GREEK LATEST VICTIM OF MASKED MARVEL

(Arizona Republic, April 14, 1931)

A couple of heavyweight tornadoes descended upon the ring of Phoenix Madison Square Garden last night, crowded more wrestling into about 25 minutes of work than is actually seen in a dozen bouts and sent the biggest crowd of 1931 into a frenzy of excitement unparalleled in the history of wrestling here.

The outcome: The Masked Marvel left the ring, his identity still shrouded behind the tight-fitting gauze that obscures his features from an anxious, yes, even clamorous crowd.

The Marvel is still masked because he succeeded in taking a two-in-three-falls verdict from George Kotsonaros in a bout that teemed with thrills, excitement and wrestling of a superlative nature.

What these two behemoths didn’t give the fans last night simply isn’t in the book or brain of man. Skill they had aplenty; speed of lightning was theirs; they had cunning and strength. In brief, their meeting was the work of a couple of finished products.

In three minutes and five seconds of actual mat work two falls had been determined. So rapid was the action that even ringsiders could not recall with any degree of accuracy just what happened in these two hilarious sessions.

Sixty seconds of milling in the first fall brought these things: an arm roll, one headlock, four reverse headlocks, five arm holds, quickly broken, one jackknife and a concluding "back-to-back" hold, the mystery hold conceived by the Masked Marvel himself and the first new hold perfected in wrestling in more than a year.

The suddenness with which the Marvel obtained this hold and pinned the Greek’s shoulders was perhaps of far greater surprise to Kotsonaros than any one else in the arena.

With the sounding of the gong, the two men jumped to the middle of the ring and began whirlwind attacks. Both sought the offensive and the speed with which they worked foretold an early ending, for it would have been humanly impossible for two mortals to long continue the pace they set.

After 30 seconds, George applied the first of a series of four reverse headlocks that had the young giant pitching headlong to the canvas. As he endeavored to obtain a fifth, the Marvel slapped on his back-to-back hold and had the Greek’s shoulders pinned in a flash.

The second fall saw action equally as swift, though the time lasted two minutes and five seconds. Every bit as aggressive as in the first fall, the two men were at each other even before the ring of the gong had died. At one minute, 35 seconds, Kotsonaros applied the first of a series of three reverse headlocks that had the Marvel dizzy. Then came the first of two crushing flying mares, the second of which sprawled the big fellow full length and gave Kotsonaros the victory.

When they came out for the third fall, the men were more cautious. Several times during the course of the 32 minutes of grappling, they flashed some of the speed of the first two falls but for no protracted durations. Instead, they settled down to "sane and sensible" grappling tactics. Both evidently were well-worn from the terrific paces of the first two falls, even though they lasted only a fraction more than three minutes.

For the first 31 minutes, there was little to choose between the men. First one and then the other would squeeze out of a tight hole. At the 31-minute station, though, Kotsy put on the first of a series of reverse headlocks. Four of these were applied in rapid succession. Then Kotsy sought to switch to the flying mare. As he turned, the Marvel grabbed him and crushed him to the floor, Kotsy underneath. The blow stunned the Greek and the Marvel gained the fall with a full body hold. The timers caught them in 32 minutes.

The preliminary also had its thrills with Spike O’Brien of Phoenix evening the score with Guy Steele of Willcox for the defeat suffered a week ago by taking two falls in three in a no-time-limit match. Spike won the first and third falls in 20 and 6 minutes, respectively. The second went to Steele in six minutes.

O’Brien is developing rapidly as was evidenced by the big improvement noted in his work last night. Steele is about as tough a youngster as has been seen hereabouts in a long time. And he has a good working knowledge of the game.

The local boy gave him grip for grip last night and came through the grueling encounter little the worse for wear.

His victory in the first fall came after a series of headlocks that left Steele helpless on the floor. Six of them were applied in succession, one of which O’Brien held for more than three minutes.

Steele’s victory in the second fall was recorded with a full-body slam while O’Brien took the third and deciding fall with another series of headlocks.
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MARVEL MEETS GREEK HEAVY IN RE-MATCH

(Arizona Republic, May 11, 1931)

The mystery of the Masked Marvel which has been one of the greatest sensations the wrestling game in phoenix has ever experienced, ceases to be a mystery tonight at Phoenix Madison Square Garden where the Masked Marvel meets George Kotsonaros in the much discussed return bout.

Just as the two wrestlers are introduced, Harry McCarthy, manager of the Masked Marvel, will step into the ring and remove the black mask from his young wrestler and the bout will get started. McCarthy says that his boy is a far better wrestler without the mask and that the inconvenience occasioned by the heat and the fact that several of his opponents have twisted the mask and blinded the Marvel momentarily, caused him to decide to unmask the mystery.

It had been agreed not to unmask the Marvel until he was defeated but he has beaten every opponent he has met, has established beyond a doubt that he is really a great wrestler, and has a following such as few other grapplers ever had in Phoenix.

Kotsonaros made the statement in the dressing room after the announcement had been made that the Marvel would unmask, that the big youngster was beating the gun only a few minutes as he would have had to unmask at the finish of the bout had he not decided to take off the mask before. Kotsonaros has trained a month for this bout. He has seen the Marvel in action three times. He feels that he must win tonight or be eliminated from future consideration in Phoenix when the Eastern contingent of wrestlers return. The Greek is in wonderful shape and is going into the match with that fighting spirit that has made him a feared contender for the past 10 years.

The Marvel also appeared to be in wonderful shape at yesterday’s workout when another packed arena gathered to see him in his final tryout. He worked nicely with his trainer, Jimmy Reynolds, for 10 minutes and then went at it with Sailor Jack Lewis for another 10 minutes. Lewis put everything he had into the workout and kept the Marvel watching his step every minute but the big fellow, with his usual flash, was always a step ahead of him.

Kotsonaros is banking on either his keylock or his flying mare hold to subdue the Masked Marvel while the Marvel will pin his hopes on his back-to-back slam. Although the Marvel entered the ring yesterday with his thumb tightly bandaged from an infection that resulted from a bite he received in a match against Count Micheloff. The injured member failed to interfere with his work.

Kotsonaros will tip the scales at 198 tonight and the Marvel will weigh around 208. The Marvel has taken off seven pounds of weight in the six weeks since he arrived here while Kotsonaros is exactly the same weight as he was the night the Marvel beat him.

Another packed house is the prospect tonight according to legion officials who report an extraordinarily heavy advance seat sale. Following the announcement that the Masked Marvel would unmask there was a rush for tickets at both downtown ticket offices and matchmaker McPherson believes that another season record will be established. The biggest crowd that the Masked Marvel has drawn and the biggest crowd of the season to date was two weeks ago for his second match with Count Micheloff.

Because of an extra heavy program tonight, the first bout will start promptly at 8:30 o’clock. In the first bout Guy Steel, the clever young grappler from Willcox, will meet Eddie Brought, coast middleweight, who made a hit last week against Jimmy Reynolds.

In the semi-final, Jimmy Reynolds, former middleweight champion, will go up against Hassen Azane, Turkish middleweight, who has been a sensation recently in the Northwest. Azane arrived in Phoenix yesterday after narrowly escaping death in an automobile accident.
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GREEK BEATS MARVEL; VICTIM IDENTIFIED

(Arizona Republic, May 12, 1931)

The reign of the Masked Marvel is over! At least for the present.

Identified as Jimmie Corrigan, former University of Minnesota athlete, who wrestled here several years ago in old Arcadia hall as "Cyclone Thompson," the erstwhile man of mystery dropped the first fall to George Kotsonaros in one hour and three minutes of their match last night at Madison Square Garden, and was injured so badly he was forced to forfeit the second fall and match to the Greek heavyweight.

The first fall came as the result of a series of backward body slams that left the victim of the Greek’s wrestling wrath stretched senseless on the ring floor where he stayed until carried out on the shoulders of his handlers. Kotsonaros was also almost in a state of collapse as a result of the terrific pace set all the way, but after several minutes rest on the mat, he was able to walk to his dressing room.

At the expiration of the usual rest period, Kotsonaros returned to the ring and granted a request from Corrigan for an extra five minutes. The period over, Corrigan was assisted to the ring but collapsed on the floor as he attempted to mount the steps and was carried back to the dressing room in an unconscious condition. Physicians and handlers attended him in the dressing room but an hour after the match he was still groggy from the effects of his impact with the floor during the last sensational minute of the match.

Kotsonaros, too, was affected by the pace and while dissatisfied that he was deprived of taking two pin falls from his opponent, expressed the opinion it was the toughest match he was wrestled in many years.

Although defeated, Corrigan is still held in high esteem by mat critics and fans in Phoenix and undoubtedly will continue to be a big attraction in Phoenix for his splendid exhibitions both with and without a mask.

The black hood that has shrouded his features since his arrival in Phoenix about six weeks ago was removed by matchmaker C.L. McPherson as he climbed through the ropes last night to meet the Greek Hercules in a return match.

It was probably the most gruelling match ever staged in Phoenix, with both men in the pink of condition and carrying on with lightning-like speed.

No less than a score of times during the early part of the match, first one and then another of the grapplers seemed well on the road to victory, only to have his opponent rally and turn the tide.

