Historische Wrestling Stories/Artikel

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Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
17 May 1959

Professional Wrestler Hurt in Auto Mishap

Van Nuys, Calif., May 16 (AP) - Professional wrestler Enrique Torres, 36, was injured critcally in an automobile accident Saturday.

Police said Torres’ car smashed into another vehicle at an estimated 100 miles an hour. Torres suffered chest injuries. The other driver, Everette De-Wynn, 45, Bellflower, Calif., may have suffered a broken back.

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Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
11 May 1962

Knife Attack Suit Lodged by Wrestler

Angelo Savoldi, New Jersey professional wrestler, filed a $125,000 damage suit in district court Thursday against the City of Oklahoma City, Leroy McGuirk, wrestling promoter, and others as result of a knife attack during a bout at Municipal Auditorium May 27, 1960.

Savoldi also named Danny Hodge, professional boxer; his father, William Edward Hodge, and two Oklahoma City ticket agencies, defendants.
Savoldi charged he was engaged for a wrestling bout with Hodge and that during the fracas Hodges’ father entered the ring with a knife and slashed him.

Howard K. Berry Jr., attorney, who filed the action, said Savoldi was slashed so severely it required 60 stitches to close his wounds and the wrestler suffered permanent injuries and is unable to continue his profession.

The suit alleges police and sheriff’s officers were present at the public exhibition but failed to restrain the elder Hodge in his attack on Savoldi.

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Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
16 May 1936

Wife of Sam Avey, The Promoter, Dies

Word was receivedi n Oklahoma City late Friday afternoon of the death of Mrs. Sam Avey, wife of the well known boxing and wrestling promoter.

Mrs. Avey died in a Tulsa hospital. She had been ill since last Monday of pneumonia and a throat infection. It was through that she passed the crisis Monday and was improving, but she took a turn for the worse Friday.

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Minneapolis Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 April 1933

Joe Savoldi 'Tosses' Londos, Claims Title
But Greek Asserts he was Not Thrown in One-Fall Match.

Chicago April 7-(AP)--More confusion was added in the proffesional wrestling game Friday night when Joe Savoldi, who once scored touchdowns for Norte Dame on the football field, threw Jim Londos of Greece in 20:26 with standing crotch hold in the Chicago stadium ring.
Although the match was Advertised "for the world's heavyweight wrestling championship" the Londos camp insisted it was merely an exhibition after Savoldi had pinned the Grecian Adonis to the amazement of the 8,000 customers.

"Why, this was just an exhibition" shouted Ed White, manager of Landos as the crowd howled him down. "In the first place, wrestling championships aren't permitted in Illinois and in the second place, no match is a championship unless its two falls out of three."
What's It All About?

Savoldi and his followers, however, refused to listen. Overjoyed, the big Italian youth claimed the "title" and everything with it. "I won didn't I ?" shouted Savoldi "that's enough for me."

Manager White based his claim of a non-championship match on the old ruling of the old Illinois state athletic commission headed by the stern General John V. Clinnin. Last year Chairman Clinnin ruled that until wrestling quit "clowning tactics" that no match in Illinois could be advertised as a championship affair. Last January, however Joe Triner was appointed chairman of the new commission. Clinnin and some of his commission members stepped out and no ruling was made relative in wreslting shows. Since the new commission was installed, Londos met Joe Stecher of Dodge, Neb. in a one fall match also advertised for the "world's championship" and won.

Gate of $12,000
Friday night's match, which attracted a gate of approximately $12,000, was a rough and tumble affair with a 90-minute limit until Savoldi pinned Londos. Some of the spectators couldn't believe it until the referee tapped Savoldi's back and declared him the winner.
In the three years he has been claiming the title, Londos has been thrown three times before, but each match was a 2 out of 3 fall affair, each of which Londos ultimately won. Ray Steele of Glendale, Calf., Jim McMillen of Chicago and George Zaharis of Pueblo were the throwers and losers.

