15 March 1912
Birth of Costas Astreos
Read our tribute to Costas Astreos
15 March 1929
Birth of Stefan Milla
Read our tribute to Stefan Milla
15 March 1934
Birth of Dick Conlon
Read our tribute to Dick Conlon
15 March 1938
Do you Want A Chair?
Chairs were thrown into the ring at Tufnell Park Palais, aimed at German Karl Reginsky. Not sure if it was the goose stepping or the Nazi salute that upset the fans, or maybe they had just realised he wasn’t German but had been born in St. Pancras, London.
15 March 1972
Euro Belts
Two European titles were contested at the Royal Albert Hall. Mick McManus defeated Alan Colbeck by two falls to one to retain the Middleweight title, whilst Jim Breaks fended off Johnny Saint in the lightweight division. For once Colbeck was the fans’ favourite. McManus took the lead in round four, McManus equalised in round seven and took the winning submission in the eighth. The contest between Saint and Breaks ended in a ten round draw, Breaks gaining a fall in round three with Saint equalising in the sixth.
15 March 1978
Marino Wins
At the Royal Albert Hall in London Mike Marino stopped Terry Rudge to retain the World Mid heavyweight title.
16 March 1954
Gentleman Jim
Jim Lewis retained the World Welterweight title against Jack Dempsey at Hull.
16 March 1959
Dempsey Wins
Jack Dempsey drew with Jack Cunningham at High Wycombe in British welterweight championship
16 March 1962
Joyce Holds On
Billy Joyce retained the British heavyweight title against Dennis Mitchell in Glasgow.
16 March 1964
Snow Hazard
When wrestling was held in Billy Smart’s circus tent in Sheffield the show was almost cancelled due to a snow blizzard. The local fire brigade were called in to hose snow off the big top roof.
16 March 1965
Today In Parliament
Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, Sir John Langford Holt asked the Postmaster General, Tony Benn, if he would require the Independent Television Authority to refrain from broadcasting bogus wrestling contests. Mr Benn replied that he would not.
16 March 1973
Pallo and Son Injured
Jackie Pallo and his son were involved in a car crash on the M6 when their car swerved and went down an embankment near Sproston, Cheshire. They were treated at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.
16 March 1979
Veidor Beats Welshman
At Liverpool Stadium a Wrestling Enterprises (Independent) programme and Steve Veidor defended the European heavyweight title against Dave Morgan.
16 March 1984
Mighty Quinn Was Mighty
A Wrestling Enterprises (Independent) World Heavyweight title clash at Liverpool Stadium saw John Quinn beat Wayne Bridges
17 March ?
Birth of Alan Wood
Alan Wood is in the A-Z
17 March 1905
Birth of Joe Reid
Read our tribute to Joe Reid
17 March 1926
Birth of George Nuttall
George Nuttall is in the A-Z
17 March 1931
Birth of Bob Steele
Read our tribute to Bob Steele
17 March 1931
Buckets, Spades and Wrestling in Southport
All In wrestling made it’s debut at the Winter Gardens in Southport when Billy Riley defeated Jack Harrison by two straight falls.
17 March 1949
Just what was going on?
At the Victoria Baths in Nottingham Bert Assirati was disqualified after ten seconds of his contest with Carl Van Wurden. Assirati came from his corner, grabbed Van Wurden in a headlock, headed towards the ropes and refused to break the hold. When the referee stepped between the two men he was struck by Assirati and it was game over.
Unsurprisingly fans were none too happy to see their main event ended so abruptly and were pacified by promoter Ted Beresford putting on an extra match pitting himself with Belgian Albert Peeters, who retired in round three.
In the other matches George Kidd beat Carlton Smith, Bob McDonald beat Tony Van Hall, and Ron Jackson defeated Dai Sullivan.
17 March 1952
The Masked Not So Marvellous
At Derby Count Bartelli defeated The Masked Marvel in a loser to unmask contest. The Masked Marvel removed the hood to reveal Tim McCoy.
17 March 1964
Riley Keeps Hold
Ernie Riley beat Bob Sweeney by two falls to one in Huddersfield to keep the British light heavyweight title
17 March 1966
Billy Joyce Returns
In Nottingham Billy Joyce defeated Gwyn Davies to regain the British heavyweight title.
18 March 1949
Death of Victor Berliner
18 March 1949
Assirati Wins Again
Bert Assirati beat Dave Jons to retain the British Heavyweight championship.
18 March 1968
Artist Green Falls Foul to Another Type of Artistry
Jim Breaks beat Roger Green at the St George’s Hall in Bradford to retain the British welterweight title.