At 45 minutes, Kotsonaros obtained a leg key hold which he applied with punishing affect for a period of minutes. When the Marvel succeeded in breaking the lock, his leg was so weakened that he could not stand on it. He assumed a sitting posture on the canvas and warded off the threat until strength returned to the member.

Before and after this, the Marvel had had George in numerous dangerous holds, but Kotsy always succeeded in wriggling loose.

It was an evening of much wrestling, the program continuing longer than any match in recent years.

In the semi-final, Frenchy Leavitte and Jimmy Reynolds went one hour to a draw with each man getting a fall while in the opening event, Guy Steel, Willcox, won a one-fall match from Spike O’Brien of Phoenix.

Both Leavitte and O’Brien were substitute grapplers, the first taking the place of Hassan Azani, Turkish light-heavyweight from California, who appeared at the ringside on crutches, having been injured in an automobile accident en route to Phoenix Sunday.

O’Brien went on in place of Eddie Brought, also injured in an automobile accident.

The boys got pretty rough at times and created almost as much enthusiasm as the main eventers. A body slam and a full body hold gave Steel the victory in 26 minutes.

The Reynolds-Leavitte affair was of main event caliber on almost any wrestling card. Reynolds, outweighed 15 pounds, fought along on even terms with Leavitte until the final few minutes of the match, when the Frenchman’s weight advantage began to have a telling effect.
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SHADOWS OF THE PAST

(Savannah Morning News, February 13, 1933)

By I.C. Brenner

Ernest Roeber is seventy-three years old, yet physically fit to romp around the mat for an hour or more refereeing championship wrestling matches. He often is booed because he has slowed up a bit and cannot get out of the way of flying tackles quickly enough to suit those who think that he interferes with the wrestlers too much, but the fans admit that there isn’t an official in the game today who knows more about wrestling and is more capable than the veteran Roeber.

Ernest is the dean of the New York State staff of wrestling officials and obtains the best assignments. There are three good reasons for this favoritism. First, Ernest is a personal friend of William Muldoon, the Grand Old Man of Sport, who is a member of the commission. Second, Ernest has been longer in the game than any man in the sport today. And third, because he is fearless and refuses to stand for any nonsense.

Roeber, former champion who preceded Gotch and Hackensschmidt, was a master of wrestling technique. Not only was he adept in his specialty but he knew considerable about boxing and often was hired as trainer to the leading figures in pugilism. Roeber trained Bob Fitzsimmons for several of his fights, including that in which he beat Jim Corbett for the title with a solar plexus punch. He accompanied William Muldoon on many of that famous wrestler’s tours.

ON THE SIDELINES

(Associated Press, Tuesday, February 14, 1933)

By Edward J. Neil

The problem of dealing intelligently with heavyweight wrestling is becoming more perplexing all the time for the serious minded commissions that try to retain dignity, and at the same time rule over the antics of the naïve fumblers.

For instance, the heavyweight champion in New York state is Strangler Ed Lewis, duly recognized as such, but in the same breath the state athletic commission inists that because of the nature of the present type of wrestling performance they can be billed only as "exhibitions."

The question naturally pops up: how can a wrestler win or lose a championship if the performances are not officially considered contests?

Now, in New Jersey, several parts of the middle west and other assorted territory, the heavyweight champion is Jim Londos. He also was king in New York state until he moved out of town recently, refusing to meet Lewis in a little "exhibition," and returned not only dethroned but apparently perfectly satisfied with his status.

But in Canada Henry DeGlane is champion and Gus Sonnenberg, the Dartmouth guard, is the mammoth who moves in and out of New England as champion, and through an affiliation with the Canadian territory, occasionally struggles for supremacy with DeGlane.

But as far as New York’s polyglot wrestling fandom is concerned, the handsome Greek, "Jeem" Londos is king. He came back to wrestle Abie Coleman at the St. Nicholas Arena the other night and 7,000 jammed their way into a hall that holds 6,000.

The overflow, and those outside still clamoring to get in when police closed the doors, tore away four fire exits. Every Greek restaurateur and his helper, every bootblack and Greek merchant, seemed to be in the house bellowing for the king.

But here is one story that comes of a personal observation to indicate just what serious minded persons who look upon wrestling as a sport are up against.

It happened in an armory in downtown New York when wrestlers seemed ready to kill themselves or each other in their zeal to impress the public.

One of the wildest of the pachyderm herd was Stanley Stasiak, a butt-chested Pole who trumpted around a ring like Tarzan of the Apes calling the gorillas out of the trees. He delighted in trying to twist off legs and arms, tear off ears and noses. He was the villain of the troupe. Stasiak since has died.

He had a rival in this specialty, a blond man mountain still wrestling, and very carefully were these two kept out of the same ring. It was evident there could be nothing less than murder if they ever collided.

So, naturally, when the public demand for the slaughter reached its height, the promoter agreed to sacrifice one or the other and matched them. The house was packed.

I wandered into the wrestlers’ dressing room just before the main bout was to go on. And there sat Stasiak and his man-eating friend, side by side on a rubbing table, eating apples Stanley had bought from a peddler outside.

In between gulps they were arguing over which had recently made the better buy in new automobiles!

A few seconds later someone yelled for the main bout. The two jumped off the table, threw away their cores, and without a harsh word or preliminary warning started clawing each other.

They struggled through the door into the arena, into full view of the spectators, fighting bitterly. Police pulled them apart. They fought all the way to the ring.

Once in there, Stasiak had to be held while announcements were made. He kept screaming across the ring:

"I keel you! I keel you!"

And after the next hour was over, the wildest I have ever seen, they went out together to see which actually had bought the better car.
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RABID WRESTLING FANS SEND MATMAN TO HOSPITAL

(Associated Press, December 23, 1935)

DETROIT – Infuriated customers at a wrestling show dragged Nanjo Singh, East Indian "villain" of the feature match, from the ring tonight and inflicted injuries which required hospital treatment.

Physicians who examined Singh said he suffered possible internal injuries from the beating.

The disturbance began 15 minutes after the match started, when Singh kicked Ivan Rasputin, his opponent, from the ring. Returning to the ring, Rasputin struck at Singh, and the crowd surged over the canvas, some with chairs in their hands.

Police extricated Singh after several minutes of fighting. Officers said although Singh’s injuries were inflicted by the crowd, Rasputin was held as a material witness.
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MAX BAER SOUGHT AS MAT GLADIATOR

(Associated Press, January 13, 1936)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Lou Daro, Los Angeles promoter, said today he offered Max Baer, former heavyweight boxing champion , a year contract of $25,000 or 20 per cent of the gross receipts to enter the wrestling game.

Baer countered with a demand for $35,000, and the two finally went to see Ancil Hoffman, Baer’s manager, to discuss terms.

"He’d be a natural," said Daro, "I think he would prove one of the greatest drawing cards in the game."

Daro said if Baer signed the contract he would send Nick Lutze, Venice, Cal., wrestler, here immediately to get Baer in shape and teach him the game.

Baer, who weighs 231 pounds, about 20 pounds above his wrestling weight, said he thought he could get in shape within a month.

The former champion has been living at the Hoffman ranch near here since he was defeated last September by Joe Louis, playing golf and refereeing occasional boxing and wrestling matches.

Hoffman said tonight he would have to give "serious consideration" before approving the plan of Daro.

Hoffman said the figure was "chicken feed" for one year, and would have to do a lot of talking with Daro in Los Angeles next week before he’d approve Baer’s entry into the grappling fold.

Hoffman says Baer will probably "do a picture very shortly."

(ED. NOTE – Baer, who had appeared with the uncredited Strangler Ed Lewis in the 1933, film, "The Prizefighter and the Lady," would appear in at least 15 more films before his premature death, via heart attack, at age 50 in 1959.)
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A BRITISHER ON AMERICAN WRESTLING

(Condensed from Men Only in Sports Digest, September, 1936)

By Thomas Stott

In America, the wrestling racket is a mixture of wrestling, vaudeville, hog-calling, and hooliganism. Anything goes, short of deliberate murder.

Your American friends may advise you that most of the rough stuff is faked. I know there is a lot of the performance faked, but there are also some thrilling, exciting fights. Vicious biting and kicking are allowed to pass by the referee. The referee and promoter know most of the crowd come specially to see the slugging and rough stuff, and the wrestlers are willing to take a lot of punishment so long as the spectators keep coming to provide the bread and butter for the grunt and groaners.

I will describe some of the acts which make the game a part vaudeville show. "Man Mountain" Dean, a three-hundred-and-seventeen-pound wrestler, usually wins his bouts with a running broad jump. He squeezes his opponent’s head until the man is dazed. The "Mountain" then slams the man down to the mat. While the man is blinking up at the ring lights, "Man Mountain" takes a short run, jumps a yard high and drops on to his opponent – "ker plunk." The Mountain comes to Mahommed and no fooling. There is no fake about the agony of some "Man Mountain" victims. Many have to spend time in the hospital with broken ribs.

If you don’t think the stunt hurts, you can test the action yourself. Lie beneath a crane and have someone haul up three one-hundred-pound sacks of potatoes and allow them to drop on you all together. A few of the opponents managed to regain their sense before the "Man Mountain" drops, and they wriggle out of the way and the "Mountain" "ker plunks" on his rear end and the building shakes. It is great fun, and the "Mountain" has been responsible for enormous crowds at the wrestling shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The "Mountain" explained it himself when he stated; "The crowd comes to see me because I’m different and my opponents know I’m different when I drop on ‘em."

