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23 January 1935
St Leonards of all places. Who would have believed it? Wild scenes were reported from the genteel south coast resort when All In wrestling made it’s debut at the New Palace Pier Pavilion in St Leonards, courtesy of promoters D and P Lannon.
Oakeley was an English gentleman and Rosenberg was described as “the sneering, jeering Jew,” so at least the fans had been given the heads-up on who to support.
“Sport knows no creed,” announced the Master of Ceremonies. No, we are not sure what he was getting at either, and presumably neither did Atholl Oakeley or Herbie Rosenberg as they displayed “the worst display in local sporting circles for many years.“ That’s what the local papers said, though they didn’t specify whether they were referring to Rosenberg’s refusal to shake hands with the English gentleman, him punching Oakeley in the stomach before the match had started, the two wrestlers chasing each other around the ring, the referee being dragged by one or the other, or the general level of kicking, biting, strangling and gouging that was going on.
The crowd booed and told the referee to halt Rosenberg in his tracks. The newspaper took this as an indication they did not like the new sport, apparently unaware that this was how wrestling fans behaved.
At one point the referee temporarily halted the contest and, called on the M.C. to assist him as he took Rosenberg to one side to reason with him and show him the errors of his ways. The fight resumed and Rosenberg promptly punched Oakeley and gained the first fall. The fans were incensed by this ungentlemanly display. This wasn’t what the people of St Leonards expected. No more wrestling here.
Oakeley now needed his inner strength and the newspaper reporter observed that he found it when he gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes.
The bell ended the round and the sneering and jeering Rosenberg spent the entire interval “with his eyes fixed on Oakeley.” These dastardly foreigners would try anything it seems.
The match resumed. It was all different now. The gallant Brit punched the foreigner and how the crowd cheered. Oakeley tortured Rosenberg unmercifully. More cheering. He knuckled his face, he twisted his nose. This was more like it. Until Rosenberg pulled the heroic Englander’s hair. That was too much! The crowd went hysterical and the referee could control his feelings no more, so he pulled Herbie’s hair.
This was the moment for Atholl to make his move. One punch and Rosenberg was out for the count. It was all over. Fifteen minutes it took. Well almost over. Rosenberg, the one dissatisfied person in the hall went for Oakeley once again. The heroic referee jumped on his back and rode him piggy-back around the ring whilst the M.C. announced it had all been such good fun the promoter would put on a return contest and they could do it all again. How the fans cheered!
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