1959

Sept. 10 (Minneapolis)--Joe Pazandak def Mighty Atlas, Otto Von Krupp def Arman Hussian, Princess Tona Tomah-Judy Glover def Kathy Starr-Mars Monroe, Aldo Bogni drew Bill Fletcher

Sept. 17 (Minneapolis)--Joe-Guy Brunetti def Butch Levy-Bob Rasmussen, Frank Townsend def Aldo Bogni, Otto Von Krupp def Bill Wright, Larry Hennig def Black Jack Daniels, Steve Druk drew Roger Lowen

Sept. 24 (Minneapolis)--Joe Pazandak def Kinji Shibuya, June Byers def Betty Hawkins, Frank Townsend def Black Jack Daniels, Floyde Ude def Aldo Bogni, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Wright

Oct. 1 (Minneapolis)--Frank Townsend def Joe Pazandak, Haystack Calhoun def Kurt Von Brauner-Chief Little Bear (handicap), Billy Goelz def John Kace, Ray Gordon def Jack Terry, Aldo Bogni def Don Martin

Oct. 3 (St. Paul)--Joe Pazandak-Aldo Bogni def Butch Levy-Bob Rasmussen, Frank Townsend def Black Jack Daniels, Arman Hussian def John Kace, Billy Goelz drew Ray Gordon

Oct. 8 (Minneapolis)--Frank Townsend-Butch Levy def Hans Schmidt-Dick Hutton, Ray Gordon def Aldo Bogni, Great Antonio def Bill Wright, Bob Rassmusen def Don Martin

Oct. 10 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend def Joe Pazandak, Arman Hussian-Bob Rasmussen def Bill Wright-Chief Geronimo Nassau, Mars Monroe def May Mattson, Black Jack Daniels def Mike Blazer

Oct. 15 (Minneapolis)--Pat O'Connor drew Frank Townsend (NWA title defense), Great Antonio def Black Jack Daniels, Billy Goelz def John Kace, Ray Gordon drew Don McClarty

Oct. 17 (St. Paul)--Pat O'Connor def Joe Pazandak DQ (NWA title defense), Frank Townsend def Ray Gordon, Bob Rasmussen def John Kace, Great Antonio def Black Jack Daniels, Billy Goelz def Don Martin

Oct. 22 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Great Antonio, Frank Townsend def Ray Gordon, Larry Hennig def Don Martin, Bob Rasmussen def Aldo Bogni DQ

Oct. 24 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend def Joe Pazandak, Butch Levy-Bob Rasmussen def Larry Hennig-Ray Gordon, Great Antonio def Don Martin, Floyd Ude def Black Jack Daniels

Oct. 29 (Minneapolis)--Haystacks Calhoun def Happy Humphrey, Frank Townsend def Man Mountain Campbell, Joe Pazandak def Arman Hussian, Bob Rasmussen def Jack Terry, Aldo Bogni def Carl Engstrom

Oct. 31 (St. Paul)--Ivan-Karol Kalmikoff def Frank Townsend-Happy Humphrey, Little Beaver def Irish Jackie DQ, Great Antonio def Dan Ferrazzo, Aldo Bogni def Man Mountain Campbell

Nov. 5 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills def Arman Hussian, Stan Kowalski def Dan Ferrazzo, Little Beaver-Tiny Tim def Irish Jackie-Billy the Kid, Aldo Bogni drew Lou Whitson, Frank Townsend def Black Jack Daniels

Nov. 7 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills def Great Antonio, Little Beaver-Tiny Tim def Irish Jackie-Billy the Kid, Stan Kowalski def Steve Druk, Lou Whitson def Dan Ferazzo

Nov. 12 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills NC Frank Townsend, Stan Kowalski def Lou Whitson, Bob Rasmussen def Don Martin, Aldo Bogni def Steve Druk

Nov. 14 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend-Butch Levy def Ivan-Karol Kalmikoff, Tiny Mills def Lou Whitson, Stan Kowalski def Floyd Ude, Bob Rasmussen def Steve Druk

Nov. 19 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Haystack Calhoun DQ, Roy McClarty def Jack Terry, Billy Goelz def Don Martin, Larry Hennig drew Lou Whitson

Nov. 21 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Joe Pazandak def Billy Goelz, Bob Rasmussen def Aldo Bogni DQ, Floyd Ude def Lou Whitson

Nov. 26 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Frank Townsend def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski DQ, Roy McClarty def Marquis de Paree , Floyd Ude def Black Jack Daniels, Lou Whitson def Don Martin

Nov. 28 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend-Butch Levy def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Joe Pazandak-Aldo Bogni def Bob Rasmussen-Floyd Ude, Lou Whitson def Marquis de Paree, Aldo Bogni drew Floyd Ude

Dec. 3 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Roy McClarty, Butch Levy def Black Jack Daniels, Aldo Bogni def Steve Druk, Marquis de Paree drew Lou Whitson

Dec. 5 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend-Butch Levy def Joe Pazandak-Aldo Bogni, Tiny Mills def Floyd Ude, Stan Kowalski def Lou Whitson, Bob Rasmussen def Marquis de Paree

Dec. 10 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Tiny Mills, Frank Townsend-Roy McClarty def Aldo Bogni-Gene Dubuque, Stan Kowalski def Marquis de Paree, Lou Whitson drew Steve Druk

Dec. 12 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Roy McClarty def Joe Pazandak, Gene Dubuque def Lou (Don) Whitson, Floyd Ude def Larry Hennig DQ

Dec. 17 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills def Roy McClarty, Aldo Bogni def Bill Christy, Larry Hennig def Marquis de Paree, Stan Kowalski def Scotty Thompson

Dec. 19 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Verne Gagne-Roy McClarty, Aldo Bogni def Sandy MacPherson, Larry Hennig drew Floyd Ude, George Armstrong def Bill Christy

Dec. 25 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Frank Townsend def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski DQ, Farmer Pete def PeeWee Rogers, Roy McClarty def Lou Whitson, Millie Stafford def Kathy Starr, Joe Snyder drew George Armstrong

Dec. 26 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills def Frank Townsend DQ, Stan Kowalski-PeeWee Rogers NC Roy McClarty-Farmer Pete, Millie Stafford def Kathy Starr, Aldo Bogni def Marquis de Paree ___________________________________________

1960

Jan. 2 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend def Tiny Mills, Stan Kowalski def Roy McClarty, Joe Pazandak def Arman Hussian, Bob Rasmussen def Larry Hennig DQ

Jan. 9 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Joe Pazandak def Lou Whitson, Wayne Bock def Marquis de Paree, Floyd Ude drew Aldo Bogni

Jan. 16 (St. Paul)--Butch Levy def Tiny Mills DQ, Frank Townsend-Roy McClarty def Aldo Bogni-Wayne Bock, Stan Kowalski def Floyd Ude, Bob Rasmussen def Marquis de Paree

Jan. 19 (Minneapolis)--Stan Kowalski def Verne Gagne DQ, Frank Townsend-Butch Levy def Tiny Mills-Wayne Bock, Roy McClarty drew Thor Hagen, Joe Pazandak def Lou Whitson

Jan. 23 (St. Paul)--Butch Levy def Tiny Mills, Frank Townsend-Thor Hagen def Stan Kowalski-Chief Little Wolf, Hans Schmidt def Floyd Ude, Bob Rasmussen def Jules LaRance

Jan. 26 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Hans Schmidt def Floyd Ude, Roy McClarty def Bill Cole, Thor Hagen def Lou Whitson

Jan. 30 (St. Paul)--Stan Kowalski def Butch Levy DQ, Frank Townsend def Larry Hennig, Hans Schmidt def Lou Whitson, Tiny Mills def Jack Allen, Steve Druk def Frenchy LaRue

Feb. 4 (Minneapolis) (7,214)--Verne Gagne def Stan Kowalski, Hans Schmidt def Rip Carlson (Miller), Frank Townsend def Danny Ferazzo, Little Beaver-Bernie Burke def Fuzzy Cupid-Billy the Kid, Thor Hagen def Bill Cole

Feb. 6 (St. Paul)--Butch Levy def Stan Kowalski DQ, hans Schmidt def Danny Ferazzo, Frank Townsend def Bill Cole, Little Beaver-Bernie Burke def Fuzzy Cupid-Irish Jackie

Feb. 13 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Hans Schmidt def Chico Garcia, Hans Hermann def Art Kenney, Roy McClarty def Larry Hennig

Feb. 16 (Minneapolis)--Frank Townsend def Hans Schmidt DQ, Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Butch Levy-Bob Rasmussen, Floyd Ude def Chico Garcia, Arman Hussian def Bill Cole

Feb. 20 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend NC Tiny Mills, Hans Schmidt-Hans Hermann def Thor Hagen-Floyd Ude, Wayne Bock def Rip Carlson, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Cole

Feb. 23 (Minneapolis) -- Frank Townsend def Hans Schmidt DQ, Tiny Mills-Larry Hennig def Roy McClarty-Sky Hi Lee, Hans Hermann def Arman Hussian, Thor Hagen def Bill Wright

Mar. 2 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Tiny Mills, June Byers def Jackie Diamond, Hans Schmidt-Hans Hermann def Frank Townsend-Butch Levy, Stan Kowalski def Bob Rasmussen, Steve Druk drew Arman Hussian

Mar. 5 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Thor Hagen, June Byers def Betty Hawkins, Hans Schmidt def Bob Rasmussen, Bill Green def Chico Garcia

Mar. 8 (Minneapolis)--Hans Schmidt NC Tiny Mills, Frank Townsend D Stan Kowalski, Hans Hermann def Bill Cole, Roy McClarty def Bill Wright

Mar. 12 (St. Paul)--Verne Gagne NC Stan Kowalski, Frank Townsend def Hans Hermann, Tiny Mills def Thor Hagen, Bob Rasmussen drew Aldo Bogni

Mar. 17 (Minneapolis)--Hans Schmidt def Tiny Mills, Frank Townsend NC Hans Hermann, Stan Kowalski def Thor Hagen, Man Mountain Campbell def Roy McClarty, Arman Hussian drew Bill Wright

Mar. 19 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Butch Levy-Roy McClarty, Frank Townsend def Hans Hermann DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Bill Cole, Bob Rasmussen drew Floyd Ude

Mar. 22 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Hans Schmidt-Hans Hermann DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Black Jack Daniels, Roy McClarty def Bill Cole, Thor Hagen def Chico Garcia

Mar. 26 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Butch Levy-Roy McClarty, Frank Townsend def Hans Schmidt DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Kurt Von Brauner, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Wright

Mar. 29 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills def Hans Schmidt, Frank Townsend def Stan Kowalski DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Bill Wright-Joe Costello (handicap), Bob Rasmussen drew Floyd Ude

Apr. 2 (St. Paul)--Hans Schmidt def Stan Kowalski DQ, Frank Townsend def Hans Hermann, Man Mountain Campbell def Chief Little Bear, Thor Hagen def Mike Blazer

Apr. 5 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Hans Schmidt-Hans Hermann, Man Mountain Campbell def Cowboy Rocky Lee, Frank Townsend def Bill Wright, Roy McClarty NC Thor Hagen

Apr. 9 (St. Paul)--Stan Kowalski def Hans Schmidt DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Aldo Bogni, Frank Townsend def Bill Green, Bob Rasmussen drew Larry Hennig

Apr. 12 (Minneapolis)--Man Mountain Campbell NC Hans Schmidt, Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Roy McClarty, Floyd Ude def Black Jack Daniels, Bob Rasmussen def Lou Whitson

Apr. 16 (St. Paul)--Man Mountain Campbell def Stan Kowalski DQ, Frank Townsend def Aldo Bogni, Sky Low Low def Brown Panther, Bill Wright def Lou Whitson

Apr. 23 (St. Paul)--Stan Kowalski def Man Mountain Campbell cor, Frank Townsend D Hans Schmidt, Sky Low Low-Fuzzy Cupid def Brown Panther-Pancho Lopez, Larry Hennig def Bob Konovosky

Apr. 26 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne NC Hans Schmidt, Man Mountain Campbell def Frank Hickey, Emile Dupre def Bill Wright, Joe Scarpello def Pepper Perez

Apr. 30 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend-Man Mountain Campbell def Ivan-Karol Kalmikoff DQ, Stan Kowalski def Roy McClarty, Larry Hennig def Pepper Perez, Joe Scarpello def Bill Wright

May 3 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Hans Schmidt, Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Frank Townsend-Man Mountain Campbell, June Byers def Annette Palmer, Emile Dupre def Pepper Perez, Joe Scarpello def Bill Wright

May 7 (St. Paul)--Verne Gagne def Stan Kowalski DQ, Tiny Mills def Man Mountain Campbell DQ, June Byers def Princess Tonah Tomah, Frank Townsend-Joe Scarpello def Joe Pazandak-Aldo Bogni

May 14 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills def Man Mountain Campbell, Frank Townsend-Joe Scarpello def Joe Pazandak-Bill Wright, Floyd Ude def Jack Wilson, Bob Rasmussen def Jack Allen

May 17 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski DQ, Man Mountain Campbell def Joe Swiderski, Frank Townsend drew Aldo Bogni, Joe Scarpello def Emile Dupre

May 21 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills def Man Mountain Campbell, Frank Townsend def Moose Cholak, Roy McClarty def Count Corroni, Joe Scarpello def Pepper Perez

May 24 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Stan Kowalski, Tiny Mills def Man Mountain Campbell, Frank Townsend def Bill Wright, Joe Scarpello def Aldo Bogni

June 4 (St. Paul)--Verne Gagne def Tiny Mills, Hans Schmidt def Frank Townsend, Roy McClarty drew Joe Scarpello, Jack Pesek def Bill Wright

June 11 (St. Paul)--Frank Townsend-Man Mountain Campbell def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski DQ, Joe Scarpello def Hans Schmidt DQ, Jack Pesek def Black Jack Daniels, Bob Rasmussen def Paul DeMarco

June 14 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills def Hans Schmidt, Leo Nomellini def George Grant, Jack Pesek def Man Mountain Campbell, Joe Scarpello drew Stan Kowalski, Frank Townsend def Black Jack Daniels

June 18 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Man Mountain Campbell-Leo Nomellini, Roy McClarty def Paul DeMarco, Larry Hennig def Bill Green, Bob Rasmussen def George Grant

June 28 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Hans Hermann-Mitsu Arakawa, Jack Pesek def George Drake, Joe Scarpello def George Grant, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Wright

July 12 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Leo Nomellini-Joe Scarpello, Jack Pesek def Frank Marconi, Man Mountain Campbell def Aldo Bogni DQ, Roy McClarty def George Grant

July 19 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Leo Nomellini def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Man Mountain Campbell def Aldo Bogni DQ, Jack Pesek def George Grant, Roy McClarty def Bill Wright

July 26 (Minneapolis)--Stan Kowalski def Joe Scarpello, Jack Pesek drew Tiny Mills, Little Beaver-Bernie Burke def PeeWee James-Tom Thumb, Bob Rasmussen def George McArthur

Aug. 9 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Verne Gagne-Joe Scarpello DQ, Jack Pesek def Jim Grabmire, Roy McClarty def Don Colt (Fargo), Bob Rasmussen def George Grant

Aug. 16 (Minneapolis)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski NC Verne Gagne-Joe Scarpello, Gene Kiniski def Man Mountain Campbell, Bob Geigel def George Grant, Len Montana def John Swenski

Aug. 30 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Joe Scarpello def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Gene Kiniski def Bob Rasmussen, Roy McClarty def Bill Wright, Len Montana def George Grant

Sept. 13 (Minneapolis)--Gene Kiniski def Stan Kowalski, Joe Scarpello def Tiny Mills DQ, Len Montana def Bill Wright, Bob Geigel def Floyd Ude