No Fall Says Londos
Londos surprised newspapermen by denying he was thrown. From his dressing room he issued this statement:"It was not a fall. I had a Japanese arm scissors on Savoldi from and underneath position. I was partly on my side and on my shoulder. Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. Referee Managoff (Bob Managoff, former Chicago wrestler) tapped me on the shoulder with orders to break. I understood from that we were in quit and start wrestling all over again from the standing postion because Savoldi's feet were tangled in the ropes. I let go and the next instant the referee tapped Savoldi in toked victory. I repeat, it was not a fall."

-Jim McMillen,220, Chicago, threw George Zaharis, 235, Pueblo, Co., with a crotch hold in 20:28
-Joe Stecher, 226, Dodge, Neb., threw Lou Jennings 212, Seattle, Wash. with a body scissors 12:32
-Gino Garabaldi, 215, Italy, threw Tom Marvin 202, Oklahoma, with a cross body hold in 16:40
-Abe Coleman 205, L.A. threw John Kalta 240, Toronto, with a flying tackle in 13:55

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Detroit, Michigan
The Michigan Daily
19 Februar 1998

Records, Hoosiers may fall this weekend in seniors' last hurrah
By Jordan Field
Daily Sports Writer

Tomorrow, when the No. 13 Michigan wrestling team faces Indiana at Cliff Keen Arena, ...

Powell's absence leaves No. 4 Catrabone to likely face unranked Butch Hildebrand. Catrabone has 15 falls on the season and he needs one more to tie Rob Rechsteiner (1983-84) for Michigan's record for falls in a season. Reichsteiner hit his record more than a decade ago in the 1983-84 season.


PS: Rob Rechsteiner ist natuerlich niemand anderes als Rick Steiner von den Steiner Brothers.

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Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Jamaica
4 Februar 1966

Big Time Wrestling Returns April 13

Big Time Wrestling will be returning to Jamaica within a few months. Some of the world's leading wrestlers are due to make an appearance at the National Stadium on an April 13 show.

Promoters will be a Florida Sports Corporation which is now making a drive to popularize this top American sport throughout the Caribbean. Their activities are currently centered in Nassau and Freeport but within a few months it is expected that regular wrestling shows will be staged in Jamaica, Trinidad, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Two of the Corporation's representatives, Eddie Graham and Buddy Fuller, who are themselves wrestlers, left Jamaica yesterday after completing preliminary arrangements.

Commenting on the proposed show yesterday, Graham, who wrestled here in 1964 on the show that featured Jamaician Dorrel Dixon, said if the initial venture was successful, they planned to have regular shows featuring the world's top male and female mat experts. He said wrestling had caught on rapidly in Nassau and they were optimistic that the Jamaician response would be just as enthusiastic.

For the April 13 show three wrestlers whom Fuller described as "really exciting" have already been lined up. They are Sputnik Monroe, billed as "The Kansas Star," Mexican Jose Laterio (sic) and his tag team partner Tito Carreon of Texas.

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Patriarch of famed Von Erichs wrestling family dies at 68.
By CHRIS NEWTON - Associated Press.

DALLAS -- Jack Adkisson, patriarch of the famed Texas wrestling family the Von Erichs, died at his Denton County home Wednesday, about two months after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was 68.

Adkisson, who went by the name Fritz Von Erich during a 35-year wrestling career, was diagnosed in July with lung cancer that had spread to his brain and adrenal glands. A statement from the family said he died of a brain tumor at his home in Lake Dallas, about 20 miles north of Dallas.

Adkisson and his five sons were long associated with wrestling triumph in Texas. Five sons -- Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris -- also wrestled under the Von Erich name.

Jack Adkisson for years produced a syndicated wrestling show, World Class Championship Wrestling, that was seen in 66 U.S. television markets, Japan, Argentina and the Middle East.

But in recent years, there has mostly been pain. Five of Jack Adkisson's sons preceded him in death. One died as a child in the 1950s, three committed suicide since 1987 and the fifth died of an apparent drug overdose in 1984.

