Also known as George Bowden
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“Ex Russian Army Officer” proclaimed the wrestling balderdash. That was highly unlikely we feel as George Bowden, the alter ego of Karl Romsky, was born in Sheffield on 29th January, 1897, and worked in one of the Sheffield Steel Works by day. He was one of the earliest entrants into the All-In rings following it’s emergence in December, 1930.
Our earliest recorded match for George Bowden comes on February, 1931, wrestling Johanfesson at the Astoria, Morecambe. The link between Johanfesson and Bowden is strong, the former likely being the mentor of George and creator of the Russian persona. In 1931 Johanfesson revived his “music hall roadshow” of taking on four opponents in one night, and enrolled Romsky as one of his regular opponents.
Little Hackenschmidt and Strangler Johnson were also frequent opponents during Romsky’s short career that we can find no later than 1933. Romsky was known for taking part in particularly brutal contests, even by All-In standards. It seemed that nothing was limited, with one newspaper reporting fans disappointed in his match because there was so little biting.
It was a match against George Strangler Johnson, described by the press as “savage and brutal” that came to national attention when Johnson died following the contest at Romskey’s local Hall in Attercliffe, Sheffield. The inquest, recorded a verdict of death by heart failure, adding that wrestling ought to be barred. Questions about the death of Strangler Johnson and the need to regulate wrestling, were raised in Parliament. Although previously involved in dozens of seemingly brutal matches George Johnson and George Bowden were good friends.
We assume the death had an impact on George Bowden as the name Karl Romskey disappeared soon afterwards, our last recorded match being in November,1933 apart from a re-appearance for a handful of matches in 1935. In the 1939 census George Bowden was registered as a steel worker in Sheffield.
George Bowden died in June 1967, aged 70.
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