Wrestling Heritage

Travel back in time and discover what was happening this week in our wrestling heritage

Travel back in time and discover what happened this week

28 April 1956
Battle of Two Jims
At the Drill Hall in Portsmouth the world welterweight champion Jim Lewis retained the belt when his match against Jack Dempsey ended in a No Contest.

28 April 2002
Death of Lou Thesz
Read our tribute to Lou Thesz

29 April 1917
Birth of Milton Reid
Milton Reid is in the A-Z

29 April 1944
Would You Believe It?
Czechoslovakian Emil Koroschenko wrestled the Golden Ace at Newcastle St James Hall and promoter Norman Morrell offered complimentary tickets to any Czechs who wished to attend.

29 April 1948
Dale Keeps Title
Jack Dale retained the British Middleweight title against Joe Hill in Exeter.

29 April 1957
A Close Call for Brit
World Junior Heavyweight Champion Norman Walsh looked in danger of losing his title at the Eldorado Stadium in Leith. The man who almost deprived him of the title was visiting Italian Mario Matassa. Matassa went all out from the start, taking Walsh by surprise, repeatedly throwing him across the ring and taking the first fall in just 64 seconds. Things looked no more hopeful for Walsh in the second as he was held for a long time in a Boston Crab. More aggression from Matassa in the third with the bell saving Walsh from a forearm smash onslaught. Only in the fourth round did Walsh begin to hold his own but he remained one fall behind until the sixth round. As Walsh rebounded off the ropes Matassa misjudged a blow, was cleverly turned by the champion who gained the equalising fall. No further score in the following two rounds until round nine when Walsh gained the winning submission.

29 April 1960
Joyce Teaching Robinson
Billy Joyce defeated his protege Bill Robinson to retain the British heavyweight title.

29 April 1968
Champion of Bradford and Europe
In an all-Bradford clash European lightweight champion Jim Breaks retained the title against Michael Bennett at the St George’s Hall in Bradford.

29 April 1968
Not Eager Enough
At the Ice Rink in Nottingham Alan Colbeck stopped Mike Eagers to retain the European Welterweight title. Colbeck was his usual aggressive self but it was round seven before a fall was scored, and it was the challenger Eagers escaping from a Boston Crab to take the lead with the first pinfall. The unsmiling Colbeck, determined as ever, came back to equalise with a submission in round nine. Disappointingly for the fans it was an abrupt end to the match as Eagers retired and Colbeck retained the title.

29 April 1968
Never In Doubt
George Kidd took falls in rounds three and six to beat Julien Morice at the Nottingham Ice Rink and keep the World lightweight title.

29 April 1978
Rocco Again
British Heavy Middleweight champion Mark Rollerball Rocco retained his title against Kung Fu at Belle Vue in Manchester.

29 April 1978
Only One Saint In This Match
Jim Breaks was disqualified in Hanley leaving Johnny Saint still the World lightweight title.

29 April 1998
Death of Timothy Geoghegan
Read our tribute to Timothy Geoghegan

30 April 1927
Birth of Bert Craddock
Read our tribute to Bert Craddock

30 April 1981
World Class
Johnny Saint beat Steve Grey in Bristol to retain the World lightweight title

30 April 2003
Death of George Goldie
Read about him in this week’s newsletter

01 May 1928
Birth of Joe Cornelius
Read our tribute to Joe Cornelius

01 May 1932
Birth of the Jarrow Viking
Read our tribute to The Jarrow Viking

01 May 1933
More Hot Water
The rapid growth of professional wrestling created tensions for local councils as they debated the morality of this sometimes barbaric sport. This time it was Oxford council who deliberated and took the decision to ban wrestling in the Town Hall.

01 May 1944
Birth of Tiny Greenhill
Read our tribute to Tiny Greenhill

01 May 1945
Birth of Norman Cooper
Read our tribute to Norman Cooper

01 May 1946
Promoter Strife
Norman Morrell was awarded £75 damages against Arthur Wright who he alleged had libelled him in a letter written to Mr Hirst, Manager of Blackpool Tower in October, 1945.

01 May 1951
Gargantua Comes To Town
Promoter Atholl Oakeley brought to Britain the German heavyweight, Kurt Zehe to wrestle Jack Doyle at the Harringay Arena. Zehe was known as Gargantua due to his enormous stature, which was claimed to be 8’4” tall and a weight of some 50 stones. That may have been something of an exaggeration, Oakeley wasn’t known for accuracy, but the boy was certainly big. After all the advanced publicity the bout inevitably proved a huge anti climax and did nothing for the reputation of Oakeley.