The only surviving son is the oldest, Kevin, 40.

"We would like to express thanks to the fans and the community for their prayers, love and support," Kevin Adkisson said. "Dad loved them very much."

David, probably the best wrestler of the sons, died at the age of 25 in 1984 from an apparent overdose while on a wrestling tour of Japan. Suicide claimed the lives of Mike, 23, in 1987; Chris, 21, in 1991; and Kerry, 33, in 1993. Another son, Jack Jr., died at the age of 7 in 1959 from electrical shock.

"It hurt him desperately," said Tom Pulley, a longtime friend of the Von Erichs. "It's hard for any of us to imagine losing one son, much less five sons. It changed his life and it definitely took the wind out of his sails."

Until Fritz Von Erich retired in 1980, he was one of the stars of professional wrestling. The former Southern Methodist and Dallas Texans lineman stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 260 pounds. He turned to wrestling in the 1950s after being injured.

The Von Erichs once wrestled in front of 40,000 people at Texas Stadium and regularly filled the arenas where they competed.

In their hayday, the Von Erichs were the good guys of the wrestling world, vanquishing trash-talking, loudmouthed wrestlers in black garb. The continuing family tragedies brought them -- and their sport -- even more fame.

Pulley said Fritz Von Erich had a vision for what wrestling could be on television.

"What he did back in the '80s really started wrestling on television," Pulley said. "There's no question that the brains behind what you see today was Fritz Von Erich. It took wrestling from being a small regional sport to being international in scope, and I give him the credit for that."

Jack Adkisson is survived by his son Kevin, daughter-in-law Pam, their four children and two other grandchildren. He and his wife, Doris, divorced several years ago.

Family members said they would receive friends of Jack Adkisson at a memorial service on Saturday at First Baptist Church in Dallas. No funeral or graveside services were planned.

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Minneapolis Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
11 April 1933

By Charles Dunkley

"Double Cross Hinted During Savoldi Probe"
'Board Refuses to Recognize Joe as Champ, But Up Holds Verdict'

Chicago, April 10 - A strangle hold was clamped on professional wrestling in Illinois Monday.]
Aroused by rumors of a "double crossing." The Illinois Athletic commission issued an order indefinitely suspending the sport in the state as the result of the surprising finish of the Jim Londos-Joe Savoldi match at Chicago stadium last Friday night, which saw the former Notre Dame star victorious.

Tonigh's match cancelled
The verdict automatically cancels the match between Ed (Strangler) Lewis and Jim Browning, scheduled for Tuesday night.

The Suspension was the most drastic ruling the sport has suffered in its recent climb to popularity.

The commission refused to recognize Savoldi, who was awarded a victory over Londos, recognized as champion in some states, as the new title holder, because the commission ruled it did not recognize any champion or championshio matches and had also refused permission to have Londos announced as champion just before his match with Savoldi started. The commission said that sanction for all wrestling bouts had been issued with the understanding that they were not for any championship but were only exhibitions.

In the presence of the victor and the vanquished, attorneys and managers, Joseph Triner, chairman of the commission, rendered it's decision, which upheld the verdict of Referee Managoff in awarding a fall to Savoldi after 20:26. Both Londos and Savoldi gave their versions of just what had happened. Managoff, however, was examined privately and was not present when the principals testified.

Londos Calls Decision Unjust.
Londos declared the referee's decision was unjust. That no fall had been accomplished and that no time was he ever on his shoulders even for one second, as required by the rules.

Londos said that both he and Savoldi were entangled in the rojpes at the time referee Managoff tapped each on the shoulder and that he, Londos, understood he was to merely release his hold and return to the center of the ring to start anew.

"It was an agreement thoroughly understood by both Savoldi and myself before the bout started." Londos said. "Savoldi's legs were clearly through the ropes at the time of the decision. I had him helpless at the time I felt Managoff's slap on the back and relesased him voluntarily, only to be amazed when I learned the decision had been given to Savoldi."
Double-crossing Charged.