Various wrestlers have specialised tricks for entertaining the customers. One enters the ring always with adhesive tape around his wrist, and rubs this across his opponent’s eyes. Another specialises in the "Tobacco Road" trick. He continually takes a handful of tobacco from his mouth and rubs it in the other fellow’s eyes. One of the spectators said he would bet his brother’s shirt that the "tobacco" was tea leaves, and part of the act. That does not alter the fact that most of the rough stuff is genuine.

The referee is in a fix. So much clowning was introduced that the referee doesn’t know whether to interfere or not, afraid of spoiling some spectacular stunt, and while he hesitates, one of the wrestlers may be having his eyes gouged out.

One wrestler, enraged at "Lord" Lansdowne’s cleverness, came out of his corner swinging his rest chair. Lansdowne met him at his own game. He picked up his rest chair and the two started to swipe each other with the chairs. One wrestler put his foot into the face of the time-keeper at the ring side, then picked up the time-keeper’s gong and threw it at his opponent.

Diving out of the ring and throwing an opponent out of the ring is a stale stunt and dying out. The newspaper writes generally occupied the front seats, and they got tired of the two- and three-hundred-pound babies falling into their laps and crying to be nursed.
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IT HAPPENED IN WRESTLING

(From the Newark, N.J., Call, condensed in Sports Digest, September, 1936)

By G.A. Falzer

They say that the heavyweight wrestling championship changed hands in Newark Friday night June 12, 1936.

Ali Baba, a short order cook, whose knowledge of the Turkish lingo is limited to "Take it away, rust biff," fouled Dave Levin in a bout at Meadowbrook Field. That made Levin champion.

Levin, who is a butcher boy of Jamaica, must have been fouled. He was frothing at the mouth. So were 2,000 spectators, over the turn of the bout.
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EVERYBODY’S ‘WORLD CHAMPION’ IN WRESTLING

(From the London Sporting Arena, in Sports Digest, December, 1936)

By Duke Burley

Nowadays events happen in the grappling game almost too soon for the scribes to cope with. No sooner had I mailed my last notes to the Sporting Arena, giving the low-down on Ali Baba, the new king-pin of the mat, when along from Colorado came Everett Marshall to reduce the claimants to the world title by one.

The bewhiskered Kurd, who had been ruling the mat game for only two months following successive wins over Dick Shikat, who trounced Danno O’Mahoney, almost equalled his predecessor in putting up a record short reign as champion. Either those behind him were dumb when they sanctioned the Marshall match or sold their man out, for they could not have picked more formidable opposition.

For many months the Colorado giant has been using notepaper telling the world he was champion in his own right, and there was no doubt amongst those who know their wrestling that Marshall was no set-up. He has been hailed a titleholder in his own state since the time he won over Young Gotch in the final of a heavyweight tournament staged by the local commission and now his fame has spread throughout the whole country.

Ali Baba risked his crown at Columbus, Ohio, and the stars fell on him in the form of full nelsons. Everett Marshall, the big blond from La Junta, Colorado, gave the so-called "Terrible Turk" the works in no uncertain manner and today wears two world championship wrestling belts, both diamond-studded!

The champion took a father and mother of a hiding and eventually surrendered his claims to the heavyweight title in twenty-nine minutes, twenty seconds. He was wearing his famous handlebar mustache, but that did not save him or even ease the agony. A crowd of 8,763 paid more than $20,000 to see the title claim change hands, and they witnessed a match that was Marshall’s all the way. Ali Baba fell victim to three full nelsons in a row, just before the finish. The match was for one fall with a ninety-minute time limit.

As a result of the victory Marshall retained the world championship belt presented him by the Colorado Commission and won the belt offered by the Midwest Wrestling Association.

If the New York and affiliated commissions recognize Marshall’s claims he will hold the undisputed championship.

College graduate, husband of his childhood sweetheart, father of two, a fine fisherman, a terrible golfer, total abstainer from liquor and tobacco – that is Everett Marshall, new ruler of the heavyweight wrestling ranks in certain sections of the United States. When the La Junta grappling machine dumped Ali Baba, the pseudo-Turk, on his back, to ascend the throne, his manager, Billy Sandow, said:

"At last the wrestling game has a champion worthy of the name. Everett is a fine family man, a real American of the highest sort, and probably the most clean-cut fellow who ever held the wrestling title. And he won it on merit and real wrestling, with no hippodroming."

Marshall required five years to plough through the wrestling ranks from the bottom to the top, and throughout those years Mrs. Marshall was his greatest booster. During the lean years, when he barnstormed all over the country, living "out of a suitcase," she was at the ringside for each of his bouts.

Everett and his wife, both children of Colorado ranchers, met whilst attending high school at La Junta. After graduating, Marshall went to the University of Iowa, while she attended Southern Methodist University at Dallas, Texas. For two years following her graduation from college, Mrs. Marshall taught school in Colorado, but when Everett entered the mat game they were married.

Everett is a blond giant, weighing 218 pounds. He has many hobbies, but the two greatest are his family and trout fishing. During his youth he wanted to be an opera singer, but he gave up that idea and now confines his vocal efforts to the bathroom.

He says his hardest match was with a bear, which he raised from a cub on his father’s ranch, while he finds "Frankenstein," a spring-filled robot designed by his manager as a training partner, his easiest opponent. This gadget, which is an advance on the device used by Ed (Strangler) Lewis for working up his famous headlock, enables Marshall to practise applying full nelsons to his heart’s content.

"Wrestling several times a week, as I have been doing," Everett says, "has convinced me that physical condition and mental poise are the most valuable parts of my wrestling equipment. That’s why I don’t drink or smoke. Maybe they wouldn’t hurt me, but I won’t try to find out."

The champion generally enters the ring close to the 220-pound mark and if the match lasts a half-hour or so, he loses about fifteen pounds. The next day, however, he is back at "fighting" weight, most of the loss having been moisture.

Of course, there are still several grapplers running around laying claim to the world title. Danno O’Mahoney, in spite of his defeat by Dick Shikat, has been touring Canada and persisting in calling himself champion, although as I shall recount later, even this half-hearted claim is now reduced to an almost negligible quantity. Dave Levin, who got a verdict off Ali Baba on a unquestionable foul, is another who thinks he should be recognized as the best of them all, whilst Rudy Dusek, the roughest and toughest of the famous grappling family, also reckons himself to be king-pin.

Rudy was beating up O’Mahoney the other day when the Irishman’s seconds enter3ed the ring and thereby disqualified their man. Thus Dusek lays claim to the title, but down in California there is a man with as good a claim as any, even if his line of reasoning is not such a direct route as that possessed by Everett Marshall.

You’ll all remember the shemozzle occasioned by Yvon Robert, when the French-Canadian wrestler jumped into the ring fully clothed and socked out Dan O’Mahoney when the latter was champion. You’ll probably recall that Robert got a title chance as a result of this piece of work only to get pinned by the Irishman. Well, today, he is just one more of the team of grapplers who are walking around styling themselves world champions.

The twenty-one-year-old matman of the Dominion now wears a $10,000 diamond-studded championship belt around his waist in addition to the figurative crown on his head, and the once "invincible" Danno is bereft of both these emblems following his losing a two to one fall decision to Robert. The latter is the first Canadian ever to attain championship heights and a crowd of 10,500, the greatest assembly to witness a wrestling match in Montreal since 1910, bellowed a deafening approval.

Pandemonium broke out when Robert, without aid of the referee, raised his arm in championship style. Floyd Marshall, Chicago, a former title-holder, rushed into the ring and took a crack at the official, Robert’s second at once took up where he left off and a show greater than the Robert-O’Mahoney match was on. Police, spectators and officials crowded into the ring. Robert, flushed with one victory, joined the battle and laid low more opponents than he has in several weeks. All the while Danno lay prone upon the carpet. Police cleared the ring in ten minutes.

It was O’Mahoney’s second defeat since his sensational invasion of America eighteen months ago and he will return to Ireland minus the crown he has worn for more than a year. Robert claims recognition to the world wrestling title in Canada and fourteen States, this reckoning being based on the fact that the Irishman would never admit that Shikat beat him fairly. He contended all along that the referee had counted him out in error.

MUSE OF MATS PENS POETRY WHEN NOT BUSTING BEAKS

(Associated Press, Friday, January 31, 1940)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Music may have charms to soothe the savage breast, but it’s poetry – his own – that turns the trick for Charles (Curley) Forde, better known in professional wrestling circles as "The Wild Irishman."

In ferocious combat, Forde, a 210-pound wrestler with a bulging, hairy chest, has battered many an opponent into a bloody daze – then gone home, shucked his lethal mood, and penned such tender little lyrics as this:

I shall known peace

In some far, distant day

When you have gone away;

When time has dull this

Tender pain

And I am content to be . . .

Alone again.

Promoters, indifferent to his literary efforts, bill the bulky Memphian as "The Wild Irishman." Forde is of the opinion that "The Wild Irish Poet" billing might reap richer dividends at the gate.