01 May 1953
Dempsey Wins
Jack Dempsey defeated Tony Lawrence at the St Mungos Hall in Glasgow to retain the British welterweight title.

01 May 1974
Marino Still Champ
At the City Hall in Sheffield Mike Marino defeated Steve Veidor to retain the British Mid Heavyweight title.

01 May 2002
Death of Hans Streiger
Read our tribute to Hans Streiger

02 May 1891
Birth of Douglas Clark
Read our tribute to Douglas Clark

02 May 1933
No More Nights At The Alhambra
It was announced that work would commence in two months time to demolish the London Alhambra, scene of many wrestling contests at the turn of the century. In it’s place would be built a palace of amusement called the New Century that would feature almost every indoor entertainment. A boxing and wrestling stadium was planned in the basement of the building.

02 May 1935
Birth of Harry Duval
Read our tribute to Harry Duval

02 May 1938
Birth of Peter Preston
Read our tribute to Peter Preston

O2 May, 1942
Birth of Roy St Clair
Read our tribute to Roy St Clair

02 May 1953
Dead Heat
At Belle Vue in Manchester a match billed as the European Light Heavyweight title ended with a draw between Vic Hessle and Baptiste Benoy.

03 May 1915
Raise A Glass of Canadian Rye.
For a man who didn’t step into a British ring Stu Hart certainly made an impact. The late Bob Leonard made sure that every British fan knew of Hart and his Stampede wrestling. We read of the antics of Abdullah the Butcher, The Stomper, Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik. Leonard kept us posted when Stu Hart tempted over Billy Robinson, Geoff Portz, Kendo Nagasaki, Les Thornton and more Brits. Stu returned the favour by sending his sons over to wrestle in British rings. Stu Hart was born on 3rd May, 1915.

03 May 1932
Birth of Paul Lincoln
Read our tribute to Paul Lincoln

03 May 1950
Fans turned away.
Further signs that wrestling was gaining popularity as it was reported hundreds were turned away from a wrestling show at Beacon Park, Plymouth, with a capacity crowd of more than 2,000 witnessing Tony Mancelli defeat Anaconda, who was disqualified.

03 May 1957
Much More Wrestling.
Dale Martin Promotions announced that as a result of the removal of the Entertainment Tax in the April budget they planned to substantially increase the number of shows staged.

03 May 1962
Joyce Overcomes Wall
At the Adam Smith Hall in Kirkcaldy Billy Joyce retained the British heavyweight title against Albert Wall.

03 May 1973
Headbanger Win
Successive banging of Johnny Saint’s head on the mat was certainly not the most eloquent strategy but it was enough for referee Joe D’Orazio to stop the contest and award the win to Jim Breaks and retention of the British lightweight title.

04 May 1877
Birth of Peter Gotz
Read our tribute to Peter Gotz.

04 May 1932
Birth of Paul Luty
Read our tribute to Paul Luty

04 May 1937
More Problems for the Ladies.
Gainsborough Urban Council banned female wrestlers from appearing at the Town Hall

04 May 1938
Sherry Defeats The Ghoul
The Ghoul suffered what was reportedly his first defeat at the New Brighton Tower. Jack Sherry did not put his title on the line but the wrestling blarney was that he would give the Ghoul 25,000 dollars and a title match in the event of the Ghoul pinning him. Referee Lew Roseby was thrown from the ring in the fourth round following which The Ghoul protested in vain that he had pinned Sherry during that period. Sherry won with a submission after 26 minutes.

04 May 1957
A Close Call for Tommy Mann
Tommy Mann put his World Middleweight title on the line against Bolton’s Bert Royal and almost lost it. The match went the full ten rounds duration and ended in a one fall each draw. Mann had taken the lead with a submission in round six with the challenger gaining an equalising fall in the ninth.

04 May 1977
Saint Again
At the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester Johnny Saint retained the World lightweight title against Jim Breaks.

04 May 1988
Frenchman Misses Out
At the Assembly Hall in Walthamstow a World Mid Heavyweight title match. Champion Marty Jones retained the title against French wrestler Marc Mercier.

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