01 February 1907
Birth of George Clark
Read our tribute to George Clarke
01 February 1939
Hard Earned Cash
Jack Sherry and Karl Reginsky earned their money at the Tower Theatre in New Brighton. In a World heavyweight title defence Sherry was held to a draw by Reginsky over ten rounds with neither man scoring a fall. This was a return contest with Reginsky having been disqualified the previous week.
01 February 1950
Trouble Ahead for the Gorgeous Gael
The Wrestling Federation of Great Britain, an association of professional wrestlers with the aim of protecting wrestlers expressed concerns about the pending debut of former boxer Jack Doyle. One of the objectives of the Federation was that only wrestlers licensed by the Federation would be eligible to wrestle on programmes that included their wrestlers. Federation Secretary Ray St Bernard said Doyle had applied for a licence but failed to turn up at a gym in Brixton for a trial before Federation board members. Doyle had been informed that he would have another opportunity to appear before the Board, in Manchester, the Sunday before his debut.
01 February 1951
Death of Douglas Clark
Read our tribute to Douglas Clark
01 February 1954
A Popular Win for Walsh
A win for Norman Walsh was rarely met with such approval as on this occasion when he successfully defended his World Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Music Hall in Aberdeen. The object of the fans’ wrath was Black Butcher Johnson. He had roused the ire of the mob in the second round when almost a dozen times he threw Walsh across the ring in such a way that Walsh’s neck was caught on the bottom rope. With the fans now against him Johnson cemented that relationship by repeatedly using his fists and a bit of hair pulling thrown in for good measure. Stewards were called to surround the ring just in case vocal disapproval was not enough for the fans. Walsh rallied towards the end of the third round but the challenger was back again in round four and took the opening fall with a shoulder press. All was not lost and leg locks in the fifth and sixth of the ten minute rounds secured a win for the champion.
01 February 1955
Wizardry and Good Fortune
At the Caird Hall in Dundee George Kidd retained his World Lightweight title against Judah Ischa Israel. Kidd won by two falls to one in the seventh round.
On the same programme Alan Colbeck was fortunate to retain his European welterweight title against France’s Lucien Lageat. Newspapers reported a lucky win for Colbeck as the French wrestler was the more powerful of the two and looked like a winner until the deciding fall.
01 February 1982
Champion Wins
Steve Grey beat Sid Cooper at Tunbridge Wells to retain the British lightweight title.
01 February 1983
Two for the Price of One
It was double championship night at the Princes Hall in Aldershot, an independent show. Johnny Saint fended off the challenge of Johnny England in a World lightweight title match whilst European heavyweight champion Johnny Kincaid defeated John Kowalski.
01 February 2019
Death of Les Thornton
Read our tribute to Les Thornton
02 February 1928
Birth of Ramon Napolitano
Read our tribute to Ramon Napolitano
02 February 1932
British Championship.
In Edinburgh the English champion Harold Angus drew with the Scottish champion, Alex Munro in a match advertised as the British championship. The match, was held over three ten minute rounds. Angus, the faster and more aggressive of the two, was awarded the first round on points. Munro was much more aggressive in the second round, with some clever counter holds from Angus. Munro’s round. The third and final round was more even but again passed without either man pinning his opponent. The referee declared the contest a draw.
02 February 1939
Grapplers KO’D
Middlesex County Council declared wrestling an objectionable form of entertainment and banned it.
02 February 1940
Birth of Mel Stuart
Mel Stuart is in the A-Z
02 February 1968
A Spiritual Awakening For Wrestler
Police raided the Dunroamin’ Hotel at Bonar Bridge, home of former wrestler George Clark. They found various instruments used for making whisky. George Clark was charged with evading Customs Duty.
02 February 1980
Death of Johnny Yearsley
Read our tribute to Johnny Yearsley
02 February 1901
Birth of Cliff Attenborough
Read our tribute to Cliff Attenborough
02 February 1978
Saint Goes Marching On
In Nottingham Johnny Saint defeated Zoltan Boscik to retain the World lightweight title.
03 February 1888
Birth of Aubrey Coleman
Read our tribute to Aubrey Coleman
03 February 1909
Birth of Jack Tulley (Red Staranoff)
Read our tribute to Red Staranoff
03 February 1910
Birth of Ski Hi Lee
Read our tribute to Ski Hi Lee
03 February 1933
Wrestling Comes To York
All In wrestling made it’s debut in York and the big guns were out with Douglas Clark topping the bill. It took Clark just three of the six rounds to overcome The Black Tiger. Clark took the first after 5 minutes 30 seconds of the second round and the winner just half a minute later. In supporting matches Harry Brooks beat Tiger Joe Slattery by two falls to one, Eric Fisher beat Jack Dunne two falls to nil in just two rounds and Harry Smith pinned Kid Tullet.
03 February 1943
Birth of Colin Joynson
Read our tribute to Colin Joynson
03 February 1950
Tough Challenger Isn’t Tough Enough
The Coronation Ballroom in Ramsgate was host to the Empire Heavyweight Championship contest when Bert Assirati made his defence against Australian Frank Hurley. It was a much anticipated return match as Hurley had given the champion a hard time in the same hall a few weeks earlier. Scheduled for six ten minute rounds the Australian took an early lead in the second. It took only minutes for Assirati to equalise and they went into round four all square. Not for long as Assirati’s power proved his superiority and Hurley was counted out.