Now 29, he started writing poetry nine years ago – about the time he became a professional wrestler.

His record to date: 1,285 matches and "about fifteen or twenty" published poems, most of them appearing in Memphis newspapers. In his spare time, Forde sells beauty shop supplies.

"I don’t know how I started writing," the curly-haired matman-muse reflected. "I had thoughts and wanted to express them. I just put down what I feel."

Forde says he fights about three times a week. Most of his matches are in the South because he doesn’t like to get too far away from his sales job.

Curley finished the second year of high school, but wasn’t interested then in any kind of writing at all. He doesn’t profess to know anything about the mechanics of poetry.

"Metre, as far as I’m concerned, is just something the gas man reads," sighed the belting bard.

Love is a sort of chosen subject with Forde. In the following poem, one of his favorites which he dashed off in "about five minutes," he tells of it:

My love . . .

Is the low sweet moan

Of morning wind across the moors.

When dawn is creeping,

Grey fingers streaking

A purpling sky.

Salt spray against my face

From wild waves breaking

Fierce upon rocky crags

Hard by.

Wild things are these,

My love and I.

Curley said wrestling fans are always after him for copies of his poems. Women fans are particularly fond of them.

"They like my poetry," he grinned, "but hate me for living. You see, I’m something of a villain in the ring. I go kinda nuts when my Irish gets up and sometimes I take a sock at the referee or some fan who gets in my hair."
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STRANGLER LEWIS ON POST BENEFIT CARD

(Washington Post, Sunday, December 14, 1941)

Once again the once familiar figure of Ed (Strangler) Lewis, the man who made the headlock famous, and who has been called one of wrestledom’s immortals, returns to action next Thursday night at Turner’s Arena on the card which The Washington Post Neediest Family Fund will benefit to the extent of 10 per cent of the proceeds.

The noted Strangler’s opponent will be big Jim Henry, erstwhile Tulsa University gridiron star, and who is better known hereabouts as the Green Hornet sans mask.

Articles for the Lewis-Henry match were signed yesterday, and Promoter Joe Turner announced that a one-hour time limit will be set despite Big Jim’s request for a finish battle.

In taking up the challenge flung at him at Turner’s Arena last Thursday where he was cast in the strange role of referee of the Sandor Szabo-Hornet bout, former champion Lewis declared that his retirement from the ring hasn’t taken away his fine wrestling edge.

"A wrestler is as good as he feels," the Strangler remarked. "I’m in good shape, heavier, of course, than I’ve ever been. But guys like Henry, Szabo, the Duseks, Londos, Steele even today don’t faze me.

"Just remember – Zbyszko was champion at 51, and John Pesek, the National Wrestling Association champ was in his 50s when he was on top."

Lewis beat Lonndos in less than 15 minutes, and in the early ‘20s, when he was the kingpin, claimed he could whip four in one night without feeling tired.

The Strangler finds himself meeting Henry in the headliner as a result of a scuffle with the 285-pound Oklahoman last Thursday. Lewis awarded Szabo the bout in 17 minutes, but Big Jim, in a wild rage, tore after the Strangler. Pronto Big Jim was headlocked and put in his place. Lewis accepted Henry’s challenge and Joe Turner was very happy to book it.
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ULINE ARENA UNVEILS MAT CARD TONIGHT

(Washington Post, Monday, December 15, 1941)

Goldie Ahearn comes back as a wrestling promoter at Uline’s Arena tonight when he teams up with Jack Pfefer in the promotion of a five-event novelty show at 8:30 o’clock.

For their first show Ahearn and Pfefer have rounded out an attractive wrestling program. Double features headlining the show and restricted to a one-hour time limit are to bring together Bobby Bruns, American claimant of the world’s heavyweight title, vs. the Swedish Angel, and Tony Martinelli vs. Karol Krauser.

The firey Martinelli and smooth-working Krauser wrestled to a spectacular two-hour draw here two years ago. The scientific and popular Bruns will be favored to wear down and defeat the rougher working Swedish Angel, whose claims to the title of the world’s ugliest human remain unchallenged.

A probably show-stealer revolves around a riotous wrestling royal in which 260-pound Abe Simon, hero of a 13-round stand against world’s heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, will be installed as referee and empowered with the right to use his fists.

This free-for-all, hampered by few restrictions, will involve Chief Bamba Tabu, Seminole Indian; Pierre DeGlane, champion of France; King Kong Marshall, Oklahoma cowboy, and Adolf Von Schacht, monacled Austrian.

A special event finds Betty Labushey, French Canadian woman claimant of the world’s lightweight championship, paired with Soszka Burska, while an opening number involving mustachioed mammals introduces Mustafa Hamid, powerful Turk, vs. Benny Feldman, 310-pound Man Mountain.
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THE GREATEST DRAWING CARD IN THE GAME

(Associated Press, March 11, 1953)

By Harold V. Ratliff

DALLAS, Tex. – Along the wrestling trail these days they say the only thing that worries Gorgeous George, the greatest drawing card in the game, is his blond, wavy hair.

Without his corwning glory, the gorgeous one would be just another wrestler. How it has stayed with him this long, through all the dyes, permanent waves, curling and hefty yanks by opponents, is something of a mystery. But it’s luxuriant and appears good for many more miles. Still, George the Texan who attained fame and fortune with his colorful robes, perfume, classic profile, valets, and roughhouse wrestling, worries about his hair.

His name is officially Gorgeous George. He went to court to do it. His name was George Wagner and he started wrestling as an amateur in his native Houston.

George is 35 years old now and has been wrestling 21 years, 18 as a professional. He has scars, broken bones and there are some wrinkles on his classic countenance, but he’s still quite handsome – and thinks so himself.

The pretty boy fo the mat has been copied but none has been able to take his place. "It is really a compliment for others to imitate me," he said as he talked in the dressing room while an expert hair-dresser piled his blond locks on top of his head in a stunning coiffure. "I don’t care how many do. I’m still the fellow who packs them in."

He estimated that he earned $185,000 last year. He claims 28 box office records. His biggest crowds were 23,000 on two occasions. He points with pride to an average of 9,200 in 23 appearances in Buffalo, N.Y.

George owns a turkey ranch at Beaumont, Calif., where the color scheme is orchid. He boasts that 23,000 visited his place in two days. He also sells plastic orchids.

George made his first impact on wrestling with his colorful robes of which he now has 127. He got his first permanent wave in 1941. He has had seven valets to date. This man appears at the ring in a tuxedo, sprays the mat to get rid of germs, brings him smelling salts after a fall, serves him water in a dainty silver cup which George holds with his forefinger and thumb like the ladies drink tea.

George distributes gold bobby pins which he calls "Georgie pins." He is most arrogant with his opponent and will not allow officials or foe to examine for concealed weapons or oil on his body. That must be done only by his valet, he insists – so there will be no danger of germs. He finally gives in and allows a quick examination by the referee, but in very bad grace.

George enters the ring with a fanfare of music. He spends about 15 minutes parading around the ring showing his robe and his profile.

"The father of our country, George Washington, and 18 former presidents had long hair," he says. "Kings and knights used perfume. That’s why I have long hair and use perfume."

Nobody ever calls him a sissy because he’s really a tough customer. When he sheds his robe and gets all the fiddle-faddle out of the way, he’s one of the roughest wrestlers anywhere.

There may be a lot of imitators of Gorgeous George but nobody is about to take his place as an attraction.
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GEORGE DECLARED WINNER AS FOE RAMS RING CORNER

(Savannah Morning News, Sunday, March 15, 1953)

By Arthur Whitfield

Everything was going along just fine last night at the Municipal Auditorium until a "Dr. Edwards" stepped out of the audience and called off a match between pro wrestlers Gorgeous George and a young Greek lad named Mike Paidousis.

It wasn’t enough that Mike should absorb George’s insults, P.O. (perfume odor) and the "dirty" tactics of his opponent.

Oh, no, that wasn’t enough. Poor Mike had to go ram himself, accidentally, into a corner post of the ring and injure his shoulder so bad, our friend "Dr. Edwards" said, as to cause discontinuance of the feature match and award a victory to the goldielocked pretty one.

Highlighting a card stacked with three matches, George and Paidousis had grappled and groaned and bounced and moaned for a full half hour or more without a fall being credited to either when tragedy befell Mike, who was introduced as a former University of Tennessee football player.

Mike had done well for himself and proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Only one person in the audience, a woman, sided with the Gorgeous boy. So things rolled along in the usual manner.

Until . . .

Gorgeous George, who really ain’t gorgeous looking when you view him from the first seat in the second row in the right orchestra section, broke loose from one of Mike’s All-America grips, bounced up and skipped about the ring, his golden tresses now a mass of damp and stringy hair.

He had made Mike mad, real mad. So Mike, with full approval of the crowd, waded in (somewhat literally, you might say, in view of all the perfume sprayed about the area) and frowned at his opponent.

With arms in a ready position, Mike faked a right, then a left, then another one of each.

Then Gorgeous George faked heart trouble.

Mike, our hero (mainly because he was wearing light trunks; it seems the villain always wears dark clothes), began a series of bounces off the ropes and into the confused and stunned George. But on the third bounce, George weaved out of the way, and Mike met the corner post with his shoulder.

