14 December 1931
Croydon Gets In On The Act
The first All-In wrestling show at the Croydon Stadium. In the main event Atholl Oakeley made a defence of the British heavyweight title against Cordite Conroy.
14 December 1932
Doug Gets A New Job
Douglas Clark was appointed manager of the wrestling at Leeds Brunswick Stadium, succeeding Bob Norman and Tom Smith. He said he would not stage All-In rules but All-British rules wrestling.
14 December 1933
Birth of Axel Dieter
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14 December 1936
Brave or Foolish?
When Miss Jubilee the opponent of female wrestler May Brewer failed to appear at Chesterfield Rendezvouz male wrestler Strangler Gregg offered to take her place. In the third round May Brewer put the Strangler’s wrist out and he was taken to hospital for the bone to be put right.
14 December 1957
Unmasqued!
The Dark Owl defeated and unmasked Le Masque at the Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn. Le Masque was Bill Coverdale.
14 December 1967
Death of Eric Day
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14 December 1990
Death of Ted Beresford
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14 December 1995
Death of Eric Sands
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15 December 1930
The Revolution Starts Here
This was the day it all began, with the introduction of “American Catch as Catch Can” rules in Manchester and London. The rules, which permitted previously unheard of holds and submission moves, were to become commonly known as “All In.” “All In” referred to the incorporation of a variety of styles, not the frequent misconception that anything was allowed. Two shows took place simultaneously, one at Belle Vue in Manchester, and the second, promoted by Lionel Bettinson, the Managing Director of the National Sporting Club, at Olympia in London. Both events were boxing shows with wrestling contests added at the end of the evening. Henry Irslinger defeated the Yugoslavian, George Modrich, at the National Sporting Club, Olympia, over three ten minute rounds. Billy Riley beat Bill Garnon at Belle Vue, Manchester and Atholl Oakeley overcame Bert Assirati in a contest advertised as a British heavyweight championship eliminator. Whilst some boxing fans left prior to the wrestling matches most were inquisitive enough to stay to witness the new spectacle, and newspapers reported new admirers who switched from laughing to cheering the contestants
15 December 1930
A Point of No Return
Wrestling returned to Doncaster after a break of around a quarter of a century. The champion amateur wrestler Harold Angus promoted a show in which he wrestled professional Alex Munroe, lightweight champion of Scotland. In advance of the promotion Angus received a letter from the national Wrestling Association stating he would forfeit his amateur status if he went ahead with the show. He ignored the warning and won his contest with Munroe on points and challenged anyone in the world under 10 stone 4 pounds. In other matches Billy Angus beat J. Rawlinson, George Bryan defeated Tom McDermot and C. Butcher defeated Young Appleyard. Following the programme Angus received notification he was no longer recognised as an amateur wrestler.
15 December 1932
Praise Indeed
In the early days the press were more generous towards pro wrestling. Praise was given to both Atholl Oakeley and Jack Pye, both of whom wrestled cleanly and scientifically as Oakeley retained his British heavyweight championship at the Ring, Blackfriars, in a match described as “an exhibition of locks and holds.” Oakeley was said to be the stronger of the two while Pye was plucky and skilful.
15 December 1933
‘Ow Much?
Wrestler Joseph Sheppard, known as Johanfesson, appeared at Nottingham County Court to apply for for the reduction of an order for the payment of installments of a printing account. Questioned about his income from his wrestling incredulity was expressed, and that no man would risk so much for so little. Asked about his income and forthcoming match against “Atholl Oakeley, who is champion of Great Britain.” Johanfesson replied “”Yes, but I am champion of the world and I am in the County Court.” Whether it was a matter of despair or compassion the judge agreed that the amount should be paid in four instalments.
15 December 1941
Death of the Wrestling Czar
Harold Lane, known as the Czar of All-In wrestling died at his home in Wimbledon Park. It was at Lane’s wrestling club that he pioneered All-In wrestling in the 1930’s.
15 December 1953
Jack Conquers Europe
Jack Dempsey defeated Switzerland’s Lucien Guillou to win the European welterweight title.
15 December 1982
Death of Chati Yokouchi
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15 December 2010
Death of Jake Dutch Zorra
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16 December 1936
More Sunday Trouble
Leeds promoter Tom Mallinson was fined £1 for each of the five times he was found guilty of promoting wrestling on Sunday. With fines for Sunday wrestling becoming more commonplace some promoters attempted to steer clear of the law by forming clubs with fans paying for membership of the club rather than entry. The Daily Worker newspaper spoke in support of the scheme as the newspaper claimed some working men could only attend wrestling on Sunday.
16 December 1938
Defeat for Doug
At Belle Vue, Manchester, Jack Sherry retained his world heavyweight title when Douglas Clark was disqualified for using his knee in the seventh round.
16 December 1939
McLauchlan Keeps Title
At the St James Hall in Newcastle retained the World cruiserweight title when he defeated Vic Hessle by two falls to one. Hessle was the more aggressive of the two from the start, with McLauchlan holding on in the second round when subject to a lot of punishment. Having endured the onslaught Canadian McLauchlan came back to take the first fall with a double leg nelson in round three. It took two rounds for Hessle to equalise with a fifth round body press. In the sixth and last of the ten minute rounds Hessle again went on the attack until brought to a halt by the champion with a double leg nelson to take the winner.
16 December 1947
He’s a Lightweight Wizard
George Kidd beat Tony Lawrence in the final of a knock out tournament to win the Scottish lightweight title. Lawrence failed to beat the count in the fourth round.
