just before his 50th birthday.

Both Lewis and Thesz were remarkable athletes, who achieved great wrestling skill as well as the ingredients of the hippodrome art. Lewis, and an old running mate of his, Joe (Toots) Mondt, are often credited with bringing "rassling" into its modern era. If that is so, something was lost when Thesz gave up the National Wrestling Alliance belt and gradually began removing himself from the elite group of headliners who then ruled the mat box offices. The game drew rapidly away from any pretense at wrestling skill, tag-team "mayhem" was the prevailing desire of the fans and the exhibition of anything resembling a pure wrestling hold rapidly became a rare item, indeed.

Interestingly, in The WAWLI Papers, we're talking about a period in time ranging just over 50 years. Lewis, 25 in 1915, was about to take New York by storm in that winter's "world championship" tournament. Thesz wasn't even in swaddling clothes, having only been conceived days after Joe Stecher stopped Charles Cutler at Omaha in July. Frank Gotch, 38 in the summer of 1915, was mulling big-dollar offers to come out of retirement; when he finally did launch an aborted comeback, he suffered the broken leg that ended his fabled career. A year and a half later, he would be dead. (Ironically, the opponent he broke the leg against in a circus exhibition--Bob Managoff--was the father of a future world champion, Bobby Managoff.)

And so it came to pass that Lewis and Stecher, he of the dreaded leg scissors, were signed to clash for the latter's version (generally accepted) of the world title belt. The Evansville Press relates the saga surrounding that Wednesday, October 20, 1915 match at the Wells-Bijou Theater: _______________________________________

CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING MATCH Ed "Strangler" Lewis --vs.-- Joe Stecher WELLS BIJOU, WED. NIGHT, OCT. 20 Tickets on Sale at Theater Box Office Prices $1, $1.50, $2, $3, $5 ________________________________________

WORLD'S CHAMPION WRESTLER AND CONTESTANT WHO MEET FOR TITLE IN EVANSVILLE TONIGHT...(10-20-15)

When Joe Stecher, the champion wrestler of the world, came into the Press editorial rooms Wednesday to say howdy-do to the sporting editor he appeared to be a big farm boy just come to town to look for work in one of the local factories.

Nobody would take the Nebraska wrestler to be the man who will take more than $1,500 out of Evansville tonight after his match with Ed Lewis.

Stecher has never met Lewis on the mat. He has never seen Lewis wrestle. Lewis, however, trained (Charles) Cutler for his match with Stecher at Omaha July 4.

Stecher is very bashful and retiring. He does not talk. He was in the Press editorial room 15 minutes and he spoke exactly three words. When he left the Press he went into hiding again. He dislikes to be the cynosure of all eyes.

Lewis, the Kentucky youngster who wants to be the next holder of the world title, is heavier and apparently a stronger man than Stecher. He is broader, more compactly built and apparently holds a wonderful lot of endurance.

Stecher, however, has the record of having never been thrown for a fall in 44 matches. He is a mother's boy and promised his mother when he went into the wrestling game that he would never do a crooked thing. Promoters say that he is the one man who will do his best and do it as quick as he can, regardless of how the crowd may feel about the brevity of the contest.

Stecher is the only world's champion who ever came to Evansville to meet a contender.

Stecher is the favorite in tonight's match. There isn't much betting but what has been done has been on the basis that Lewis will not get a fall.
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JOE STECHER IS WINNER OF MATCH (10-21-15)

Joe Stecher, who wrestled Ed Lewis at the Wells-Bijou Theater Wednesday night, is still the undefeated champion heavyweight wrestler of the world. Fans were disappointed because they did not get to see Stecher apply his deadly scissors hold and because Lewis would not take the role of aggressor.

In the two hours and three minutes of wrestling, Lewis did not give Stecher an opportunity to put his famous scissors hold on him. Lewis wrestled on the defensive. Apparently, he was afraid to try offensive work.

The end came when, after the two hours and three minutes, Stecher -- mad because Lewis would not mix -- began rushing the Kentuckian fiercely and drove him over the ropes, Lewis falling and striking his head on the rim of a chair seat. He did not rise. His managed said he was injured. Dr. Phil Warter, who was the first physician to reach his side, said he was not injured much. Later Drs. Greenleaf and Louis Fritsch made the same statement.

Lewis was taken to his dressing room. Physicians examined him and said he was not injured to any extent. Later Lewis was taken to the Walker hospital. Dr. Will Davidson, who worked with Lewis during the night, said Thursday morning that Lewis was injured in the groin.

Referee Bert Sisson gave Stecher the first fall and announced that unless Lewis came back into the ring within 15 minutes that Stecher would be awarded the second fall. During the wait Mayor Bosse took the opportunity to get into the limelight and announced from the stage that, in view of the doctors' finding, he saw no reason why Lewis should not come back and finish the match.

Bosse, who had seven passes to the match, and who had General Manager Blinn of the Public Utilities Co. in his party, made a speech from the stage when Lewis was carried out. Throughout the match Bosse managed to be a counter-attraction by his actions in the box.

Had Lewis come back there could have been no doubt of the outcome. Sooner or later Stecher would have gotten his deadly hold on him. With that Lewis might have been injured for life. Only last week Stecher got it on Paul Sass, French wrestler, in seven minutes and left him bleeding from the ears, nose and mouth. Several wrestlers have been ruptured by Stecher with that hold.

Lewis went on the mat to wrestle on the defensive. For the two hours and three minutes he put up a wonderful exhibition of defensive work. He was able to do just what he had planned. He did not please the fans. They wanted to see him mix in with the champion. Even Stecher's manager, at the end of one hour and 60 minutes, asked Referee Sisson to force Lewis to wrestle and not run. Lewis' manager replied that the floor was roped and that it was Stecher's task to throw Lewis. Not once did Stecher get behind the Kentuckian. Lewis, however, got Stecher on the mat and on top of him three times but confined his efforts to keeping away from Stecher's toe hook, which is always the first stage of his famous scissors hold.

Lewis was behind Stecher four times. Stecher admitted that Lewis was the hardest man to get behind he had ever met. Stecher has no other hold which he uses successfully. He has won practically every match with his scissors hold which must be made from behind.

In staying with Stecher over two hours, Lewis did what he went on the mat to do. Stecher defeated Cutler, the world's champion, in 27 minutes. No other man within the last two years has stayed on the mat with Stecher as long as has Lewis. George Turner stayed with him three hours to a draw two years ago.

Before Lewis went on the mat he got a telegram from Cutler which advised him to stay on his feet and break quick. He did this. The fans did not like his style of wrestling. They yelled for him to wrestle and not run. But (Billy) Sandow, his manager, instructed him by signals to wear Stecher out by letting the champion do the offensive work.

When the end came it was evident that Stecher was determined to force Lewis to wrestle vigorously. Had Stecher got the scissors hold in the mood he had then, Lewis would have suffered. His manager realized this.

"Our game was to stay with Stecher and let him do all the aggressive work," said Sandow, Lewis' manager, Thursday. "This Stecher is deadly. Lewis did not get in there and let Stecher get this scissors just to let the fans see it done. That might have meant the end of Lewis' wrestling career. Our game was to wear Stecher out. That is the way Gotch got the championship from Hackenschmidt.

"Any wrestler will tell you that a man who can wrestle defensively successfully is as scientific as the man who rushes his opponent, though the fans do not like a defensive wrestler. They want spectacular work. We did not care to sacrifice Lewis merely to make a show."

The match was perhaps too scientific for the Evansville fans who have been witnessing exhibitions of the second-raters, and have never before seen a "blood" match.

The match might be compared to a ball game in which there was no hitting and consequently no scoring for 17 innings.

After the match Mayor Bosse and Chief of Police Ed Schmitt took the receipts, and Thursday Bosse said that he was going to give a part of the receipts to charity because he thought the match was not on the square. He said he would let the wrestlers have what they would get if regular prices had been charged.

Mayor Bosse, Sheriff Habbe and Joe Stecher between them received four anonymous messages preceding the wrestling match. Two were by telephone and two by telegraph. An unknown man, signing himself R.M. Kerr, wired Mayor Bosse and Sheriff Habbe from Indianapolis, saying: "Stop fake wrestling match tonight." Upon inquiry of manager Eckler of the local Western Union office, the Indianapolis W.U. manager said that his telegram, printed with a lead pencil and with the signature likewise printed, was handed in over the counter of the Indianapolis main office and paid for in cash. The same mysterious Indianapolis person called Mayor Bosse up by phone.

A man who did not give his name called Joe Stecher up, by phone from Cincinnati. "You will be double-crossed, watch out," said the strange voice. Before the match Stecher and his brother voiced their fears to Referee Sisson. The referee told Stecher that he need not be afraid of getting any raw deal in Evansville. The conduct of the referee in over-stepping the rules and giving Stecher two falls when he was entitled to but one showed how groundless was the fear of a bad deal raised in Stecher's mind by the anonymous telephone call.

To Promoter Barton, after the match, Stecher said: "Lewis is the best man I ever met. He is stronger than I am and we might have gone on for an hour more before I got him. He is the fastest big man I ever saw."

The first Gotch-Hackenschmidt match in Chicago was won by Gotch by the use of the identical tactics pursued by Lewis last night. Hackenschmidt chased Gotch all over the ring for almost two hours and then quit. "You can have it, Mr. Gotch," he said, and walked out of the ring. Last night when Lewis run for two hours, Stecher became only the more desperate in his desire to get Lewis to the mat where he could pin him.
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MAYOR UNDERTAKES TO MAKE SETTLEMENTS; SAYS HE WILL DISTRIBUTE PART OF PROCEEDS TO THE POOR OF THE CITY (10-21-15)

By grabbing the receipts of the Stecher-Lewis wrestling match, amounting to $2,765, Mayor Bosse Thursday had the eyes of the sporting world on Evansville.

Bosse asked Promoter Barton Wednesday night for the money after the management of the Wells-Bijou had refused his request. Barton turned the money over to him without a protest.

Thursday Bosse announced that he intended to pay the participants on the basis of prices of admission for ordinary wrestling matches and deposit the rest of the money to his credit in a bank against which he will draw for relief of the poor. The mayor claimed that because Lewis did not make an aggressive move the match was not satisfactory. He announced there would be no more wrestling matches in Evansville.

Stecher had not gotten his part of the receipts Thursday and when this news was flashed over the wire there was a stir in the sporting world.

"Never will there be another champion of any sort come to Evansville," said one prominent sporting man who took exception to Mayor Bosse's action in the matter. "If anybody wanted to attach the receipts a court was the proper place to do it," said another. ________________________________________

DOCTORS DECLARE LEWIS' LEG WAS HURT BY STECHER (10-21-15)

At noon Thursday, Dr. W.R. Davidson of the Walker Hospital where Ed Lewis, the wrestler, is a patient made this statement:

"Dr. Walker and I have made a partial examination of Lewis and find that he has torn muscle in the inner side of his right leg sufficient to disable him. At this point there is a hemorrhage under the skin. We have not been able to examine him to find out if any bones are broken, because of the great pain that any effort of this nature causes him."

The foregoing statement established the fact that Lewis was injured as he claimed. ______________________________________

PROMOTER LEFT WITH INSUFFICIENT MONEY TO RETURN HOME (10-22-15)

Promoter William F. Barton, who staged the Lewis-Stecher match at the Wells-Bijou Wednesday night, left Evansville Friday morning with $13 in his pocket.

This was enough to take him and his wife as far as Indianapolis in their journey to their home at Three Rivers, Mich. He owed $400 to the wrestlers.

Six hundred dollars of Barton's money had been donated to Evansville charities by Mayor Bosse, and $100 Barton had to give to Paul Schmidt, his lawyer, in getting what he did out of the box-office receipts which Mayor Bosse had seized.

Somehow Barton couldn't see that it was quite square. "It wasn't my fault that Lewis didn't put up the kind of game the fans wanted to see," he said.

Only $13 in cash, with a debt of $400, was left to Promoter Barton after he paid the bills out of the $2,165 which Mayor Bosse let him have. While Barton doubted the legal right of the mayor to seize the receipts, he was not disposed to enter into a legal fight which would have put him deeper into debt than he now is.

The charities among which the $600 taken from Barton has been equally divided are: St. Mary's Hospital, Deaconess Hospital, Boehne Camp, Babies' Milk Fund, the Associated Charities and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

With a full house, and no enforced sharing of the proceeds with charity, the most that Barton could have made for all his work in staging the championship match would have been $375. _________________________________________

LET'S BE FAIR SPORTS, ANYWAY! Yes, By Gum, No Matter If Style of Play Isn't to Our Liking, Give the Devil His Due (10-22-15)

It is easy enough to denounce as a coward the man who "fights and runs away" as Ed Lewis did in his wrestling match with Joe Stecher, world champion, in Evansville Wednesday night. But if games of sport have any deeper purpose than to amuse it is to instill into the minds of sport fans a spirit of fair play.

Fairness demands that every imputation of cowardice be removed from Lewis because of his tactics in his encounter with the man who for the moment is the world's greatest wrestler.

Lewis did not put up the kind of a bout that wrestling fans went to the Wells-Bijou to see. Had he permitted Stecher to have his own way as he has had with all opponents in the squared circle the match would probably not have lasted one-fifth of the time it did.

Lewis knew the danger of Stecher's powerful legs and for two hours and three minutes he kept out of the famous scissors hold which is Stecher's masterpiece and which has won him every victory he has had. Lewis' successful getaways did not make the match interesting at all times to the audience, but they did furnish a remarkable exhibition of high science in wrestling.

Had Stecher been a more powerfully built man above his waist line there is little doubt but that he could have brought Lewis to the mat early. But he could not get Lewis to a position where he could use his legs on him and that was Stecher's disadvantage in contending with a man far more powerful in the upper body.

The fans went to the match expecting to see the contestants down on the mat most of the time and were disappointed when the bout failed to develop along usual lines. But their disappointment is no warrant for denouncing Lewis as a coward -- as many in the audience did or for calling the bout a fake.

This is not the popular view as evidenced by the approval given Mayor Bosse when, in the excitement of the moment, he took the stage and called "fake." As mayor of the city and in the light of the facts he had no business doing that.

He had no more business doing it than he would have in butting in and denouncing a hitless ballgame as a fake. Baseball, had it remained as it originally was, would today be a game of slugging the ball but it has developed into a highly skilled and scientific contest of stalling in bunt hits and endeavor to prevent batting by curve pitching. Why doesn't Mayor Bosse appoint himself a committee of one to denounce all ball games in which there is no hitting?

Baseball instead of being a battling game has become merely a game to prevent successful batting. By the same token wrestling as demonstrated Wednesday night may become a contest to see which man can stay on his feet the longest instead of a game of catch as catch can. As a spectacle of home runs and flying legs we would rather see the old-fashioned baseball game than the highly developed scientic sort and we would rather see wrestlers at grips than hopping about to get out of each other's way. But we are not denouncing as fakers the ball teams or wrestlers who think differently about it. Neither are we prepared to say that Jim Corbett was a coward when he kept out of John L. Sullivan's way long enough to wear Sullivan down and take the championship belt away from him.