Sure that their hero would return and finish off the villainous George, after conceding a fall to check his shoulder injury, the crowd watched Goldielocks as his second (dressed resplendently in the kind of clothes you wear to morning nuptials) go through rest-period antics, which included:

Smelling salts (or maybe a sniff of sashay) for George’s sore nostrils, a cooling off of George’s face with a baby blue towel, and assorted dainty measures to insure proper prophylaxis to the area.

But, at that point, the master of ceremonies summoned a doctor from the audience. Any doctor, he said; Mike was hurt pretty bad, it seemed.

After a decent interval of time, the emcee returned to announce the tragedy. "Dr. Edwards" said there would be no more for the night for poor Mike, who might bring on a permanent injury if he pursued victory any longer.

LOOKS DECEIVE, PARTICULARLY WHERE WRESTLER IS CONCERNED

(Savannah Morning News, Wednesday, Mar. 3, 1955)

By Marcus Holland

Wrestlers aren’t what they look like.

Maybe you think the brutes who do the grunting and groaning in the ring are all villains. One at least isn’t this way outside the ring.

The Swedish Angel, despite wearing the title of the ugliest wrestler in the world, is a colorful, 6-2, 250 pounds of strength and interesting personality.

The Angel, who wrestled here at the Little Arena Tuesday night, was born in Lulea, Sweden, a small town in the northern part of the country near the North Pole. He lived at his birthplace until he came to the United States 21 years ago.

The Angel said Sweden has two basic sports, skiing and soccer football. "I have always been a lover of sports," he said. "I’ve done a lot of skiing in the wintertime and played soccer football in the summer."

In January, 1934, he arrived in Seattle, Washington, and began working to become a wrestler. It was not until 1935 that he had his first pro match. Prior to this, he had wrestled in amateur bouts. In over 20 years in the game he has been in over 3,000 matches.

The Angel said he has wrestled from coast to coast and border to border. Last year he wrestled in Newfoundland, Canada.

When asked how old he was, The Angel said, "I’m as old as Jack Benny, 39.

"Wrestling is all I have ever done since I came to this country. I love it, and will wrestle until I drop dead," he said, speaking of future plans.

He has met all the world’s top wrestlers but believes the best he ever met was Ed (Strangler) Lewis, now manager of the world’s champ, Lou Thesz. "I’ve met all the champs in title matches and in my book beat some of them but never held a title," he said.

The Angel has anywhere from two to three matches a week, depending on traveling. Some of his busiest weeks would find him wrestling in Detroit on Monday, New York on Tuesday and San Francisco on Wednesday.

The Angel has suffered injuries at the hands of many wrestlers, but unlike other matmen has not been hurt by fans. In the ring he has received a broken arm, broken shoulder, broken leg and all his teeth knocked out. In a match in San Francisco, Bobby Bruns knocked his teeth out and he swallowed half of them, he contends.

He has no favorite hold. "If you get him in the ring position with any hold he is going to give up," he says.

Among his many opponents was the famous French Angel. "I beat the French Angel in seven minutes in Buffalo, New York," he reported. The French Angel died several months ago.

In giving helpful hints to young wrestlers The Angel said if you are already in the game work hard and give it everything you have because it is a long, tough road. He said wrestling every night is the best way to keep in shape and to climb to the top.

His last bit of advice for young wrestlers was, "Always remember if you can’t beat the man he is going to make all the money while you take the consolation prizes, so in that case you must beat him."
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ROGERS, ORTON TAG PARTNERS ON MAT SHOW

(Chicago Tribune, Friday, Oct. 20, 1961)

Buddy Rogers, claimant to the heavyweight wrestling championship, and Bob Orton will meet Johnny Valentine and Bruno Sammartino tonight in one of three Australian tag team matches on a wrestling card in the Amphitheater in the stockyards.

Featured in the preliminary bouts will be Haystacks Calhoun, a 601-pounder, who will wrestle Crusher lisowski, and Shohei Baba, a modest 350, who will wrestle Jack Allen. Other bouts:

Mark Lewin and Don Curtis vs. Jim Hady and Luis Martinez; Billy Goelz and Johnny Gilbert vs. Mister Sato and Great Togo; Sweet Daddy Siki vs. Jack Terry.
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ROGERS-ORTON TEAM BEATEN IN TAG MATCH

(Chicago Tribune, Saturday, Oct. 21, 1961)

The tag team of Johnny Valentine and Bruno Sammartino beat Buddy Rogers and Bob Orton last night in the feature event of a wrestling show in the Amphitheater at the stockyards.

The show drew 5,706 who paid $15,293.49. They saw Sammartino end the match with a bear hug on Rogers, the world’s champion, in the third and deciding fall. Other results:

Mark Lewin and Don Curtis and Jim Hady and Luis Martinez were disqualified in a tag team match; The Crusher beat Carl Engstrom; Mr. Sato and Great Togo beat Billy Goelz and Johnny Gilbert; Shohei Baba beat Jack Allen, and Sweet Daddy Siki beat Johnny Kace.
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DEATH TAKES MAT CHAMP

(Associated Press, Thursday, Oct. 26, 1961)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Earl Carrier, who claimed the world professional welterweight wrestling championship for many years under the name of Wildcat McCann, died Wednesday of complications following surgery. He was 60 years old.

McCann began his wrestling career in Portland, Ore., at the Multnomah Athletic Club and was well known, particularly in the Northwest. He was born in Ellensburg, Wash., March 10, 1901 and had made his home in Salt Lake City since 1942.

His daughter, Mrs. Erlene Mitchell, said her father died following an operation to correct a leg injury.
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WRESTLER STABBED BY FRENZIED FAN

(Associated Press, Saturday, March 17, 1962)

FLORENCE, Ala. – A spectator plunged into a tag match melee and stabbed one of the four wrestlers here Friday night.

Pedro Zapata, 25, was listed in critical condition at a hospital with at least nine stab wounds in the back, shoulder and left forearm. His right thumb was severely slashed.

The knife attack came while 750 spectators howled in frenzy at the battling of Zapata and Mario Galento with Guy Mitchell and Happy Humphrey. The latter is billed as the "biggest wrestler in the world" at 780 pounds.

The referee said he entered the ring to "restore order" but was struck by a flying fist and knocked down. Then, he said, he saw a man with a knife in his hand in the ring.

Zapata whirled on his assailant and shoved him against the ropes before he collapsed.
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CHAMPION TO FACE STYLISH WELCOME

(Savannah Morning News, September 2, 1962)

The gates of the city will be swung open in style – with accompanying hoopla and festivities – to world wrestling champion Fred Blassie when he arrives for his Thursday night title defense.

Blassie, the 238-pound St. Louis strong boy with the diamond-studded gold belt, is headed to Savannah to face Chief Crazy Horse in the main event of the opening program of wrestling at Savannah Sports Center.

The champion will arrive by plane from Mobile at 2:47 p.m. Thursday. He will be met at Travis Field by city officials, beauty queens and a band, according to Dr. Joseph Cassius, chairman of the sponsoring Savannah Wrestling Advisory Committee.

Mayor Malcolm Maclean is scheduled to be on hand to welcome the champ. Miss Chatham County of 1962, Larkin Bobo, and her predecessor, Jeannine Morgan, also have been invitated to be present.

After greeting his fans at the airport, Blassie will head a police-escorted motorcade through downtown and to the Clair Henderson Memorial Rehabilitation Center. There, Frank Cheatham, director of the polio foundation, will direct him through the center.

The festivities will continue right up to match time. Then Mayor Maclean will climb into the ring and cut a ribbon symbolizing the return of professional wrestling to the city.

The title bout will go two falls of three with one hour limit.

The semifinal pits the veteran Miquel Torres versus Chief Little Eagle – another two falls of three match with a 45-minute limit.

Opening the three-scrap card will be Pedro Godoy and young Guy Taylor. This one will go one fall with a 30-minute limit.
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FRED BLASSIE, CHAMP

(Savannah Morning News, Thursday, Sept. 6, 1962)

By Neal Ellis, sports editor

If someone were to tabulate the truly great wrestlers of the world and pinpoint one particular area which produced the majority of them, it would be St. Louis, Mo. – home town of the present world’s heavyweight champion, Fred Blassie.

Almost from childhood, Freddie’s career has been a colorful one. No bully in the neighborhood dared to take him on.

While attending St. Louis University, he held the boxing and wrestling championships and was undefeated.

Later, while serving his time with the Navy during World War II, he was district boxing and wrestling champ.

After turning professional, he came up through the ranks the hard way – always willing and ready to tackle any man, regardless of size or reputation.

When Blassie defeated Edouard Carpentier in the Los Angeles Sports Arena June 12, 1961, for the title and the diamond-studded gold belt, wrestling found itself with a fighting new champion ready to battle any opponent worthy to challenge his laurels.

That is one side of the 238-p;ound champ, who risks his kingdom against Chief Crazy Horse tonight on the first program of pro wrestling in the Savannah Sports Center.

He is eager, ambitious, hard working, talented and fearless. But there’s another side of him, too. He’s a showman first class. He’s cocky and – like Jack Dempsey – he’s a killer in the ring.