Sept. 17 (St. Paul)--Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski def Roy McClarty-Joe Scarpello, Gene Kiniski def Aldo Bogni, Len Montana def Jack Allen, Bob Rasmussen def Joe Tomasso

Sept. 24 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Joe Scarpello def Black Jack Daniels, Roy McClarty def Sailor Jim Clark, Bob Rasmussen drew Pepper Martin

Oct. 1 (St. Paul)--Gene Kiniski def Tiny Mills, Hard Boiled Haggerty def Joe Scarpello, Roy McClarty def Len Montana DQ, Pepper Martin drew Jim Hady

Oct. 4 (Minneapolis)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Joe Scarpello def Pepper Martin, Bob Geigel def Guy Hill (Jerry Valiant), Jim Hady def Black Jack Daniels

Oct. 8 (St. Paul)--Gene Kiniski def Stan Kowalski, Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Joe Scarpello-Pepper Martin, Roy McClarty def George Grant, Guy Hill def Jack Allen

Oct. 11 (Minneapolis)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski, Gene Kiniski def Roy McClarty, Joe Scarpello drew Jim Hady, Bob Geigel def Pepper Martin

Oct. 15 (St. Paul)--Gene Kiniski def Tiny Mills, Hard Boiled Haggerty def Bob Rasmussen, Joe Scarpello def Len Montana DQ, Don Eagle def Black Jack Daniels, Stan Kowalski def Guy Hill

Oct. 18 (Minneapolis)--Hard Boiled Haggerty def Tiny Mills, Gene Kiniski def Stan Kowalski, Roy McClarty def Len Montana DQ, Joe Scarpello def George Grant, Don Eagle def Pepper Martin

Oct. 22 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty NC Stan Kowalski, Len Montana def Tiny Mills, Joe Scarpello def Pepper Martin, Don Eagle def Aldo Bogni, Guy Hill def Black Jack Daniels

Oct. 25 (Minneapolis)--Gene Kiniski def Verne Gagne DQ, Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana drew Roy McClarty-Joe Scarpello, Don Eagle def Black Jack Daniels, Jim Hady drew Bob Geigel

Oct. 29 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Don Eagle-Joe Scarpello DQ, Gene Kiniski def Roy McClarty, Bob Rasmussen def Kurt Von Brauner, Larry Hennig def Paul DeMarco

Nov. 1 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne def Gene Kiniski DQ, Joe Scarpello def Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ, Len Montana def Roy McClarty, Don Eagle def George Scott, Jim Hady def Pepper Martin

Nov. 5 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Joe Scarpello-Jim Hady DQ, Gene Kiniski def Floyd Ude, Al Szasz def Black Jack Daniels, Bob Rasmussen def George Grant

Nov. 12 (St. Paul)--Joe Scarpello-Jim Hady def Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana DQ, Gene Kiniski def Nick Roberts, Wilbur Snyder def George Blank, Bob Rasmussen def John Swenski

Nov. 15 (Minneapolis)--Gene Kiniski def Len Montana, Hard Boiled Haggerty def Nick Roberts, Wilbur Snyder def Aldo Bogni, Bob Geigel def Bob Rasmussen, Jim Hady def John Swenski

Nov. 19 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Roy McClarty-Joe Scarpello, Gene Kiniski def Nick Roberts, Wilbur Snyder def Cowboy Rocky Lee, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Green

Nov. 24 (St. Paul)--Verne Gagne def Gene Kiniski, Joe Scarpello def Aldo Bogni, Judy Glover-Annette Palmer def Lorraine Johnson-Ella St. John, Bob Rasmussen drew Larry Hennig

Nov. 26 (St. Paul)--Wilbur Snyder-Roy McClarty def Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana DQ, Joe Scarpello def Mike Blazer, Lorraine Johnson def Judy Glover, Nick Roberts def Bob Massey

Nov. 29 (Minneapolis)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Verne Gagne-Joe Scarpello, Gene Kiniski def Bob Rasmussen, Wilbur Snyder def Tommy O'Toole, Nick Roberts def Guy Hill

Dec. 2 (St. Paul)--Wilbur Snyder-Roy McClarty NC Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana, Gene Kiniski def Joe Scarpello, Bob Rasmussen def Lou Whitson, Nick Roberts def Bill Wright

Dec. 6 (Minneapolis)--Wilbur Snyder NC Gene Kiniski, Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Joe Scarpello-Nick Roberts, Roy McClarty drew Jim Hady, Bob Geigel def Guy Hill

Dec. 9 (St. Paul)--Verne Gagne def Len Montana, Hard Boiled Haggerty def Tony LaBarba, Joe Scarpello def County Corroni, Nick Roberts def Lou Whitson

Dec. 13 (Minneapolis)--Gene Kiniski def Wilbur Snyder, Roy McClarty def Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ, Nick Roberts def Len Montana DQ, Bob Geigel def Lou Whitson, Jim Hady def Guy Hill

Dec. 16 (St. Paul)--Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana def Tiny Mills-Stan Kowalski DQ, Jim Hady def Larry Hennig, Joe Scarpello def Paul DeMarco, Nick Roberts def Bill Wright

Dec. 27 (Minneapolis)--Verne Gagne-Wilbur Snyder-Joe Scarpello def Hard Boiled Haggerty-Len Montana-Gene Kiniski, Nick Roberts drew Bob Geigel, Cowboy Bradley def Tiny Roe, Bob Rasmussen def Bill Wright

IN THIS ISSUE: The "Big Arena" Series; A Far-from- Complete Series of Wrestling Cards & Results In Venues With a Seating Capacity in Excess of 10,000

Arena, Philadelphia, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1930

Jim Londos def Tiny Roebuck 57:44, Sandor Szabo def Andrew Zaharoff 14:03, Earl McCready def Firpo Wilcox 5:36, Ray Steele def George Manish 21:57, Hans Steinke drew Dick Shikat 30:00 (att: 10,000 plus, thousands turned away)
______________

Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, Apr. 13, 1931

Ed Lewis def Ed Don George (att: 12,000)
______________

Chicago Stadium, Apr. 21, 1931

Jim Londos def Kola Kwariani 2-0 (att: 20,800)

May 25, 1931

Jim Londos def Sandor Szabo
_______________

Yankee Stadium, New York, June 27, 1931

Jim Londos def Ray Steele
_______________

Griffith Stadium, Washington DC, Aug. 12, 1931

Jim Londos def Rudy Dusek 51:00
_______________________

Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, Aug. 13, 1931

Jim Londos def Kola Kwariani 33:35, Joe Mondt def Sergei Kalmikoff 22:05, George Calza def Ralph Wilson 25:10, Wladek Zbyszko def Vanka Zelezniak 17:10, Norton B. Jackson def Fred Carone 11:20 (att: 10,000) _______________________

Madison Square Garden, New York, Dec. 7, 1931

Jim Londos def George Calza 44:51, Dick Shikat def Vladimir Martinoff 2:14, John Maxos drew Sandor Szabo 20:00, Tiny Roebuck def Ivan Vernyhora 6:52, Renato Gardini drew Rudy Dusek 20:00, Ray Steele def Richard Stahl 10:51, Jim McMillen drew Matros Kirilenko, Sam Stein drew Herb Freeman 30:00 (att: 15,000) ____________________

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 4, 1934

Rudy Dusek def Blue Sun Jennings 2-0, Rudy Dusek (sub for Joe Stecher) def Willie Davis, Earl McCready drew George Hagen 30:00, John Katan def Alex Kasaboski 12:29, Gino Garibaldi vs Jack Washburn?;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 11, 1934

Jim Londos def Rudy Dusek 49:45 of 1 hour bout, Jim McMillen drew John Katan 20:00, Willie Davis drew Blue Sun Jennings 30:00, George Hagen def Tom Marvin 22:10 (att: 9,000);

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 25, 1934

Rudy Dusek drew George Zaharias 1-1 60:00, Ray Steele def Willie Davis 14:21, Gino Garibaldi drew Jim McMillen 30:00, George Hagen def Blue Sun Jennings 19:45;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Feb. 1, 1934

George Zaharias def Mayes McLain 2-0, Earl McCready drew Jim McMillen 16:30 (curfew), Gino Garibaldi def John Katan 25:15, Willie Davis drew George Hagen 30:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Feb. 15, 1934

Jim Browning def George Zaharias 2-1, Jim McMillen def George Hagen 21:55, Willie Davis def Am Rascher 18:46, Stan Sokolis drew John Katan 30:00

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Feb. 22, 1934

Jim Londos def Sandor Szabo 40:10 cnc, Jim McMillen def Mayes McLain 11:21, George Hagen drew Stan Sokolis 30:00, Am Rascher NC Bruno Gorassini;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Mar. 1, 1934

Jim McMillen def George Zaharias 1-0, George Hagen drew John Katan 30:00, Stan Sokolis def Legs Langevin 10:25, Gino Garibaldi def Willie Davis 23:38;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Wednesday, Mar. 14, 1934

Jim Browning def Jim McMillen 2-0, Gino Garibaldi def George Hagen 17:23, Al Getzewich drew Willie Davis 30:00, John Katan def Ernie Zeller cor;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Mar. 29, 1934

Henri DeGlane def Rudy Dusek 2-1, Ernie Dusek drew Gino Garibaldi 20:03, Joe Malcewicz def George Hagen 18:50, Little Beaver drew Paul Boesch 30:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Apr. 5, 1934

Joe Malcewicz drew Gino Garibaldi 1-1 60:00, John Katan def Legs Langevin 13:34, Paul Boesch def Al Getzewich 15:19, George Hagen def Little Beaver 22:20;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Apr. 19, 1934

Joe Savoldi def Rudy Dusek 2-1, Gino Garibaldi drew Little Beaver 30:00, George Hagen def Pat O'Hara 14:18, Paul Boesch def John Gyroffy 9:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Apr. 26, 1934

Joe Malcewicz def George Zaharias 2-1, Ed Lewis def George Hagen 11:20, Sandor Szabo def Man Mountain Dean 13:10 cor, Little Beaver def Paul Boesch 14:50 (att: 8,000);

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, May 3, 1934

Joe Malcewicz def Earl McCready 39:58 cnc, Sandor Szabo drew Little Beaver 1-1 45:00 (curfew, Szabo sub for Gus Sonnenberg), Cliff Olson drew Babe Caddock 30:00, John Katan def Man Mountain Dean 3:32 dq;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, May 17, 1934

Jim Browning def Gino Garibaldi 2-1, Cliff Olson drew Sandor Szabo 23:00 (incomplete);

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, May 31, 1934

Jim Londos def Joe Malcewicz 48:47 of 1 hour bout, Cliff Olson drew John Katan, Babe Caddock vs Charlie Allen, Jack Washburn NC Little Beaver 10:07 dcor;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, June 7, 1934

Little Beaver def Jack Washburn 2-1, John Katan def John Swenski 19:00, Henry Piers def Bobby Stewart 14:50 dq, Scotty McDougall def Babe Caddock 19:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, June 14, 1934

Joe Savoldi vs Little Beaver, Dick Shikat vs John Katan, Jack Washburn vs Henry Piers, Alex Kasaboski vs John Swenski;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, June 21, 1934

Henri DeGlane def Jack Washburn 2-1, Scotty McDougall drew Henry Piers, Walter Podolak def John Swenski 16:13 cor, Willie Davis drew John Katan;
______________________

Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Monday, June 25, 1934

Jim Londos def Jim Browning 1:10:10, Everett Marshall def Abe Coleman 6:08, George Zaharias drew Hans Kampfer 15:00, Dick Shikat def Mahmout Yousouf 15:00 (dec), Ernie Dusek def Karl Sarpolis, Joe Savoldi drew Sandor Szabo 30:00 (att: 20,000, $40,000, Jack Curley promoter)
________________________

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, June 28, 1934

George Zaharias def Willie Davis 2-1, Alex Kasaboski drew Walter Podolak 30:00, Jack Washburn def Scotty McDougall 14:24, Gino Garibaldi drew Little Beaver 24:12 (curfew);

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, July 5, 1934

Jim Browning def Joe Savoldi 2-1, Little Beaver drew Willie Davis 24:30 (curfew), Yvon Robert def John Katan 18:10, Alex Kasaboski def John Swenski 20:37;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, July 12, 1934

Ernie Dusek vs Joe Malcewicz, Gino Garibaldi vs Jack Washburn, Ernie Zeller vs Earl McCready, Yvon Robert vs Rudy Dusek;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, July 26, 1934

Jim Londos def Ernie Dusek 2-0, Rudy Dusek drew Little Beaver 30:00, Blue Sun Jennings def Jack Washburn 13:16, Ernie Zeller def Alex Kasaboski;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Aug. 9, 1934

Mayes McLain def Little Beaver 2-1, Hans Steinke def Blue Sun Jennings-Buck Weaver (hdcp), Ernie Zeller drew John Katan, Frankie Hart vs John Swenski;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Aug. 16, 1934?

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Friday, Aug. 31, 1934

Hans Steinke vs Ernie Dusek-Little Beaver (hdcp), Walter Beachy vs Blue Sun Jennings, John Katan vs Ernie Zeller, Mayes McLain vs Willie Davis;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 6, 1934

Hans Steinke def Dick Shikat 1-1 cnc, Earl McCready def Little Beaver 18:20, Alex Kasaboski def Johnny Gyroffy, Mayes McLain drew John Katan 30:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 13, 1934

Hans Steinke def Earl McCready 2-1, John Katan def Little Beaver 1-0, Emil Dusek def Scotty McDougall, Joe DeVito drew Alex Kasaboski;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 20, 1934

Jim Browning def Hans Steinke 35:25 of 1 hour bout, Dick Shikat def Ernie Zeller 20:27, Emil Dusek def Mayes McLain 18:56, Little Beaver def Alex Kasaboski 19:25 (8,000);

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 27, 1934

Earl McCready def Emil Dusek 2-1, Dick Shikat def Eli Fischer 25:46 cnc, Stan Sokolis drew John Katan 30:00, Ernie Zeller def John Swenski 16:10;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 4, 1934

Jim Browning def Hans Steinke 2-1, John Katan def Eli Fischer 17:30, Bert Rubinstein (Rubi) drew Ernie Zeller 30:00, John Swenski def Johnny Gyroffy 15:12;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 11, 1934

Earl McCready def John Katan 2-1, Dick Shikat def Hans Steinke, Ernie Zeller def Eli Fischer, John Swenski vs Alex Kasaboski;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Oct. 18, 1934

Earl McCready def Rudy Dusek 35:38 of 1 hour bout, Willie Davis def Hank Barber 16:35, Al Getzewich drew Joe Tonti 30:00, Scotty McDougall def Floyd Marshall 15:53;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1934

Joe Savoldi def Gino Garibaldi 1-1 cnc, Pat O'Shocker def Eli Fischer, Earl McCready def Tex Morgan (Ben Morgan) 1-0, John Katan def Ricardo Santo;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 1934

Ed Don George def Pat O'Shocker 2-1, John Katan def Tiny Ruff 22:35, Bert Rubi def Al Dunlop 22:25, Earl McCready def Blue Sun Jennings 16:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 22, 1934

Jim Londos def Joe Savoldi 2-0, George Zaharias drew Pat O'Shocker 30:00, Scotty McDougall def Frank Bronowicz, John Katan def Willie Davis (att: 11,000)

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Dec. 6, 1934

Dick Shikat def George Zarynoff (sub for Jim Browning), John Katan def Danny Winters, Scotty McDougall drew Sam Cordovano, Jack Kogut def Chris (Bulldog) Finlay;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Dec. 20, 1934