Referee Sisson was absolutely right in refusing to require Lewis to abandon his own tactics of evasion and pursue a course that would have permitted Stecher to take him to the mat.

On the other hand Mayor Bosse was absolutely out of place when he took the stage and, accepting the hasty examination given Lewis by two physicians, denounced the match as a fake. More careful examination by physicians has shown that Bosse's snapshot judgment was unwarranted by the facts.

As mayor, Bosse had absolutely no authority to sezie the box office receipts for the simple reason that this is not Russia. Had he dreamed such seizure necessary, he should have directed the chief of police to to it or taken other legal methods. As mayor, Bosse usurped as much authority as any private citizen would in taking possession of the box office.

Somewhat less of political grandstanding by city office holders in connection with sporting events will do about as much to make games of sport honest as the elimination of other sorts of faking.

Joe Stecher defended his title ably, and in as gentlemanly a fashion as any man could. But the treatment accorded Stecher and the seizure of the receipts is not such as to do credit to Evansville and not what might be rightfully expected by a world champion who came here to put his best endeavors into the match and did so. Had the bout gone some time longer the chances are that he would have worn Lewis out sufficiently to win anyway.

There is no good reason for refusing to either Stecher or his opponent their just dues. __________________________________________

THE LAST YEARS OF FRANK GOTCH (1911-1917), BEGINNING WITH THE SECOND BOUT WITH HACKENSCHMIDT IN CHICAGO

1911

(Gotch trains nearly seven weeks at Humboldt, Iowa, for return match with Hackenschmidt; Emil Klank is his manager and Farmer Burns his trainer.)

9-4 Chicago George Hackenschmidt won

Gotch was guaranteed $21,000 for this bout; Hackenschmidt $11,000. Gotch was a 3 to 5 choice, but all bets were called off. Chief of Police McWeens and President Charles Comiskey (the match was staged in the White Sox ballpark) did the calling off just before the match. Gotch won the first fall with crotch and neck hold at 14:18 and "the second by mere suggestion" at 5:32. At least 25,000 were present, largest crowd ever to see a wrestling match.

The Chicago Tribune said: "The official declaration (of bets off) was the first intimation of the existence of something queer about the match, but its signficance got through only to the sophisticated sporting element, which was not in the majority. The public had no intimation that Hackenschmidt would lie down at the first plausible opportunity but that, as since discovered, was exactly what he intended to do -- and did."

Gotch left the day afterward for Des Moines as Klank prepared to launch another theatrical tour of the West. Hackenschmidt took the Twentieth Century train to New York, claiming a swollen left knee which was covered with heavy bandages.

10-13 Kansas City MO George Padoubny won 10-14 St. Joseph Fred Beell won 10-17 Des Moines Emile Pietro won 10-28 Denver Jess Westergaard won 10-30 Salt Lake City William Demetral won 11-1 Portland OR George Roeber won 11-2 Tacoma Jim Asbell won 11-3 Seattle Jack Leon won 11-4 Bellingham ??? ??? 11-6 Vancouver BC Chet McIntyre won 11-23 Buffalo Leon Robalski won 12-1 Minneapolis Charles Hackenschmidt won 12-27 Kansas City Alec Munro won

12-28 (GOTCH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT...AGAIN)

1912

(The Seattle Times observes in January: "Gotch defeated Alec Munroe, British title holder, saying it was his last appearance. He said Roller was the only American he would meet and that he would pin him six times in an hour . . . the usual handicap match is arranged on a basis of two falls in an hour, so it reduces down to the mathematical proposition that Gotch thinks Roller is less than a decimal point."

2-3 Chicago Marin Plestina won 3-12 Chicago Joe Geshtout won Paul Martinson won 3-13 Minneapolis Henry Ordemann lost (handicap, failed to throw) 3-14 St. Paul Marin Plestina won 3-15 Chicago Henry Ordemann lost (handicap, failed to throw) 3-17 Milwaukee Marin Plestina won&127; 3-22 Omaha Henry Ordemann lost (handicap, failed to throw) 6-13 Baltimore "Americus" (Gus Schoenlein) won 8-22 Kansas City Jess Westergaard won

11-7 (GOTCH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT...AGAIN, SAYS JESS WESTERGAARD DESERVING OF TITLE)

1913

1-7 (Gotch referees Jess Westergaard-Henry Ordemann match in Minneapolis) 2-7 (Gotch referees Stanislaus Zbyszko-Raymond Cazeaux match in Chicago)

4-1 Kansas City George Lurich won

(In addition to the above, said Joseph B. Bowles in the 1913 "Frank A. Gotch: World's Champion Wrestler," Gotch wrestled in more than 200 fifteen-minute handicap matches and participated in hundreds of exhibitions, impromptu and benefit encounters over the years)

(In this year, Gotch formed an automobile dealership with Albert Wittman and P.F. Saul, in Humboldt)

11-7 (GOTCH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT...AGAIN)

1914

1-29 (GOTCH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT...AGAIN...SAYS: "Please announce positively that I am through with wrestling forever. My wife and myself have gone over the matter thoroughly and nothing will induce me to change my mind. The call of the foreigners and the offer of of the big New York purses...$25,000 for three bouts...will never make me leave the farm again. I would suggest that Beell and Americus get together and then let the winner of this match defend the title. I will willingly waive my rights to the title in favor of the winner of the Beell-Americus match"...quoted in letter to Emil Klank, published in New York Times)

(Gotch's son was born in this year; curiously, he was given the name Robert Frederick Gotch -- remarkably close to the real name of Ed "Strangler" Lewis.)

1915

7-3 Humboldt IA Henry Ordemann won

11-18 Kansas City Mo (Promoter W.D. Scoville says Gotch will come out of retirement and meet Joe Stecher in the spring "after wrestling two or three men in the West." New York promoters have offered $25,000 for the match.)

1916

(In May, Gotch says, outside of Stecher, there are no great wrestlers and there are few good wrestlers -- Cutler is the class")

6-13 (Gotch signs contract with owners of Sells-Floto Circus, which includes a scheduled autumn match with Joe Stecher, to be held either in Omaha, Kansas City or Chicago, and for which Gotch will receive $15,000 -- the same amount for which he came out of "retirement" to wrestle European champion George Lurich in 1913)

7-18 Kenosha WI Bob Managoff draw (no contest, Gotch breaks leg)

(ED. NOTE -- Although most agree this was the end of Gotch's career, some accounts say he later "wrestled" Jim Essen as part of a role in a silent movie)

1917

12-16 (Gotch dies of uremic poisoning, age 39)

(Just before his death, Gotch had sold 1,065 acres in Hamilton County at an average price of $100 per acre, and still retained a 470-acre farm 3 1/2 miles south of Humboldt valued at $200 per acre, plus additional land in the Dakotas and Canada and some city lots in Seattle, Wash. He was a bank director, president of a street railway and electric light company and still part owner of Gotch & Saul Auto Company, which sold Mitchell automobiles. He had a cigar named for him, and he was a personal friend of Gov. W.L. Harding. Fully two thousand people attended his funeral, which was held at the Congregational Church in Humboldt, Dec. 19, 1917, at 2:30 p.m. Governor Harding delivered the eulogy. Gotch's body was buried in Union Cemetary in an imposing mausoleum.) _________________________________________

1915 EVENTS THAT LIFT STECHER TO THE TOP

June 25

New York--WLADEK ZBYSZKO def Alex Aberg 3:40:00 (ROLLER second for Zibby, age 23, who collapses and is in sanatarium until June 30; Samuel Rachmann, director, intl tourney, Aberg claims to have thrown Stan Zbyszko five times in Europe)

JACK CURLEY EYES GOTCH-STECHER MATCH, OFFERED GOTCH 20GEES FOR OMAHA OR KANSAS CITY STAN ZBYSZKO SAID IN LIMBO AT PETROGRAD, EMIL KLANK TO MANAGE MAHMOUT THE BULGARIAN WHO IS NOT DEAD AFTER ALL, SEZ E.R. HUGHES IN JULY 30 SEATTLE TIMES COLUMN

July 5

Omaha--JOE STECHER def Charles Cutler 2-0 (att: 15,000) (GAINS RECOGNITION AS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP)

Aug. 4

Buffalo--WLADEK ZBYSZKO def George Sanders 2-0;

Oct. 20

Evansville--JOE STECHER def ED LEWIS 2:05:00 cor (Bert Sisson referee) __________________________________________________

THE 1915-1916 CAREER SUMMARY OF ED LEWIS

1915

10-20 Evansville Joe Stecher LOST (COR, 2:05:00)

11-22 New York City Loren Z. Christiansen won 11-23 New York City Fritz Mohl won 11-25 New York City Al Maskut won 11-26 New York City Ivan Linow won 11-27 New York City Harry Litofsky won 11-30 New York City Wladek Zbyszko draw 12-1 New York City Pierre LeColosse won 12-2 New York City Sulo Hevonpaa draw 12-3 New York City Wilhelm Ernest won 12-7 New York City Charles Cutler draw 12-10 New York City Wladek Zbyskzo draw 12-11 New York City Wladek Zbyszko draw 12-13 New York City Wilhelm Ernest won 12-14 New York City Demetrius Tofalos draw 12-15 New York City Hjalmar Johnson won 12-16 New York City Herman Schilling won 12-18 New York City Demetrius Tofalos draw 12-20 New York City "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) 12-21 New York City Sulo Hevonpaa won 12-22 New York City "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) won 12-23 New York City Jack McGrath draw 12-24 New York City Albert Vogel won 12-25 New York City Jack McGrath draw 12-28 New York City Fritz Muller won 12-29 New York City Alex Aberg LOST

1916

1-3 New York City "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) draw 1-7 New York City Wladek Zbyszko draw 1-12 New York City Dr. B.F. Roller draw 1-17 New York City Wladek Zbyszko won 1-18 New York City Vanka Zelesniak won 1-19 New York City Dr. B.F. Roller won 1-26 Springfield MA Dr. B.F. Roller won 1-29 New York City George Bayley won 2-18 New Haven "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) won 3-8 Hartford Tom Draak won 3-22 Hartford Soldier Leavitt won 4-10 Hartford "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) won 5-2 New York City "Masked Marvel" (Mort Henderson) won 7-5 Omaha Joe Stecher draw (4:51:33)

(On July 12, Billy Sandow posted $1,000 to bind a match with Frank Gotch) ____________________________________

1966: THE YEAR LOU THESZ LAST RULED MATS

1966

1-2 Topeka Bob Geigel won 1-3 Wichita The Viking (Bob Morse) won 1-4 Kansas City Bobo Brazil won 1-5 Des Moines Bob Geigel won 1-6 Kansas City w/Bob Ellis vs. Bob Brown-Bob Geigel lost

1-7 ST. LOUIS GENE KINISKI LOST WORLD TITLE

1-27 Kansas City w/Bob Ellis vs. Bob Brown-Bob Geigel won 2-4 Dothan Don Carson won 2-14 Vancouver BC Gene Kiniski LOST 2-16 Honolulu Dick the Bruiser 2-24 Nagoya w/Joe Scarpa vs. Shohei Baba-Michiaki Yoshimura won 2-25 Osaka Shohei Baba draw (NC) 2-26 Tsu w/Dale Lewis-Joe Scarpa vs. Shohei Baba-Michiaki Yoshimura-Yoshinosato draw (NC) 2-27 Shizuoka w/Jack Bence-Dale Lewis vs. Shohei Baba-Mr. Moto-Michiaki Yoshimura lost 2-28 Tokyo Shohei Baba LOST 3-18 St. Louis Johnny Powers won 3-21 Memphis Gene Kiniski draw 5-6 St. Louis w/Pat O'Connor vs. Dick the Bruiser-Gene Kiniski won 5-9 Orlando Tarzan Tyler won 5-10 Tampa Larry Hamilton won DQ 5-12 Jacksonville w/Jose Lothario vs. Sputnik Monroe-Tarzan Tyler 6-3 St. Louis Gene Kiniski draw 6-20 Ft. Myers Don McClarty 6-21 Tampa Les Welch won 6-23 Jacksonville Gene Kiniski draw 6-24 Ft. Lauderdale Don McClarty won 6-25 Miami Beach w/Wahoo McDaniel vs. Karl & Skull Von Stroheim 6-26 Tampa TV Matt Jewell (Bearcat Brown) won 7-6 Los Angeles El Mongol won 7-8 Los Angeles "The Destroyer" (Dick Beyer) draw (NC) 7-9 Phoenix Buddy Austin 7-19 Raleigh w/Abe Jacobs vs. Rip Hawk-Swede Hanson won 7-21 Greensboro w/George Becker-Johnny Weaver vs. Aldo Bogni-Bronco Lubich-Homer O'Dell won 7-23 Tampa TV Pedro Amessa won 7-23 West Palm Beach Mike Paidousis won 7-25 Orlando Don McClarty won 7-26 Tampa Tarzan Tyler won 7-28 Jacksonville Larry Hamilton won 7-29 Ft. Lauderdale w/Don Curtis vs. Karl & Skull Von Stroheim won 8-2 Tampa Gene Kiniski 8-4 Jacksonville w/Eddie Graham vs. Gene Kiniski-Boris Malenko won 8-6 Tampa TV Al Alexander won 8-13 San Francisco Frank Shields won 8-15 Memphis Al Costello 8-17 Nashville Ron Etchison won 8-20 St. Louis Reggie Lisowski won 8-24 Nashville Tojo Yamamoto won DQ 8-25 Kansas City w/Pat O'Connor vs. Jack Donovan-The Viking (Bob Morse) lost 8-30 Raleigh Larry Hamilton won 9-1 Greensboro Gene Kiniski draw 9-13 Seattle Roy McClarty & Jerry Miller (workout) 9-17 Seattle Gene Kiniski draw 9-20 Tampa w/Les Welch vs. Karl & Skull Von Stroheim won 9-22 Jacksonville Gene Kiniski LOST 9-23 Tallahassee w/Dick Steinborn vs. Karl & Skull Von Stroheim 9-27 Tampa "The Mummy" (Benji Ramirez) won 9-29 Jacksonville Joe Walcott won 10-5 Los Angeles Frank Marconi won

10-14 LOS ANGELES BUDDY AUSTIN WON WWA TITLE

10-28 LOS ANGELES MARK LEWIN LOST WWA TITLE

11-10 Kansas City Jack Donovan won 11-11 St. Louis Moose Cholak & Waldo Von Erich (handicap) lost 11-15 Kansas City Mike DiBiase won 11-16 Lubbock Gene Kiniski 11-24 Kansas City Luke Graham won 11-25 St. Louis Bobby Graham won 11-26 Seattle Wladek Kowalski won 12-8 Kansas City Pat O'Connor won 12-9 St. Louis Waldo Von Erich won 12-10 Atlanta Gene Kiniski draw 12-12 Tulsa w/Jack Brisco vs. The Assassin-Danny Hodge 12-14 Lubbock Tor Kamata won 12-17 Seattle w/Dom DeNucci vs. Don Jardine-Dutch Savage
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The WAWLI Papers # 002...