If modesty is a virtue, then classy Blassie isn’t virtuous.

"The American man today is a pencil-neck geek," Freddie says. "He is pitiful, scrawny, poorly dressed, bad mannered and hen-pecked.

"It’s no wonder Blassie just wows the women."

By his own admission, the champ is God’s gift to women.

"When Freddie Blassie walks down the street, women just can’t resist admiring me," he comments. "And if they are with one of those skinny, pencil-neck geeks – all men are, compared to me – they fall in love with a real he-man . . . me.

"To bad there are so many ugly women chasing after me because I outclass all the guys they know."

Blassie may be considered obnoxious outside the ring but, in it, he’s a real villain. He subscribes to Leo Durocher’s theory that "nice guys don’t win (pennant) matches."

"Sure," he says, "I’m tough, rough and ready. Being a nice guy don’t put you on top in the wrestling business.

"Just being a nice guy can’t buy Continentals, $350 suits and $50 shoes. I’ve got such a wardrobe that I have a tough time finding places big enough to hold it.

"I like the finer things in life and the only way to be on top and win is to hit your opponent first with the most."

Besides being rugged and heartless in the ring, Blassie can use every scientific hold in the book. His favorite goes by the colorful name of "the reverse spinning neck-breaker." And Blassie doesn’t care whose neck it is.

Like the majority of good wrestlers, Freddie has a fine education. In addition, he has the intelligence and personality to mingle with presidents or hobos.

There may be some who dispute his opinion of how to win friends and influence people, but very few doubt the effectiveness of his style in the ring. It has earned him the topmost honor – the world’s heavyweight championship.

WRESTLING RETURNS HERE TONIGHT

(Savannah Morning News, September 6, 1962)

By Neal Ellis

With world heavyweight champion Fred Blassie featured in a defense of his title, big-time professional wrestling makes a return to the city at 8 o’clock tonight in the Savannah Sports Center.

Blassie’s challenger for the diamond-sprinkled gold belt that is symbolic of the championship is Chief Crazy Hose, a 250-pound man-mountain from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Their long awaited main event match is a two falls of three affair with a one hour time limit. The mat feature for the world’s crown will be preceded by a semifinal battle between Chief Little Eagle and Miguel Torres.

The opener of the three-match program pits Pedro Godoy against Guy Taylor.

From top to bottom, the card lists big name wrestlers. The sponsors, the Savannah Wrestling Advisory Committee, have spared no efforts in lining up a top-notch program with which to open the Thursday night series.

"We were very fortunate to obtain so many outstanding wrestlers for the first card," Dr. Joseph Cassius, chairman of the committee, said last night. "Most of these athletes have considerable experience as main-eventers in other cities, and at least four of them have starred in many television matches.

"The National Wrestling Alliance promised to help us acquire the best men in the business for our shows. They have lived up to their promise," Dr. Cassius confirmed.

"We have high hopes of making this city the wrestling capital of the Southeast. The fans of Savannah certainly will be well entertained."

Dr. Cassius said he expects a near-capacity turnout in the neighborhood of 4,000 fans.

Blassie, the 238-pound blond, beautiful strong boy from St. Louis, is slated for red-carpet treatment upon his arrival at Travis Field at 2:47 p.m. today. He’ll get an official city welcome from local officials, a key to the city from Miss Chatham County, Jeannine Morgan, and will head a motorcade through the downtown streets.

Then, in the ring, he will get a serious challenge from Chief Crazy Horse, who won 400 matches in a row before tasting defeat.
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CHIEF GETS DRAW, BLASSIE CHALLENGED AGAIN

(Savannah Morning News, Friday, Sept. 7, 1962)

By Neal Ellis, sports editor

Chief Crazy Horse battled world heavyweight champion Fred Blassie to a draw before an estimated 1,200 wrestling fans last night in the Savannah Sports Center, then demanded a rematch.

Dr. Joseph Cassius, promoter, quickly conferred with the champion and announced the Indian could have his wish – next Thursday.

The ill-tempered Blassie, still nursing wounds administered by the brawling chief, insisted the rematch go two falls out of three to a finish with no time limit. Dr. Cassius agreed no limit would be imposed on the match.

The draw decision left the crowd as well as both battlers yelling for more when referee Charlie Harben counted out both wrestles at the same time.

When the 10-count was finished, Crazy Horse was lying on the ring apron just outside the ropes and Blassie was sprawled through the ropes, on top of his adversary.

The champion loudly protested the decision, claiming he was within the ring and should have been declared the winner. Harben disagreed, and had his shirt ripped from his body by the angered champ.

Blassie, the 238-pound strong boy from St. Louis, wont he first fall by pinning the lumbering, 250-pound Indian.

The second fall went to Crazy Horse, despite four low blows and as many illegal punches from the fist of the blond champion. An "Indian death lock," the chief’s favorite hold, finally did the damage and evened the match.

That set the stage for the wild finish.

The semifinal had a rousing windup, too, with Chief Little Eagle taking a best two of three-fall decision from Miguel Torres.

The Indian from Oklahoma, a former Southern Methodist University football player, earned the triumph via a disqualification of the ex-Mexican champ. Torres, thrown through the ropes, was unable to return within a 10-count.

Little Eagle had won the first fall, then Torres pinned his rival for the second.

Hard-working Pedro Godoy, 235-pound Cuban, scored a victory over young Guy Taylor of Nashville in the one-fall opener. Godoy applied a half-crab to end it in 12 minutes, 10 seconds.

Dr. Cassius announced to the crowd, which evidently would have been much larger except for evening-long rains and a muddy parking lot, that Mr. Moto and the Masked Assassins would appear on a program in the near future.

Mr. Moto is a nationally famed grappler. The Assassins are world tag team champions.
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SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER RESULTS, 1976-1978

(local promoter Aaron Newman, bouts on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise denoted)

1976

(Crockett Promotions TV show on WTOC TV in Savannah, the same program which airs on 28 other stations between West Virginia and Orlando)

WRESTLING RETURNS TO CIVIC CENTER

(Savannah Morning News, November 19, 1976)

Wrestling returns to the Savannah Civic Center Thursday when the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance brings back Tim Woods, better known as Mr. Wrestling I, to team with Wahoo McDaniel in a featured tag team match against Blackjack Mulligan and Angelo Mosca.

Local promoter Aaron Newman said Wednesday that the Mid-Atlantic group will "bring some of the best talent in the world to Savannah in the coming year."

Also on the Thursday night (action begins at 8:15 p.m.) program are Sgt. Jacques Goulet versus Tony Atlas, Mike "The Judge" Dubois against Johnny Eagle, Bill White against Danny Miller and Dr. Fugiani (sic) versus Bill Somers (sic).

Admission will be $5 for the floor-level seats, with other adult tickets going for $4. Children’s admission price will be $2.

The Civic Center box office will open at 10 a.m. Thursday, and will remain open until the matches begin.

Nov. 11 (Thursday) -- Mr. Wrestling I-Wahoo McDaniel beat Blackjack Mulligan-Angelo Mosca, Tony Atlas beat Sgt. Jacques Goulet dq, Mike Dubois beat Johnny Eagle, Bill White beat Steve Bolus (sub for Danny Miller), Dr. Fujinami beat Doug Sommers

WRESTLING SLATED FOR FORT STEWART

(Savannah Morning News, November 10, 1976)

Ft. Stewart, which hasn’t had a wrestling program since July, gets one Nov. 21.

Aaron Newman is handling the production, scheduled for 8 p.m. at Corkan Gym on the post at Hinesville. There is no charge. The program is sponsored by the Sport Branch, Recreation Service Division at Ft. Stewart.

The main event pits Mr. X and Bill Howard against Porkchop Cash and Raymond Rougeau in a tag team battle.

Other matches on the card are Scott Irwin taking on Ricky Steamboat, Rick McGraw facing big Jim Lancaster, and Mr. X against Rougeau in a single match.

The last wrestling program at Ft. Stewart was held July 2.

Most of the wrestlers had wrestled in Savannah, under the auspices of Georgia Championship Wrestling. And several, including Steamboat and Porkchop Cash, are popular with the Savannah wrestling fans.

Nov. 21 (Fort Stewart GA) – Corkan Gym (Sunday) -- Mr. X-Bill Howard vs. Porkchop Cash-Raymond Rougeau, Scott Irwin vs. Ricky Steamboat, Rick McGraw vs. Jim Lancaster, Mr. X vs. Raymond Rougeau (Aaron Newman matchmaker)

Dec. 9 (Thursday) -- Wahoo McDaniel beat Ric Flair, Haystack Calhoun-Tiger Conway Jr. beat Sgt. Jacques Goulet-Doug Sommers, Johnny Eagle beat Hans Schroeder, Brute Bernard beat Francisco Flores, Dr. Fujinami beat Angelo Poffo

1977

Jan. 6 (Thursday) -- Rufus R. Jones beat Blackjack Mulligan (U.S. title defense), Mr. Wrestling I-Dino Bravo beat Lanny Poffo-Randy Poffo (later Randy Savage) (Mid Atlantic tag title defense), Bill Dromo beat Bill White, Red Bastien beat Blue Scorpion, Johnny Eagle drew Tony Russo (A - 1,100)

WORLD TITLE MATCH SCHEDULED AT CENTER

(Savannah Morning News, January 30, 1977)

The main event for the Feb. 3 Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance program at the Savannah Civic Center will be a world tag team bout, Aaron Newman, Savannah representative for MAWA, announced Saturday.