Londos testified he had a Japanese scissors lock on Savoldi, who was standing, but half off balance, struggling with Londos' legs in an effort to break the grip. He said Managoff was not bending down to the floor to peer underneath, as is the custom to see if Londos' shoulders were on the mat, but gave his decision after hesitating for a second while Savoldi was standing up.
The investigation was conducted in an atmosphere of scandal with the impression prevaling that there had been double-crossing. Savoldi has refused to go through with matches previosly scheduled for him on the plea that he needed a rest. He cancelled two of three matches in Indiana cities also on in Detroit scheduled for April 15.

There were reports that Savoldi has affiliated himself with a group of wrestlers working in opposition to the combination of which Londos is reported to be a member.

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Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10 October 1953

Life of a Wrestler Agrees With Gagne

New York, Oct. 9 – (AP) – Vern Gagne is a burly, handsome young man with an engaging smile and a brace of muffin ears that well, you might say they are the earmarks of his profession.

Gagne is a professional wrestler, and before you start sneering just remember you’d be sneering at $100,000 a year. That’s his annual gross take, so he can say to a lot of big-name baseball players and golfers and other sports performers: “Move over, po’ folks, and make room for a plutocrat.”

We look on pro rassling with a jaundieed eye; as something that should be covered by a drama critic, or better yet, a blanket. So it’s always a surprise to find that the performers on the whole are highly intelligent, well-spoken gentlemen when not engaged in their simulated mayhem.

Gagne is no exception. He’s a college graduate (Minnesota), a former member of the Olympic team, and was a good enough football player to be chosen for the All Star game in Chicago and to take a fling at pro football.

“Always wanted to be a wrestler,” he said. “I came from a small town in Minnesota where wrestling was popular. While in school I won the NCAA heavyweight title twice, the National AAU title, and in 1948 went to London with the Olympic Team.

“I went as a Greco-Roman wrestler. We didn’t know anything about that type of wrestling, and were withdrawn before we made a spectacle of ourselves.

“In 1949, I took a shot at pro football, signed with the Green Bay Packers. Got $6,000 for about six months work. Now I average about $2,000 a week.”

Pro wrestling is a lot tougher than football,” Gagne says.

“I never got hurt badly playing football, although I got one of these ears in football. Since becoming a pro wrestler, though, I’ve had fingers broken, teeth knocked out, a chipped knee and a broken nose. However,” he added philosophically, “the money is good.”

If Gagne is a brain, his manager is a super-brain. He is Jim Barnett, who was graduated from Harvard and then earned a master’s degree in English at the University of Chicago.

Barnett intended to be a teacher, and he looks the part. If you were to pick a man from a crowd whom you would rate as the last man to manage a wrestler, Barnett would be that man.

“I met Vern through a friend, and we became close friends,” Barnett explained. “I just sort of drifted into the managing end.”

Note: A letter to Harvard in January 2005 revealed that Barnett was, in fact, not a student prior to attending the University of Chicago. This seems to be nothing but wrestling lore.

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Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
15 September 1964

Obituaries:

Tulsa
Krauser, Karol Karl, 52; services are pending with Fitzgerald Funeral Home. He died Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had been a professional wrestler 28 years. Survivors include his wife Zosia; three sons, including Tommy and Richard; two daughters, Katherine Louise and Pola; his father; two brothers, and three sisters.

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The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
31 May 1960

Ellis Bashara Services Set

Norman – Graveside services for Ellis Bashara, University of Oklahoma football player and wrestler of 1931-32-33, will be at 3 p.m. Teusday at the IOOF cemetery here.

Bashara, associated with a supply company at Houston, died of a heart attack there Friday.

He is survived by his wife Jessie and two sons, Wayne, 19, and Mike, 11; his mother, Mrs. D.A. Bashara, Norman, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Moudy, Hayward, Calif., Mrs. Ollie Humphreys, and Mrs. Joe Kendall, Riverside, Calif.