Ed Don George def Gino Garibaldi 48:00 of 1 hour bout, Jack Donovan def John Katan, Karl Pojello def Scotty McDougall, Allan Brooks def Chris Finlay, Jack Kogut drew Herman Molson 20:00;

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Thursday, Dec. 27, 1934

Ed Don George def Karl Pojello 41:25 of 1 hour bout, Jack Donovan def Scotty McDougall 17:19, Vic Christy def John Katan 19:34 cor, Jack Kogut drew Herman Molson 20:00, Allan Brooks def Al Dunlop 11:44; _________________________

Chicago Coliseum, 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Friday, Nov. 22, 1940

Ruffy Silverstein def Karol Krauser 34:04, Swedish Angel drew Oki Shikina 20:00, Jim McMillen def Ralph Garibaldi 18:11, Adolph Goebbels def Rudy Kay 10:48 cor (20 count), Dizzy Davis drew Rufus Jones 20:00 (att: 2,000)
_____________________________

Olympic Auditorium, L.A., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1946

Primo Carnera def Tommy O'Toole 11:21, Enrique Torres-Carlos Mojica def Swedish Angel-Jules Strongbow, Reginald Siki def Pat Fraley, George Becker drew Reb Russell, Brother Jonathan drew Jim Casey (att: 10,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1946

Enrique Torres def Swedish Angel, Reginald Siki def Reb Russell, George Becker def Carlos Mojica, Pat Fraley drew Brother Jonathan, Paul Matty drew Torchy Smith (att: 7,500)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1946

Primo Carnera def Reginald Siki 13:02, Tony Martinez-Enrique Torres def Reb Russell-Tommy O'Toole, Bobby Bruns def Carlos Mojica, George Becker def Frank Jares, Torchy Smith def George Breckman (att: 9,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1946

Tom Zaharias-Bobby Bruns def Enrique Torres-Tony Martinez, Paul Matty def Joe Woods, Torchy Smith def Senator Hartford, Sam Stein def Terry McGinnis, Sandor Szabo def Al Billings
______________________

Chicago Stadium, Friday, Nov. 22, 1946

CARNERA DOES 8 MINUTE JOB IN MAT BOUT (Chicago Tribune)

Primo Carnera def Fred Von Schacht 8:39, Walter Palmer def Danno O'Mahoney 17:13, Lou Thesz drew Bobby Managoff 30:00, Ernie Dusek def Joe Millich 19:06, Felix Miquet def Jules Strongbow, Joe Savoldi vs Ev Marshall (att: 7,760, $17,525)

Chicago Stadium, Friday, Dec. 13, 1946

15,000 SEATS EMPTY AS MAT STARS GROAN (Chicago Tribune)

IN THIS ISSUE: More From the Big Arena Series

Olympic Auditorium, L.A., Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1947

Manuel Garza-Jim Mitchell def Karl Davis-Willie Davis, Larry Moquin def Marvin Jones, Earl McCready def Sam Menacher, Reg Siki drew Ray Duran, Vic Christy drew Jim Henry (att: 8,500)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 1947

(tournament) Larry Moquin def Kolo Stasiak, Jim Mitchell def Senator Hartford, Ray Duran def Alex Kasaboski, Manuel Garza def Vic Christy, Marvin Jones def Chief War Cloud, Jules Strongbow def Mickey Page; Larry Moquin def Bomber Kulkovich, Jim Mitchell def Ray Duran, Marvin Jones def Manuel Garza; Marvin Jones def Jim Mitchell, Larry Moquin def Jules Strongbow; Larry Moquin def Marvin Jones (earned bout with Frank Sexton) (att: 7,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1947

Frank Sexton def Larry Moquin, Gorgeous George def Sam Menacher, Karl Davis-Willie Davis def Manuel Garza-Bomber Kulkovich, Jim Mitchell def Kolo Stasiak, Chief War Cloud drew Marvin Jones (att: 10,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1947

Frank Sexton def Jim Mitchell, Gorgeous George def Larry Moquin, Karl Davis-Willie Davis def Ray Duran-Manuel Garza, Bomber Kulkovich drew Jules Strongbow, Marvin Jones drew Sam Menacher (att: 9,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1947

Karl Davis-Willie Davis def Enrique Torres-Manuel Garza, Gorgeous George def Reg Siki (12 seconds!), Jim Mitchell def Sam Menacher, Chief War Cloud def Jules Strongbow, Marvin Jones drew Manna Singh (att: 9,600)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1947

Enrique Torres-Manuel Garza def Karl Davis-Willie Davis, Gorgeous George drew Jim Mitchell, Dutch Hefner def Terry McGinnis, Chief War Cloud def Kolo Stasiak, Sam Menacher def Alex Kasaboski (att: 9,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1947

Frank Sexton drew Enrique Torres 60:00, Gorgeous George def George Temple, Sandor Szabo def Dutch Hefner, Jim Mitchell def Sam Menacher, Willie Davis def Senator Hartford, Reg Siki def Marvin Jones (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1948

Willie Davis-Karl Davis def Manuel Garza-Jim Mitchell, Sandor Szabo def Bomber Kulkovich, Dutch Hefner drew Chief Little Wolf, Marvin Jones def Bud Curtis, Chief War Cloud def Kolo Stasiak

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1948

Emil-Ernie Dusek def Willie Davis-Karl Davis, Gorgeous George def Marvin Jones, Manuel Garza def Dutch Hefner, Jim Mitchell def Jules Strongbow, Angelo Cistoldi def Bud Curtis (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek def Manuel Garza-Enrique Torres, Gorgeous George def Chief War Cloud, Gino Garbibaldi drew Sandor Szabo, Angelo Cistoldi drew Don Blackman, Dutch Hefner def Marvin Jones (att: 9,800)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek def Gorgeous George-Gino Garibaldi, Enrique Torres def Dutch Hefner, Manuel Garza def Sam Menacher, Jim Mitchell def Angelo Cistoldi, Bomber Kulkovich def Don Blackman (att: 10,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek drew Manuel Garza-Enrique Torres, Sandor Szabo drew Gorgeous George, Gino Garibaldi def Dutch Hefner, Jim Mitchell def Bulldog Clements, Jules Strongbow def Don Blackman (att: 10,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1948

Enrique Torres def Sandor Szabo (Bull Montana referee), Manuel Garza-Jim Mitchell def Angelo Cistoldi-Gino Garibaldi, Butch Levy drew Ellis Bashara, Dutch Hefner def Marvin Jones, Reg Siki def Bulldog Clements (att: 8,500)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1948

Manuel Garza-Enrique Torres def Sandor Szabo-Gino Garibaldi, Ellis Bashara def Marvin Jones, Reg Siki def Angelo Cistoldi, Dutch Hefner drew Terry McGinnis, Jules Strongbow def Bud Curtis (att: 8,700)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1948

Gorgeous George def Dutch Hefner, Sandor Szabo-Gino Garibaldi drew Manuel Garza-Jim Mitchell (Ed Lewis referee), Reg Siki def Marvin Jones, Jules Strongbow def Bomber Kulkovich, Terry McGinnis drew Angelo Cistoldi (att: 9,700)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Mar. 3, 1948

Gorgeous George def Manuel Garza, Angelo Cistoldi-Gino Garibaldi drew Jim Mitchell-Tony Martinez, Reg Siki def Jim Casey, Ellis Bashara def Bulldog Clements, Bud Curtis def Marvin Jones (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Mar. 10, 1948

Gorgeous George def Manuel Garza, Chris-Babe Zaharias def Reg Siki-Jim Mitchell, Tony Martinez def Hardy Kruskamp (Mickey Walker referee), Yukon Eric def Angelo Cistoldi, Tom Rice drew Chief War Cloud (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Mar. 17, 1948

Gorgeous George def Gino Garibaldi, Chris-Babe Zaharias def Jim Mitchell-Tony Martinez, Enrique Torres def Ellis Bashara, Yukon Eric def Terry McGinnis, Bulldog Clements drew Angelo Cistoldi (att: 9,600)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Mar. 24, 1948

Chris-Babe Zaharias def Enrique Torres-Gorgeous George, Jim Mitchell def Manuel Garza, Tony Martinez def Hardy Kruskamp, Karl Davis drew Yukon Eric, Jules Strongbow def Angelo Cistoldi (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Mar. 31, 1948

Gorgeous George-Enrique Torres def Chris-Babe Zaharias, Jim Mitchell drew Tony Martinez, Tom Rice def Ellis Bashara, Jack Kennedy def Angelo Cistoldi, Senator Hartford drew Bulldog Clements (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Apr. 7, 1948

Gorgeous George-Jeffries def Chris-Babe Zaharias (Ed Lewis referee), Enrique Torres def Yukon Eric, Gino Garibaldi drew Tom Rice, Kiman Kudo def Ben Morgan, Reg Siki def Bulldog Clements (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Apr. 14, 1948

Enrique Torres def Gorgeous George, Jim Mitchell-Tony Martinez def Gino Garibaldi-Jules Strongbow, Kiman Kudo def Tom Rice, Chris Zaharias def Ellis Bashara, Jack Kennedy def Senator Hartford (att: 9,800)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Apr. 21, 1948

Enrique Torres-Tony Martinez def Gorgeous George-Chris Zaharias (Max Baer referee), Kiman Kudo def Jules Strongbow, Gino Garibaldi drew Jim Mitchell, Reg Siki def Ben Morgan, Jack Kennedy drew Tom Rice (att: 9,500)

Olympic Auditorium, Saturday, Apr. 24, 1948

Gorgeous George vs Tony Martinez (Ed Lewis referee), Ben Morgan-Jules Strongbow vs Jim Mitchell-Jack Kennedy, Reg Siki vs Hardy Kruskamp, Senator Hartford vs Johnny James

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Apr. 28, 1948

Gorgeous George NC Kiman Kudo dcor, Enrique Torres def Gino Garibaldi (Max Baer referee), Dave Levin def Ben Morgan, Reg Siki def Jack Kennedy, Tom Rice def Frank Jares (att: 8,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 5, 1948

Enrique Torres-Kiman Kudo def Gorgeous George-Reb Russell, Ali Baba def Pat Fraley, Gino Garibaldi def Jack Kennedy, Tony Martinez drew Jim Mitchell, Kay Bell drew Tom Rice (att: 9,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 12, 1948

Enrique Torres-Ali Baba def Karl Davis-Reb Russell, Tom Rice def Jim Mitchell, Kiman Kudo drew Dave Levin, Tony Martinez def Yukon Eric, Vic Christy def Jock Malone (att: 8,200)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 19, 1948

French Angel def Gino Garibaldi, George-Bobby Becker def Jules Strongbow-Tom Rice, Kiman Kudo def Yukon Eric, Tony Martinez drew Reg Siki, Kay Bell def Fred Wright (att: 8,500)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 26, 1948

French Angel def Kiman Kudo, George-Bobby Becker def Karl Davis-Reb Russell, Dave Levin def Frank Jares, Ali Baba def Jack Kennedy, Tom Rice def Fred Wright

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 2, 1948

Gorgeous George def French Angel, George-Bobby Becker def Tom Rice-Frank Jares, Vic Holbrook drew Reg Siki, Tony Martinez def Jack Kennedy, Kay Bell drew Fred Atkins (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 9, 1948

Enrique Torres def George Becker, Dave Levin-Vic Holbrook def Frank Jares-Fred Atkins, Ali Baba def Jock Malone, Jules Strongbow drew Chief War Cloud (att: 9,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 16, 1948

Karl-Willie Davis def George-Bobby Becker, Enrique Torres def Fred Atkins, Ali Baba def Frank Jares, Dave Levin drew Reb Russell, Vic Christy drew Jack Holland (att: 8,200)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 23, 1948

Gorgeous George def George Becker, Willie-Karl Davis def Enrique Torres-Tony Martinez, Bobby Becker def Kay Bell, Jules Strongbow def Jack Holland, Dave Levin drew Fred Atkins (att: 9,900)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 30, 1948

Willie-Karl Davis def George-Bobby Becker, Ali Baba def Kay Bell, Tony Martinez def Fred Atkins, Ted Christy def Hardy Kruskamp, George Temple def Alex Kasaboski (att: 7,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, July 7, 1948

Gorgeous George def Ali Baba, Vic-Ted Christy def Karl-Willie Davis, Fred Atkins def Sam Menacher, Fat Frank drew Reb Russell, Don Lee def Chief War Cloud (att: 9,800)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, July 14, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek def Ted-Vic Christy, Bobby Becker def Reb Russell, Sandor Szabo def Fred Atkins, Tony Martinez def Jack Holland, Kiman Kudo def Don Lee (att: 8,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1948

Gorgeous George def Ernie Dusek, Sandor Szabo def Vic Christy, Hans Schnabel def Dave Levin, Sam Menacher def Kolo Stasiak, Tony Martinez drew Maurice LaChappelle (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1948

Sandor Szabo-Gorgeous George def Emil Dusek-Hans Schnabel, Willie Davis def Sam Menacher, George Becker def Ted Christy, Dave Levin drew Maurice LaChappelle, Kolo Stasiak def Jack Holland (att: 9,800)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1948

Primo Carnera def Karl Davis, Ernie-Emil Dusek def Vic Christy-Vic Holbrook, Dave Levin def Fritz Schnabel, Hans Schnabel drew Bobby Becker, George Temple def Alex Kasaboski (att: 10,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek def Primo Carnera-Sandor Szabo (Ed Lewis referee), Bobby Becker def Karl Davis, Hardy Kruskamp def Jose Juarez, George Becker def Maurice LaChappelle, Willie Davis drew Terry McGinnis (att: 10,000)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek drew George-Bobby Becker, Lou Thesz def Willie Davis, Golden Terror def Terry McGinnis, Dave Levin drew Hans Schnabel, Karl Davis drew Vic Holbrook (att: 9,400)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1948

Ernie-Emil Dusek def George-Bobby Becker, Dave Levin def Karl Davis, Sandor Szabo def Maurice LaChappelle, Golden Terror def Fritz Schnabel, Frank Jares drew Eric Pederson (att: 8,800)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1948

Gorgeous George def Dave Levin, Ernie-Emil Dusek def Sam Menacher-Maurice LaChappelle, Golden Terror def Myron Cox, Tug Carlson drew Willie Davis, George Temple def Al Billings (att: 9,100)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1948

Gorgeous George def Ernie Dusek, Lord Blears def Tug Carlson, Jose-Jacobo Macias def Emil Dusek-Frank Jares, Golden Terror drew Jim Mitchell, Sam Menacher def Al Billings (att: 9,500) _________________________________

Chicago Stadium, Friday, Feb. 3, 1950

Jim Londos drew Primo Carnera, Don Eagle def Fred Von Schacht, Argentina Rocca def Benito Gardini, Gene Stanlee def Kola Kwariani, Mike Mazurki def Hardy Kruskamp (att: 13,877)

Chicago Stadium, Friday, Mar. 24, 1950

Argentina Rocca def Ali Baba, Buddy Rogers drew Gene Stanlee, Jim Londos def Pierre LaSartes, Ivan Kameroff def Tom Marshall, Indian Nature Boy def Ivan Bulba, Billy Sandow def Kola Kwariani (att: 3,101) _________________________________

Olympic Auditorium, L.A., Wednesday, May 5, 1954

Gorgeous George def Danny Savich 2-1, Wilbur Snyder-Sandor Szabo def Karl Davis-Bud Curtis 2-0, Bobo Brazil def Jack McDonald, Frank Jares def Gory Guerrero, Pepi Pasquale def John Cretoria (att: 3,800);

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 12, 1954

Bobo Brazil def Danny Savich-Juan Zepeda (hdcp), Al Lovelock-Tom Rice def Sandor Szabo-Wilbur Snyder, Leo Garibaldi def Karl Davis, Pepi Pasquale drew Vic Christy, Frank Jares def Bob Bristol, Jack McDonald def Hardy Kruskamp (att: 5,800);