Current world champions, Ric Flair and Greg Valentine, who recently won the title from the Anderson brothers in a North Carolina bout, will put their newly acquired belts on the line against Paul Jones and Rufus R. Jones.

The remainder of the card has not been established as yet, Newman said.

The match is the third title match for Savannah in a month’s time. Earlier in this month, Rufus Jones fought Blackjack Mulligan for the U.S. heavyweight title, and Mr. Wrestling and Dino Bravo successfully defended their MAWA tag team title against Randy and Lanny Poffo.

Jones pinned Mulligan just seconds after the referee had disqualified Mulligan of Eagle Pass, Tex., for striking the referee. A title cannot change hands on a disqualification.

Mid-Atlantic promoter David Crockett, operating from the organization’s headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., had said in 1976 that Jim Crockett Promotions would bring title matches to the Civic Center. And with the matches, attendance has been growing at a good clip. After the first match here, sponsored by MAWA, the second match drew about 100 more, and that figure, with the U.S. title match for a feature, drew nearly double what the previous program had.

Newman became the MAWA representative when George Championship Wrestling sold out to Mid-Atlantic. Both organizations were and are sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

Feb. 3 (Thursday) -- Greg Valentine-Mr. X (sub for Ric Flair) beat Rufus R. Jones-Paul Jones (world tag title defense), Buddy Roberts-Jerry Brown beat Red Bastien-Rick McGraw (Mid Atlantic tag title defense), Kim Duk beat Danny Miller, Johnny Eagles beat Rick Ferrara, Dr. Fujinami beat Lanny Poffo

TAG CHAMPS RETAIN BELTS WITH VICTORY

(Savannah Morning News, Friday, Feb. 4, 1977)

Mister X, a reportedly well-paid replacement for Ric Flair, pinned Rufus R. Jones in 21 minutes of the bout, and Greg Valentine and Flair retained their world heavyweight tag team wrestling title at the Savannah Center Thursday night.

Mister X, a 230-pounder from Europe, was filling in for Flair, who, along with Valentine, holds the world title, while Flair was recuperating from an appendectomy. Jones was joined by Paul Jones in challenging for the title. The bout was the main event on the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance card.

The Hollywood Blondes, Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown, also maintained their status as champions of the Mid-Atlantic tag team mats by defeating challengers Red Bastien and Rick McGraw. Again, it took the champs 21 minutes to win when McGraw was pinned.

In other preliminary bouts, Kim Duk used a Korean sleeper hold to dispose of Danny Miller in 16 minutes, Johnny Eagle whipped his foe Rick Ferrara with a reverse roll-up in 14 minutes and Dr. Fujinami used a roll-up to beat Lanny Poffo in 15 minute.

Following the matches, David Crockett, representative for Jim Crockett Promotions, Inc., which brings the wrestling to Savannah, announced the mat wars would return to Savannah next week (Feb. 10) with Blackjack Mulligan, the U.S. heavyweight champion, putting his title up against Paul Jones in the main event. Rufus R. Jones will challenge Greg Valentine for the TV title in the semifinal match.

Ticket prices will remain the same -- $5 for ringside, $4 general admission and $2 for children’s general admission – for next week’s program, and can be purchased in advance at Miller’s Market in Beaufort, S.C., and at Fox’s Family Restaurant in Savannah.

Feb. 10 (Thursday) -- Rufus R. Jones beat Greg Valentine, Blackjack Mulligan beat Paul Jones dq (U.S. title defense), Buddy Roberts-Jerry Brown beat Bill Dromo-Frankie Lane, Ron Starr beat Bill White, Larry Sharpe beat Francisco Flores, Butch Malone drew Dr. Fujinami

Mar. 10 (Thursday) -- Blackjack Mulligan drew Thunderbolt Patterson dcor (U.S. title defense), Wahoo McDaniel beat Kim Duk dq, Dino Bravo-Tiger Conway Jr. beat Mr. X-Brute Bernard, Jerry Blackwell drew Bill Dromo, Johnny Eagle beat Two-Ton Harris

PATTERSON, MULLIGAN FIGHT TO NO DECISION

(Savannah Morning News, Friday, Mar. 11, 1977)

By Floyd Hendricks Sr.

Thunderbolt Patterson, shouting "I want him," had to settle for a "no decision verdict" in his U.S. heavyweight championship match at the Savannah Civic Center arena Thursday night against the current titleholder, Blackjack Mulligan.

Both Patterson and Mulligan were outside the ring fighting when the referee counted to 10, in effect, disqualifying both. The match started out the same way, with Mulligan apparently telling Patterson he wanted the challenger to shine his boots. Patterson took it the wrong way and commenced beating on the champ.

And that’s the way the eight-minute match ended.

In the semifinal bout, Chief Wahoo McDaniel was awarded the victory after Korean Kim Duk threw salt in his eyes. Duk uses salt to "drive away evil spirits" before a match by sprinkling it on the canvas. It is a custom originated by Japanese sumo wrestlers.

Dino Bravo put an airplane spin on Mr. X and he and his partner, Tiger Conway, whipped Mr. X and Brute Bernard in the tag team bout on the card in 20 minutes.

In other matches, Crusher Blackwell and Big Bill Dromo wrestled to a 20-minute, time-limit draw, and Johnny Eagle pinned Two Ton Harris in the opening match.

The next matches will be March 20, with Andre the Giant taking on Mulligan in the main event. Rufus R. Jones and the Mighty Igor will face the Hollywood Blondes in a tag match, and Red Bastien will face Sgt. Jacques Goulet, Johnny Eagle and Mr. X tangle and Cowboy Frankie Lane and Larry Sharpe battle it out.

Because it is a Sunday evening program, the matches will begin at 7:30 p.m. instead of the regular time. Advance tickets can be purchased at Fox’s Family Restaurant in Savannah and at Miller’s Market in Beaufort, S.C.

Mar. 20 (Sunday) -- Andre the Giant beat Blackjack Mulligan cor, Frankie Lane vs. Larry Sharpe, Johnny Eagle vs. Mr. X, Red Bastien vs. Sgt. Jacques Goulet, Mighty Igor-Rufus R. Jones vs. Jerry Brown-Buddy Roberts

MULLIGAN DEFENDS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

(Savannah Morning News, Sunday, Apr. 17, 1977)

The U.S. heavyweight wrestling title will be on the line Sunday night in the featured event of the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance program at the Civic Center.

Blackjack Mulligan will defend his title against Dino Bravo as the first matches begin at 7:30 p.m.

In another big match, Ric Flair will face Rufus R. Jones. Jones was pinned earlier by Flair’s tag team partner, Greg Valentine, but a lot of the fans didn’t agree with the referee’s call. The match should prove to be a good one because Jones was angry that the referee had been knocked out of the ring and appeared groggy when the call was made.

Other wrestlers on the card will be the Hollywood Blondes, Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown, taking on Ron Starr and Ken Novack. Big Bill Dromo will take on a tough Korean newcomer, Kim Duk. Johnnie Eagle and Larry Sharpe will open things up with the first fight on the card.

1977 (cont.)

Apr. 17 -- Ric Flair vs. Rufus R. Jones, Blackjack Mulligan vs. Dino Bravo (U.S. title defense), Buddy Roberts-Jerry Brown vs. Ken Novack-Ron Starr, Bill Dromo vs. Kim Duk, Johnnie Eagle vs. Larry Sharpe

May 8 -- Mighty Igor beat Masked Superstar dq, Tiger Conway Jr.-Johnny Weaver beat Buddy Roberts-Jerry Brown, Rene Goulet drew Steve Kovacs, Bill Dromo beat Tony Russo

May 15 -- Mighty Igor beat Boris Malenko (Russian chain match), Bobo Brazil beat Kim Duk, Tiger Conway Jr. beat Randy Savage, Jerry Blackwell-Mr. X I beat Frankie Lane-Bill Dromo, Tully Blanchard beat Blue Scorpion

June 19 -- Gene Anderson-Ole Anderson drew Ric Flair-Greg Valentine (world tag title defense), Blackjack Mulligan beat Wahoo McDaniel dq (U.S. title defense), Danny Miller-Johnny Weaver beat Missouri Mauler-Brute Bernard, Jerry Blackwell beat Frankie Lane, Two Ton Harris beat Mr. Sato

July 10 -- Ricky Steamboat beat Ric Flair (TV title defense), Greg Valentine beat Wahoo McDaniel (Mid Atlantic title defense), Tiger Conway Jr.-Ted Oates beat Jerry Blackwell-Brute Bernard, Johnny Weaver beat Sgt. Jacques Goulet, Two Ton Harris beat Phil Mercedo

July 24 -- Wahoo McDaniel drew Greg Valentine nc, Mr. Wrestling II-Tiger Conway Jr. beat Jerry Blackwell-Missouri Mauler, Johnny Weaver beat Mr. X I, Danny Miller beat Scott Irwin, Ted Oates beat Blue Scorpion

Aug. 6 (St. Louis) -- Ric Flair beat Bobo Brazil (won U.S. title)????