STECHER HERE TO MEET LEWIS ON MAT

Reprinted from the Evansville Press, 10-20-15

Joe Stecher, the Nebraskan farmer, and the undefeated wrestler of the world, who will wrestle "Strangler" Ed Lewis at the Bijou theater Wednesday night, did not wish to be annoyed by curious Evansville fans who desired to catch a glimpse of him so on his way here from Dodge, Neb., he dropped off at Vincenne, Ind.

He slipped quietly into the city at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday and registered at the Vendome hotel. His brother Antone and his manager, Ex-Postmaster Jos. Hetmanek of Dodge, are with him.

The wrestlers met Wednesday morning to select a man to referee the match. The orginal Chas. Olson and Ed Smith of Chicago will have to be wired before 11 a.m. Wednesday in order to reach the city in time for the match. Two local men, Young Jourdon and Bert Sisson, have been suggested.

The match will be the only world championship match ever pulled off in Evansville. Already $3,000 worth of tickets have been sold and fans from all parts of the United States began pouring into the city Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Wednesday night the peer of all other wrestlers, a Nebraskan of 22, and a Kentuckian of 23, will clash for the title of champion the world over.

Stecher, besides meeting Lewis and Billy Sandow, Lewis' manager, Wednesday morning, remained in his rooms at the Vendome hotel. The young farmer is said to be very bashful and does not like the icy stare of curious people.

With the exception of taking a short walk Wednesday morning Lewis rested. Should he win, buttermilk will come in for its share of the glory. He has been drinking three quarts daily. Lewis is confident of carrying off the spoils as is his manager Sandow. He has trained hard and says he feels strong and fine. He is truly in the pink of condition. The index finger on his left hand is still swollen but it will not seriously hinder him he says.

Stecher has the bearing of a world champion. He relies on his deadly scissors hold and his powerful legs have never failed him.

Preliminary to the match and at 8:30 p.m. sharp, Joe Gestout, a big Austrian, will grapple with "Buck" Weaver of Columbia, S.C.
_____________________________________

STRANGLER IS TOSSED BY FRENCH VERBS

By United Press

PARIS, Dec. 22, 1934 -- Ed "Strangler" Lewis, many times world's wrestling champion, is having the struggle of his career these days against French cooking and French verbs.

"I'm not worried about any of the grapplers in France," confided Lewis. "It's the waiters that are causing me all the trouble.

"These waiters think that because I'm a husky fellow they've got to bring me great piles of food," he continued. "And when they do, I just naturally have to eat it. That's why I'm studying French, so that I can tell them in advance not to bring me such rich stuff. So far I've managed to keep nice and light around 250 pounds."

The "Strangler" admitted that French cooking was hard to beat as a general rule, but he confessed that he knows more about a charcoal broiled steak than any chef in Paris.

"That's another reason why I've got to get a grip on these French verbs. I want to be able to tell a waiter how a charcoal broiled steak should be prepared."

Asked what he thinks about when he is being thrown around on the square mat, or is doing the throwing himself, the "Strangler" replied, "When we get in a clinch we aren't sleeping, as some of the sports writers like to make out. We're thinking all the time. What hold to try next and what tricks the opponent may pull."

Lewis said that he plans to remain in France until spring. _________________________________________

MISSOURI BARS A LONDOS HOLD

By United Press

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 2, 1935 -- A protest of Ed (Strangler) Lewis, four-time heavyweight wrestling champion, that he be awarded the match he lost to Champion Jim Londos here Thursday was denied by the State Athletic Commission in a hearing Saturday.

Lewis had demanded he be awarded the match on the ground that Londos fouled him by using a strangle hold.

The commission also ruled that hereafter the so-called "unconscious hold," a Londos weapon, will be prohibited in Missouri. Lewis' request for a return bout with the champion in this state was approved.
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EVANSVILLE, INDIANA WRESTLING 1934-1935

Promoter: Francis A. Stagg Venue: Agoga Tabernacle Usual Night: Tuesdays

1934--------------------------------------------

Sept. 11 -- Abe Coleman def Lou Plummer, George Zaharias drew Jack Smith (att: 1,237)

Sept. 18 -- George Zaharias drew Jack Smith , Pat McKay def Paul Harper

Sept. 25 -- Jack Smith drew Jim McMillen, Pat McKay def Pat Reilly 2-0

Oct. 2 -- Karl Davis def Cliff (Swede) Olson, Jack Smith def Pat Reilly 2-0 (att: 900)

Oct. 9 -- Pat McKay def Abe Coleman, George Tragos def LaVerne Baxter (att: 1,000)

Oct. 23 -- Karl Sarpolis def Jim McMillen, Cliff (Swede) Olson drew Jack Smith (att: 1,438)

Oct. 30 -- Jack Smith def Karl Davis DQ, Pat O'Shocker def Frenchie LaRue 2-0 (att: 709)

Nov. 20 -- Paul Jones def Karl Davis DQ, Dick Raines drew Orville Brown (att: 900)

Dec. 4-- Ernie Dusek def Karl Davis, Jack League def Casey Berger

Dec. 11 -- Ernie Dusek def Lou Plummer 2-0, Dick Raines def Jack League (att: 1,200)

Dec. 18 -- Ray Steele drew Paul Jones, Tom Marvin def Dick Raines DQ

1935---------------------------------------

Jan. 8 -- Dick Raines def Karl Davis, Mehmet Yousoff def Tom Marvin

Jan. 15 -- Mehmet Yousoff drew Dick Raines, Bronko Nagurski def Lou Plummer

Jan. 22 -- Dick Raines def Paul Jones, Lou Plummer def Hans Von Buesing

Jan. 29 -- Mehmet Yousoff def Orville Brown DQ, Dan O'Conner vs. Tom Marvin

Feb. 5 -- Mehmet Yousoff def Jack Smith, Orville Brown drew Dick Raines

Feb. 12 -- Dick Raines def Bobby Stewart, Sol Slagel def Charlie Strack

Feb. 19 -- Ed (Strangler) Lewis def Dick Raines, Orville Brown def Willie Davis (att: 3,000)

Feb. 26 -- Orville Brown def Paul Harper, Babe Zaharias def Bobby Stewart

Mar. 5 -- Dick Raines drew Orville Brown, Masked Marvel def Babe Zaharias

Mar. 12 -- Jim Londos def Dick Raines, Jack Warner def Tom Marvin (att: 3,000)

Mar. 19 -- Mehmet Yousoff def Masked Marvel, Billy Edwards drew Jack Warner, Billy Edwards def Sam Carter

(Masked Marvel may have been Tom Marvin; he also had a masked manager in his corner at times)

Mar. 27 -- Gus Sonnenberg def Masked Marvel, Jack Warner drew Jim Coffield

________________________________________

SONNENBERG VICTOR OVER THE MARVEL

Evansville Press, March 28, 1935 -- Timekeeper Marion Stevens clanged the starting bell and Gus Sonnenberg came flying out of his corner to introduce himself to the Masked Marvel and the Evansville mat public.

Ten seconds later the red-clad Marvel was aflat of his back with the short but powerful Sonnenberg holding him fast. Referee Chris Huber patted his shoulders in token of victory and the crowd let out a collective "ah."

Leaving his feet near the center of the ring, Gus hit the Marvel amidships. Down he went and as he struggled to his feet the 200 pounds of Dartmouth lineman that used to send ball carriers spinning hit him again. It was curtains in one of the fastest falls on record.

As the men came out for the second fall, the Marvel was watching. Sonnenberg came shooting across the ring and let fly with his tackle. The masked performer dropped to the canvas, caught Gus with his feet and sent him spinning overhead. As he came to rest on his head and shoulders, the Marvel flattened him and once again Referee Huber did his stuff. This time it was Gus on the bottom and the time was 29 seconds. Again the crowd gaped.

The third fall went 21 minutes with Sonnenberg taking it for the match.

The Marvel was primed for the tackles and Gus did not take any chances. With his masked manager sitting at the corner of the ring, the Marvel waded in with all the rough stuff at his command and he seemed well supplied. But science triumphed over all and Gus hung on until his opportunity came and then it was over.

Marvel had a headlock on Sonnenberg. Bracing himself, he hurled the Marvel into the ropes, dropped to all fours as his opponent came flying off the ropes and tripped him with his body, sending him sprawling. He had him pinned before the crowd knew what had happened.

Sonnenberg is short, with small legs and ankles. His chest is Samson size and he is smart and tricky. He knows the game from ring post to ring post.

In the warm-up Jack Warner and Jim Coffield wrestled to a draw. _______________________________________

Apr. 9 -- Jim McMillen def Dan O'Connor 1-0 90:00, Bronko Nagurski def Pat Murphy 23:00

Apr. 23 -- Orville Brown def Dan O'Connor DQ, Jim McMillen drew Karl Davis 60:00

Apr. 30 -- Orville Brown def Chief Chewacki, Tom Marvin drew Warren Bock(winkle)

May 7 -- Jack Smith drew Tom Marvin, Jack Warner def Warren Bockwinkle

May 14 -- Jim McMillen drew Orville Brown 90:00, Bob Wagner def Luigi Bacigalupi

May 21 -- Orville Brown def Dick Raines, Roland Kirchmeyer def Sol Slagel

May 28 -- Dick Raines def Mehmet Yousoff, Jim McMillen def Abe Coleman

June 4 -- Ray Steele def Dick Raines DQ, Jack Warner def Ray Richards

June 11 -- Chief Chewacki def Dick Raines, Lou Thesz drew Bob Wagner

June 8 -- Lou Thesz def Dan O'Connor, Bob Wagner drew Jack Smith 60:00

June 25 -- Orville Brown def Bob Wagner, Lou Thesz def Tom Marvin (2-1)

(Thesz is "managed" by Emilio "Satan" Costello, aka Bill Nelson, during some of these early Evansville appearances.)

July 2 -- George Zaharias def Dick Raines, Lou Thesz drew Pete Schuh 60:00

July 9 -- George Zaharias def Dick Raines, Bob Wagner def Richard Stahl, Joe Cox def Sam Carter

July 16 -- Dick Raines def Lou Thesz 2-0, Pete Schuh def Paul Harper

July 23 -- Dick Raines def Chief Chewacki, Lou Thesz drew Pete Schuh 60:00

July 30 -- Chief Chewacki def Karl Davis, Frank Speer def Sol Slagel

Aug. 13 -- (outdoors, Bosse Field) -- Danno O'Mahoney def Dick Raines 2-0 (title match), Bob Wagner def Chief Chewacki, Joe Heim drew Sam Carter (att: 2,500) ____________________________________

LEWIS TO QUIT MAT GAME: Strangler Will Spend His Time Training Young Vincent Lopez

By Henry McLemore, United Press Staff Writer

NEW YORK, July 31, 1935 -- Strangler Lewis, after 27 years on the mat, has quit, and will devote his time to teaching young Vince Lopez how to wrestle . . . It was Lopez who surprised everybody, including himself, by throwing Chief Little Wolf recently . . . ________________________________________

25,000 SEE LEWIS DEFEAT SHIKAT IN BOUT OPENING NEW GARDEN BOWL - Kentuckian Scores With a Headlock - Brings Grueling Contest to a Finish After 1:06:07 in Long Island City Arena

(reprinted from New York Times, June 10, 1932)

By James P. Dawson

Ed (Strangler) Lewis, burly Kentuckian, demonstrated last night the punishing power of his famous headlock when he pinned the shoulders of the powerful Dick Shikat, German heavyweight, to the mat in 1 hour 6 minutes 7 seconds at Madison Square Garden's new sport bowl in Long Island City.

At about the half-century mark in life and hero of more than 3,000 mat skirmishes, Lewis scored perhaps his greatest triumph when he downed Shikat with three applications of the headlock.

It climaxed eighteen long years of wrestling activity for Lewis, who has been defeated only thirteen times and who boasts fourteen victories over Jim Londos, the champion.

The exhibition was scheduled to a finish as the feature of a wrestling carnival staged in the interests of the Free Milk Fund for Babies, Inc., of which Mrs. William Randolph Hearst is chairman. Promoter Jack Curley estimated that 25,000 persons attended and that the receipts amounted to about $65,000.

It was a gala opening of the bowl. Northern Boulevard, one of the main traffic arteries of Queens, on which the bowl is located, between Forty-fifth and Forty-eighth Streets, was choked from early evening with congested traffic moving at a snail-like pace.

Crowds poured steadily into the arena, the completion of which was rushed for the occasion. The fans were guided outside by some 373 members of New York's Police Department under command of Deputy Chief Inspector Thomas Kelly.

As for the wrestling exhibition, it proved thoroughly satisfactory to the onlookers. Lewis, thought past his peak, earned the right to tackle Londos for the title in September as a result of the triumph. The State Athletic Commission has ordered this struggle.

None would deny Lewis this distinction after witnessing his exhibition. The burly Kentuckian, with surprising resistance and amazing strength, survived the steady offensive of the powerful Shikat, and turned what looked like impending defeat into victory.

At times it was rough going for Lewis. He was cuffed about by Shikat on more than one occasion. But this meeting of two former wrestling champions who had never before clashed in the arena was no child's play and neither asked nor gave quarter.

Half a dozen times before applying the finishing series of holds, Lewis had experimented with his famed headlock, only to have it broken. It was, as it has always been, Lewis' principal, almost his only, weapon of attack. But Shikat had the power in resistance and strength to escape from its clutch until near the finish.

In return, Shikat, the master of a thousand holds, introduced his wide repertoire in a spectacular, steady, consistent offensive, time and again lifting Lewis bodily and flinging him down and with tremendous force. But Lewis withstood every hold.

As they rounded the first hour, Shikat twice lifted Lewis and tossed him solidly with a crotch hold. Then Lewis grabbed his famous headlock. Shikat went sailing through the air and down. Gamely, Shikat arose, but Lewis still held the headlock, and again the German went down.

Again Shikat came erect and again Lewis flopped him down, and this time the Kentuckian applied the weight of his body and the strength of his arm at the same time and pinned the German's shoulders to the mat.

Lewis weighed 236 pounds and Shikat 218.

Leon Pinetzki, Polish giant, and Fritz Kley of Germany went twenty minutes to a draw in the semi-final. Kley's contortionist tactics, in addition to giving the onlookers numerous laughs, confounded Pinetzki, nullifying every hold the giant Pole applied. Pinetzki weighed 260, Kley 212.

Sandor Szabo, Hungarian, threw Norton B. Jackson, New York A.C. grappler, in 10 minutes 51 seconds of their scheduled twenty-minute-limit exhibition, with an arm and headlock. Each weighed 205 pounds.

Ivan Leskinovich, 248, Russian, threw George Hagen, 210, former marine, in 10 minutes 21 seconds of a scheduled twenty-minute-limit match, with a reverse body hold.

In another match, scheduled for twenty minutes, Roland Kirschmeyer, Oklahoman, pinned the shoulders of Joe de Vito, Italian, in 6 minutes 17 seconds with a body scissors. Kirschmeyer weighed 228, de Vito 205.