18 March 1981
A Quick Win for Cortez
Jon Cortez beat Jim Breaks at the Royal Albert Hall to win the European lightweight title. Contested over twelve three minute rounds Cortez went into an early lead with a fall in the first round. Breaks equalised with a submission in round six followed by a winning submission to Cortez in the seventh. It was all over with a new champion in under twenty minutes. The days of hard fought 60 minutes and more title matches seemed like a world away.
18 March 1986
Nearly man Jackie
Jim Breaks defeated Jackie Robinson at the Hatherly Manor Hotel in Cheltenham to retain the (Independent) European Lightweight title.
18 March 1986
Big Pat Wins Title
Pat Roach defeated Ray Steel to win the British heavyweight title.
19 March 1903
Birth of Mario Magisti
Read our tribute to Mario Magisti
19 March 1935
Wrestling Beats The Count
Blackburn Town Hall Committee recommended that the Council should reject an application to hire the King George’s Hall for the purpose of wrestling. Six tournaments had already taken place, attracting up to 3,000 fans, but there was opposition on the grounds of brutality. Fortunately, for wrestling, the council rejected the advice.
19 March 1937
A Right Royal Do
Six nights of wrestling had begun at Belle Vue on 12th March advertised as “A Grand Coronation Tournament” Standings at the end of the tournament were:1. Tiger Daula; 2. Karl Pojello; 3. Bert Mansfield; 4. Bill Garnon; 5. Fazal the Flower; 6. Padvo Peltonin; 7. Aussie the Butcher; Withdrawn: Bonnie Alan Muir
19 March 1954
Baldwin Retains Title
Ernest Baldwin defended the British Heavyweight title against Francis Gregory at Leicester
19March 1983
Skull Murphy KO’d
At the Grove Sports Centre in Grantham Marty Jones knocked out Skull Murphy to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title.
20 March 1931
Birth of Orig Williams
Read our tribute to Orig Williams
20 March 1945
McDonald Succumbs to Champion’s Speciality
British heavyweight champion Bert Assirati overcame challenger Robert McDonald at the Caird Hall, Dundee. McDonald went on the offensive from the start and dominated the opening round before taking the first fall in the second round. A short lived success as Assirati brought into play his favoured Boston Crab to gain an equalising submission in the third round and a repeat of the move to win in the fourth.
20 March 1951
Bartelli Knocked Out
Yes, it seems to be true. Newspapers report that the match between Mike Marino and Count Bartelli at Aberdeen’s Music Hall ended when Bartelli had a “terrific impact with the ropes” and was knocked out. There was nu unmasking and the result was conveniently forgotten. Until now.
20 March 1952
Fire!
Fire broke out at the Sports Arena in Scarborough ten minutes after 700 wrestling fans had left the hall. Forty firemen tackled the blaze for two hours before bringing it under control.
20 March 1952
McManus Too Good for Joyce
Mick McManus retained the British welterweight title and Arena Gold Belt against challenger Ken Joyce at the Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds.
20 March 1964
Experience Counts
Norman Walsh beat Steve Veidor at the Govan Town Hall in Glasgow to retain the British Mid Heavyweight title.
20 March 1972
Wigan Derby
Billy Joyce defeated Jack Fallon in Derby to retain the British light heavyweight title.
21 March 1931
Birth of John Allan
Read our tribute to John Allan
21 March 1933
Birth of Jim Farrell
Read our tribute to Jim Farrell
21 March 1940
Unmasked!
In February 1940 the Red Devil knocked out the Black Owl in a disputed decision that left both wrestlers identity concealed. In a return contest The Black Owl promised to unmask if beaten for a second time. It took four rounds until a decision was reached with the only submission of the match; a win for the Red Devil. The ceremonial unmasking took place to reveal the features of Jules Kiki, purportedly a Spaniard from the East End of London.
21 March 1941
Death of Billy Bridgewater
Billy Bridgewater is in the Promoters A-Z
21 March 1951
The Not So Gorgeous Gorgeous Gael
Ex boxer Two Ton Tony Galento KO’d Jack Doyle at Harringay.
21 March 1952
Mr Universe
Vince Edwards announced that he was turning professional wrestler after winning the Mr Universe contest.
21 March 1962
Colbeck Retains Title
Alan Colbeck retained the European welterweight title when challenged by Mick McManus.
21 March 1968
Kidd Beats Frenchman
George Kidd defeated Julien Maurice at the Paisley Ice Rink to retain the World Lightweight title.
21 March, 1983
Skull Not So Much A Hard Nut
Marty Jones defeated Skull Murphy in Aylesbury to retain the world Mid Heavyweight title.
21 March 1984
Title Change Hands
Two British title matches and two new champions at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Alan Kilby lost the British Heavy Middleweight title to Chic Cullen. Danny Collins defeated Jim Breaks to win the British welterweight title.
21 March 1998
Death of Ron Fury
Ron Fury is in the A-Z
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