In 1933, Bashara made the all-Big Six team at guard and also was chosen on an all-time Oklahoma eleven selected by former sports editors of The Daily Oklahoman. In 1926-27-28, he played for Coach Dewey “Snorter” Luster’s Norman High School Tigers.

A well-remembered Sooner wrestler, he became a prominent pro wrestler and also played pro football with a Memphis team, wrestling twice a week and playing football on Sunday.

At Houston, he was prominent in developing Little League baseball in which both his sons participated.

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Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Times
28 June 1953

Correction! Zbyszko Farms in Missouri

Correction! A recent item in this column stated that Stanislaus Zbyszko, one of the greatest grapplers of all time, was raising apples on a farm in Old Orchard, Me.

An obliging reader writes in as follows:

"You are right about Stan Zbyszko being a farmer. But you're wrong about the locale. Stanislaus, who is now 73, and his kid brother Wladek, a youngster of 58, own a 210-acre farm just outside of Savannah, Mo. I know, because I was a neighbor of theirs.

"They own 100 head of hogs, which keeps them plenty busy. As a sideline, Stanislaus loves to work with bees. He has five hives. Stan weighs about 240, 10 pounds more than his left when he beat Strangler Lewis for the title back in 1921.

"Two years ago, Stan offered to meet both Primo Carnera and Argentina Rocca on the same night. The offer still stands, but he says he'll keep it open for only two more years. He says it would be too hard for him to get in condition when he's 75 years old."

Popular Ref

Cecil Payne is one of the most popular mat referees of the Southern California staff. He graduated from Fullerton High School in 1937. He was a two-letter man - one in football and one in boxing.

The same year he won the middleweight championship in the Golden Gloves here when he beat Vic Nardoni, who is now in the bail bond business with his brothers.

Payne had eight pro fights. He liked it, but his wife didn't. She won the decision. He quit the ring. One night at Wilmington the wrestling referee didn't show up. Cecil filled in to help the promoter. Fans liked him so much the State Athletic Commission put him on the staff.

"It takes three men to make a great wrestling match," says Payne. "two good wrestlers, and a referee who can handle any situation."

Top Lancaster Show

Louie Miller, one-time grappling great turned promoter has an outstanding program lined up for Lancaster natives Thursday night, featuring Primo Carnera. Back in '35, Louie lost a toughie to Hugh Nichols for the world's light-heavyweight title. Nichols is also a promoter now, handling the Legion Stadium and San Diego Colisum.

Larry Hamilton, a newcomer from St. Joseph, Mo., has attracted the fancy of Southland mat filberts. Larry is only 22 years old and is an army veteran. He served in the MPs.

Hombre Montana and Bobby Managoff are going great in Honolulu rings. Al Karasick, a wrestler star of yesteryear, runs the sport in the islands.

Despite the curls and perfume, Gorgeous George is a pretty fair matster. Before becoming GG, he was George Wagner and holder of the Pacific Coast light-heavy diadem.

Jules Strongbow follwers now can catch the giant Indian twice a week on their video sets. Jules holds forth at the Hollywood Legion on Monday and has his own show on Wednesdays. The latter program is called "Ramona and Jules at Home."

Of course, pretty Ramona is Mrs. Strongbow.

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Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs Nonpareil
2 Januar 1948

Amateur Fights Scheduled for Tuesday Night

Council Bluffs will have some amateur fights Tuesday night, Ralph Hayes, local promoter announced Friday.

The night bout card has been lined up as a tune-up for several of the local Glove aspirants.

Hillside club of Omaha will furnish most of the opposition for the Bluffs kids on the Tuesday card. Bluffs team will be made up of a combination of battlers from the American Legion and Blue Star teams. Both teams have been training under Hayes.

Heavyweight feature will see Ed (Junior Bearcat) Wright in action. Young Wright, son of the famous Bearcat of former days, is a South Omaha boy, but he will be fighting with the Bluffs team Tuesday. He does not intend to enter Golden Gloves competition this year. Reason for having him on the card, Hayes explained, was that there is no heavyweight on either of the other teams.