Aug. 7 -- Wahoo McDaniel beat Greg Valentine, Bobo Brazil beat Blackjack Mulligan, Mighty Igor-Tiger Conway Jr. beat Jerry Blackwell-Russian Stomper, Danny Miller beat Charlie Fulton, Mr. Sato beat Rick Ferrara

STEAMBOAT CHALLENGES FLAIR FOR U.S. CROWN

(Savannah Morning News, August 28, 1977)

Ric Flair, U.S. heavyweight champion, and Rick Steamboat, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Alliance TV titleholder, put their belts on the line Sunday night at the Savannah Civic Center arena, as Mid-Atlantic features the match on a five-bout card.

The TV title will be at stake for only the first 15 minutes of the match, while Flair’s title will be on the line for the duration. Flair recently won his belt by beating Bobo Brazil in St. Louis, Mo.

In the semifinal match of the night, Mr. Wrestling takes on the Masked Superstar, whoever he may be.

Rick McGraw and Charlie Fulton kick the evening’s action off at 7:30 p.m. and Tiger Conway battles Crusher Jerry Blackwell in another singles confrontation.

The only tag team match on the program is between Tully Blanchard and Ted Oates and Mr. X and a Korean giant named Kim Duk, who likes to spread salt around, reportedly to ward off evil spirits.

Flair is not as popular in this area as the rugged Steamboat, and the fans often show their displeasure with the "Nature Boy."

Aug. 28 -- Ric Flair beat Ricky Steamboat (U.S. title defense), Masked Superstar beat Mr. Wrestling I, Tiger Conway Jr. beat Jerry Blackwell, Ted Oates-Tully Blanchard beat Mr. X-Kim Duk, Rick McGraw beat Charlie Fulton

Sept. 18 -- Mighty Igor beat Masked Superstar (w/Boris Malenko) (Russian chain match), Mr. Wrestling I beat Boris Malenko, Missouri Mauler-Russian Stomper beat Mr. Sato-Ted Oates, Tony Atlas beat Kim Duk, Abe Jacobs beat Jim Grabmire, Roberto Soto beat Charlie Fulton

Oct. 2 -- Paul Jones-Ricky Steamboat beat Ric Flair-Greg Valentine (world tag title defense), Fabulous Moolah vs. Leona Little Heart, Missouri Mauler vs. Tony Atlas, Mr. X I-Mr. X II vs. Tiger Conway Jr.-Tully Blanchard, Hartford Love vs. Joe Furr

Oct. 16 -- Dusty Rhodes beat Ric Flair dq (U.S. title defense), Paul Jones drew Greg Valentine, Ted Oates-Tiger Conway Jr. beat Randy Savage-Frank Monte, Rick McGraw beat Tony Rousso, Danny Miller beat Blue Scorpion

Nov. 6 -- Ric Flair beat Ricky Steamboat (U.S. title defense), Baron Von Raschke vs. Mr. Wrestling I (TV title defense), Mighty Igor vs. Greg Valentine, Russian Stomper-Missouri Mauler vs. Ted Oates-Tiger Conway Jr., Roberto Soto vs. Scott Irwin, Danny Miller vs. Charlie Fulton

ANDRE, STEAMBOAT SET FOR PRO MAT PROGRAM

(Savannah Morning News, Sunday, Nov. 230, 1977)

Andre the Giant, a 7-4, 400-pound gargantuan, and Ricky Steamboat, a Hawaiian-born, surf-boarding Kung Fu artist, hope to be sitting on top of the world when Monday morning rolls around.

The two professional wrestlers will challenge Ric Flair and Greg Valentine, the current titleholders, for the world tag team championship at the Savannah Civic Center arena Sunday night, in a main event on a card featuring some popular personalities in the art of wrestling.

Bobo Brazil, one of the most popular ever to wrestle in Savannah, faces a gent known as the Russian Stomper and Paul Jones, another of the "good guys," faces a baddie in the Masked Superstar in a pair of impressive preliminaries.

The five-bout card also has Dick Murdock taking on Johnny Weaver and Mr. Sato squaring off against Charlie Fulton.

The action begins at 8 p.m. The Civic Center box office will open at 5 o’clock Sunday.

Two weeks ago when Steamboat was trying to wrest the U.S. heavyweight title from Flair, he was foiled.

Nov. 20 -- Ric Flair-Greg Valentine vs. Andre the Giant-Ricky Steamboat (world tag title defense), Bobo Brazil vs. Russian Stomper, Paul Jones vs. Masked Superstar, Dick Murdock vs. Johnny Weaver, Mr. Saito vs. Charlie Fulton

Nov. 29 (Raleigh) -- Ric Flair beat Paul Jones (latter hospitalized with leg injury, so Conway subs for him in Savannah)

Dec. 4 -- Ric Flair-Greg Valentine beat Tiger Conway Jr.-Wahoo McDaniel (world tag title defense), Tony Atlas beat Sgt. Jacques Goulet, Ted Oates beat Hartford Love, Abe Jacobs drew Scott Irwin, Jimmy Garvin beat Ric Ferraro

1978

Jan. 8 -- Blackjack Mulligan beat Mighty Igor (U.S. title defense), Masked Superstar beat Mr. Wrestling I dq, Jimmy Garvin beat Tony Russo, Mr. Sato beat Boris Malenko, Crusher Blackwell-Hartford Love beat Dino Bravo-Ted Oates

Jan. 29 -- Blackjack Mulligan drew Ricky Steamboat (U.S. title defense), Tony Atlas beat Ric Flair dq, Ted Oates-Abe Jacobs beat Mr. X I-Mr. X II, Russian Stomper beat Mr. Sato, Bill White drew Jim Garvin

Feb. 12 -- Blackjack Mulligan beat Ricky Steamboat (U.S. title defense), Paul Jones beat Masked Superstar, Bobo Brazil-Mighty Igor beat Sgt. Jacques Goulet-Russian Stomper, Ted Oates beat Hartford Love, Jerry Stubbs beat Charlie Fulton

Feb. 26 -- Blackjack Mulligan drew Mr. Wrestling I nc (U.S. title defense), Bobo Brazil beat Masked Superstar, Mighty Igor-Roberto Soto beat Mr. X I-Mr. X II, Missouri Mauler beat Abe Jacobs, Jerry Stubbs beat Frank Monte

Mar. 12 -- Blackjack Mulligan beat Mr. Wrestling I (U.S. title defense), Johnny Weaver beat Baron Von Raschke (TV title defense), Mighty Igor-Ted Oates beat Russian Stomper-Scott Irwin, Jerry Blackwell beat Tiger Conway, Jan Nelson beat Jerry Stubbs

Mar. 26 -- Blackjack Mulligan vs. Wahoo McDaniel (U.S. title defense), Vicki Williams vs. Pepper Lobianco, Mr. Wrestling I vs Ciclon Negro (w/Missouri Mauler), Russian Stomper-Scott Irwin vs. Ted Oates-Richard Blood, Jimmy Garvin vs. Charlie Fulton

Apr. 9 -- Ricky Steamboat-Paul Jones beat Baron Von Raschke-Greg Valentine, Johnny Weaver beat Masked Superstar dq, Don Kernodle bat Hartford Love, Jan Nelson beat Jimmy Garvin, Joe Furr beat Scott Irwin

Apr. 23 -- Ricky Steamboat-Paul Jones beat Blackjack Mulligan-Ken Patera (Mid Atlantic tag title defense), Tony Atlas beat Jerry Blackwell, Ted Oates beat Scott Irwin, Richard Blood beat Hartford Love, Mr. Sato beat Frank Monte

May 7 -- Blackjack Mulligan beat Ken Patera dq, Greg Valentine beat Gene Anderson, Tony Atlas beat Baron Von Raschke, Mr. Wrestling I-Mr. Wrestling II beat Mr. X I-Mr. X II, Jerry Blackwell drew Roberto Soto, Jay Youngblood beat Bill Howard

May 20 (Saturday) -- Ricky Steamboat-Paul Jones beat Ric Flair-Greg Valentine (world tag title defense), Baron Von Raschke drew Tony Atlas nc (TV title defense), Johnny Weaver beat Jerry Blackwell dq, Swede Hanson beat Charlie Fulton, Mr. Sato beat Steve Musulin, Joe Furr beat Bill Howard

June 4 -- Ken Patera vs. Paul Jones (Mid Atlantic title defense), Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (U.S. title defense), Masked Superstar-Ciclon Negro vs. Mr. Wrestling I-Jay Youngblood, Bill White vs. Joe Furr, Johnny Weaver vs. Gene Anderson

June 18 -- Ken Patera beat Ricky Steamboat dq (Mid Atlantic title defense), Paul Jones beat Baron Von Raschke, Ted Oates-Swede Hanson beat Gene Anderson-Jerry Blackwell, Don Kernodle beat Frank Monte, Mr. Sato drew Bill
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"There is nothing to explain the sudden transformation in my character," Christopher explains. "Always as a child I was the unruly one, the unstudious one. My brothers, they were all scholars, but not I. I ran away from my home near Athens when I was 12 because my father was stern, a very noble gentleman, and insisted that I study, which I could not do.