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 19, 1954

Lord Layton-Lord Blears def Leo Garibaldi-Mario deSouza, Billy Varga def Jack McDonald, Karl Davis drew Vic Christy, Pepi Pasquale def Stan Ellis, Juan Zepeda def Thor Hagen (att: 2,100);

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, May 26, 1954

Bobo Brazil-Wilbur Snyder def Al Lovelock-Tom Rice, Lord Blears drew Sandor Szabo, Lord Layton def Vic Christy, Billy Varga def Frank Jares, Joe Pazandak def Pepi Pasquale, Mario deSouza def Juan Zepeda (att: 9,200);

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 2, 1954

Wilbur Snyder-Bobo Brazil drew Al Lovelock-Tom Rice, Lord Layton def Mario deSouza, Lord Blears def Karl Davis, Joe Pazandak drew Billy Varga, Vic Christy def Tom Renesto (att: 6,500);

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 9, 1954

Lord Layton def Tom Rice, Bobo Brazil-Wilbur Snyder def Joe Pazandak-Jack McDonald, Al Lovelock def Vic Christy, Lord Blears def Pepi Pasquale, Warren Bockwinkle def Mario deSouza;

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, June 16, 1954

Bobo Brazil def Tom Rice, drew Al Lovelock (lost hdcp), Lord Layton-Lord Blears def Gino Garibaldi-Warren Bockwinkle, Joe Pazandak def Lee Grable, Gene Kiniski def Jack McDonald, Frank Jares def Tom Renesto, Vic Christy def Juan Zepeda (att: 7,800);
_____________________________

Griffith Stadium, Monday, July 18, 1960

Bearcat Wright def Buddy Rogers dq (Tony Galento, Joe Walcott referees), Sweet Daddy Siki NC Eddie Graham, Prince Maiava def Skull Murphy, Don Curtis def Johnny Walker, Ethel Johnson-Pearl Bates def Babs Wingo-Marva Scott, Mae-Weston-Elaine Ellis def Mary Hillis-Betty Clark, Red-Lou Bastien drew Al Costello-Roy Heffernan, Frankie-Johnny Gabor vs Haystack Calhoun-Chief Big Heart (att: 16,521)

Griffith Stadium, Monday, Aug. 8, 1960

Bearcat Wright-Sweet Daddy Siki def Buddy Rogers-Eddie Graham 1-1 cnc (blood), Red-Lou Bastien def Al Costello-Roy Heffernan, Prince Maiava-Johnny Walker def Frankie-Johnny Gabor, Chief Big Heart drew Skull Murphy, Karl Von Hess def Suni War Cloud, Don Curtis def Zebra Kid, Kathleen Wimbley def Babs Wingo, Ethel Johnson, Ramona Isbel and Pearl Bates in battle royal (att: 16,380) ___________________________________

Olympic Auditorium, L.A., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 1960

Stan Holek def Ron Etchison, Dick Hutton drew The Preacher, Juan Humberto def Tex McKenzie, Midget Mighty Oak def The Rebel, Hombre Montana def Mighty Joe-Mustafa Pasha (hdcp), Gene LeBell def Ernie Nolte, Hardy Kruskamp def Mexican Atlas

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 1960

Sandor Szabo drew Stan Holek, Dick Hutton-Ron Etchison def Preacher-Juan Humberto, Tex McKenzie def Great John L, Broadway Venus def Hardy Kruskamp, Gino Garibaldi def Felipe Mendoza, Art Mahalik drew Vic Christy

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1960

Ed Carpentier def Hombre Montana (title defense), Lou Thesz def Tex McKenzie, Dick Hutton def Juan Humberto, Preacher (Clyde Steeves)-Stan Holek def Vic Christy-Ron Etchison, Gene LeBell def Mustafa Pasha, Art Mahalik drew Hardy Kruskamp (att: 9,847)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1960

Ed Carpentier def Hombre Montana (title defense), Preacher-Stan Holek def Ron Etchison-Tex McKenzie, Sandor Szabo def Cliff Theide, Art Mahalik def Broadway Venus, Gene LeBell def Great John L, Hardy Kruskamp def Pedro Torres
___________________________________

Griffith Stadium, Monday, Sept. 19, 1960

Bearcat Wright-Sweet Daddy Siki def Buddy Rogers-Eddie Graham dq (Mike Mazurki, Joe Walcott referees), Al Costello-Roy Heffernan def Red-Lou Bastien, Mark Lewin-Don Curtis def Karl Von Hess-Skull Murphy, Killer Kowalski def Haystack Calhoun, Tito Carreon def Chet Wallick, Johnny Walker def Angelo Savoldi, Prince Maiava def Zebra Kid (att: 11,565, $27,537)
____________________________________

Olympic Auditorium, L.A., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 1960

Lou Thesz drew Dick Hutton 1-1, Stan Holek def Luis Torres, Sonny Pascua def Hardy Kruskamp, Preacher drew Ron Etchison, Art Mahalik def Juan Hernandez, Mexican Atlas drew Vic Christy (att: 7,384)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 1960

Stan Holek-The Rebel (Joe Scarpa) def Billy Varga-Otto the Oak, Dick Hutton def Gino Garibaldi, Preacher drew Ron Etchison, Lord Blears def Great John L, Gene LeBell def Ernie Nolte, Art Mahalik def Felipe Mendoza (att: 6,123)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1960

Sandor Szabo drew Stan Holek, Ed Carpentier def Steve Stanlee, Lord Blears def Mustafa Pasha, Dick Hutton drew Preacher, Gino Garibaldi def Bob Steele, Ron Etchison drew Art Mahalik, Hardy Kruskamp drew Felipe Mendoza (att: 7,123)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 1960

Ed Carpentier-Sandor Szabo def Preacher-Stan Holek, Ed Carpentier def Art Mahalik, Billy Varga def Tony Lanza, Dick Hutton def Broadway Venus, Gino Garibaldi drew Lord Blears, Kayo Murphy def Ernie Nolte, Hardy Kruskamp def Cowboy Steele (att: 7,923)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1960

Sandor Szabo-Dick Hutton-Lord Blears def Mr. Kleen-Stan Holek-Preacher, Hardy Kruskamp drew Mexican Atlas, Dick Hutton def Mustafa Pasha, Art Mahalik drew Gino Garibaldi, Mr. Kleen def Juan Herandez, Stan Holek def Tony Lanza (att: 10,221)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1960

Sandor Szabo-Ed Carpentier drew Stan Holek-Preacher, Mr. Kleen def Broadway Venus, Lord Blears def Matt Murphy, Dick Hutton def Great John L, Art Mahalik def Ken Larimore, Gino Garibaldi drew Gene LeBell, Hardy Kruskamp drew Rip Miller

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1960

Dick Hutton def Billy Varga 2-1 dq, Kleen Kids def Felipe Mendoza-Ken Larimore, Lord Blears def Ted Christy, Stan Holek def Mexican Atlas-Felipe Mendoza Jr (hdcp), Preacher def Bob Steele, Ernie Nolte drew Matt Murphy, Rip Miller def Juan Hernandez

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1960

Lou Thesz-Sandor Szabo-Dick Hutton def Preacher-Kleen Kids (Hardy Kruskamp?), Kleen Kids def Lord Blears-Ken Larimore, Lou Thesz def Rip Miller, Stan Holek def Felipe Mendoza, Gino Garibaldi drew Preacher, Gene LeBell def Ted Christy

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1960

(tournament) Art Mahalik def Felipe Mendoza, Lord Blears def Hardy Kruskamp, Rip Miller def Ted Christy, Matt Murphy def Gino Garibaldi, Broadway Venus def Preacher, Mr. Kleen def Rip Miller, Art Mahalik def Lord Blears, Rip Miller def Matt Murphy, Mr. Kleen def Broadway Venus, Mr. Kleen def Rip Miller, Mr. Kleen def Art Mahalik (att: 5,724)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1960

Dick Hutton def Billy Varga (hdcp, no falls 40 minutes), Kleen Kids def Sandor Szabo-Lord Blears, Preacher def Broadway Venus, Stan Holek def Hank Lane, Gene LeBell drew Art Mahalik, Gino Garibaldi def Matt Murphy

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1960

Ed Carpentier def Mr. Kleen, Dick Hutton-Lord Blears def Stan Holek-Preacher, Hank Lane def Art Mahalik, Billy Varga def Al Steele-Felipe Mendoza (special workouts), Rip Miller drew Hardy Kruskamp, Gene LeBell def Vic Christy (att: 8,317)

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1960

Billy Varga def Dick Hutton 1-1 cnc, Mr. Moto def Mike Lane, Lord Blears def Preacher, Stan Holek drew Gene LeBell, Hans Hermann def Broadway Venus, Art Mahalik def Al Steele, Broadway Venus drew Al Steele

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1960

Gorgeous George def Preacher, Hans Hermann-Mr. Moto def Nick Bockwinkle-Mike Lane, Pat-Fred Fraley def Matt Murphy-Art Mahalik, Mr. Moto def Rip Miller, Lord Blears drew Stan Holek, Ted Christy drew Chico Mendoza

Olympic Auditorium, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1960

BOSTON, June 7, 1922 (AP) -- Ed (Strangler) Lewis, heavyweight wrestling champion, defeated Earl Caddock, former champion, here tonight in two falls out of three. The third and deciding fall came in 10 minutes 33 seconds, on a headlock.

John Pesek of Nebraska defeated Dick Daviscourt of Texas in the semifinal bout, throwing his man in 28 minutes 57 seconds.
____________________________________________

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13, 1925 (AP) -- Dick Daviscourt, heavyweight wrestler of Wichita, Kan., today was barred by Chief of Police Martin O'Brien from further participation in bouts here.

This action was taken after promoter Tom Packs failed to appear before O'Brien and Prosecuting Attorney Albert Schweitzer to explain why Daviscourt, who figured in three recent bouts in which fouls were alleged, had been carded for a return match.

"This step is necessary," O'Brien said, "in order to avoid possibility of riots at the Coliseum. As a public official whose duty it is to preserve the peace, I must prevent any more such demonstrations as have occurred at the Coliseum during wrestling shows."

Declaring "the game is thoroughly crooked," Schweitzer announced that wrestling competitors here in the future would be required to sign affidavits in advance pledging themselves to give their best efforts and swear that the match is to be bona fide. Participants would be required to read their affidavits from the ring.

"There is no law against wrestling," said Schweitzer, "but there is a law against making a fale affidavit and against inciting riots for the prupose of getting a lot of people to attend the next show.

"They must satisfy my office that their bouts are strictly on the level, and if they're not, we will take steps to prosecute.

"Why, the game is thoroughly crooked. Do you know that not long ago I was informed at 10 o'clock in the morning that the result of a certain bout would be such-and-such. And at 10 p.m. the bout ended just exactly as my informant had predicted. It wasn't a chance prediction, either." _____________________________________________

(reprinted from San Francisco Chronicle, 4-6-36)

By Ed Peltret

. . . Now come aboard the Union line's Makura, which arrived here from Australia and the South Seas. Among those on board was Tommy Nilan, the Australian wrestling champion . . . Tommy, a rough and ready sort of guy with a heart as big as a pickle keg and a constant craving for rawmeat conflict, should be just the thing the doctors ordered as far as Promoter Joe Malcewicz' cash customers are concerned . . . Nilan is truly a hammered-down Herkimer H. Hercules in build . . . He stands 5 feet 4 inches in his bare dogs, tips the scales at 218 pounds and his chest measurement stretches the tape at an even 50 inches . . . Tommy has been in the professional game seven years and points with pride to his record of 450 victories, 28 defeats and 62 draws . . . Nilan won the Australian title from King Elliott, well- known Melbourne mat star who campaigned in these parts with much success a few years back.
_____________________________________________

(reprinted from San Jose, Calif., News, April 18, 1936)

Wrestling fans in large numbers are expected to turn out to Forman's Arena tonight to witness the best balanced preliminary group of wrestlers shown here in months. Hardy Kruskamp, undefeated since his return from Australia, will headline the show in a one-hour, three-fall match with Herbie Freeman, rough Hebrew from New York. It will be Hardy's first rough match since his return and may result in his first defeat.

The preliminaries are creating more interest than the feature bout, especially the semi-windup which brings together Mayes McLain, Iowa grid star, and young Danny Winters in a one-hour match. Both are clean, clever and have a wide variety of holds, and are both popular here.

Charlie Santen, undefeated in San Jose, meets Oki Shikina, clever Japanese wrestler, who is returning after an absence of two years, in the 30-minute special event which gives fans a view of all that could be desired in a wrestling match. Both are clean, good wrestlers.

Tiny Tommy Nilan, who had to wrestle twice here last week, will give fans plenty of action in the opener when he meets Blue Sun Jennings, huge Indian grappler. Nilan made a hit here in his first appearance. The first bout starts at 8:45.

MATCH A -- ONE FALL, 20 MINUTES

Tommy Nilan Vs. Blue Sun Jennings Take Nilan to win. He is the fastest man to ever appear here.

MATCH B -- ONE FALL, 30 MINUTES

Charlie Santen Vs. Oki Shikina Shikina making his first appearance. A good match.

SEMI-WINDUP -- ONE HOUR -- 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS

Mayes McLain Vs. Danny Winters A good match. Both are fast and clever.

MAIN EVENT - 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS -- ONE HOUR LIMIT

Hardy Kruskamp Vs. Herb Freeman Kruskamp should win. He is a better wrestler. _____________________________________________

WRESTLING TOMORROW NIGHT -- DREAMLAND

(reprinted from San Francisco Chronicle, 4-20-36)

7 -- STAR BOUTS -- 7 (Tuesday, April 21)

SZABO VS. KRUSKAMP, CHRISTY VS. ROEBUCK, MCLAIN VS. JONATHAN, SHIKINA VS. FREEMAN, SLEDGE VS. NARBARES, NILAN VS. SERRIS, SANTEN VS. WINTERS -- No Raise in Prices $1.50, $1, 75c, 55c
_____________________________________________

(reprinted from Washington Post, Sept. 11, 1937)

By Bob Garrison

Buckin' Bronko Nagurski, the 236-pound blond wizard, who earned his reputation as an All-American football player who needed no interference, had to have the way cleared for him last night as he successfully defending his world's heavyweight wrestling championship against Joe Cox, of Kansas, at Griffith Stadium.

Four thousand persons, the largest crowd of the current season, watched the former Minnesota grid great pin his villanous foe with a series of flying tackles and airplane spins after 40 minutes of one- sided grappling in which the referee, Billy Clark, National Wrestling Association selection, collaborated with the champ in disposing of his fourth victim since he won the crown from Dean Detton.

As colorless as the dark center field behind the wrestling stage, Nagurski failed miserably to arouse the spectators one way or the other as he methodically went about his task of winning. And, self assured, he suffered but little punishment at the hands of Cox. Each brutal hold that Cox applied was quickly broken by Referee Clark.

The end came suddenly after cox had been hurled from one side of the ring to the other, beaten about the face, and catapulted through the ropes numerous times. Nagurski used his football training to advantage, when he threw three body blocks at the stunned Kansan, tackled him and then took him for an over the head merry-go-round ride.

At this point, under Cox's 227 pounds, the merry-go- round broke down, with Nagurski emerging on top of his weary foe, pinning him without a tussle.

Ray Steele, veteran title claimant, defeated Bill Sledge, of Texas, in the semifinal match in 18 1/2 minutes with a series of body slams. They offered the best demonstration of grips of the evening.