In a match limited to ten minutes Jack Washburn, 235, and Matros Kirilenkos, 218, wrestled to a draw. The opening event found Herbie Freeman, Bronx heavyweight, 225, in a twenty-minute draw with George Calza, Italian, 220.
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A GLIMPSE OF STRANGLER LEWIS' CAREER RECORD FROM 1932 THROUGH 1935, OR CLOSE TO THE TIME OF HIS FIRST RING RETIREMENT

1932

1-4 Seattle Ira Dern won 1-5 Tacoma Roland Kirchmeyer won 1-6 Portland OR Abe Kaplan won 1-7 Vancouver BC Bob Kruse won 1-11 Seattle Karl Sarpolis won 1-12 Tacoma Roland Kirchmeyer won 1-13 Portland OR Abe Kaplan won 1-18 Sacramento Pete Visser won 1-22 Vancouver BC Tiger Daula draw

(Billy Sandow announces he's split with Ed Lewis, takes up with Everett Marshall)

1-23 Seattle Karl Sarpolis won 1-25 Los Angeles Michael Gettsonoff won 1-27 Boston Pat O'Shocker won 1-28 Toronto Jim Clinstock won

(Ed Lewis is suspended February 1 by the Missouri Athletic Commission for failure to meet John Pesek)

2-2 Portland ME Taro Myake won 2-5 Ottawa George Vassell won 2-9 Cleveland George Zaharias won 2-10 Boston Gino Garibaldi won 2-12 Philadelphia Sandor Szabo won 2-16 New Haven Matros Kirilenko won 2-18 St. Louis Rudy Dusek won 2-23 Baltimore Cy Williams won 2-24 Boston Ray Steele won 2-25 Pittsburgh John Maxos won

(Ed Lewis was arrested for breaking Maxos' neck, posted $500 bail)

2-26 Philadelphia Jim McMillen won 3-3 St. Louis Hans Kampfer won 3-4 Buffalo Frank Speer won 3-7 Wilkes-Barre Sandor Szabo won 3-8 Jersey City George Hagen won 3-9 Newark Renato Gardini won 3-11 Detroit Frank Brunowicz won 3-17 St. Louis Pat O'Shocker won 3-22 Baltimore Fred Grubmeier won 3-23 Newark Renato Gardini won 3-24 Philadelphia Jim McMillen won 3-29 San Diego Vic Christy lost (handicap, failed to throw) 3-30 Los Angeles Jack Smith won 4-4 Seattle John Freberg won 4-5 Tacoma Tom Alley won (2-0) 4-6 Portland OR Abe Kaplan won 4-7 Vancouver BC Tiger Daula won 4-9 Seattle Jack Taylor won (2-1) 4-12 San Francisco Nick Velcoff won 4-13 San Jose Richard Stahl won 4-29 Cincinnati Milo Steinborn won 5-5 Detroit Jim Clinstock won 5-10 Boston Leo Pinetzki won 5-11 Montreal Tiny Roebuck won 5-13 Philadelphia George Zaharias won 5-16 Norfolk Benny Ginsberg won 5-17 Baltimore Howard Cantonwine won (30:15) 5-18 Boston Kola Kwariani won

(Lewis working for Bowser-Herman combine at this point; Jack Curley runs rival promotion)

5-19 Toronto Earl McCready won (2-0) 5-24 New Haven Leo Pinetzki won 5-31 Harrisburg Herb Freeman won 6-1 Montreal Tiny Roebuck won 6-2 New York City Leo Pinetzki won 6-3 Philadelphia Sam Stein won 6-4 New York City Ralph Wilson won 6-5 New York City Fritz Kley won 6-9 Long Island City Dick Shikat won (1:06:07) 6-13 Staten Island Sandor Szabo won (46:38) 6-14 Bronx NY Sam Stein won (47:05) 6-15 Brooklyn Fritz Kley won (34:05) 6-17 Philadelphia Roland Kirchmeyer won 6-20 Buffalo Leo Pinetzki won (23:26) 6-21 New Haven Earl McCready won 6-22 Hempstead Vanka Zelesniak won 6-24 Philadelphia Roland Kirchmeyer won 6-27 Staten Island Sandor Szabo won 6-28 Bronx NY Leo Pinetzki won (16:51)

(Jim Londos ordered by New York State Athletic Commission to sign Lewis bout by October 31)

6-29 Hempstead Vanka Zelesniak won 6-30 Freeport NY Cy Williams won 7-1 Babylon NY Tiny Roebuck won 7-2 Long Beach NY Benny Ginsberg won 7-3 Brooklyn Fred Donaiff won 7-4 Staten Island Ralph Wilson won 7-5 New York City Sam Stein won (36:32) 7-6 Long Beach NY George Manich won 7-7 Albany George McLeod won 7-8 Babylon Steve Znosky won 7-11 Staten Island Herb Freeman won 7-12 New Haven Earl McCready won 7-14 Long Beach NYHerb Freeman won 7-15 Montreal Tiger Daula won 7-16 Toronto Sam Stein won 7-19 New York City Sandor Szabo won 7-20 New York City Bill Middlekauf won 7-21 Paterson Mike Romano won 7-22 Philadelphia Tiger Daula won 7-23 Long Beach NY Herb Freeman won 7-25 Washington DC George McLeod won

(Lewis heads into woods of Wisconsin for six-week training session)

9-8 Toronto Howard Cantonwine won 9-9 Philadelphia Roland Kirchmeyer won (19:48) 9-12 Staten Island "Masked Marvel" (Joe Cox?) won 9-15 Montreal Sam Stein won 9-29 Des Moines Earl McCready won 10-3 New York City Sam Stein won (28:42) 10-4 New Haven Steve Znosky won 10-5 Montreal Jack Washburn won 10-7 Ottawa Howard Cantonwine won 10-10 New York City Jack Sherry won (1:24:15) (NY title recognition) (MSG) (Att: 5,000) 10-18 Bronx NY Roland Kirchmeyer won (19:57) 10-19 Brooklyn Mike Mazurki won (20:10) 10-24 New York City Bruno Gorrasini won (15:50) 10-25 New Haven Pat McClary won (44:53) 10-28 Troy Bill Bartush won 11-2 Philadelphia Earl McCready won 11-10 New York City George Calza won 11-21 New York City George Calza won (MSG) 11-23 Philadelphia Glenn Munn won 12-4 New York City Ray Steele won DQ (MSG) 12-6 New Haven Pat McClary won (23:57) 12-7 Buffalo Frank Speer won 12-8 Toronto Howard Cantonwine won 12-9 Ottawa Al Getz won 12-12 Staten Island Mike Romano won (22:15) 12-13 Bronx NY Sid Westrich won (24:23) 12-14 Detroit Steve Znosky won 12-15 St. Louis Sandor Szabo won 12-19 New York City Leo Pinetzki won (28:13) Sam Stein won (32:41) (MSG) 12-21 Philadelphia Charlie Strack won

1933

1-5 Stockton Rudy LaDitzi won (35:00, cnc) 1-6 Fresno Jake Patterson won 1-10 Tacoma Bob Kruse won 1-11 Portland OR Abe Kaplan won 1-12 Vancouver BC Tiger Daula won 1-17 San Francisco Bob Kruse won 1-23 New York City Jim Browning won (34:52) (MSG) 1-25 Boston Charlie Strack won 1-27 Holyoke Matros Kirilenko won 1-31 Bronx NY Sam Stein won (39:31) 2-1 Brooklyn Marin Plestina won (33:30) 2-6 New York City Fred Meyers won (25:27) (MSG) 2-7 Portland ME Pat McGill won 2-9 Lowell Gene LeDoux won (2-0) 2-13 New York City Nick Lutze won (39:15) 2-14 Bronx NY Sam Stein won (47:11) 2-15 Philadelphia Stan Pinto won 2-16 Camden Mike Mazurki won 2-18 Wilmington Marin Plestina won

2-20 NEW YORK CITY JIM BROWNING LOST WORLD TITLE (57:50) (Att: 5,000, MSG)

2-21 White Plains Fred Meyers won 2-22 Worcester Tiny Roebuck won 2-25 Schenectady George Hagen won 3-1 New York City Matros Kirilenko won (22:19) 3-2 Camden Sam Stein draw (90:00) 3-3 Buffalo Earl McCready LOST (decision) 3-4 New York City Hans Kampfer won 3-6 New York City Dick Shikat draw ((MSG) 3-7 Bronx NY Sam Stein won (46:32) 3-20 New York City Jim Browning LOST (MSG) 3-21 Bronx NY Joe Malcewicz draw 3-22 Brooklyn Al Getz won 3-24 Buffalo Earl McCready won 3-27 Chicago Leo Pinetzki won 4-4 San Francisco George Hagen won (2-1) 4-5 Fresno Glen Wade won 4-6 San Jose Richard Stahl won 4-7 Oakland Dan Koloff won (1-1, cnc) 4-11 Chicago Jim Browning LOST ( 4-17 Seattle Nore Jerlstrom won (1-0, cnc) 4-18 Spokane Bob Kruse won 4-20 Portland OR Ira Dern won (1-1, cnc) 4-25 San Francisco George Hagen won 4-28 Oakland Ad Santel won (2-1) 5-3 Los Angeles Tiny Roebuck won 5-9 San Diego Oki Shikina won 5-15 New York City Joe Savoldi won (44:32) (MSG) 5-17 Boston Ed Don George LOST 5-22 New York City Joe Savoldi LOST (43:07) (MSG) 5-23 Chicago Sam Stein won (2-1) 5-24 Milwaukee Gus Sonnenberg LOST 6-7 Los Angeles Jim Browning LOST 6-8 Long Beach Glen Wade won 6-12 Sacramento Dan Koloff won 6-13 San Diego Rudy Skarda won 6-21 Los Angeles Gus Sonnenberg LOST (1-2) 6-28 Portland OR Bob Kruse won 6-29 Vancouver BC Richard Stahl won 6-30 Seattle Oki Shikina won 7-6 Portland OR Dan Koloff won 7-7 Vancouver BC Tiny Roebuck won (2-1) 7-12 Los Angeles Sam Stein LOST 7-18 San Diego George Hagen won 7-19 Bakersfield Glen Wade won 7-20 San Francisco Ted Cox won 7-26 Los Angeles Luigi Bacigalupi won 7-27 San Francisco Marin Plestina won 7-28 Fresno Jack Ganson won 8-3 Vancouver BC Jim Browning LOST (1-2) 8-4 Portland OR George Nelson won (1-1, cnc) 8-8 San Diego Luigi Bacigalupi won 8-28 Los Angeles Marin Plestina won 8-29 San Diego Jim Browning draw 8-31 San Francisco Charlie Santen won (26:00) 9-6 Los Angeles Ole Anderson won 9-12 PortlandOR Howard Cantonwine won DQ

(This Multnomah County Stadium bout was originally to be with Gus Sonnenberg, a no-show)

9-14 Denver Marin Plestina won (2-1) 9-15 Salt Lake City Nick Lutze LOST (1-1, cnc, knee injury) 9-19 San Diego Sam Stein draw (1-1, 60:00) 9-20 Los Angeles Dale Raines won Tor Johnson won Luigi Bacigalupi draw 9-21 Stockton Tiny Roebuck won 9-26 San Diego Sam Stein won 9-28 Long Beach Luigi Bacigalupi won 10-3 San Diego Pat O'Hara won 10-4 Los Angeles Luigi Bacigalupi won 10-6 Salt Lake City Sam Stein won 10-9 Pasadena Tor Johnson won 10-10 San Diego Vic Christy draw (60:00) 10-13 Houston Steve Znosky won 10-19 New Orleans Mike Romano won 10-20 Houston Steve Znosky won 11-20 New York City Sandor Szabo draw (MSG) 11-21 Albany Richard Stahl won 11-22 Newark Bill Middlekauf won 11-23 Camden Stan Pinto won 11-25 New York City Jim Clinstock won 11-27 St. Louis Roland Kirchmeyer won 11-29 Newark Man Mountain Dean won 11-30 Camden Jim Browning LOST 12-4 New York City Vic Christy won (MSG) 12-5 Reading Jim Clinstock won 12-6 Newark Wladek Zbyszko won 12-7 Staten Island Frank Brunowicz won (19:37) 12-8 Syracuse Tiny Roebuck won 12-13 St. Louis Mayes McLain won 12-15 Washington DCJim Clinstock won 12-18 New York City Gus Sonnenberg draw (20:00) (MSG) 12-20 St. Louis Ray Steele LOST (36:38) 12-29 Philadelphia Jim Browning LOST

1934

1-9 San Diego Mike Mazurki draw 1-10 Los Angeles Cy Williams won 1-12 Salt Lake City Ira Dern LOST 1-16 San Diego Sam Stein won 1-22 Sioux Falls Pat McGill won 1-24 Des Moines Sam Leathers won 1-25 Marshalltown IA Mike Markoff won 1-26 Council Bluffs Jack O'Dell won 1-29 Kansas City MO Matros Kirilenko won 1-31 Indianapolis Chief Chewacki won 2-1 New Orleans Joe Cox won 2-2 Knoxville Dick Daviscourt won 2-6 New York City Rudy Dusek LOST (30:00, decision) 2-8 Camden Dick Raines won 2-13 Wichita Abe Kashey won 2-14 Kansas City MO "Red Devil" (Jack Lewis or Joe Cox) won 2-15 St. Louis Joe Malcewicz draw 2-19 New York City Mike Romano won (6:58) 2-21 Hartford Rudy Dusek won 2-23 Richmond Tiny Roebuck won 2-26 Omaha Joe DeVito won 2-28 Des Moines Jake Patterson won 3-1 St. Louis Dick Shikat LOST 3-2 Kansas City MO "Red Devil" won 3-5 New York City Hans Kampfer won (17:14) 3-7 Brooklyn Eddie Civil (Leo Daniel Boone Savage) won 3-8 Kansas City MO Joe DeVito won 3-15 St. Louis Dick Shikat LOST 3-18 Brooklyn Eddie Civil won 3-19 Buffalo Gene LeDoux won 3-22 Erie Gene LeDoux won (17:32) 3-23 Boston Firpo Wilcox won 3-26 New York City George Calza won ((MSG) 3-29 Camden Hans Steinke draw 4-2 Buffalo Ed Don George LOST (54:05) 4-3 New York City Scotty Macdougall won (23:27) 4-6 Houston Chief Chewacki won 4-11 Los Angeles Mike Mazurki won 4-15 Mexico City Jim Browning LOST 4-18 Los Angeles Jack Ray won 4-20 Houston Chief Chewacki won 4-23 New York City Rudy Dusek won (17:56) 4-26 Toronto George Hagen won 5-2 Newark Sandor Szabo won 5-3 New York City Hans Kampfer won 5-14 New York City Ray Steele won (11:07) 5-15 New York City Harry Fields won (13:12) 5-17 Hempstead Sam Cordovano won 5-22 Albany Rudy Dusek won 5-23 Brooklyn Hans Steinke won 5-28 Montreal Henri DeGlane won 6-1 Cedar Rapids Ole Olson won 6-12 Marshalltown IA Jack Wagner won 6-13 Des Moines Roland Kirchmeyer won 6-15 Detroit Charlie Strack won 6-18 Cedar Rapids George Mack won 6-20 San Antonio Jack O'Dell won 6-21 Fort Worth Sol Slagel won 6-22 Houston Karl Davis won 6-25 Oklahoma City Earl Wade won 6-28 Fort Worth Tiny Roebuck won 6-29 Houston Joe Cox won 7-4 Atlanta Karl Davis won 7-5 New Orleans Joe Cox won 7-6 Houston Sol Slagel won 7-18 Topeka Billy Edwards won 7-19 Kansas City MO Steve Savage won 7-20 Denver Joe Savoldi won 7-21 Colorado Springs Roland Kirchmeyerwon (2-0) 7-27 Denver Karl Sarpolis won 7-30 San Antonio Billy Edwards won 8-3 Lincoln Vic Soldat won 8-13 Tacoma Joe Malcewicz draw 8-14 Everett Casey Colombo won 8-15 Portland OR "Masked Marvel" (Dick Daviscourt) won 8-16 Vancouver BC Ivan Managoff won (2-0) 8-17 Seattle Ted Cox won DQ (2-0) 8-22 Portland OR Dick Daviscourt won 8-23 Chicago George Mack won (9:59) 8-28 Three Rivers George Jenkins won (2-0) 8-29 Montreal Yvon Robert won (1:03:05) 9-20 Chicago Jim Londos LOST (49:27) (Att: 35,265, $96,302, Wrigley Field) 9-28 Salt Lake City Ira Dern won 9-30 St. Louis Ray Steele LOST 10-1 Montreal Ed Don George LOST (1-2) 11- Paris Charles Rigoulot won 11- Paris Ray St. Bernard won 11-19 Paris Henri DeGlane won 12-5 London, Eng. Danno O'Mahoney draw