03 February 1975
No Tears For Cry Baby
In Nottingham Jim Breaks beat Johnny Saint to win the British welterweight title.
03 February 1975
Wrestlers Floored
It was all systems go for an exciting night of professional wrestling at Newbury Corn Exchange. Mitzi Mueller was ready, Beautiful Bobby Barron was ready. The only thing missing was a wrestling ring. Promoter Brian Dixon told 600 fans that the van carrying the ring had been involved in a car crash. An improvised ring was made on judo mats laid out on the floor. Fans were offered a refund that around fifty were said to have accepted.i
04 February 1933
A Close Call
For almost an hour it looked as thought British heavyweight champion Atholl Oakeley was about to lose his title at the New St James Hall in Newcastle. His match against challenger Jack Pye was over six ten minute rounds and went the full distance. Pye took the lead in the third round and it was not until the sixth that a flying mare from Oakeley gained him the equaliser.
04 February 1935
Angus Reigns
Harold Angus defended the British welterweight title against Jack Owens at the Civic Hall in Exeter.
04 February 1936
Improvements Wanted.
The Daily Worker was the most likely national newspaper to print generally positive comments about wrestling. They continued this theme, though called for further improvements to cleanse the game. Admiration was noted for Ben Sherman, George Gregory, Jack Sherry, Billy Bartush and others but the newspaper called for riddance of hair-pullers, kickers and pail-throwers. This buffoonery, they said, was encouraged by a small but loud section of the public who knew little about wrestling. Simple action was required to rid the sport of these bad elements, but the required co-operation of promoters and wrestlers was currently lacking. The article concluded: “Perhaps the best impetus for bringing about this position would be for wrestlers to organise into a body, their own bread and butter position should make them feel the need quite keenly.”
04 February 1948
Tank Warfare
Clem Lawrence was the unfortunate challenger to face Bert Assirati in the British Heavyweight title match at the Winter Gardens, Eastbourne. With Assirati at least apparently groggy and almost out Lawrence lifted him above his head (with hindsight not the best tactics) collapsed under his weight and was counted out.
04 February 1952
Farmers Boy Still Champion
At the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells, a Dale Martin promotion, Harry Fields retained the British middleweight title against Kid Pittman.
04 February 1959
Wrestling Comes To Evesham
Evesham Town Council agreed to hire out the Town Hall for professional wrestling, at a charge of £10 per show.
04 February 1970
Euro Champ
In Lincoln Alan Colbeck knocked out Mick McMichael to retain the European welterweight title.
04 February 1974
Wrestling On Thin Ice
It was championship night at the Nottingham Ice Rink, a Morrell-Beresford Promotion. In a match for the vacant European Heavyweight title Albert Wall defeated Steve Veidor. Jim Breaks retained the European Lightweight title against Zoltan Boscik and Bobby Barnes failed in his quest to win the British heavy middleweight title with Bert Royal the winner.
04 February 1983
A Sleeping Giant
Giant Haystacks had complained about the number of beds he had broken and challenged all bed manufacturers to make a bed that would support his weight. Silentnight responded to the challenge and delivered a six feet wide divan with strengthened springing to the wrestler’s home.
04 February 1997
Death of Ray Apollon
Read our tribute to Ray Apollon
05 February 1922
Birth of David Jons
Read our tribute to David Jons
05 February 1937
No Bite From The Bulldog
Prior to his European Heavyweight title match against champion Karl Pojello the Welsh champion Bulldog Bill Garnon had said he was confident he would be the first British wrestler to last more than forty minutes against Pojello. It was not to be. Pojello took the lead with the first fall in the second round. Just ten seconds in to the third round he secured a win when Garnon submitted.
05 February 1942
Birth of Tony Vince
Tony Vince is in the A-Z
05 February 1951
Marathon Men
It was described as the best contest for many a day. That was at Aberdeen’s Music Hall when Mike Marino wrestled Mike DeMitre for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. The match went the full 100 minutes without rounds, with one break of three minutes following sixty minutes of wrestling. Neither man was able to score a fall and DeMitre retained the title.
05 February 1955
King Ernie
Ernest Baldwin defended the British heavyweight title against Tony Mancelli at the Corn Hall in Norwich.
05 February 1962
Taylor Is Eurostar
Eric Taylor beat Jan Brouwers in Leeds to win the vacant European Heavy Middleweight Title.
05 February 1966
King of Queens
The huge Queens Hall in Leeds was the venue for a world championship clash. George Kidd put his world lightweight title on the line against British champion Jim Breaks. Referee was Douglas DeRelwyskow. The tenacity and hard edge for which Breaks became known was evident from the start with a series of punishing wrist locks. Kidd’s resistance proved largely ineffective and Breaks clearly had the advantage wherever George rolled, twisted or turned in the way that only he could. Whatever George tried it seemed to end with one of those left wrist locks. A worn down Kidd finally succumbed and Breaks took the lead in round two.