In preliminary events, Abe Coleman and Wee Willie Davis, billed as the battle of "David and Goliath," wrestled to a 30-minute draw, as did Al Mercier, of Canada, and Rudy Dusek, Omaha veteran; and Billy Hansen pinned Eddie Cook in 10 1/2 minutes with a body press.
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(reprinted from Washington Post, Sept. 11, 1937)

By Shirley Povich

At first blush you felt just a trifle sorry for the great hulk of a guy who was up on his feet, toying with his unused soup sp;oon and a stray fork as he tried to find words to acknowledge the luncheon in his honor. Bronko Nagurski, you guessed, would a thousand times rather be lugging his 230 pounds and a football through the walls of the place.

The embarassment that was written across his features as he heard himself introduced before the Touchdown Club and the Minnesota State Society at the Harrington Hotel was something to see. A tinge of red crept around the tips of his ears as he heard himself described as Minnesota's greatest football immortal, and he had squirmed uncomfortably in his chair as a succession of speakers hailed him as the wrestling champion of the world.

And so his appearance was utterly disarming when, at long last, he raised himself to his feet and began haltingly to say that he appreciated all this. There was something plaintive about it as he made excuses for his speechmaking and then -- he drew down the house!

"Ya know," said Bronko, "it's nice to be in Washington. Wrestling has taken me into most of the big cities in the country, but I can truthfully say, honest, that I have met more friends of mine -- more Minnesotans -- in Washington than in any other town I've been.

"There must be some easy money here."

The Bronko, who was once described as the only fullback who ran interference for himself, revealed that he had been wrestling so steadily he needed a vacation. He said he was going to take a nice, long rest this fall -- by playing professional football with the Chicago Bears.

Of course, the fact that Nagurski is now recognized as the world's wrestling champion in most places didn't prove a drawback in his 1937 contract negotiations with the Chicago Bears. He wangled a salary out of 'em that is exactly double what he was paid in 1936 when he already was tops among the gridiron mercenaries.

He was telling the folks after the food had been stowed away how it was quite by accident that he broke into the rassling racket -- an accident to his manager, Tony Stecher, who dug Bronko up out of a gymnasium at one of the amateur clubs in Minneapolis, back in '33. But Stecher finished the story.

"Guys around Minneapolis were telling me that Bronko could wrestle, but they were always tipping me off about this or that football player who couldn't get out of his own way on the mat. But I kept hearing these stories about Nagurski until I got downright curious about him.

"I used to wrestle myself, when I wasn't managing my brother, Joe Stecher, who was world's champion twice. I was a pretty good middleweight in my day and was still working at it when I hunted up Nagurski in the gym of that amateur club. Thought I'd work out with him and see what he had. We went at it for five minutes and I signed him to a contract right then and there."

Only five minutes?

"Yeah, that Bronko broke a couple of my holds like there was nobody else in the ring but him. Then he picked me up, banged me on the floor with a body slam, broke two of my ribs and put me in the hospital for three weeks. I figured anybody who could do that to me was going to go pretty far in this business." ____________________________________________

(reprinted from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dec. 30, 1955)

Lou Thesz defends his world's heavyweight title tonight against Buddy Rogers in a one-fall-to-a-finsh bout that headlines the Mississippi Valley Sports Club's five-match wrestling program at Kiel Auditorium.

Ed (Strangler) Lewis, five times former champion, will be seconding Thesz for the last time, since he is retiring as Lou's manager -- a job he has held for the past five years -- after the battle.

Likewise, the card will mark the farewell of Martin Thesz as promoter for the Mississippi Valley Sports Club. "Wild" Bill Longson, who is quitting the ring, will become the new promoter, effective Jan. 1.

Tonight's program, incidentally, is being dedicated by the Mississippi Valley organization to the rival promoter, Sam Muchnick, who is celebrating his tenth year as mat impresario.

In the semifinal, Pat O'Connor and Ike Eakins will meet in a rematch. A four-man tag team bout finds Stu Gibson and The Mighty Atlas opposing Bobby Managoff, former champ, and Johnny Kostas. ____________________________________________

(reprinted from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dec. 31, 1955)

Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz successfully defended his National Wrestling Alliance title against last night when his opponent, Buddy Rogers, was disqualified for failing to break a hold in the main event of the Mississippi Valley Sports Club's card at Kiel&127; Auditorium.

It was a rough match all the way with the 6,362 fans cheering both Thesz and Rogers as they took turns knocking each other out of the ring.

Then as Thesz was climbing back into the ring, Rogers clamped a headlock on the champion and wouldn't break it even though ordered to do so by referee John Turner. Rogers wound up on top of the champ in the center of the ring, but not until Turner had ordered the bell rung and handed the match to Thesz.

SEMIFINAL MATCH -- Pat O'Connor, 235, Wellington, New Zealand, won from Ike Eakins, 266, Harlan County, Ky., when Eakins was counted out of the ring. Time--20:25.&127;

THIRD MATCH -- (Four-man tag team bout) Mighty Atlas, 221, Hollywood, Cal., and Stu Gibson, 230, Louisville, Ky., won two out of three falls from Bobby Managoff, 240, Chicago, and Johnny Kostas, 220, Athens, Greece. Atlas pinned Kostas with a full nelson to win the first fall in 15:57. Managoff pinned Gibson with a body press to win the second fall in 6:55. Gibson pinned Kostas with a body press to win the third and deciding fall in 11:12.

SECOND MATCH -- Dick Hutton, 240, Tulsa, Okla., pinned Joe Millich, 218, St. Louis, with an atomic drop. Time--9:43.

Jan. 5, Buffalo, Ed Don George def Stan Stasiak Jan. 12, Chicago, Jim Londos def Matros Kirilenko Jan. 19, Chicago, Jim Londos def Renato Gardini Jan. 21, Los Angeles, Ed Don George def Henri DeGlane Jan. 23, Salt Lake City, Ed Don George def Joe Malcewicz Jan. 26, New York City, Jim Londos def Jim McMillen Feb. 2, Buffalo, Ed Don George def Stan Stasiak Feb. 3, Utica, Ed Don George def Marin Plestina Feb. 6, Rochester, Ed Don George def Bibber McCoy Feb. 9, New York City, Jim Londos def Jim McMillen Feb. 11, Brooklyn, Jim Londos def Gino Garibaldi Feb. 12, St. Petersburg, Ed Don George def Jose Dominguez Feb. 13, Boston, Jim Londos def Rudy Dusek Feb. 18, Chicago, Jim Londos def George Zaharias Feb. 19, Boston, Ed Don George def Nick Lutze Feb. 20, St. Louis, Jim Londos def Ray Steele Feb. 23, New York City, Jim Londos def Jim McMillen Feb. 27, Miami, Jim Londos def Stanislaus Zbyszko Feb. 27, Rochester, Ed Don George def Jack Sherry Mar. 2, Richmond, Jim Londos def Matros Kirilenko Mar. 3, Baltimore, Jim Londos def Dick Daviscourt Mar. 4, Atlanta, Jim Londos def Paul Harper Mar. 5, Washington, Jim Londos def Paul Jones Mar. 6, Philadelphia, Jim Londos def Karl Pojello Mar. 9, Memphis, Jim Londos def George Manich Mar. 11, Brooklyn, Jim Londos def Taro Miyake Mar. 13, Boston, Jim Londos def Gino Garibaldi Mar. 16, Milwaukee, Jim Londos def Fritz Von Meier Mar. 17, Indianapolis, Jim Londos def Hans Bauer Mar. 18, Chicago, Jim Londos def Kola Kwariani Mar. 21, Cleveland, Jim Londos def Ferenc Holuban Mar. 23, New York City, Jim Londos def Herb Freeman Mar. 24, New Haven, Jim Londos def Milo Steinborn (The Man With the Red Mask) Mar. 25, Jersey City, Jim Londos def Matros Kirilenko Mar. 26, Columbus, John Pesek def Marin Plestina (Pesek awarded world championship recognition and a belt by the Midwest Wrestling Association, to further cloud the heavyweight championship picture) Mar. 26, Washington, Jim Londos def Gino Garibaldi Mar. 30, Passaic, Jim Londos def Renato Gardini Mar. 31, Baltimore, Jim Londos def Dick Daviscourt Apr. 2, Columbus, John Pesek def Joe Stecher Apr. 3, Schenectady, Ed Don George def Jack Wagner Apr. 7, Cincinnati, Jim Londos def Mike Romano Apr. 8, St. Louis, Jim Londos def Pat O'Shocker Apr. 13, Los Angeles, Ed Lewis def Ed Don George (title recognition transferred to the veteran Strangler, although Don George claimed title was not at stake)
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(reprinted from New York World-Telegram, 4-14-31)

LOS ANGELES -- (Special) -- Those two college boys, Gus Sonnenberg and Ed Don George, have played around with it long enough. The veteran Ed (Strangler) Lewis last night beat the latter to win claim to the world heavyweight wrestling title for the third time (sic), and today challenged Jim Londos to a match that would clear up the controversy over the crown.

The Kentuckian's victory is viewed by many as a move on the part of the Paul Bowser group of matmen to strengthen themselves in their New York war with Londos and the Jack Curley forces. Curley recently accepted a match with George on behalf of Londos, who is recognized as champion in New York and Pennsylvania, and Billy Sandow, manager of Lewis, today declared he would make every effort to force the Greek into a battle with Lewis. The Strangler defeated Londos a dozen times before the latter pinned Dick Shikat to establish his claim to the throne.

Lewis beat George in straight falls, the first coming with a headlock in 1 hour 10 minutes and 6 seconds,&127; and the second with a hammerlock in 7 minutes and 42 seconds. The older man beat the University of Michigan youngster down with headlocks, hammerlocks and wristlocks for the deciding fall. George faded rapidly.

Joe Savoldi defeated Myron Cox in a top prelim.
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Apr. 14, Jersey City, Jim Londos def Tommy Draak Apr. 15, Brooklyn, Jim Londos def Dick Daviscourt Apr. 16, Syracuse, Jim Londos def Paul Jones Apr. 17, Cleveland, Jim Londos def George Zaharias&127; Apr. 20, Kansas City, Ed Lewis def Everett Marshall Apr. 21, Chicago, Jim Londos def Kola Kwariani Apr. 23, Detroit, Jim Lonods def Stanislaus Zbyszko Apr. 23, Tulsa, Ed Lewis def Fred Peterson Apr. 24, Boston, Jim Londos def Sergei Kalmikoff Apr. 27, St. Louis, Jim Londos def Pat O'Shocker Apr. 28, Chicago, Ed Lewis def Gene LeDoux May 1, New York City, Jim Londos def Ray Steele May 4, Montreal, Henri DeGlane def Ed Lewis DQ (Referee Eugene Tremblay declares that Lewis had bitten DeGlane and promptly disqualified the champion. The Montreal Athletic Commission upheld the decision and Canada and New England recognized DeGlane as champion. The National Boxing (Wrestling) Association continued to recognize Lewis.) May 5, Newark, Jim Londos def Fred Carone May 6, Paterson, Jim Londos def Gino Garibaldi May 8, Bronx, Jim Londos def Renato Gardini May 8, Rochester, Ed Lewis def Everett Marshall May 11, Minneapolis, Jim Londos def Fred Grubmeier May 12, St. Paul, Jim Londos def Hans Bauer May 13, Chicago, Ed Lewis def Frank Judson May 14, Kansas City, Ed Lewis def Babe Luther May 16, Louisville, Jim Londos def Taro Miyake May 18, Poughkeepsie, Jim Londos def Richard Stahl May 18, Tulsa, Ed Lewis def Nick Velcoff May 19, Brooklyn, Jim Londos def Dick Daviscourt May 20, Buffalo, Jim Londos def Milo Steinborn May 20, Worcester, Henri DeGlane def George Zarynoff&127; May 21, Syracuse, Jim Londos def Renato Gardini May 21, Topeka, Ed Lewis def Ermak Harkovsky May 25, Buffalo, Henri DeGlane def John Spellman May 25, New York City, Jim Londos def Sandor Szabo May 26, St. Louis, John Pesek def Boris Demitroff June 1, Montreal, Henri DeGlane def George Zarynoff June 1, Wichita, Ed Lewis def Everett Marshall June 2, Hartford, Jim Londos def Ferdinand Carone June 3, White Plains, Jim Londos def Herb Freeman June 4, Washington, Jim Londos def Rudy Dusek June 5, West New York, Jim Londos def Geo. Manich June 5, Salt Lake City, Ed Lewis def Ira Dern June 9, Chattanooga, Jim Londos def John Katan June 10, Los Angeles, Ed Lewis def Karl Sarpolis June 11, Toronto, Henri DeGlane def Dan Koloff June 12, Philadelphia, Jim Londos def Jim McMillen June 15, Boston, Jim Londos def Tiny Roebuck June 15, Buffalo, Henri DeGlane drew Ed Don George June 16, Philadelphia, Jim Londos def Jim McMillen June 16, San Diego, Ed Lewis def Luther Williams June 17, New Castle, Pa., Jim Londos def Herb Freeman June 17, St. Louis, John Pesek def Jack Wagner June 18, Boston, Henri DeGlane def Joe Malcewicz June 18, Columbus, John Pesek def Charlie Hansen June 18, Syracuse, Jim Londos def Sergei Kalmikoff June 19, Newark, Jim Londos def Herb Freeman June 22, Montreal, Henri DeGlane def Nick Lutze June 23, San Francisco, Ed Lewis def Jock Plummer June 26, Salt Lake City, Ed Lewis def Ira Dern June 29, Milwaukee, Henri DeGlane def Frank Judson June 29, Bronx, Jim Londos def Ray Steele _____________________________________________

Boston, Sept. 2, 1931 (AP) -- Gino Garibaldi threw Tiny Roebuck of Tulsa, Okla., with a flying tackle after thirty-nine minutes of grappling here last night.

Hans Steinke and George Zaharias went to a thirty- minute draw. Karl Pojello of Chicago defeated Ivan Vakturoff in 21:58.
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St. Louis, Sept. 3, 1931 (AP) -- Rudy Dusek tossed Pat O'Shocker, of Salt Lake, in 33 minutes and 29 seconds here last night.

The threatened collapse of Jim Londos did not materialize at Madison Square Garden last night, for the heavyweight champion turned in a smooth, smart performance in retaining his title by tossing Matros Kirilenko of Russia, claimant of the European championship, in 39 minutes and 31 seconds. While Londos has scored quicker victories, he had a rather easy time on the whole, seldom being in danger and finally stopping the Russian with the ever reliable airplane spin.

In the semifinal, George Calza, who now looms as Londos' most dangerous rival, defeated Joe (Toots) Mondt, the time being 13 minutes and 52 seconds. Mondt was up to all his old tricks, but Calza, built like a dreadnaught, refused to weaken under a heavy elbow attack and came back to win with the front drops executed with the very effective combination of crotch hold and half nelson.

Hans Steinke, the gigantic German, scored the quickest victory of the current season when he disposed of Willie Davis in 2 minutes and 4 seconds. The Teuton was entirely too big and strong for the Southern youngster, not to mention far too experienced, so when he secured a crotch and body hold to dump Davis to the mat, it was all over.

Sammy Stein, who mixes football with his wrestling, kept his record intact by downing Steve Znosky. The time was 18 minutes and 56 seconds and the hold was a flying tackle, which hardly was unusual with Stein in there throwing his own human projectiles. But aside from injecting the gridiron flavor for the finish, Stein showed a varied assortment of holds to maintain a steady improvement in his all around wrestling ability. No wrestler of the newer crop has come along as fast as Stein.

Sandor Szabo and Rudy Dusek offered thirty rough minutes in their match which was declared a draw.

Something new was injected when Herb Freeman and Gene LaDoux tumbled from the ring and then continued to battle on the arena floor. With the aid of the Garden constabulary they were returned to the ring where they went on with Freeman winning on a headlock in 9 minutes and 6 seconds.