1935

1-2 Los Angeles Hans Steinke won (2-1) 1-4 St. Louis Ray Steele won 1-7 New York City Ed Don George LOST (43:48) 1-8 Albany Hans Kampfer won 1-9 Cleveland Gino Garibaldi won 1-14 Cincinnati Dick Raines won 1-15 Indianapolis Charlie Strack won 1-16 St. Louis George Zaharias won 1-22 San Francisco Joe Malcewicz draw 1-23 Los Angeles Jim McMillen won (2-1) 1-25 Oakland Fred Meyers won 1-31 St. Louis Jim Londos LOST 2-1 Peoria Karl Sarpolis won (34:44) 2-7 Camden Rudy Dusek won 2-12 Atlanta Orville Brown draw 2-14 St. Louis Jim Browning won 2-19 Evansville Dick Raines won 2-21 Los Angeles Willie Davis won 2-25 Phoenix Milo Steinborn won 2-26 San Diego Frank Speer won (2-1) 2-27 Los Angeles Willie Davis draw 3-6 St. Louis Jim Londos LOST 3-7 Chicago Danno O'Mahoney LOST 3-12 Atlanta Orville Brown draw (1-1) 3-15 Houston Karl Sarpolis won 3-18 Phoenix Hans Steinke won 3-26 San Francisco Joe Savoldi LOST 3-27 Bakersfield Hans Steinke LOST 3-29 Salt Lake City Mike Mazurki won 4-2 Minneapolis Ray Steele LOST 4-5 Des Moines Lou Plummer won (2-1) 4-9 Indianapolis Billy Edwards won 4-11 Chicago Jim Browning LOST 4-26 Boston Danno O'Mahoney LOST (0-1, 21:27 cnc) 4-29 Buffalo Ed Don George LOST 5-1 Trenton Joe Dusek won 5-2 Brooklyn Dick Daviscourt won (19:56) 5-3 Brooklyn Fred Grubmeier won (31:40) 5-6 Montreal Ed Don George LOST (1-2) 5-13 Memphis Dick Raines won 5-17 Salt Lake City Mike Romano won 5-22 Los Angeles Marin Plestina won 5-29 Los Angeles Pete Mehringer won (27:36) 6-4 San Francisco Milo Steinborn won 6-5 Los Angeles Hans Kampfer won (16:35) 6-10 Sacramento Milo Steinborn won 6-11 San Francisco Joe Malcewicz won 6-14 Houston Jim Londos LOST 6-18 San Francisco Jim Browning LOST DQ 6-19 Los Angeles Vincent Lopez LOST 6-21 Seattle (cancels, supposedly injured) 6-25 San Francisco Jim Browning won 6-26 Los Angeles Ernie Dusek LOST (7:27)

(Lewis suspended June 28 in Washington State for 6-21 no-show in Seattle)

7-3 Los Angeles Hans Kampfer won 7-9 San Francisco Vincent Lopez LOST (1-2) 7-10 Los Angeles Mike Romano won 7-26 Seattle Man Mountain Dean won DQ 7-31 Portland OR Hans Steinke LOST (1-2) 8-13 Minneapolis Hal Rumberg won 8-27 Indianapolis Joe Cox won 8-28 Detroit Carl Hansen won 9-3 Minneapolis Ray Steele LOST 9-11 Boston Dick Daviscourt won 9-13 Jamaica NY Fred Grubmeier won 9-16 Montreal Bibber McCoy won 9-17 Quebec City Mike Romano won 9-23 Buffalo Leo Numa draw 10-11 Boston Danno O'Mahoney LOST (1:04:00) 10-16 Evansville Joe Cox won 10-19 Fort Worth Billy Edwards won 10-22 Peoria Olaf Olsen won 10-26 Fort Worth Chief Chewacki won 11-5 San Diego Jack Washburn won 11-7 St. Louis Man Mountain Dean draw 11-12 Indianapolis (opponent not known) 11-18 Kansas City MO Gus Sonnenberg won (2-1) 11-19 Indianapolis Jim McMillen draw 11-22 Philadelphia Tiny Roebuck won 12-5 Pittsburgh Sandor Szabo won 12-6 New York City Harry Fields won 12-9 Montreal Danno O'Mahoney LOST 12-10 Albany Vic Christy won 12-12 Camden Mike Mazurki won 12-14 Philadelphia Joe Janas won 12-17 Indianapolis Karl Davis won 12-19 St. Louis Man Mountain Dean won (7:27) 12-26 St. Louis Dick Raines won 12-31 Indianapolis Henry Piers won
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The WAWLI Papers # 003...

This edition encompasses what I like to refer to as my "mat notebooks." They are generally original research (mainly from old newspapers encountered in my travels across the country). In this resume, we will visit an entire year of Dallas wrestling results (1937), a variety of Florida items culled from the years 1931 to 1963, and a summary of important bouts and events from 1913. No particular theme here, just some items that should prove of interest to serious wrestling history scholars. (Never mind that some names are capitalized; that is a file code I employ for a number of particular favorites for which I maintain career records.)
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DALLAS 1937

Promoter Bertram Willoughby, matchmaker Charlie Wright, Sportatorium

Jan. 5 -- Cardiff Giant def Darna Ostapovich, Leo Savage def Alf Johnson, Juan Humberto def George Mansor, Sailor Barto drew Bob Blair

Jan. 12 -- Cardiff Giant def Ralph Hammonds-Marshall Blackstock (hdcp), Humberto def Alf Johnson, Ostapovich def Ernest Kelly, Hammonds def Blair, Mansor def Scotty Dawkins

Jan. 19 -- Cardiff Giant def Goon Henry DQ, Humberto def Doc Sarpolis, Savage def Mansor, Stan Myslajek def Jose Chicos, Alf Johnson drew Dawkins

Jan. 26 -- Cardiff Giant def Henry cnc, Hammonds def Sarpolis, Humberto def Jim Clinkstock, Myslajek def Dawkins DQ, Otto Kuss drew Alf Johnson

Feb. 2 -- Humberto def Sarpolis, Cardiff Giant def MARV WESTENBERG, Henry def Clinkstock, Frank Brown drew Myslajek, Kuss def Dawkins

Feb. 9 -- Humberto def Cardiff Giant, Savage drew Henry, Sarpolis def Clinkstock, Pat McCleary def Walter Podolak, Kuss drew Ellis Bashara

Feb. 16 -- EV MARSHALL def Juan Humberto (referee Sam Muchnick, Marshall has Illinois world title recognition, Billy Sandow traveling with him) 2-0, McCleary def Paul Shikat, Myslajek def Hammonds DQ, Cardiff Giant drew Sol Slagel, Reb Russell drew Podolak

Feb. 23 -- Cardiff Giant def Billy Edwards, Humberto drew Henry, Sarpolis def Hammonds, McCleary def Slagel, Russell drew Myslajek

Mar. 2 -- Humberto def Cardiff Giant, Edwards def Henry, McCleary def Sarpolis, Slagel def Dawkins, Hammonds drew Kuss

Mar. 9 -- Little Beaver def Humberto, Edwards def Tom Elliott (Los Angeles), Slagel drew Henry, Cardiff Giant def Kuss, Sailor Barto drew Myslajek

Mar. 16 -- Karl Davis def Humberto, Edwards drew Little Beaver, Cardiff Giant def Luigi Bacigalupi, Slagel def Hank Metheny, Sarpolis def Myslajek

Mar. 23 -- Ali Baba def Billy Edwards, Davis NC Little Beaver, Cardiff Giant def Kuss, Slagel def Sarpolis, Metheny drew Myslajek

Mar. 30 -- Cardiff Giant def Slagel (loser pushes the winner down Main Street in a wheelbarrow the next day), Davis drew Beaver, Metheny def Sarpolis, Angelo Cistoldi def Kuss, Ray Eckert drew Myslajek

Apr. 6 -- Davis def Little Beaver, John Grandovich drew Edwards, Cardiff Giant def Metheny, Cistoldi def Bashara, Jerry Burns (217, Cedar Rapids, Ia) def Myslajek, Otis Headrick drew Phil Horton (lightheavies)

Apr. 13 -- Little Beaver def Edwards DQ, Cardiff Giant def Clinkstock, Davis drew Grandovich, Cistoldi def Burns, Bashara def Podolak

Apr. 20 -- Slagel def Cardiff Giant, Edwards def Sarpolis, Davis drew Grandovich, Bashara def Metheny, Roland Kirchmeyer drew Tommy O'Toole

Apr. 27 -- Davis def Little Beaver (southern heavy defense), Edwards def Al Getz, Slagel def Grandovich cnc, Bashara def Burns, Kirchmeyer def Metheny, Horton def Jack Hendrix

May 4 -- Edwards def Davis (won southern title), Slagel drew Little Beaver, Cistoldi def Bashara DQ, Kirchmeyer def Grandovich, Lou Plummer drew Doug Wycoff

May 11 -- Slagel def Edwards, Davis def Henry, Plummer drew Kirchmeyer, Bashara def Cistoldi, Grandovich def Wycoff

May 18 -- EV MARSHALL def Sol Slagel (referee Sam Muchnick) 2-0, Plummer, Edwards def Tom Mahoney cnc, Bashara def Henry, Davis def Metheny

May 25 -- Plummer def Little Beaver, Gorilla Macias def Cistoldi, Chief Saunooke def Cardiff Giant, Davis drew Slagel, Bashara def Jack O'Brien

June 1 -- Macias def Little Beaver, Plummer def Kirchmeyer, Slagel drew Bashara, Schinachi Shikuma def Metheny, Hammonds drew Cistoldi

June 8 -- Macias def Slagel, Edwards def Little Beaver, Shikuma drew Bashara, Bill Lee def Plummer cnc, FRANK SEXTON def Cistoldi DQ

June 15 -- Edwards def Shikuma, Macias def Clinkstock DQ, Bashara drew Little Beaver, Lee def Cistoldi, FRANK SEXTON def Tom Mahoney (billed as O'Mahoney)

June 22 -- EV MARSHALL def Billy Edwards 35:50 cnc (Bill Lee referee), Macias drew Bashara, Little Beaver def Sarpolis, Frank Brown def Slagel, George Koverley def Cistoldi

June 29 -- Macias def Bashara, Lee def Chief Chewacki, Shikuma def O'Toole, Little Beaver def George Koverley DQ, Frank Brown def Jack O'Brien

July 6 -- Lee def Macias (won southern title), Little Beaver def Koverley, Sarpolis def Shikuma (judo jackets), Plummer def Bashara, Frank Brown drew O'Toole

July 13 -- Lee def Karl Davis DQ (southern defense), Bashara drew Rudy Strongberg, Little Beaver def O'Toole, Wycoff drew Paul Harper, Sailor Barto def Bob Blair

July 20 -- Lee def Little Beaver (southern defense), Davis def Strongberg, Wycoff def Metheny DQ, Harper def Bashara, Barto def O'Brien

July 27 -- Lee def Slagel (southern defense), Wycoff def Metheny cnc, Harper def Davis DQ, O'Toole drew Frank Brown

Aug. 3 -- Lee def Edwards DQ, Davis def Macias, Nick Elitch def Metheny DQ, O'Toole drew Wycoff

Aug. 10 -- Davis def Lee (won southern title), Edwards def Harper, Wycoff def Elitch, Frank Brown def Metheny

Aug. 17 -- Davis drew Edwards (southern defense), Paul Jones def Little Beaver, Wycoff drew Harper, Shikuma def Elitch

Aug. 24 -- Davis def Edwards (southern defense), Little Beaver drew Sarpolis, Jones def Metheny, Harper def Al Maynard

Aug. 31 -- Vincent Lopez def Sarpolis, Davis drew Little Beaver (southern defense), Edwards def Jones DQ, Shikuma NC Harper

Sept. 7 -- Little Beaver def Davis (won southern title), Jones def Al Billings cnc, Henry def Wycoff, Harper def Frank Schroll

Sept. 14 -- Edwards def Little Beaver (won southern title), Jones def Sarpolis, Harper def Mansor, Roland Meeker def Elitch

Sept. 21 -- Edwards def Little Beaver, Clara Mortensen def Estrella Gomez (1st ladies match in Dallas), Harper def Man Mountain Dean, Jones def Bill Lewis, Macias drew Meeker

Sept. 28 -- Edwards def Marshall Blackstock (southern defense), Mortensen def Gomez, Jones def Little Beaver DQ, Harper def Macias, Meeker def Leo Mortensen

Oct. 5 -- Humberto def Harper, Henry def Edwards, Little Beaver def Strongberg, Meeker def Blair

Oct. 12 -- Edwards def Henry (southern defense), Humberto drew Little Beaver, Kirchmeyer drew Jones, HARDY KRUSKAMP def Wycoff

Oct. 19 -- ED DON GEORGE def Jones, Humberto def Little Beaver cnc, Jim Wright drew Harper, HARDY KRUSKAMP def Henry

Oct. 26 -- ED DON GEORGE NC Edwards dcor, Humberto drew Jones, HARDY KRUSKAMP def Harper, Meeker def Eddie Newman DQ (227, New York)

Nov. 2 -- Humberto def Jones, Edwards def Pat McCleary, HARDY KRUSKAMP def Meeker, Rudy Kay def Newman

Nov. 9 -- Meeker def Red Ryan, Kay def Earl Wampler, Sarpolis def George Ligosky, Humberto def Wright, Kay def Meeker, Sarpolis def Humberto, Kay def Sarpolis (won one-night tournament to find challenger for Billy Edwards)

Nov. 16 -- Edwards def Kay (southern defense), Humberto def Eli Fischer, Sarpolis def Wycoff, Dutch Hefner def Red Ryan

Nov. 23 -- Sarpolis def Humberto, Jones drew Fischer, Hefner def Edwards, Pete Baltran def Kay

Nov. 30 -- Sarpolis def Edwards (won southern title), Humberto drew Hefner, Fischer def Kuss, Jones def Harper cor, Baltran def Harper cor

Dec. 7 -- Humberto def Sarpolis (won southern title), Hefner def Wright, Harper def Fischer, Kuss drew Jones, Baltran def Wycoff

Dec. 14 -- Humberto def Hefner (southern defense), Lee def Wright, Wycoff def Kuss, Harper def Alf Johnson, Baltran drew Ligosky

Dec. 21 -- Humberto def Sarpolis cnc (southern defense), Hefner def Fischer, Harper drew Wycoff, Jones def Alf Johnson DQ

Dec. 28 -- Hefner def Sarpolis, Harper drew Wright, Alf Johnson def Ligorsky, Baltran def Ryan, Wycoff def Macias
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THE FOLLOWING IS ANOTHER "NOTEBOOK" ENTRY...STUFF GLEANED FROM CASUAL SEARCHES OF FLORIDA PAPERS, 1931-1963 (not even really sorted out)

1931

2-12 St. Petersburg Ed Don George def Joe Dominguez 2-27 Miami Jim Londos def Stanislaus Zbyszko

1932

1-21 Tampa Jim Londos def Mike Romano 1-22 Coral Gables Jim Londos def Renato Gardini

1937

1-13 Miami Everett Marshall def Johnny Plummer

Miami 1940

Wrestling generally took place in the Tuttle Arena, a good crowd: 2,000...it was an open-air rooftop building at Fourth Street and South Miami Avenue

Wrestling also took place in Lake Worth, Fla., and Miami Beach (Beach Arena) and in West Palm Beach

Jackie Nichols, Fred Bruno, Carlos Rodriguez, Ed Don George, Billy Widener (Weidner), Rene LaBelle, Cyclone Burns, The Unknown (masked man eventually de-hooded by Jack Bloomfield and said to be "Steve Dusak" from Seattle), Jack Bloomfield, Angelo Martinelli, Gus Sonnenberg, and George Becker were headliners over the course of the year.