16 December 1961
Double Champions
Two British championships headed the bill at Belle Vue. Local champion Tommy Mann beat Chic Purvey 2-1 to keep his British middleweight title. Eric Taylor beat Clayton Thomson by two falls to one to keep the British Heavy-Middleweight title
16 December 2024
Death of Meru Ullah
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17 December 1921
Birth of Frank Valois
Frank Valois is in the A-Z
17 December 1962
Kidd Too Good
George Kidd defeated Julien Maurice in Leeds to retain the World Lightweight Championship.
17 December 1968
Breaks Champion Again
In Leeds Jim Breaks defeated Al Miquet to regain the British lightweight title.
17 December 1977
Shock Result Displeases Fans
Mark Rocco retained the British heavy middleweight title at Hanley when challenger Kung Fu was disqualified.
17 December 1983
Champion Again
In the British light heavyweight title match in Hanley the challenger Marty Jones regained the title by defeating champion Dave Finlay by a fall and a submission to one fall in the ninth of twelve rounds.
18 December 1931
A Marvel, But He Wasn’t Our First Masked Man.
Heritage member Phil Lyons has alerted us to a visiting French wrestler in 1876, L’Homme Masque. But in the modern era The Masked Marvel of 1931 was a forerunner.
We find him on the 18th December in Manchester beating Angus McCheyne of Aberdeen. It was said that he had been educated at Eton, believe that if you will. He came with a promise to unmask if defeated. An even earlier Masked Marvel, Mort Henderson, had appeared in New York in 1911.
18 December 1936
Birth of Mal Kirk
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18 December 1950
The Wrong Type of People
Councillor C.E. Ebbutt led the objections to wrestling being staged at Croydon Baths, claiming it was fake and would attract the wrong type of people. Wrestling had been staged in Croydon prior to the war and one councillor claimed there was more trouble in dance halls than wrestling shows. A three month trial was agreed.
18 December 2012
Death of Gordon Nelson
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18 December 2022
Death of Karl Kramer
Karl Kramer is in the A-Z
19 December 1912
Birth of Bob Silcock
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19 December 1927
Birth of Fred Bentley
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19 December 1932
Wrestling Comes To Leeds
Wrestling had earlier been staged outdoors in Leeds but on this day the first professional wrestling show was held at the Brunswick Stadium, promoted by Douglas Clark. The matches were contested under what Clark described as “All British” rules. Four matches were included with Harry Brooks defeating Ex Guardsman Fisher by two falls to one in the main event. Harry Smith defeated Jim Tullett by the same margin, whilst in one fall matches, Arthur Liversedge beat Bill Smith and Leo Lightbody beat Carl Romsky.
19 December 1933
Wrestler Turns Boxer
In most cases it was the other way round, but on this occasion it was a successful wrestler who turned to boxing. Mitchell Gill, using the name Pat Delaney, won his second pro boxing match when he beat Bill Partridge at Olympia on points over six rounds.
19 December 1933
Australian Boxer Makes Wrestling Debut
Australian professional heavyweight boxer Rene Morris made his debut as a wrestler in Holborn. It was reported that he showed little wrestling ability but his boxing prowess was enough for a win over Ted Howe.
19 December 1964
Walsh Loses Title
The reign of Norman Walsh as British Mid Heavyweight champion came to an end at his local hall, the Farrer Street Stadium in Middlesbrough. Farmer John Allan took the title with a two falls to one win over eight rounds.
19 December 1981
A Close Shave for the Challenger
World Heavy Middleweight Champion Mark Rocco retained the title when he beat Dynamite Kid by a fourth round technical knock out at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. The condition was that the loser should shave his head.
20 December 1931
Fireworks and a Damp Squib
A week is a long time in politics and a year in wrestling was an entirely new age in 1931. Just twelve months earlier Harold Angus had revived professional wrestling in Doncaster and forfeited his amateur status for his troubles. Precisely a year later there was excitement at Doncaster’s Grand Theatre as their local hero, Angus, wrestled a champion from an earlier era, Peter Gotz, who was still claiming to be lightweight champion of the world. Gotz had been a champion wrestler at the turn of the century and was now capitalising on it’s latest revival. In the Music Hall tradition he offered £25 to anyone who could beat him, £20 to those lasting 20 minutes and £5 for those lasting 10 minutes.
The men got to grips. The 10 minute mark neared, five quid looked in the bank and more to come.
Ten Minutes gone and suddenly the referee ordered the bell should be rang. Why? Asked the fans. What? Asked Angus. A bit of a tussle in the ring, and what the press described as “liveliness” prevailed. All was revealed when the referee explained that Angus had proved himself by lasting 10 minutes and deserved his £5.
Needless to say not many went home happy.
20 December 1931
Birth of Kim Kendo
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20 December 1933
Birth of Hans Streiger
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20 December 1935
Sunday, Bloomin’ Sunday
The on-going controversy of wrestling bouts taking place on Sunday continued. The jury returned a Not Guilty verdict when Alf Allen was charged with promoting wrestling on Sunday. Although tickets stated Alf Allen was the promoter there was no proof that he had ordered printing of the tickets.
20 December 1977
A Night To Remember
An extraordinary ceremony at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton as Kendo Nagasaki voluntarily unmasked.
20 December1980
King Rocco
Marty Jones retained the British Light Heavyweight title when he defeated The Dynamite Kid by two falls to one in Hanley.
20 December 1991
Death of Sam Rabin
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21 December 1943
Birth of Alan Kilby
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