In the last bout on the card Ray Steele and Earl McCready went to a draw, with the latter, much to the surprise of everyone, holding the upper hand most of the time.
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Chicago, Nov. 3, 1931 (UP) -- Ed (Strangler) Lewis was recognized as world heavyweight wrestling champion today by the Illinois State Athletic Commission as a result of his victory over Wladek Zbyszko at the Chicago Stadium last night. Lewis donated his services for the charity match which drew 7,244 persons and gate receipts of $13,064.70.

Lewis won the first fall with a headlock in 23 minutes 52 seconds, lost the second when Zbyszko flopped him with a flying mare in 4 minutes 16 seconds, and then won the third with a cross body slam in 7 minutes 54 seconds.

Joe Savoldi, former Notre Dame fullback, threw Billy Burns, Wichita, Kan., in 9 minutes 20 seconds, with a body slam.
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(reprinted from New York World Telegram, 11-20-31)

Sandor Szabo, 203 pounds, of Hungary, and Dr. Ralph Wilson, 206, of Philadelphia, wrestled to a draw in the feature finish match at the Columbus Sports Club, Yonkers, before a crowd of 2,000 last night. The match was halted at the end of an hour of grappling by the New York State Athletic Commission's 11 o'clock rule.

Szabo and Dr. Wilson waged a grueling battle, each alternating in gaining an advantage from time to time, but neither was able to assume a decided advantage.

In the semifinal, Sammy Stein, 200 pounds, Newark, threw Tony Catalino, 210, Italy, in 21:10 with a series of flying tackles. Other results:

Floyd Marshall, 217, California, and Renato Gardini, 200, Italy, wrestled to a draw, 45 minutes; Tommy Draak, 210, Holland, threw Gene Bruce, 205, Brooklyn, 13:10, with a crotch and body hold; George Calza, 216, Italy, threw Babe Caddock, 198, New Zealand, 12:45, with a crotch and body hold. ____________________________________________

(reprinted from New York World Telegram, 12-4-31)

Sandor Szabo of Hungary, 203, threw Floyd Marshall of California, 212, after 16:15 of the feature finish match at the Columbus Sporting Club in Yonkers last night before a crowd of 1,500 spectators. The winner used a suplex hold to down his opponent. Other results:

Norton B. Jackson, New York, 200, threw Justino Giraldi, Italy, 206, after 14:50 with a body slam; Sammy Stein, Newark, 200, and Ralph Wilson, Philadelphia,&127; 206, wrestled forty-five minutes to a draw; Ferdinand Carone, Italy, 200, threw Vanka Zelesniak, Russia, 214, after 20:15 with a head lock; George Hagen, United States Marines, 212, and Richard Shikat, Philadelphia, 218, wrestled thirty minutes to a draw. ____________________________________________

The epidemic of injuries which has been hovering over the out-of-town wrestling mats for several months hit New York with a vengeance last night as 15,000 watched a main eventer pull up incapacitated in the bouts at Madison Square Garden. George Calza was forced to retire in his assault upon Jim Londos' heavyweight title after 44 minutes and 51 seconds, when a Japanese toe hold temporarily paralyzed his left leg.

Dick Shikat, 218, of Germany, threw Vladimir Martinoff, 212, of Russia, in 3 minutes and 14 seconds with a head scissors. It was scheduled for 30 minutes.

John Maxos, 205, of Greece, and Sandor Szabo, 204, of Hungary, wrestled actively to a draw in the opening twenty-minute match.

Tiny Roebuck, 245, a Haskell Indian, flattened Ivan Vernyhora, 210, of Russia, with a crotch-lift and half- Nelson in 6:52.

Renato Gardini, 205, of Italy, and Rudy Dusek, 218, of Nebraska, put on a twenty-minute rough house which was called a draw and drew boos from the crowd.

Ray Steele, 218, of California, toyed with Richard Stahl, 205, of Germany, and eventually threw him with a series of headlocks and body holds in 10:51 of a scheduled thirty-minute match. It was an unequal and uninteresting exhibition.

Jim McMillen, 215, of Chicago, returned to the mat after two months' absence and joined with Matros Kirilenko, 214, of Russia, in 20 minutes of kicking, slapping and butting. It was called a draw.

Sam Stein, 200, of New York, and Herbie Freeman, 218, Bronx, wrestled thirty minutes to a draw. __________________________________________

(reprinted from New York World Telegram, 12-11-31)

Sammy Stein, Newark, threw Richard Stahl, Germany, in 19:24 of the feature finish match at the Columbus Sports Club in Yonkers last night. Stein used a series of flying tackles before he could pin his opponent. Stein weighed 200, Stahl 210.

In the semifinal finish match, Joe (Toots) Mondt, 229, Colorado, downed Norton Jackson, 205, New York, in 25:16. Mondt used an elbow punch to the head, stunning Jackson.

In the 45-minute bout between Dr. Ralph Wilson, 206, Philadelphia, and Ivan Vernyhora, 210, Russia, Ivan went through the ropes twice and the Doctor, using an arm lock to the head, brought the Russian back. Then both went through the ropes, Vernyhora pounding Wilson on the head with his fist. They rooled off the ring to the floor. Spectators grabbed Vernyhora, pulling him away from Wilson, who was flat on his back. Police intervened and prevented further disturbance when some of the crowd pushed Ivan back into the ring. Wilson won in 38:04.

(reprinted from Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 12-30-53)

Although Pat O'Connor of New Zealand had much the better of his wrestling match with world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz of St. Louis, Mo., he had to be content with settling for a draw after a thrilling struggle lasting one hour Tuesday night at the Minneapolis auitorium.

A near capacity crowd of 8,166 which braved zero weather to witness the contest booed Referee Bill Kuusisto lustily when he called the bout a draw. The spectators thought O'Connor deserved the decision and, with it, the title, showing their displeasure by yelling themselves hoarse and shaking their fists at the arbiter.

O'Connor, on three occasions, apparently had Thesz pinned but, each time, the champion save dhimself by crawling off the mat. In one of the situations, Pat slammed Thesz flat on his back with an airplane spin but Lou saved himself by draping his left leg over the lower rope.

Twice more, within the first 40 minutes, Pat had Thesz flat on his back, once with a shoulder block and a second time when Thesz nearly knocked himself out by landing on the back of his head after missing a dropkick to O'Connor's face.

The champion instinctively, each time, managed to crawl onto the bottom rope, thereby preventing O'Connor from gaining a richly deserved fall.

O'Connor, too, came dangerously close to being pinned on a number of occasions by short-arm scissors, a hammerlock and a double wrist-lock. Pat punished Lou severely with a series of toeholds, headlocks and head scissors.

During the last five minutes of the bout, O'Connor hurled Thesz from the ring during a furious mixup along the ropes and the champion barely got back at the count of 18.

Thesz immediately put hsi head under the top strand, thereby being out of hounds and preventing O'Connor from pressing his advantage. The Irishman, on three other efforts, hurled Lou out of the ring and had him in a bad way when the timekeeper tolled off the 60- minute limit.

Abe (King Kong) Kashey, making his reappearance here, enjoyed the unique experience of winning on a foul when Referee Stan Mayslack disqualified Paul Baillargeon after a lively tussle lasting 17 minutes, three seconds.

Kashey, who bears the reputation of being one of the foulest wrestlers, used his vast repertoire of savage tricks on Baillargeon with the result that the spectators thought Paul should have won a foul instead of Abe. The fans were so incensed at Mayslack's action that it was necessary for several policemen to escort the referee from the ring to his dressing room.

Lou Thesz, 233, St. Louis, Pat o'Connor, 236, New Zealand, wrestled to draw, one hour.

Abe Kashey, 221, Los Angeles, won on foul from Paul Baillargeon, 238, Quebeck, 17:03.

Kinji Shibuya, 233, Honolulu, and Tony Baillargeon, 211, Quebec, drew, 30 minutes.

Vic Holbrook, 260, Long Beach, pinned Bob Orton, 238, Kansas City, Kan., 16:33.

Joe Pazandak, 237, Minneapolis, pinned Red Bastien, 190, Minneapolis, 16:11. ____________________________________________

The following wrestling show summaries are excerpted from The History of Wrestling, Pages 1,725-1,740, Compiled by Tom Gannon, Australia. The year is 1956.

Oakland, Calif., Apr. 28--Anelo Cistoldi drew Mickey Gold, Sandor Kovacs def Steve Stanlee, Yukon Eric- Leo Nomellini-Enrique Torres def Bill Miller-Jesus Ortega-Hans Schnabel

Honolulu, Haw., Apr. 29--Great Togo-Tosh Togo def&127; Lord Blears-Gene Kiniski (won world tag title), Tony Morelli def Ramon Cernandes, Rey Urbano def Buddy Gilbert

Fort Worth, Tex., Apr. 30--Duke Keomuka vs. Ramon Torres, Ray Gunkel def Nanjo Singh, Pepper Gomez- Luigi Macera def Mike DiBiase-Danny Plechas, Sammy Berg vs. Danno McDonald, Cowboy Carlson vs. Jack Vansky

Edmonton, Alta., May 1--Al-John Smith NC Lou Newman-Jim Wright, George Gordienko-Luther Lindsey def Ted Christy-Mike McGee, Millie Stafford def Barbara Baker, George Scott def Dave Ruhl, Sandy Scott def Dick Hrstich

Hamilton, Ont., May 1--Pat O'Connor drew Billy Watson (NWA world title defense by Watson), Fritz Von Erich- Karl Von Schoeber drew Hard Boiled Haggerty-Lord Layton, Dick Hutton def Donn Lewin, Aldo Bogni def Larry Hamilton

Little Rock, Ark., May 1--Mike Clancy def Frank Taylor, Sugi Sito def Rocco Perez, Great Zuma def Ali Bey

Minneapolis, Minn., May 1--Ivan-Karl Kalmikoff def Paul Baillargeon-Hans Schmidt, Ilio DiPaolo def Tiny Mills DQ, Johnny Barend drew Al Mills, Skull Murphy def Brian Clary

Montreal, Que., May 2--Edouard Carpentier def Ernie Dusek, Ron Etchison def Chief Big Kettle, Oyama Kato drew Clyde Steeves, Karl Von Albers def Carl Engstrom

Vancouver, B.C., May 2--Pat Meehan drew Leo Numa, Bob Wagner def Adrian Baillargeon, Betty Jo Hawkins def Olga Zepeda, Mask No. 1 def Don Kindred

Amarillo, Tex., May 3--Art Neilson-Rip Rogers def Dizzy Davis-Dory Funk, Sonny Myers def Great Mitsu

Denver, Colo., May 3--Wilbur Snyder drew Lou Thesz, Don Leo Jonathan def bob Orton, Mal Brenner def Carlos Moreno, Jack Allen-Jerry Woods drew Juan Garcia-Tom Renesto

Milwaukee, Wisc., May 3--Dick Afflis-Hans Schmidt def Mario deSouza-Dave Jons, Gypsy Joe def Seymour Koenig, Zack Malkov def Don Cortez

Atlanta, Ga., May 4--Dick Raines def Tom Drake, Chief Big Heart def Lou Plummer, Danny McShane def Tim Geohagen, Jerry Graham def Rocky Columbo

Houston, Tex., May 4--Pepper Gomez def Nanjo Singh, Ramon Torres def Don Evans DQ, Ray Gunkel def Danny Plechas, Iron Mike DiBiase def Sammy Berg, Luigi Macera drew Danno McDonald, Joe Christie def George Drake

Portland, Ore., May 4--Herb Freeman def Jack O'Reilly, Pee Wee James-Tiny Roe def Otto Bowman-Ivan the Terrible, Doug-Red Donovan def Larry Chene-Ricky Waldo, Bill Fletcher def Tommy Phelps DQ

Sacramento, Cal., May 9--Roy Heffernan def Steve Stanlee, Pedro Godoy def Vic Christy, Lord Blears- Gene Kiniski def Art Mihalik-Leo Nomellini

Amarillo, Tex., May 10--Art Neilson def Sonny Myers, Dory Funk def Great Mitsu, Dizzy Davis def Rip Rogers DQ, Bob Geigel NC Gory Guerrero, Andre Drapp def Tony Bajon

Columbus, Ohio, May 10--Billy Watson def Gorgeous George (NWA title defense), Don-Ray Stevens NC Al Kashey-Joe Scarpello, Frank Talaber def Shag Thomas, Belle Starr def Lana Lamar

St. Joseph, Mo., May 10--Jim Austeri def George Grant, Belle Drummond-China Mira def Mars Bennett-Ella Waldek, Richard Brown def Lee Grable

Toronto, Ont., May 10--Fritz Von Erich-Karl Von Schober def Roy McClarty-Pat O'Connor DQ, Prince Maiava def Aldo Bogni, Dick Hutton def Larry Hamilton-Abe Zvonkin (handicap), Doc-Mike Gallagher def Brian Clary-Pat Flanagan, Fred Atkins def Dick Huffman

Buffalo, N.Y., May 11--Fritz Von Erich-Karl Von Schober def Fred Atkins-Hard Boiled Haggerty, Dick Beyer def John Foti, Dick Hutton def Gil Mains, Aldo Bogni def Brian Clary, Willie Davis drew Greg Jarque

St. Louis, Mo., May 11--Billy Watson def Pat O'Connor (NWA title defense), June Byers def Bonnie Watson, Hans Schmidt def Fritz Von Ulm, Lord Layton def Ski Hi Lee, Bobby Bruns-Bobby Managoff def Barney Bernard-Ike Eakins, Stu Gibson drew Maurice LaPointe

Winnipeg, Man., May 11--Ivan-Karol Kalmikoff def Ilio DiPaolo-Tiny Mills, Paul Baillargeon def Skull Murphy DQ, Johnny Barend def Lionel Baillargeon, Tex McKenzie def Pete Managoff

Portland, Ore., May 14--Herb Freeman drew Bull Montana, Doug-Red Donovan def Larry Chene-Bill Fletcher, Tommy Phelps drew Alvero Velasco, Buck Davidson drew Henry Lenz

San Francisco, Cal., May 15--Bill Miller def Yukon Eric, Art Mihalik drew Hans Schnabel, Joe Blanchard- Enrique Torres def Pedro Godoy-Roy Heffernan, Steve Stanlee def Carl Cooper, Vic Christy drew John Swenski

Montreal, Que., May 16--Ed Carpentier def Pat O'Connor, Ron Etchison def Hans Hermann, Oyama Kato NC Frank Valois, Billy Darnell def Chief Big Kettle, Manuel Cortez drew Clyde Steeves

Ottawa, Ont., May 17--Ed Carpentier def Fred Atkins, Carl Engstrom NC Frank Valois, Larry Moquin def Jim Bernard, Steve Gob drew Al Tucker

Memphis, Tenn., May 21--Battle Royal faded thus: 1-- Stu Gibson, 2--Great Zuma, 3--Bob Clay, 4--Al Lovelock, 5--Frank Taylor, 6--Sugi Sito, Bill Longson def Maurice LaPoint (final), Great Zuma def Stu Gibson DQ, Al Lovelock def Bob Clay, Frank Taylor def Sugi Sito

Omaha, Nebr., May 21--Antonino Rocca-Wilbur Snyder NC Ivan-Karl Kalmikoff, Roy McClarty def Skull Murphy, Johnny Barend def Harry Lewis, Shirley Strimple def Lorraine Johnson

Los Angeles, Cal., May 23--Antonino Rocca-Sandor Szabo vs. Lee Henning-Tom Rice, Dutch Hefner vs. Rito Romero, Nick Bockwinkel vs. Pat Fraley, George McKay vs. Ray Stern, Tito Carreon vs. Harry Lewis, Juan Hernandez vs. Gene LeBell