Special visits by: Martin (Blimp) Levy...Jan. 9 (battle royal) and Jan. 12 (handicap match)

Ed Don George and Gus Sonnenberg would come, almost annually, for "vacations" in Florida

Johnny Risko came in and "boxed" Fred Bruno June 18

July 26--There was a battle royal where all entrants wore boxing gloves

Hooded Terror-Jack Steele vs. Cyclone Burns-Jack Bloomfield Aug. 30 said to be first team bout in Miami

Ginger the Bear, a regular throughout the south in those days, was in Sept. 10 versus "The Arkansas Angel"

The Hooded Terror may have been Don Martinez in late summer months

Daniel Boone Savage was in Oct. 15, 1940 versus Jack Steele

Before his Nov. 26 bout, "Ezra Yokum" was married to Evelyn Fern of Knoxville, Tenn.

A list of competitors:

Jackie Nichols Spike Hennessey Rex Bell Salvatore Balbo Count Otto Von Zuppe Maurice Boyer Ali Pasha Lil Abner Ketchell Prince Omar Fred Bruno Martin Levy Dale Haddock Carlos Rodriguez Jack Smith Jack Cortland (or Jim?) Ed Don George Pat O'Shea Bob Corby King Kong (said to be from West Palm Beach) Bill Hoolahan Billy Widener (Weidner) Sailor Jack Adams Mike Rogaski (also worked as Mike Nagurski) Tony Papalino Pablo Cortez Don Cortez Rene LaBelle Cyclone Burns Tiger Long Eddie (Popeye) Malone Karol Zbyszko Angelo Martinellie Frank Remille Red Corrigan John Melas Bob Arthur Baron Karl von Hoffman Mickey James Teddy Taylor (variously said to be from Chicago or Dallas) Steve Dusak (The Unknown) Ray Schwartz Jack Bloomfield Ronny Hicks Joe Schwartz (may have been Ray) Antonio Marino Pat McGill Hooded Terror Mike O'Hara Dan Korloff Cowboy O'Neil Roy Welch (traveled with Giner the Bear) Sailor Olsen Joe Buckingham Don Martinez Soldier Thomas Gorilla Poggi Nat Welch Walter (Chink) Pettley Daniel Boone Savage Ezra Yokum Elmer Yokum Red Peril Bill Ludwig Leo Jensen Kelly O'Mahoney Gale Byrd Gus Sonnenberg Betty LaBushey (female) Zashka Bursha (female) George Becker Sailor Jack Orr Joe Dempsey John Swenski

1947

3-24 Lake Worth Primo Carnera def George Macricostas 3-25 Miami Primo Carnera def Babe Sharkey 12-7 Miami Primo Carnera def Strangler Lewis

1948 1-7 Jacksonville Primo Carnera def Pete Managoff 3-19 Miami Primo Carnera def Kola Kwariani

1949

10-19 Miami Primo Carnera def Vic Christy

1951

12- Miami Primo Carnera def Red Menace

1952

3-21 Miami Beach Argentina Rocca NC Buddy Rogers

1954

7-20 Tampa Primo Carnera def Fred Von Schacht 7-22 Jacksonville Primo Carnera def Clyde Steeves 7-23 Miami Primo Carnera def Clyde Steeves 11-1 Tampa Argentina Rocca def Mighty Atlas 11-5 Miami Argentina Rocca def Mighty Atlas

1955

1-3 Tampa Danny McShain def Andre Drapp 1-5 Sarasota Danny McShain def Bobby Weaver 1-10 Tampa Danny McShain def Jack Vansky 1-26 Sarasota Danny McShain def Andre Drapp 2-4 Miami Danny McShain drew Wild Red Berry 2-5 Miami Argentina Rocca def Hans Schmidt 2-11 Miami Argentina Rocca def Hans Schmidt 2-14 Tampa Lou Thesz def Argentina Rocca, Gino Garibaldi def Danny McShain 2-16 Sarasota Argentina Rocca def Gino Garibaldi 2-17 Jacksonville Danny McShain def Steve Novak 2-18 Miami Lou Thesz def Argentina Rocca 2-21 Tampa Don Eagle def Danny McShain 2-25 Miami Lou Thesz def Michele Leone 3-28 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. Primo Carnera (ppd, weather) 11-7 Tampa Argentina Rocca def John Smith 11-8 Lake Worth Argentina Rocca def Jack Wentworth 11-10 Ft. Lauderdale Argentina Rocca def Chris Zaharias 11-11 Miami Beach Argentina Rocca def John Smith

1956

2-6 Tampa Argentina Rocca def Hans Schmidt 2-9 Ft. Lauderdale Argentica Rocca def Eduardo Perez 2-11 Daytona Beach Argentina Rocca def Jack Vansky 3-26 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. Legs Langevin 4-6 Miami Beach Buddy Rogers def Billy Raeborn 6-18 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. Harry Smith 7-2 Tampa Harry Smith def Benny Matta, China Mira def Jean Wright, Bob DeMarce-Red Vagnone-Whitey Whittler def Chuck Benson- Danny Nardico-Ray Villmer 7-26 Jacksonville Cowboy Bradley-Tito Infante def Ivan the Terrible-Tiny Roe 10-1 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. Whitey Whittler 12-17 Tampa Argentina Rocca def Red Berry 12-18 Lake Worth Argentina Rocca def Jack Vansky 12-20 Ft. Lauderdale Argentina Rocca def Marco Polo (Steve Karas) 12-21 Miami Argentina Rocca def Red Berry 12-25 Tampa Argentina Rocca def Hans Schmidt 12-26 Miami Argentina Rocca def Jack Vansky

1957

1-12 Clearwater Buddy Rogers def Wilbur Snyder 1-21 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. John Smith 1-23 St. Petersburg Buddy Rogers def John Smith 1-24 Lake Worth Buddy Rogers def Ray Villmer 1-28 Tampa Buddy Rogers def John Smith 1-29 Lake Worth Buddy Rogers drew Ray Villmer 1-30 St. Petersburg Buddy Rogers def Dick the Bruiser 2-2 Key West Buddy Rogers def Al Smith 2-6 St. Pierre Buddy Rogers def Red Demon 2-12 Orlando Buddy Rogers def Karl Karlsson 12-2 Tampa Buddy Rogers def Karl Karlsson 12-9 Tampa Buddy Rogers vs. Ted Christy 12-11 St. Augustine Karl Karlsson def Buddy Rogers 12-12 Orlando Buddy Rogers def Karl Karlsson 12-14 Key West Buddy Rogers def Angelo Martinelli

1958

1-2 Miami Beach Don Eagle-Ray Villmer def Eddie Graham-John Smith 1-13 Tampa Don Eagle def Dick the Bruiser DQ, Enrique Torres def Jerry Turenne, Corinne Cordero- Tito Infante def Irish Jackie-Kathy Starr 1-21 Orlando Dick the Bruiser def Chuck Benson 1-28 Orlando Betty Hawkins def Ruth Waters, Duke Keomuka def Ray Villmer, Mr. Moto def Jerry Turene 2-4 Orlando Eduardo Perez drew Enrique Torres 2-10 Sarasota Don Eagle def Pete Managoff, Billy Parks def Jerry Turenne, China Mira def Gerry Wright 2-10 Tampa Ed Carpenter def Dick the Bruiser, Duke Keomuka def Ray Villmer, Barbara Baker-Judy Glover def Betty Hawkins-Nell Stewart 2-12 Pensacola Bobby Fields-Les Welch def Don-Jackie Fargo, Yvon Roberts def Rocky Monroe 2-15 Bradenton Jerry-Ted Christy def Ernie Dusek-Pete Managoff, Betty Hawkins def Helen Hild 2-17 Sarasota Gorgeous George def Jack Vansky, Vincent Garibaldi def Brother Elmer, Angelo Martinelli drew Billy Parks 2-17 Tampa Ray Villmer def Duke Keomuka, Judy Glover- Cowboy Cassidy def Barbara Baker-Sir Robert Randall 3-1 Bradenton Don Eagle def Pete Managoff 3-3 Sarasota Billy Parks drew Harry Smith, Pete Managoff drew Nick Roberts 3-4 Pensacola Buddy Fuller vs. Butch Galento, Don-Jackie Fargo vs. Don Fields-Lester Welch 3-5 St. Petersburg Mona Baker-Betty Hawkins-Alma Mills-Frankie Moore-Gerry Wright in five-girl royal, Pete Managoff vs. Eduardo Perez 3-8 Bradenton Lady Angel def Barbara Baker, Lord Randall def Sonny Boy Cassidy, Nick Roberts def Pete Managoff 3-10 Tampa Argentina Rocca drew Don Eagle, Jerry Christy def Harry Lewis, Harry Smith def Eduardo Perez 3-10 Sarasota Dot Dotson def Lady Angel, Ted Christy def Jack Vansky, Don Whittler def Bill Wright 3-13 Jacksonville Don Eagle def Leo Wallick 3-14 Miami Don Eagle def Ike Eakins, Barbara Baker vs. Lady Angel, Pete Managoff vs. Ray Villmer 3-15 Bradenton Gorgeous George drew Nick Roberts, Chris Zaharias def Tony Martinelli, Judy Glover drew Nell Stewart 3-17 Tampa Jerry Christy-Harry Smith def Eduardo Perez- Leo Wallick, Ray Villmer def Gorgeous George, Chuck Benson def Ted Christy 3-18 Pensacola Don-Jack Fargo def Buddy Fuller-Les Welch, Ray Stevens def Red Roberts 4-4 Crestview Mario Galento-Buddy Fuller drew Jackie-Don Fargo 4-8 Pensacola Mario Galento def yvon Roberre, Bobby-Don Fields def Red Roberts-Pierre DeGlane 4-18 Crestview Buddy Fuller-Billy Wicks def Hercules McIntyre-Red Roberts 4-22 Pensacola Mario Galento-Rube Wright def Lester Welch- Scotty Williams, Great Shiroma drew Don Fields 4-24 Panama City Lester Welch-Bobby Fields def Baby Blimp- Red Roberts 4-25 Crestview Argentina Rocca def Ed Perez 4-29 Pensacola Argentina Rocca def Red Roberts, Mario Galento-Rube Wright vs. Bobby-Don Fields 5-20 Pensacola Ed Perez vs. Chris Belkas, Buddy Fuller vs. Sputnik Monroe, Malenko vs. Bobby Fields (rained out) 5-22 Panama City Great Shiroma-Rube Wright vs. Tom Drake- Yvon Roberre 5-27 Pensacola Rocko Colombo def Butch Galento, Great Malenko def Bobby Fields, Buddy Fuller def Baby Blimp 7-1 Pensacola Corsica Joe-Rube Wright def Eddie Davis- Bobby Fields, John Smith def Yvon Roberre 7-22 Pensacola John Smith drew Billy Wicks, Al-John Smith def Rocco Colombo-Billy Wicks, Butch Galento def Bobby Fields 7-29 Pensacola Buddy Fuller def Al Smith, Herb Welch def Great Mersjo, Al-John Smith def Tom Drake- Buddy Fuller 7-29 Tampa Don Eagle def Tommy O'Toole, Scotty Williams def Mark Starr DQ, Leo Newman def Ray Villmer 9-30 Pensacola Buddy Fuller-Mario Galento def Red Roberts- John Smith 9-30 Tampa Fabulous Moolah def Rita Cortez, Gypsy Joe- Chico Ortiz vs. Chris Belkas-Scotty Williams, Jerry Christy vs. Johnny Walker 10-4 Ft. Lauderdale Fabulous Moolah def Rita Cortez, Curt Steinke vs. Johnny Walker, Chris Belkas vs. Curt Steinke 10-14 Pensacola Buddy Fuller vs. Pancho Villa, The Scorpion vs. Billy Wicks, John Smith vs. Les Welch 10-21 Pensacola Mr-Mrs. Pancho Villa vs Buddy Fuller-Millie Stafford, Mario Galento vs. The Scorpion 10-27 Tampa Billy Two Rivers def Eduardo Perez

1959

1-3 Orlando Don Eagle def Willie Davis 1-3? Jade City? Don Eagle def John Smith 1-6 Pensacola Count Brawner vs. Billy Wicks, Jack-Lester Welch vs. Rocky Monroe-Pancho Villa 1-7 St. Petersburg Don Eagle def Eddie Gossett (Graham) 1-8 Jacksonville The Giant vs. Ray Villmer, Rita Cortez-Tito Gomez vs. Jack Dillon-Dot Dotson 2-13 Miami Argentina Rocca-Don Eagle def Graham Bros. 2-24 Tampa Argentina Rocca-Don Eagle-Ray Villmer vs. Jerry & Eddie Graham-Jack Dillon 4-21 Pensacola Art Neilson vs. Pepi Pasquale, John Smith vs. Billy Wicks, Joe Scarpa vs. Pancho Villa 12-15 Tampa Argentina Rocca vs. El Diablo 12-25 Miami Beach Argentina Rocca def Hans Schmidt