When battle resumed there was no let-up from Breaks. Again he was on the attack. Then the end came abruptly, and in the eyes of many, unjustly. An upward back heel to the inside of Kidd’s left thigh and the champion went down clutching his thigh. Some protested that the kick was fair and had landed on the inside thigh. Yet referee Relwyskow waved his arms frantically to declare the contest was all over and ruled “no contest.”
05 February 2013
Death of Brian Manelli
Read our tribute to Brian Manelli
05 February ?
Birth of Steve Grey
Read our tribute to Steve Grey
06 February 1905
Birth of Promoter Jack Cullen.
Leigh born (of Irish descent) Jack Cullen headed Premier Northern Wrestling Promotions Cullen started promoting in the 1930s and was promoter of Count Bartelli’s first match (as Jeff Conda in those days) at Broadway Palace, Chester, in 1939. He was also promoter at the Ideal Skating Rink in Hanley, Parr Hall, Warrington and at the Tower in New Brighton. In September, 1940, he was fined £20 for not paying stamp duty on tickets he sold at Hanley. His address was given as Dorset Road, Atherton, Manchester.
06 February 1932
Birth of Don Vines
Don Vines is in the A-Z
06 February 1940
Give Us A Song
Travel hold-ups led to a bit of unusual entertainment at The Stadium, Farrer Street in Middlesbrough. When the first two bouts were completed three of the four remaining wrestlers had still not arrived. Promoter Arthur Clarance led community singing and invited volunteers to sing solo. Among them was Harry Pye who sang the French national anthem, and received a bigger cheer than in any of his wrestling matches. Fortunately the remaining wrestlers arrived and the show continued after a thirty minute delay.
06 February 1945
Wrestler Divorced
Renee F. Howe of Lambeth was granted a decree nisi on the grounds of desertion by her husband known as Black Butcher Johnson.
05 February 1950
As Fit as the Monster
The Sunday Express reported that ex boxer Jack Doyle, they referred to him as that “Gorgeous Hunk of Gael” was preparing for his wrestling debut on Tuesday against Estonian champion Bucth at Loch Ness. Doyle declared that he was as fit as the monster. (Two days later the London Evening News reported that Doyle had arrived in London after training in Devon; but that wouldn’t have given as good headline.
06 February 1956
Dempsey In Nine
Frank Woodhouse was promoter at the King’s Hall in Derby when Jack Dempsey defended his British welterweight title against Martin Conroy. Dempsey retained the championship with a win in the ninth round.
06 February 1963
Stranded.
The worst blizzard of the century hit Scotland. A group of wrestlers that included Cowboy Jack Cassidy were heading home to Manchester. They didn’t get far before abandoning their car near Abington in Lanarkshire.
06 February 2008
Death of Zando Zabo
Read our tribute to Zando Zabo
06 February 2020
Death of Tony Vallon
Read our tribute to Tony Vallon
06 February 2022
Death of The Empress of the Black Dagger
Read our tribute to The Empress of The Black Dagger
07 February 1950
Entry of the Gorgeous Gael.
Read our account of the wrestling debut of Jack Doyle
07 February 1956
An Ehrly Bath for the Champ T
Tommy Mann lost his world middleweight title to Germany’s Wolfgang Ehrl when he was disqualified at the Music Hall, Aberdeen. The wrestlers were level with one fall each when the referee sent Mann back to the dressing room.
07 February 1958
Thesz Held
In a World Heavyweight title match Geoff Portz held champion Lou Thesz to a draw at the Cossington Street Baths in Leicester.
07 February 1966
Riss Conquers
Mel Riss was a popular winner when he defeated Jack Dempsey by two falls to one in the sixth round at the King’s Hall, Derby, to win the British welterweight title.
07 February 1973
Clever Planning
Wrestling’s greatest feud took another twist and turn at the Royal Albert Hall. Mick McManus, who was now the proud holder of the European middleweight title put his belt on the line against his old foe, Jackie Pallo. The two men had played out their rivalry to perfection for over a decade. A win for Pallo was a rarity indeed and it looked as though this night could be the night of the blue moon. After appearing to win with a submission Pallo failed to release the hold and was immediately disqualified leaving McManus still the champion. The scene was now set for another McManus v Pallo which would once again be the highlight of the Royal Albert Hall end-of-season spectacular in May 1973.
07 February 1976
Bobby Ryan Champion
Local boy Bobby Ryan must have proved a popular winner when he retained the European lightweight title at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. Challenger was British champion Jim Breaks, who took an early lead with a fall in round two. Ryan equalised with a fall in round seven and took a winning submission in the eleventh round.
07 February 1978
Dynamite
Dynamite Kid defeated Alan Bardouille in Hull to keep hold of the British lightweight title.
07 February 1981
Golden Boy Shines
Mike Marino beat Le Grand Vladimir at the Agricultural Hall in Maidstone to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title.
07 February 1986
Double Championship Night
In Dartford Marty Jones retained the World Mid Heavyweight title against Bernie Wright and Alan Kilby kept his British light heavyweight title against John Elijah.
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