Detroit, Mich., May 24--Joe Louis def Jim Bernard, Buddy Rogers def Lou Klein, Jim Hady-George Macricostas def Jan Gotch-Jim LaRock, Fuzzy Cupid def Tiny Tim Girard

Toronto, Ont., May 24--Pat O'Connor drew Wladek Kowalski, Dick Hutton def Ian Campbell-Bill Melby (handicap), Fritz Von Ulm def Larry Hamilton, Doc-Mike Gallagher def Ray Gunkel-Gil Mains

Cincinnati, Ohio, May 25--Frank Townsend def Frank Marconi, Don-Ray Stevens def Don Miller-Nick Roberts, Joe Scarpello def Jack Wentworth

Marietta, Ga., May 25--Jerry Graham drew Jackie Nichols, Rocky Columbo-Nichols def Graham-Danny McShane

Chattanooga, Tenn., May 26--Frank Jares def Hombre Montana, Charro Azteca-Jack Terry def Gene Bowman-Johnny James, James def Terry

Honolulu, Haw, May 27--Lou Thesz-Billy Varga def Great Togo-Tosh Togo, Tony Morelli def Jerry Christy, Ramon cernandes drew Doug Dawkins, Johnny Brown&127; def Buddy Gilbert

Hollywood, Calif., May 28--Lord Blears def Tom Rice, Ray Stern def John Tolos, Lee Henning drew Chief War Cloud, Rito Romero def Nick Bockwinkel, Matt Murphy def Broadway Venus

Edmonton, Alta., May 29--Billy Watson def Jim Wright (NWA title defense), Hard Boiled Haggerty def Sandy Scott, John Paul Henning def Ted Christy, Adrian Baillargeon def Firpo Zbyszko DQ, George Scott def Karl Gray

San Francisco, Cal., May 29--Sandor Kovacs drew Art Mihalik, Hans Schnabel def Vic Christy, Leo Nomellini def Pedro Godoy, Lord Blears-Gene Kiniski def Joe Blanchard-Enrique Torres

Montreal, Que., May 30--Wladek Kowalski def Yvon Robert, Don Leo Jonathan def Manuel Cortez, Ed Carpentier def Frank Valois, Paul Baillargeon drew Ron Etchison, Mike Paidousis def Carl Engstrom

Amarillo, Tex., May 31--Red Berry def Gorgeous George, Dizzy Davis-Sonny Myers def Art Neilson-Rip Rogers, Juan Humberto def Gory Guerrero, Andre Drapp def Great Mitsu

Stockton, Cal., May 31--Vic Christy drew Roy Heffernan, Bill Miller def Bobby Bruns, Leo Nomellini- Enrique Torres drew Lord Blears-Gene Kiniski

Pasadena, Cal., June 1--Lee Henning-John Tolos def Vincent Lopez-Matt Murphy, John Cretoria def Broadway Venus, Jungle Boy def Cisco Kid

Columbia, S.C., June 5--Don Eagle-Angelo Martinelli NC Gino Vagnone-Karl Von Hess--Others on card: Dick Steinborn, Boris Malenko, Chick and Leo Garibaldi

Denver, Colo., June 5--Roy Shire def Guy Brunetti, Bobby Ford def Don Moore, Hardy Kruskamp def&127; Dutch Haling, Don Donnicant def Jack Dillon

Jonesboro, Ark., June 5--Chuck Powell-Jack Terry def Chris Belkas-Sugi Sito, Belkas def Powell, Terry def Sito

Minneapolis, Minn., June 5--Ivan-Karol Kalmikoff def Lord Layton-Tex McKenzie DQ, Roy McClarty def Skull Murphy, Ilio DiPaolo def Jim Bernard, Johnny Barend def Tony Baillargeon ___________________________________________

(reprinted from Ottawa Citizen, April 27, 1955)

By Bernie Nellis

Either referee Sammy McConnell is a nemesis to Big Bill Miller, or Miller just doesn't like McConnell.

Anyway, for the third straight time, McConnell ended up on the floor, through a sock from big Miller, and the latter got the gate, after he had beaten Yvon Robert in the main event of last night's mat show at the Auditorium.

After Miller had won the bout he had words with Referee McConnell and the Montreal Alouette tackle slugged Sammy. McConnell then crawled back into the ring and gave the decision to Robert, who was somewhat flabbergasted at the proceedings.

The former Ohio State football star went berserk at the decision, and when the crowd got on his back he jumped off the ring apron and went after a few spectators.

Miller, a 275-pound behemoth of the ring, pummelled Robert into submission to win the first fall of the best- of-three event after 13 minutes of grappling.

Big Bill won the match when he caught the Montreal grappler in a punishing leg hold, forcing Robert to give&127; in.

Robert came back strongly in the second fall and caught Miller coming off the ropes. Yvon applied his famous rolling short-arm scissors and that was all for the giant footballer.

The same short-arm scissors almost proved Robert's downfall in the final fall, though, when Miller reversed the hold and pinned Robert for the count.

Then came the words between Miller and McConnell, the slugging bee by Big Bill, and McConnell's disqualification, giving the match to Robert.

Leo Numa, who last grappled at the Auditorium back in the '30s, made an auspicious return in last night's semifinal, getting the nod over Cowboy Len Hughes. Hughes contributed to his own loss, however, when he took after a fan while outside the ring.

Herb Trawick, another Montreal Alouette star, and Bob (Legs) Langevin grappled to a draw in the opener.
____________________________________________________

The WAWLI Papers # 047...

(researched by Don Luce)

Jan. 4--Al Massey-LaVerne Baxter def Vic Emanuel-Jack LaRue, Tarzan White drew Dick Lever, Rudy Strongberg def Harry Greb, Ben Bennicasa def Charles Harbin

Jan. 18--Herb Welch def Vic Emanuel (world junior heavy title defense), Al Massey drew Jack LaRue, Dick Lever-Bill Collins def Bruce White-Irish Jack Kelly, Young Tommy Londos def Joe Estes, Son Almand drew John Mauldin, Charles Harbin def Roy Mitchell, Ed Henegar def Wally (Harry) Greb

Jan. 26 (Saturday)--Herb Welch def Jack LaRue, Al Massey-LaVerne Baxter def Dick Lever-Vic Emanuel, John Mauldin def Jack Kelly DQ, June Byers def Juanita Coffman, Nell Stewart def Mattie Bell

Feb. 1--Herb-Jack Welch drew Jack LaRue-Vic Emanuel, Al Massey def Bob Godfrey, Dick Lever drew Ralph Garibaldi, Tarzan White def Ben Bennicassa DQ

Feb. 8--Bill Longson def LaVerne Baxter (NWA title defense), Jack LaRue-Dick Lever def Ralph Garibaldi-Al Massey DQ, Toar Morgan def Ben Bennicassa, Vic Emanuel def Jack Welch

Feb. 16 (Saturday)--Jack LaRue-Vic Emanuel-Bill Collins def Herb-Roy-Jack Welch, Dick Lever def LaVerne Baxter DQ, Ralph Garibaldi def Toar Morgan, Al Massey def Charlie Harbin

Feb. 22--Al Massey def Jack LaRue, Dick Lever def LaVerne Baxter, Ralph Garibaldi def Ben Bennicassa, Vic Emanuel def Mike Kolonis, Tarzan White drew Bill Collins

Mar. 1--Al Massey def Toar Morgan, Jack LaRue def Ralph Garibaldi, Vic Emanuel drew LaVerne Baxter (sub for Herb Welch who was in a car crash near Nashville, suffering a broken arm, leg, rib and possible back injuries), Ben Morgan def Ben Bennicassa, Mike Kolonis drew Dick Lever

Mar. 22--Al Massey-LaVerne Baxter def Ben Morgan-Don Lee, Buddy Rogers def Dick Lever, Bill Collins def Mike Kolonis, Nick Carter def Jack Kelly, Abe Zvonkin drew Vic Emanuel

Mar. 29--Al Massey def Ben Morgan, Ralph Garibaldi-LaVerne Baxter def Dick Lever-Bill Collins, Nick Carter def Vic Emanuel DQ, Abe Zvonkin drew Charlie Harbin, Jack Kelly def Mike Kolonis

Apr. 5--Al Massey def Ben Morgan, Dolly West def Wilma Gordon, Vic Emanuel drew Ralph Garibaldi, Nick Carter def Mike Kolonis, Abe Zvonkin def Jack Hader DQ

Apr. 11 (Thursday--Sports Arena)--Dick Lever def Abe Zvonkin, Vic Emanuel def Bob Shipp, Charlie Harbin drew John Mauldin, Jack Kelly def Roy Mitchell, Bob Shipp def Tiger Kirkland DQ

Apr. 19 (City Auditorium)--Al Massey-Ralph Garibaldi def Jack Hader-Ben Morgan (Tony Galento referee), Buddy Rogers def Vic Emanuel, Nick Carter def Dick Lever, Kay Bell def Ben Bennicasa, Abe Zvonkin def Charlie Harbin

Apr. 26--Nick Carter def Jack Hader, Babe Zaharias def Abe Zvonkin, Al Massey def Vic Emanuel, Bill Marcus def Bill Collins DQ, Dick Lever drew Jack Dillon

May 3--Al Massey-Rex Mobley def Dick Lever-Jack Hader, Charlie Harbin def Bill Collins, Dolly West def Wilma Gordon, Nick Carter def Babe Zaharias

May 10--Bill Longson def Nick Carter (NWA title defense), Jack Hader def Al Massey DQ, Rex Mobley drew Bad Boy Brown, Dick Lever-Babe Zaharias def John Mauldin-Kay Bell

May 17--Al Massey def Jack Hader, Tiger Joe Marsh def Jack LaRue, Babe Zaharias drew Nick Carter, Evelyn Wall-Violet Viann def Ann Laverne-Celia Blevins

May 24--Bill Longson def George Koverly (NWA title defense), Babe Zaharias-Dick Lever def Al Massey-Joe Kirkland, Kay Bell def Jack LaRue, Nick Carter drew Jack Hader

June 1 (Saturday)--Buddy Rogers def Jim Coffield, Al Massey def Babe Zaharias DQ, Jack Hader def Steve Martin, Kay Bell-Nick Carter def Dick Lever-Bill Collins

June 11--It is announced that Nashville will conduct a tourney to replace world junior heavyweight champ Herb Welch, who has surrendered the belt due to injuries sustained in the previously noted car wreck. Within a month, it is held and Tex Riley is the champ.

June 14--Johnny Long def Jack Welch, Nick Carter-Al Massey def Jim Coffield-Dick Lever DQ, Jack Hader def Charlie Harbin, Tiger Joe Marsh def Steve Martin

June 21--Al Massey def Jim Coffield DQ, Jack Dillon-Jack Hader def Roy Welch-Nick Carter, Johnny Long def Bill Collins, Tiger Joe Marsh drew Dick Lever

June 28--Maurice Tillet (French Angel) def Jack Dillon, Johnny Long-Tiger Joe Marsh def Jack Hader-Dick Lever, Ralph Garibaldi drew Nick Carter, Tiny Oxford def Joe Kirkland DQ

July 5--Al Massey def Jim Coffield, Johnny Long def Jack LaRue, Celia Blevins def Evelyn Wall, Gene Blakely def Roy Welch, Nick Carter def Don Lee, Tiger Joe Marsh drew Jack Hader

July 19--Nick Carter def Jim Coffield DQ, Al Massey def Don Lee, Tiger Joe Marsh def Charlie Harbin DQ, Gene Blakely def Billy Hickson, Johnny Long drew Jack Hader, John Mauldin failed to throw Tiger Joe Kirkland (handicap)

July 26--Tex Riley def Gene Blakely (world jr. heavy defense), Al Massey-Johnny Long def Jack Hader-Don Lee, Jim Coffield def Nick Carter, Tiger Joe Marsh drew Earl Wampler

Aug. 2--Jim Coffield def Al Massey DQ, Johnny Long-Nick Carter vs. Don Lee-Dick Lever, Jack Hader vs. Bibber McCoy, Tiger Joe Marsh vs. Charlie Harbin

Aug. 9--Al Massey KOd Jim Coffield (5th round, boxing match), Johnny Long drew Dick Lever, Bibber McCoy def Don Lee, Tiger Joe Marsh drew Jack Hader, Nick Carter def Tom Mahoney DQ

Aug. 16--Jim Coffield-Jack Hader def Tiger Joe Marsh-Al Massey, Bibber McCoy def Jack LaRue, Ann Laverne def Celia Blevins (Mrs. Jack LaRue), Tom Mahoney def Don Lee

Aug. 23--Herb Welch def Rube Wright, Al Lamkin-Tiny Oxford def Tiger Kirkland-Roy Mitchell, Jim Coffield def Bibber McCoy, Al Massey drew Tom Mahoney, Tiger Joe Marsh drew Dick Lever

Aug. 30--Bibber McCoy-Dick Lever def Jim Coffield-Jack Hader, Al Massey def Ben Bennicasa, Joe Marsh def Tom Mahoney DQ, Ray Villmer drew Don Lee

Sept. 13--Maurice Tillet (French Angel) def Jim Coffield DQ, Tom Mahoney def Tiger Joe Marsh, Bibber McCoy def Curtis Nack, Al Massey-Nick Carter def Don Lee-Jack Hader

Sept. 20--Chief Saunooke-Cardiff Giant vs. Ben Morgan-Don Lee, Joe Marsh vs. Jim Coffield, Al Massey vs. Jack Hader, Ray Villmer vs. Tom Mahoney, Bibber McCoy vs. Nick Carter

Sept. 27--Jack O'Brien def Al Massey, Alligator def Gil Woodworth, Chief Saunooke def Nick Carter, Jim Coffield def Johnny Long, Bibber McCoy drew Ray Villmer, Don McIntyre def Tom Mahoney

Oct. 4--Primo Carnera def Chief Saunooke, Jack O'Brien drew Tom Mahoney, Jules Strongbow def Bibber McCoy, Ray Villmer-Al Massey def Babe Zaharias-Jim Coffield

(ED. NOTE--Within a span of four weeks, the principal attractions here were the French Angel, Cardiff Giant, a "wrestling" alligator and Primo Carnera. Obviously, the draw of "pure" grappling seemed to be fading.)

Oct. 11--Primo Carnera def Jules Strongbow, Don McIntyre drew Jim Coffield, Nell Stewart def Ann Miller, Juanita Coffman def Evelyn Wall, Al Massey drew Tom Mahoney

Oct. 18--Mildred Burke def Juanita Coffman, Tex Riley def Rowdy Red Roberts (world jr. heavy defense), Dick Lever def Jim Coffield DQ, Bibber McCoy drew Babe Zaharias, Don McIntyre-Al Massey def Jack O'Brien-Tom Mahoney

Oct. 25--Al Massey-Don McIntyre def Babe Zaharias-Tom Mahoney, Bibber McCoy def Dan O'Connor, Ed White def Chief Saunooke DQ, Jim Coffield drew Earl Wampler, Gil Woodworth def Alligator

Nov. 1--George Temple def Earl Wampler DQ, Don McIntyre-Al Massey def Jack O'Brien-Cardiff Giant, Jim Coffield drew Bibber McCoy, Dick Lever def Ed White DQ

Nov. 8--Cardiff Giant-Jack O'Brien def Chief Saunooke-Ed White, Bibber McCoy def Danno O'Mahoney, Jim Coffield drew Don McIntyre, George Temple def Earl Wampler

Nov. 22--Tex Riley def Herb Welch (world jr. heavy defense), Al Massey-Don McIntyre def Jack O'Brien-Jim Coffield, Roy Welch def Ed White DQ, Bibber McCoy def Cardiff Giant

Nov. 29--Jim Coffield def Al Massey, Violet Viann def Nell Stewart, Dick Lever def Jack Kelly, Bibber McCoy drew Don McIntyre, Carlos Rodriguez def Wally Greb

Dec. 6--Tex Riley def Calros Rodriguez (world jr. heavy defense), Don McIntyre-Nick Carter def Jack Dillon-Jim Coffield, Bibber McCoy def Wally Greb DQ, Al Massey drew Lorenzo Martinez

Dec. 13--Jim Coffield (wrestler) def Al Massey (boxer), Carlos Rodriguez def Roy Welch, Nick Carter def Lorenzo Martinez DQ, Bibber McCoy drew Wally Greb, Don McIntyre def George Thomas

Dec. 20--Violet Viann-Evelyn Wall def Mae Weston-Nell Stewart, Nick Carter def Lorenzo Martinez, Bibber McCoy def Don Lee, Don McIntyre drew Jim Coffield, Al Massey def Wally Greb, Bob Shipp def Red Dugan DQ (won five-man royal, also included were Tiger Joe Kirkland, Tiny Oxford and Roy Mitchell)

Dec. 27--Tex Riley def Carlos Rodriguez (world jr. heavy defense), Al Massey-Johnny Long def Jack Kelly-Earl Wampler, Bibber McCoy drew Jim Coffield, Don McIntyre def Don Lee
________________________________________

(reprinted from the New York Post)

By Paul Pucciarelli

Antonino Rocca, who once said he possessed the "secret of life" and would live to be 100, is dead at 49.