1960

1-1 Miami Beach Argentina Rocca-Don Curtis def Eddie Graham-Angelo Poffo 1-11 Orlando Eddie Graham def Danny McShain 2-5 Miami Beach Argentina Rocca def Eddie Graham 2-26 Miami Beach Paul Anderson def Danny McShain 11-16 Miami Beach Buddy Rogers vs. Eddie Graham

1961

1-7 Miami Beach Buddy Rogers-Eddie Graham def Buddy Austin-Al Costello 1-14 Miami Argentina Rocca def Johnny Valentine 7-18 Orlando Buddy Rogers def Mike Paidousis (NWA title) 7-19 Jacksonville Buddy Rogers def Great Malenko (NWA title) 7-21 Tampa TV Buddy Rogers def Harry Smith

1963

(with this summer series of bouts, Florida came into the National Wrestling Alliance as a full partner for the first time; from then on, Florida constituted a major circuit on the North American wrestling map)

6-24 Orlando Lou Thesz def Boris Malenko 6-25 Tampa Lou Thesz def Hiro Matsuda 6-27 Jacksonville Lou Thesz def Don Curtis 7-5 Miami Beach Lou Thesz def Boris Malenko 7-16 Pensacola Lou Thesz drew "The Outlaw" (Mike Paidousis) 7-29 Orlando Lou Thesz def Hiro Matsuda 7-30 Tampa Lou Thesz def Boris Malenko 8-1 Jacksonville Lou Thesz def Don Curtis 8-2 Miami Beach Lou Thesz def Eddie Graham 8-20 Miami Beach Lou Thesz def Boris Malenko 8-26 Orlando Lou Thesz def Ray Villmer 8-27 Tampa Lou Thesz def Assassin No. 1 DQ 8-29 Jacksonville Lou Thesz drew Eddie Graham (NC) 8-30 Miami Beach Lou Thesz def Hiro Matsuda DQ __________________________________________________

YET ANOTHER EARLY "NOTEBOOK" FOLLOWS, DETAILING VARIOUS MATCHES AND EVENTS FROM 1913...THE EMPHASIS IS ON ED (STRANGLER) LEWIS:

ACCORDING TO A NOV. 30, 1913 ARTICLE IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, ED LEWIS' FIRST PRO BOUT OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE WAS A STRAIGHT FALL LOSS TO FRED BEELL IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., THE CITY IN WHICH LEWIS (ROBERT FRIEDRICH) GREW UP. BUT I DON'T KNOW THE DATE, NOR DO I KNOW THE DATES OF TWO, 15-MINUTE DRAWS LEWIS GOT IN MINNEAPOLIS AGAINST STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO WHICH WERE CLAIMED IN THE SAME ARTICLE. LEWIS ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEATEN HJALMAR LUNDIN IN RICHMOND SOMETIME DURING 1912. SOME ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE BOB FREDERICKS WHO SHOWS UP AGAINST LEWIS IN EARLY 1913, BUT THAT WAS BOBBY MANAGOFF SR., ACCORDING TO AN INTERVIEW WITH MANAGOFF PRINTED NATIONWIDE IN APRIL, 1933, AFTER MANAGOFF GAVE SAVOLDI THE CONTROVERSIAL FALL (AND APPARENT WORLD TITLE) OVER JIM LONDOS IN CHICAGO.

Jan. 13

Chicago--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def Charles Cutler 2-0;

Jan. 20

Chicago--George Lurich def DR. B.F. ROLLER 2-0;

Jan. 24

Louisville--ED LEWIS def Bob Fredericks;

Jan. 26

Duluth--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def Jess Westergaard 2-0;

Jan. 31

Louisville--William Demetral def ED LEWIS;

Feb. 6

Lexington KY--ED LEWIS drew Bob Fredericks (hdcp conditions);

Feb. 7

Chicago--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def Raymond Cazeau 2-0;

Feb. 19

Lexington KY--ED LEWIS def Jack Stone;

Feb. 20

Boston--George Lurich def STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO cnc;

Feb. 21

Louisville--ED LEWIS def Doc Gomer;

Feb. 24

Chicago--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def Constant Le Marin;

Feb. 27

Detroit--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def William Demetral 2-0;

Mar. 6

Lexington KY--ED LEWIS def Harry Faust;

Mar. 14

Louisville--ED LEWIS drew Young Olsen;

Mar. 28

Louisville--ED LEWIS def Young Olsen;

ROLLER DEFEATS LEWIS IN STRAIGHT FALLS SOMEWHERE SPRING OF 1913

Apr. 4

New York--WLADEK ZBYSZKO, Tom Jenkins, others at 22nd Regiment Armory on flood relief show;

Apr. 23

Chicago--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO def Constant Le Marin 2-0, WLADEK ZBYSZKO def Paul Martinson 2-0;

May 19 or 25

???--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO vs Raymond Cazeau, WLADEK ZBYSZKO vs Sandelli;

May 24

Montreal--Constant Le Marin def STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO cnc;

May 28

????--STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO vs George Lurich; WLADEK ZBYSZKO vs Sampson;

Sept. 18

Lexington KY--ED LEWIS def B.F. ROLLER;

Nov. 3

Chicago--ED LEWIS def Paul Martinson;

Nov. 14

Chicago--ED LEWIS def Karl Schulz;

Nov. 15

Chicago--ED LEWIS def Paul Raas;

Nov. 21

Louisville--ED LEWIS def Young Olsen;

Nov. 26

Chicago--Charles Cutler def ED LEWIS;

Nov. 29

Chicago--ED LEWIS def Jack Sajatoric;

ED LEWIS TELLS CHICAGO TRIBUNE HE WAS BORN JUNE 30, 1891, IN SHEBOYGAN, MOVED TO GRAND RAPIDS AT AGE 13; SEZ HE BEAT FRED BEELL IN STRAIGHT FALLS THERE IN 1910, THEN MET STAN ZEE IN THOSE TWO HANDICAPS AT MINNEAPOLIS

Dec. 1

Chicago--ED LEWIS vs. Andrea Anderson;

Dec. 2

Lexington KY (date?)--ED LEWIS def Tom Jenkins;

Dec. 16

Lexington KY (date?)--ED LEWIS def Gus Kervaros;

Dec. 30

Chicago (Empire)--Gus Schoenlein def ED LEWIS 2-0, Gustav Fristensky def Max Miller, John Coleman, Mysterious Horseshoer; Ted Tonneman def Young Beell, John Meyers def George Dietz ($1,652.25, Lewis received check for $330.50);

J.M. WALLS MANAGING LEWIS AT THIS POINT, LEWIS ARRIVES BACK IN CHICAGO DEC. 26 FOR THE AMERICUS MATCH, CLAIMING WINS OVER TOM JENKINS AND GUS KERVAROS IN LEXINGTON SINCE HIS LAST CHICAGO BOUT...I GUESSED AT THE DATES.
___________________________________________

The WAWLI Papers # 004...

FIRST OFF, A GLIMPSE BACK TO WHEN NOONE SEEMED TO KNOW, OR CARE, WHO WAS CHAMP --THE FORGOTTEN YEARS, 1936-48, OR BEFORE LOU THESZ CONSOLIDATED MOST OF THE BELTS INTO HIS FAMOUS 'UNBEATEN' STREAK BETWEEN 1948 AND 1955...INCLUDING THE 'INTERIM' WARTIME CHAMPIONSHIP TOURS OF WILD BILL LONGSON. APPARENTLY, BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN BACK THAT HE HAD SUFFERED SOME YEARS BEFORE IN THE RING, LONGSON WAS THE ONLY MAJOR STAR WHO COULD AVOID EITHER THE SERVICE OR FULLTIME WAR INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT AND THUS WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LAND. THE BOUTS BELOW ARE A PERFECT WAY TO LEARN WHO WERE THE BOYS 'ON TOP' DURING THE PERIOD.
________________________________________

(1936 THRU 1948, TUMULTUOUS YEARS FOR THE OLD NATIONAL WRESTLING ASSOCIATION -- NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE NATIONAL WRESTLING 'ALLIANCE,' WHICH GREW OUT OF THE OLD MIDWEST WRESTLING ASSOCIATION WORLD TITLE. ALMOST EVERY BOY ON THIS LIST COULD EITHER WRESTLE, OR SHOWBOAT -- 'WORK' -- AND MANY COULD DO BOTH. ONE REASON IT WAS 'WRESTLING AS WE LIKED IT' AND, OH, TO RETURN TO THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS OF YESTERYEAR!!!)

1936

Ali Baba's short reign as champion -- he had defeated Dick Shikat, who had double-crossed Danno O'Mahoney -- comes to an end in Ohio.

JUNE 29 COLUMBUS EV MARSHALL L

EV MARSHALL

July 17 Cincinnati Dutch Hefner W July 22 Montreal Charlie Strack W Aug. 7 Columbus John Grandovich W Aug. 19 Cleveland Dutch Hefner W Sept. 7 Pennsauken George Dusette W Sept. 17 Toronto Pat McClary W Sept. 28 Detroit Ali Baba W Oct. 8 Toronto Ali Baba D Oct. 14 Columbus Bill Middlekauf W Oct. 23 Denver Dick Shikat -- Oct. 27 Kansas City Nanjo Singh W Oct. 29 St. Louis Dorve Roche W Nov. 11 Cleveland George Zaharias W Nov. 18 Cleveland George Zaharias W Nov. 20 Chicago Ali Baba W Nov. 23 Philadelphia George Zaharias W Nov. 25 St. Louis Ray Steele W Dec. 1 Louisville Bill Middlekauf W Dec. 2 Cleveland Ray Steele D Dec. 10 Columbus Paul Jones W

1937

Jan. 1 Columbus Paul Jones W Jan. 5 Chicago Jim McMillen W Jan. 6 Cleveland Ray Steele W Jan. 13 Miami Johnny Plummer W Feb. 3 Cleveland Jim McMillen D Feb. 4 Chicago Oki Shikina W Feb. 5 Columbus Ray Steele W Feb. 10 St. Louis Ali Baba W Mar. 3 Cleveland Jim McMillen W Mar. 8 Chicago Oki Shikina W Mar. 11 Knoxville Lou Plummer W Mar. 24 Cleveland Bobby Bruns D Mar. 29 Kansas City Lee Wyckoff W Apr. 1 Chicago Chief Saunooke W Apr. 7 Cleveland Jim McMillen W Apr. 15 St. Louis Ali Baba W Apr. 20 Kansas City Jim McMillen W Apr. 22 Denver Babe Zaharias W Apr. 27 Indianapolis Dorve Roche W Apr. 28 Huntington Paul Jones W May 13 St. Louis Lou Thesz W May 26 Atlanta Chief Chewacki W June 1 Cleveland Bobby Bruns W June 3 Milwaukee Blimp Levy W June 10 Toronto Cliff Thiede W June 15 Indianapolis Juan Humberto W June 17 St. Louis Ali Baba W June 18 Kansas City Nanjo Singh W June 25 Houston Gino Garibaldi W June 28 Denver Jim McMillen W July 7 Indianapolis Walter Podolak W Aug. 18 Kansas City Nanjo Singh W Aug. 25 Kansas City George Zaharias W Aug. 31 Indianapolis Milo Steinborn W Sept. 1 Kansas City Sol Slagel W Sept. 13 Detroit Juan Humberto W Sept. 15 Cleveland Fred Grubmeier W Oct. 8 Houston Lou Thesz W Oct. 13 Cleveland Orville Brown W Oct. 15 Columbus Dorve Roche W Oct. 18 Milwaukee Fritz Von Mier W Oct. 28 Columbus Orville Brown W Nov. 2 Indianapolis George Zaharias W Nov. 3 Kansas City Lou Thesz D Nov. 15 Chicago Bobby Bruns D Nov. 17 Boston Marv Westenberg W Nov. 18 Hartford Bobby Bruns W Nov. 19 Philadelphia Yvon Robert D Nov. 24 Cleveland Orville Brown W Nov. 25 St. Louis Danno O'Mahoney W Dec. 8 Boston George Clark W Dec. 9 Toronto Sheik of Araby W Dec. 10 Cleveland Ali Baba D Dec. 12 Minneapolis Chief Saunooke W Dec. 14 Evansville Frank Sexton W Dec. 16 Columbus Orville Brown D Dec. 17 Rochester Ed Don George D Dec. 18 Cleveland (??)

DEC. 29 ST. LOUIS LOU THESZ L

LOU THESZ

1938

Jan. 12 St. Louis Danno O'Mahoney W Jan. 13 Kansas City Frank Sexton W Jan. 14 St. Joseph Joe Corbett W Jan. 19 Hartford George Clark W Jan. 21 Boston Rudy Dusek W Jan. 26 St. Louis Ev Marshall W Jan. 28 St. Joseph Rudy LaDitzi W Feb. 1 Columbia, MO. Ed Powers W Feb. 8 St. Louis Ernie Dusek W

FEB. 11 BOSTON STEVE CASEY L

STEVE CASEY

Feb. 22 Indianapolis Milo Steinborn W Feb. 23 St. Louis Rudy Dusek W Feb. 28 Memphis Dorve Roche W Mar. 1 Indianapolis Ed Don George W Mar. 5 Boston Lou Thesz W Mar. 9 St. Louis Ev Marshall W Mar. 11 Boston Seelie Samara W Mar. 16 Cleveland Hardy Kruskamp W Mar. 17 Camden Rudy Dusek W Mar. 18 Hartford George Koverly W Mar. 21 Wilmington George Koverly W Mar. 22 Albany George Clark W Mar. 25 Boston Ev Marshall W Mar. 29 Worcester Marv Westenberg W Mar. 30 New York City Danno O'Mahoney W Apr. 1 North Bergen Joe Cox W Apr. 6 St. Louis Lou Thesz W Apr. 8 Chicago Ed Don George W Apr. 12 Dallas Sol Slagel W Apr. 16 Houston Bill Lee W Apr. 18 Memphis Abe Coleman W Apr. 20 Cleveland Rudy Dusek W May 19 Boston Yvon Robert W May 25 St. Louis Ev Marshall W May 27 Buffalo Ed Don George W June 10 Buffalo Ed Don George D June 14 Boston Yvon Robert W June 23 St. Louis Ernie Dusek W July 7 Troy Wally Dusek W July 26 Boston Dick Shikat W

National Wrestling Association lifts heavyweight crown of Steve Casey for refusal to defend (Casey is temporarily out of the country) and awards it to Everett Marshall on September 14 . . . although Casey will return and defend the title in, among other places, Houston in the early part of 1939. Only when Lou Thesz defeats him St. Louis that winter does Casey's claim to this title end. However, a week earlier in Boston, he had been beaten by the Shadow (Marv Westenberg under a hood), losing the title, as far as the New England promotion was concerned. Gus Sonnenberg defeated Westenberg two weeks later, followed two weeks later by Casey defeating Sonnenberg. Casey then did not lose another match until May 15, 1940, when the French Angel beat him in Boston. The Angel, in turn, did not lose for nearly two years, finally falling to Casey in Boston May 13, 1942. Shortly thereafter, Casey entered the service -- he was stationed in northern California for most of the war and defended a world title in the Bay Area -- and didn't return home until 1945.

At that time, Frank Sexton was acclaimed champ, having won the strap from Sandor Szabo, who -- like Longson -- seemed available for traveling during much of the war. Casey beat Sexton and then lost a return match. So Sexton remained American Wrestling Association -- that's what the belt generally was called -- champ until 1950, when he lost to Don Eagle, who in turn quickly lost to Gorgeous George. Lou Thesz' win over Gorgeous George in Chicago of that same year solidified these two divergent title strains. At that time, about the only major "world" heavyweight title belt outside Thesz' grasp was Montreal title. Both that strap and Thesz' strap repeatedly were put on the line, and somehow the fans seemed to understand. After all, the Montreal-Boston offices had a long history of respected two "world" titles, dating back to when Henri DeGlane bit Strangler Lewis and split those two belts in the early '30s.

EVERETT MARSHALL

Sept. 28 Denver Lee Wyckoff W Oct. 11 Indianapolis Dorve Roche W Oct. 19 St. Louis Lee Wyckoff W Oct. 21 Denver Ivan Managoff W Nov. 1 Kansas City Joe Dusek W Nov. 7 Memphis Ralph Garibaldi W Nov. 8 Indianapolis John Grandovich W Nov. 15 Kansas City Lee Wyckoff W Nov. 22 Kansas City Young Joe Stecher W Nov. 29 Indianapolis John Grandovich W Dec. 1 St. Louis Tom Sawyer W Dec. 27 Indianapolis George Zaharias W

1939

Jan. 3 Kansas City Lee Wyckoff W Jan. 12 St. Louis Lou Thesz W Jan. 13 Milwaukee Joe Dusek W Jan. 18 Denver Hans Schnabel D Feb. 2 Colorado Springs Chief Saunooke W

FEB. 23 ST. LOUIS LOU THESZ L

LOU THESZ

Mar. 7 Denver Hans Schnabel W Mar. 8 Houston Ernie Dusek D Mar. 9 St. Louis Steve Casey W Mar. 17 Houston Ev Marshall W Mar. 24 Houston Ev Marshall W Mar. 27 Wichita Roy Dunn W Apr. 3 Denver Ev Marshall D Apr. 14 Houston Rusty Wescoatt W Apr. 17 Wichita Roy Dunn W Apr. 25 Indianapolis Mike Mazurki W Apr. 27 St. Louis Ali Baba W May 1 Wichita Lee Wyckoff W May 5 Denver Ev Marshall W May 9 St. Louis Marv Westenberg W May 26 Houston Joe Cox W June 5 Wichita Ev Marshall W

JUNE 23 HOUSTON BRONKO NAGURSKI L

BRONKO NAGURSKI

June 28 Minneapolis Dick Raines D Aug. 22 Indianapolis Hans Kampfer W Sept. 20 St. Louis Ben Morgan W Sept. 26 Dallas Ivan Managoff W Sept. 29 Houston Lou Thesz W Oct. 2 Denver Ev Marshall D Oct. 10 Minneapolis Chief Saunooke W Oct. 20 Canton Dutch Hefner W Oct. 30 Milwaukee Lou Plummer W Oct. 31 Minneapolis Dick Raines W Nov. 6 Cleveland Fred Von Schacht W Nov. 7 Canton Dutch Hefner W Nov. 9 Toronto Danno O'Mahoney W Nov. 10 Buffalo Hal Rumberg W Nov. 14 Minneapolis Don McIntyre W Nov. 20 St. Paul Chief Saunooke W Nov. 22 Chicago Danno O'Mahoney W Nov. 28 Canton Pat Kelly W Nov. 29 Pittsburgh Cy Williams W Nov. 30 Toronto Ernie Dusek W Dec. 4 Cleveland Joe Savoldi W Dec. 15 Chicago Ev Marshall --

1940

Jan. 9 Minneapolis Ernie Dusek W Jan. 15 Cleveland George Zaharias W Jan. 17 Chicago Ev Marshall D Jan. 18 Houston Young Joe Stecher W Jan. 27 Houston Bill Lee W Jan. 31 Pittsburgh Rasputin W Feb. 1 Toronto Bill Longson W Feb. 6 Minneapolis Danno O'Mahoney W Feb. 8 St. Louis Len Macaluso W Feb. 9 Chicago Joe Savoldi W Feb. 21 St. Louis Lou Thesz W Feb. 27 Indianapolis Dorve Roche W Mar. 4 St. Paul Joe Savoldi W

MARCH 7 ST. LOUIS RAY STEELE L

RAY STEELE

Mar. 18 Cleveland Ted Cox W Apr. 4 St. Louis Hans Kampfer W May 31 Houston John Grandovich W June 11 Kansas City Joe Dusek W Sept. 6 Houston John Grandovich W Nov. 13 St. Louis Ernie Dusek W Dec. 13 St. Louis Bronko Nagurski W

1941

Jan. 9 Kansas City Pat Fraley W Jan. 10 St. Louis Bronko Nagurski W Jan. 13 Duluth Rudy Strongberg W Jan. 14 Minneapolis Hans Kampfer W Jan. 27 St. Louis Lou Thesz W Feb. 3 St. Louis George Koverly W Feb. 11 St. Paul Hans Kampfer D Feb. 20 St. Louis Lou Thesz W Feb. 24 Camden Milo Steinborn W Feb. 26 Hempstead Paul Boesch W

MARCH 11 MINNEAPOLIS BRONKO NAGURSKI L

BRONKO NAGURSKI

Mar. 12 St. Louis Ray Steele W Mar. 20 St. Louis Ray Villmer W Mar. 21 St. Paul Lou Thesz D Apr. 8 Minneapolis Lou Thesz W Apr. 22 Minneapolis Ray Steele W May 6 Minneapolis Wladislaw Talun W May 13 Minneapolis Ev Marshall D June 3 Louisville Lou Thesz W

JUNE 5 ST. LOUIS SANDOR SZABO L

SANDOR SZABO

June 19 St. Louis Bronko Nagurski W July 1 Minneapolis Clif Gustafson D July 17 East L.A. Vic Holbrook W July 24 East L.A. Abe Kashey W Aug. 1 Santa Monica Vic Holbrook W Aug. 5 Burbank Mike Mazurki W Aug. 6 Los Angeles Hans Schnabel W Aug. 14 East L.A. Alberto Corral W Aug. 20 Los Angeles Pantaleon Manlapig W Aug. 27 Los Angeles Pantaleon Manlapig W Sept. 2 San Francisco Jim Casey W Sept. 3 San Jose Bill Longson W Sept. 9 San Francisco Frank Sexton D Sept. 12 Santa Monica Juan Humberto W Sept. 18 East L.A. Dutch Hefner (ElDiablo)W Sept. 19 Santa Monica Juan Humberto W Sept. 24 Los Angeles Bronko Nagurski W Oct. 1 Los Angeles Bronko Nagurski -- Oct. 7 Minneapolis Joe Savoldi W Oct. 14 Minneapolis Joe Savoldi W Oct. 17 St. Paul Dick Raines W Oct. 21 Minneapolis Al Lovelock W Oct. 28 Indianapolis Joe Savoldi W Nov. 11 Indianapolis Joe Cox W Nov. 22 St. Louis Ray Steele W Nov. 25 Kansas City Lou Thesz D Dec. 8 Camden Ernie Dusek W Dec. 9 Baltimore Leo Numa W Dec. 11 Washington Jim Henry W Dec. 12 Philadelphia George Koverly W Dec. 13 Brooklyn Lou Plummer W Dec. 16 Indianapolis Ray Villmer W Dec. 18 St. Louis Ernie Dusek W

1942

Jan. 8 East L.A. Hans Schnabel W Jan. 15 East L.A. Vic Holbrook W Jan. 29 Houston Ted Cox W

FEB. 19 ST. LOUIS BILL LONGSON L

BILL LONGSON

Mar. 13 Houston Ted Cox W Mar. 20 St. Louis Sandor Szabo W Apr. 9 St. Louis Ed Lewis W May 8 St. Louis Lou Thesz W May 14 Kansas City Chief Little Wolf W May 15 Houston Ed Lewis W June 5 St. Louis Lou Thesz W June 11 Kansas City Dorve Roche W July 10 Houston Lou Thesz W Aug. 3 Memphis Ron Etchison W Sept. 11 St. Louis Danno O'Mahoney W Sept. 15 Dallas Lou Thesz D

OCT. 7 MONTREAL YVON ROBERT L

YVON ROBERT

Nov. 6 St. Louis Ed Lewis W

NOV. 27 HOUSTON BOBBY MANAGOFF L

BOBBY MANAGOFF

Dec. 14 Memphis Ed Lewis W

1943

Jan. 12 Dallas Juan Humberto W Jan. 19 Dallas Juan Humberto W Jan. 22 Houston Lou Thesz W Feb. 8 Memphis Don Lee W Feb. 12 St. Joseph Orville Brown W Feb. 15 Memphis Roland Kirchmeyer(Mr. X)W

FEB. 19 ST. LOUIS BILL LONGSON L

BILL LONGSON

Mar. 1 Memphis Roland Kirchmeyer (Mr. X)W Mar. 5 St. Louis Bobby Managoff W Mar. 8 Memphis Roland Kirchmeyer W Mar. 15 Memphis Dorve Roche W Mar. 19 St. Louis Yvon Robert W Apr. 2 St. Louis Bobby Managoff W Apr. 9 St. Joseph Ron Etchison W Apr. 19 St. Louis Vic Holbrook W Apr. 26 Memphis Al Mills W Apr. 30 St. Louis Leroy McGuirk W May 17 St. Louis George Koverly W May 21 Houston Lou Thesz D May 28 St. Louis Sandor Szabo W June 14 Memphis Roy Graham W June 25 St. Louis Sandor Szabo W July 9 St. Louis Warren Bockwinkle W July 13 Indianapolis Karl Davis W Aug. 6 Toronto Leo Numa (RedShadow)D Aug. 12 Toronto Leo Numa (RedShadow)W Sept. 14 Indianapolis Jack Reeder(Phantom)W Sept. 21 Dallas Lou Thesz W Oct. 7 Toronto Billy Watson D Oct. 14 Toronto Billy Watson W Oct. 18 Memphis Al Mills W Oct. 25 Memphis Paul Jones W Nov. 4 Toronto Billy Watson D Nov. 5 Buffalo Toar Morgan W Nov. 9 Cleveland Ernie Dusek W Nov. 14 St. Louis Swedish Angel W Nov. 23 Dallas Jack Kennedy W Dec. 10 St. Louis Vic Holbrook W

1944

Jan. 11 Indianapolis Len Hall W Jan. 14 St. Louis George Koverly W Jan. 18 Dallas Swedish Angel W Jan. 19 San Antonio Ted Cox W Jan. 21 Houston Lou Thesz D Jan. 25 Indianapolis Sandor Szabo D Jan. 27 Toronto Ed Hannigan W Feb. 2 Rochester Frank Sexton D Feb. 4 Buffalo Karl Davis W Feb. 11 St. Louis Warren Bockwinkle W Feb. 15 Indianapolis George Koverly W Feb. 18 Houston Ted Cox W Feb. 25 St. Louis Sandor Szabo W Mar. 3 Houston George Koverly W Mar. 6 Fort Worth Jack Kennedy W Mar. 7 Dallas Ted Cox W Mar. 10 St. Louis Swedish Angel W Mar. 16 Toronto Vic Holbrook W Mar. 22 Rochester Billy Watson D Mar. 23 Toronto Vic Holbrook W Mar. 24 St. Louis Sandor Szabo W Mar. 28 Indianapolis Earl McCready W Mar. 31 Houston George Koverly W Apr. 4 Dallas Leroy McGuirk W Apr. 6 St. Louis Gino Garibaldi W Apr. 10 Memphis Dick Lever (RedAngel) W Apr. 11 New Orleans Al Massey W Apr. 15 Atlanta Red Devil (??) W Apr. 18 Indianapolis Swedish Angel W Apr. 21 St. Louis (??) May 5 St. Louis Billy Watson W May 10 Rochester Frank Sexton D May 11 Toronto Billy Watson D May 16 Indianapolis Lou Plummer W May 17 St. Louis Gino Garibaldi W May 22 Fort Worth Ellis Bashara W May 23 Dallas Bobby Managoff D May 24 San Antonio Dizzy Davis W May 26 Houston Earl McCready W June 1 Toronto Billy Watson D June 2 Buffalo Laverne Baxter W June 6 Indianapolis Gino Garibaldi W June 8 Toronto Billy Watson W June 12 St. Louis (referee?) June 16 Atlanta Duke Kapalani W June 20 Dallas Jack Kennedy W Aug. 11 St. Louis Earl McCready W Sept. 8 St. Louis Chief Saunooke W Sept. 21 Dallas Lou Thesz W Sept. 29 Houston Lou Thesz W Oct. 3 Dallas Pat Fraley W Oct. 6 St. Louis Earl McCready W Oct. 13 Atlanta Cherry Vallina W Oct. 16 Memphis Herb Freeman W Oct. 23 Memphis Chief Saunooke W Nov. 13 Memphis Pierre DeGlane W

1945

Jan. 16 Hamilton Rasputin W Jan. 18 Toronto Gino Garibaldi W Jan. 19 Buffalo Len Hall W Jan. 29 Memphis Al Massey W Feb. 15 Corpus Christi Marvin Jones W Apr. 12 Corpus Christi Olaf Olson W Apr. 23 Memphis Barto Hill W May 4 St. Louis George Koverly W May 7 Memphis Barto Hill W May 15 Indianapolis George Koverly W May 18 St. Louis Bob Wagner W May 24 Salt Lake City Leif Erickson W May 29 St. Louis Chief Thunderbird W June 15 St. Louis Barto Hill W June 26 Indianapolis Frank Marconi W June 29 St. Louis Chief Thunderbird W July 6 Atlanta Jack Singer(GreenHornet) W July 9 Memphis Frank Marconi W July 10 Indianapolis Chief Thunderbird W July 13 St. Louis Frank Marconi W July 27 St. Louis Gino Vagnone W July 31 Dallas Don Evans W Aug. 1 San Antonio Dizzy Davis W Aug. 2 Corpus Christi Ray Clements W Aug. 3 Houston Buddy Rogers D Aug. 7 Nashville John Cretoria(Turhan Bey) W Aug. 10 St. Louis Gino Vagnone W Aug. 13 Memphis Dan O'Connor W Aug. 17 Atlanta Barto Hill W Aug. 21 Indianapolis Ray Eckert W Aug. 31 Atlanta Barto Hill W Sept. 7 St. Louis Don Evans W Sept. 11 Dallas Ted Cox W Sept. 12 San Antonio Juan Humberto W Sept. 13 Corpus Christi Gorilla Macias W Sept. 14 Houston Buddy Rogers W Sept. 18 Dallas Jim Casey D Sept. 28 Atlanta Al Massey W Oct. 1 Savannah Nick Carter W Oct. 16 Dallas Jim Casey W Oct. 19 St. Louis Vic Christy W Oct. 23 Dallas Jim Casey W Oct. 24 San Antonio Gorilla Macias W Oct. 25 Corpus Christi Karl Davis W Oct. 26 Houston Buddy Rogers W Nov. 2 St. L