Rocca, one of the most famous and well-loved wrestlers in the world, died yesterday at Roosevelt Hospital where he was admitted two weeks ago for a urinary infection. The exact cause of death is not known, pending an autopsy today.

Rocca, who often slept more than 12 hours a day and sometimes for as much as 30 straight hours before a match, claimed he would live to be 100. "And why not," he once said: "Next to good blood circulation, the secret of life is rest. I expect to live to be at least 100."

"Next to Milton Berle, Rocca sold more TVs in the country than anyone else," Vince McMahon Sr., a former promoter and close friend of Rocca, said last night from his Florida home. "He was wrestling on five different TV stations at that time. There was never a more likeable and more personable fellow in sports. There was nothing phony about Tony."

Rocca's bouts in the old Garden with the Graham brothers, Dick Carpentier (sic), the Kangaroos and Killer Kowalski constantly drew full houses. And when the fans got out of hand, it took only a few words from their idol to cool them off. "My fans, they obey me," Rocca once said. "I can start a riot or stop one. But I'd rather stop them."

Always direct and outspoken, Rocca had an incredible rapport with the fans. And he was as comfortable with senators and kings as he was in the poverty-stricken reaches of Spanish Harlem. He was never at a loss for time from his busy schedule when it came to visiting hospitals, giving lectures at local CYO, PAL or YMCA functions.

"I am their hero," he once said of the city's Spanish-speaking population. "Poor people identify with me. I wrestle and I beat a bad, bad man and they are glad."

His integrity was legendary. He once spent $122 to fly from Jacksonville, Fla., to appear in a Brooklyn court for a traffic summons. The judge, a wrestling fan, was so impressed with Rocca's honesty he dropped the charge. "I was worried," said Rocca. "I would have rather wrestled 10 men than go before a judge."

Rocca, who had his legs insured for $250,000, earned $1 million in the ring and enjoyed the finer things in life. He was an impeccable dresser, and except for a cauliflower ear and a too-prominent nose showed little wear and tear from more than 4,000 bouts.

Rocca was born in Trevisa, Italy, on April 13, 1927, and at age 15 moved with his family to Buenos Aires. It was there he developed his unorthodox style of wrestling barefoot.

"I was poor," he once said. "I didn't have enough money to buy shoes. I wrestled barefoot. By being barefoot I get a better grip on an opponent and have better balance." A size 13 1/2 E foot didn't hurt, either.

After graduating from Rosario University in 1949 (?) with a degree in electrical engineering, he came to this country and got a grip on the American wrestling public.

Rocca, also a fine rugby player, was introduced to wrestling by touring Russian wrestler Kola Kwariani in Argentina in 1945. Later when Kwariani became a matchmaker he sent for Rocca. In his peak years, Rocca, who was later to be called Argentina and Tony to his many followers, was earning more than $100,000 a year. He once had a string of 1,000 straight wins.

He retired from the ring in 1967 and had been working as a commentator for a TV wrestling show.

Rocca is survived by his second wife, Joyce, and their three children, Natella, 13; Antonino Mark, 11, and Eric Timothy, 8.

The body will repose at Campbell's Funeral Home, 81st St. and Madison Avenue. Last night his widow had a word for his fans.

"I expect to have clergymen from all denominations," she said. "It will be kind of an international service. Please tell his fans to wait until Thursday to come. I know how many, many fans Antonino had. So many people loved him."
_____________________________________________

(reprinted from Long Island Newsday)

By Dennis Hevesi

A wave, the people's roar, sweeps Antonino Rocca down the aisle, boosts him to the ring apron, over the top rope.

He summons their energy, they his, with that barefoot dance; tiptoed leaps, skips, rolling shoulders, air punches, circling the ring, now stretching the ropes at the corner post, claiming it, them, the arena, wrestling, as his.

In a distant corner, Evil, hulking, pot-bellied, broods, sneers, spits. The scene was played again and again, before 18,000 in Madison Square Garden, millions on television, 300 in a Pennsylvania coal town. Never failed.

No more. Antonino Rocca died Tuesday, of a urinary inefection, at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, somewhere between 49 and 60 years of age, a lot short of the 150 he claimed he would live. "I know the secret of long life. Good circulation," he said. Part of the secret, maybe, was to change his age.

No matter. He was "larger than life," said Nat Loubet, editor of Ring Wrestling magazine, "especially in front of an audience.

"Head to head, he almost would be a drab personality. His voice was low key," Loubet said. "As soon as a third person came, his eyes would light up, his hands would begin to move. It was as if you turned a switch and the lights went on."

Born in Trevisa, Italy, Rocca moved with his parents to Argentina as a teenager. "I was poor. I didn't have enough money to buy shoes. I wrestled barefoot," he said. It became a trazdemark. In 1949, Toots Mondt, a wreslting promoter, toured Argentina with some of the most famous wrestlers in the world. The crowds were thin. Wherever he went, he heard the fans say, " We want Rocca." Mondt got Rocca. He made money. Rocca came to America. Wrestling got excitement.

In 1958, Rocca told a reporter. "I have never lost. I have had 1,124 matches and I have never lost one." Another big-name wrestler said at that time that Rocca, who fought at 230 pounds, never lost in New York. "They give him easy opponents in New York. He claims he's never been beaten. I've seen him lose outside New York."

"He embellished things a bit," Loubet said of Rocca.

Rocca's truest fans were in New York, Italians and Latin Americans. Fans don't pay to see their hero lose. Wrestling understands that.

But Rocca did lose in New York. On Sundays he would leave his West Side apartment for a walk in Central Park. Amazing how he always got pinned by 6- and 7-year-old Puerto Rican kids.

(reprinted from Detroit Free Press, Jan. 1, 1934)

By Charles B. Ward

When Monsieur Jacques Curley, New York wrestling promoter, announced his ratings of the heavyweight wrestlers of the world Saturday night he just about ruined the New Year for Monsieur Nick Londes, Detroit wrestling promoter.

The Monsieur Londes was inspecting the new Cocktail Room of the Book-Cadillac Hotel when the Curley selections burst upon him, and they sent him running to his office to jot down the Londes personal ratings and to tell just what he thought of Curley and his ratings.

Curley rated the wrestlers in this order: 1. Jim Browning; 2. Ed Don George; 3. Ray Steele; 4. Jagat Singh, of India; 5. Joe Savoldi; 6. Jim Londos; 7. Ed (Strangler) Lewis; 8. Joe Malcewicz; 9. Youssouf Mahmout, of Turkey; 10. Hans Steinke, of Germany.

"In the first place," sputtered the M. Londes with native modesty, "who the so-and-so is this Curley to be running around rating wrestlers? Does the manager of the Tigers pick the Yankees to win the new pennant at the start of every baseball season? Does Fielding Yost pick Ohio State to defeat Michigan at the start of a football season? No, they don't. They know their ethics. That is why I think it unseemly for a wrestling promoter to go running around rating wrestlers. But since Curley insists on doing it, I"ll tell you what I think about Curley's selections.

"In the first place, Curley must be a crackpot to pick Jim Browning as No. 1. That almost makes me laugh. I would be laughing now if I were not so sore. Jim Londos is the No. 1 man and he proved it by pinning Browning so many times that I can't remember the number.

"Why, I would not rate Browning among the first four. Joe Stecher is next to Londos, Ray Steele next to Stecher and Jim McMillen next to Steele. After that I would rate them thusly: Browning, George Zaharias, Gino Garibaldi, Strangler Lewis, Gus Sonnenberg and Pat O'Shocker."

The M. Londes was reminded that Curley picked Joe Savoldi above Champion Jim Londos. He became incoherent with indignation as he tried to express his opinion of that.

"Savoldi, Savoldi," he storms, "why I can pin Savoldi. Bring him here, I'll put him down. That's how good a wrestler Savoldi is.

"And this Jagat Singh. Who is he? Where did Curley dig that guy up?"

Informed that Jagat Singh was a wrestler from India, the M. Londes suggested that perhaps Curley was perpetrating a hoax.

"If he stuck that little guy who wears the diaper in with a group of wrestlers he must be kidding. Why Zaharias could eat him in four bites and still be hungry."

Reminded that Curley had selected Jagat Singh and not Mahatma Gandhi as he seemed to suspect, the M. Londes nodded.

"Oh, I know. He's that big guy. Well, he doesn't belong in the first ten."

The M. Londes insisted that in any rating of wrestlers Jim Londos must be placed at the top. No one has beaten Londos in five years, he pointed out. All of the other matmen had a chance to try and the best any of them could get was a draw. Joe Stecher, number two matman in Londes' rating, accomplished that feat in Chicago.

"Some people were fooled for a time by that Savoldi 'triumph' in Chicago," he concluded, "but not many remained fooled. Anybody who has seen Savoldi wrestle knows that while Joe may have been a great football player he still has a lot to learn about wrestling."
_____________________________________________

(Detroit Olympia)

Jan. 12, 1934 (16,000) -- Jim Londos def Joe Stecher, George Zaharias def Jim Clinstock, Pat O'Shocker drew Karl Sarpolis, Cliff Olson def Lou Plummer

Jan. 26, 1934 (16,750) -- Jim Londos def Joe Stecher, Ray Steele drew Gino Garibaldi, Cliff Olson def Sol Slagel, Milo Steinborn def Jack Zarnas

Feb. 9, 1934 (4,000) -- Ray Steele def Gino Garibaldi, George Zaharias def Chief Chewacki, Milo Steinborn drew Pat O'Shocker, Cliff Olson def Bill Nelson

Feb. 23, 1934 (2,400) -- Ray Steele def Hans Kaempfer, George Zaharias def Pat O'Shocker, Abe Coleman drew Cliff Olson, Milo Steinborn def Lou Plummer

Mar. 23, 1934 (12,000) -- Jim Londos def Ray Steele (decision), George Zaharias def Tiny Roebuck, Gino Garibaldi def Dick Raines, Cliff Olson drew Charley Strack _______________________________________________

(reprinted from Detroit Free Press, March 15, 1943)

By Bob Latshaw

Robert Frederick Lewis (sic) is a very proud fellow these days. He is the only sports celebrity who has ever had a full page devoted to his exploits in the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Robert Frederick, if you don't know, is better known as Ed (Strangler) Lewis, and he devotes his time to the gentle art of wrestling. In fact he has devoted 35 of his 51 years to the sport under that "Strangler" moniker.

During that thirty-five-year period Lewis has taken part in more than 6,000 bouts in nearly every country in the world. He speaks glibly of Egypt, Japan, India, England and other foreign countries. But his big interest at the present time is telling the public of the United States about the benefits which can be derived from wrestling.

Although he's in town for a return match with Orville Brown at the Arena Gardens Monday night, you would never know it from his conversation. Lewis will give a demonstration of the Judo or Commando type wrestling before the bout and his only wish is that all men and boys could have a chance to learn the fundamentals of the wrestling game.

"Wrestling is the only natural sport," Lewis points out. "Whenever one gets into a fight the natural thing is to seek to grapple with the opponent."

During recent months the Strangler has been giving instructions at various Army and Marine camps in the Judo method of combat. His claim as an expert in the Ju-Jitsu field is backed up with experience against that type of fighter during several trips to Japan.

"The only way to beat a Jap using Ju-Jitsu is to know the fundamentals of the holds," Lewis pointed out. "there has been much said about the good old American wrestler being able to beat a Jap anytime -- that's just a lot of hooey.

"I've seen little 135-pound Japs throw husky 225-pound Yanks," Lewis continued, "but those same 225-pounders would have been unbeatable if they knew the basic Ju-Jitsu holds and used their additional weight."

Drawing on his knowledge of wrestling picked up in his many years of travel, the Strangler reeled off tales of hand-to-hand combat that would convince even the most skeptical that wrestling is the original "art of self defense." He pointed out that in the Cairo (Egypt) Museum there is evidence that catch-as-catch-can style wrestling has been in existence since 4,200 B.C., although most people think that it started here in America some 150 years ago.

He is thoroughly convinced that wrestling is a good body building sport. His own case is his best proof. A few months ago Lewis weighed 350 pounds. Doctors feared that his life was endangered when his blood pressure reached 210, but getting back into shape through the use of his wrestling, he dropped 90 pounds and his blood pressure returned to normal.

At the moment he is trying to use wrestling to build a Marine back into fighting shape. Thor Morgan, a veteran of the Pacific battles, has been discharged from the service because of shell shock. But Lewis feels that Morgan will be ready for active duty in a few months after working out regularly on the mat with him.

Without trying to boast, Lewis said that he would take on the three top-flight heavyweights and guarantee to dispose of them in less than two minutes each. "I'll do it in private, public or any manner any promoter would wish it -- and remember I'm an old man," Lewis concluded.

For a fifty-one-year-old youngster, the Strangler is still quite a guy. _____________________________________________

March 1, 1943 (Arena Gardens) -- Ed Lewis def Orville Brown 2-1, Stanley Buresh def Harold Chaundy, Flash Gordon def Eddie (Bad Man) Lewis, Bert Rubi drew Lou Klein

March 15, 1934 (Arena Gardens) -- Ed Lewis def Orville Brown 2-1, Lou Klein def Ivan Kalmikoff, Johnny Silvy drew Eddie Lewis, Flash Gordon drew Jack League, Harold Chaundy def George Connell

April 5, 1934 (Arena Gardens) -- Ed Lewis def Danno O'Mahoney 1-0, Nanjo Singh def Buddy Knox, Ali Pasha def Maurice LaChappelle, Johnny Silvy drew Dale Wayne

April 19, 1934 (Arena Gardens) -- Ed Lewis def Danno O'Mahoney, Ali Pasha def Joe Ferroni, Morris Shapiro def Nick Billings, Maurice LaChappelle def Joe Ferroni

(The following week, Lewis was announced as the new promoter of the Arena Garden shows, replacing Louis Markowitz. His first card drew 1,700, with Farmer Jones defeating Nanjo Singh in the main event, while Ali Pasha and Rufus Jones drew Morris Shapiro -- later the Mighty Atlas -- and Walter Roxy in a tag team bout. Lewis claimed that he would keep wrestling on a more "dignified" level, but the Detroit News pointed out that the only thing dignified about this first card was Lewis, dressed to the nines, standing at the front door greeting patrons while an organ band serenaded them to their seats. Afterward, the paper noted, things tended to get somewhat ludicrous in fashion.)
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