08 February 1932
Birth of Jack Lang
Read our tribute to Jack Lang
08 February 1950
Show Cancelled By Mistake
A charity wrestling show at Hastings Pavilion was cancelled at late notice when The Wrestling Federation of Great Britain withdrew all their wrestlers from the event because the organiser, Milo Popocopolis, had wrestled the previous night at Harringay Stadium for Atholl Oakeley who was not a member of the Wrestling Federation. The Federation later said they had been misinformed and the show banned in error. The Federation said they would now put on another show for free in aid of the charity,
08 February 1964
Not Guilty
In Blackpool Dominic Pye was found not guilty of assaulting Dr Kenneth McGill at the club run by his father, Jack.
08 February 1968
Death of Joe Reid
Read our tribute to Joe Reid
09 February 1893
Birth of Jerry Jeary
Jerry Jeary was a midlands promoter who presented both outright independent shows and others in co-operation with Joint Promotions in Birmingham and around the Black Country. Jerry’s wrestling programmes were headed with the phrase “Wrestling – the men’s sport that women admire.” Fans of the time have recalled Jerry standing ringside as the wrestlers entered the hall calling out “Wheel ‘em in.”
09 February 1916
Birth of George Longdon
Read our tribute to George Longdon
09 February 1921
Birth of Adolf Kaiser
Adolf Kaiser is in the A-Z
09 February 1946
Frank C. Price Announces Big Plans
Frank Price, 44, was the Managing Director of the Stagg and Russell store in London’s Leicester Square. He announced that permission had been granted for him to convert the store into a leisure and sporting venue that he claimed would rival Madison Square Garden. His plans included running regular wrestling, boxing, billiards and table tennis tournaments. The venue would also house a cabaret and international restaurant to rival the glory days of the pre war Hays Fatherland in Berlin. As far as we know the plans came to nothing and the Stagg and Russell company was eventually sold to Burton the Tailors.
09 February 2005
Death of Robert Duranton
Robert Duranton is in the A-Z
09 February 2015
Death of Drew McDonald
Read our tribute to Drew McDonald
10 February 1932
First All In Wrestling in Derby.
There was a mixed reaction when an All In wrestling contest was added to a boxing show at Highfield Boxing Club. Strangler Johnson and Carl Romsky wrestled over six five minute rounds. Promoter was Frank Woodhouse
10 February 1938
Gregory Challenge
Jack Sherry defended his World Heavyweight title in a match with Francis St Clair Gregory at Exeter
10 February 1951
Birth of Bobby Ryan
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10 February 1955
Birth of Chris Adams
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10 February 1968
Commonwealth Title Match
Count Bartelli, a popular wrestler in Hanley, retained the Commonwealth Heavyweight title against challenger Gwyn Davies in his local Victoria Hall.
10 February 1968
Wedding Bells
Wrestler Sam Evans tied the knot with Jean Everingham at St Columba’s Church in Hull.
10 February 1970
Goldbelt Gold
Brian Maxine defeated Alan Serjeant at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon to retain the British welterweight title.
10 February 1976
Count Him Ref
Count Bartelli defeated Peter Roberts by two falls to one in Solihull to retain the Commonwealth heavyweight title.
10 February 1976
Champion of the South
Steve Veidor defeated Bruno Elrington at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon to retain the Southern England Heavyweight title.
10th February 1978
Rocco Rocks On
Rollerball Mark Rocco stopped Kung Fu at the Northgate Arena in Chester to retain the British Heavy Middleweight title.
10 February 1999
Death of Yuri Borienko
Read our tribute to Yuri Borienko
10 February 2023
Death of Erich Froelich
Read our tribute to Erich Froelich
11 February 1923
Birth of Paul Berger
Paul Berger is in the A-Z
11 February 1925
Birth of Adolf Dabrowski
Read our tribute to Adolf Dabrowski
11 February 1933
Pye and Mash
Following a keenly fought six rounds draw for the British heavyweight title just one week earlier a return championship match was arranged at the New St James Hall in Newcastle between champion Atholl Oakeley and challenger Jack Pye. The contrast between the two matches could hardly have been greater. Just five minutes into the contest Pye took the lead with the first fall. Soon afterwards he rushed at Oakeley who threw him out of the ring. Pye struck his head on a radiator at ringside and knocked himself out. The referee declared a no contest.
11 February 1950
World Title Draw
British heavyweight champion Bert Assirati popped over to Antwerp in to challenge a World heavyweight Champion, Frank Sexton, wrestling a 60 minute draw.
11 February 1952
Drop Kick And Out
The drop kick came from British lightweight champion Johnny Stead and it was Plymouth’s Jackie Harris that was knocked out. The contest was one of the first to be named as the Admiral Lord Mountevans championships since the formation of Joint Promotions a month earlier.
The ending came in the seventh round at the Cambridge Road Baths in Huddersfield. Now living in Hebden Bridge Harris brought with him a good contingent of supporters. Harris had taken the lead in round six and continued on the offensive in the seventh. Downing Stead repeatedly with body checks he tried it just once too often and Stead delivered his drop-kick. It was all over.
11 February 1952
A Right Royal Return
A return contest and Alan Colbeck defended the British welterweight title against a young Bert Royal in Hull. Royal surprisingly held the champion to a draw.
11 February 1959
Shooters of the North
Jack Dempsey defended his British welterweight title against John Foley in Dorking
11 February 1960
Death of Gypsy Dean
Read our tribute to Gypsy Dean
11 February 1964
That’s Howes To Do ItBill Howes retained the European mid heavyweight title when he defeated Pepe Enrico Marqes at Madely Street Baths.
11 February 1981
Kilby Unlucky
Mike Marino defended the European Mid Heavyweight title against Alan Kilby in Bury. Kilby took the opening fall but was then injured and unable to continue.
11 February 2006
Death of Jackie Pallo
Read our tribute to Jackie Pallo
12 February 1977
Marty the Smarty
Marty Jones retained the British Light heavyweight title by defeating Mick McMichael at Belle Vue, Manchester.
12 February 1986
Marty Still Smart
Marty Jones defeated Johnny Kincaid by two falls to one in Hertford to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title.
12 February 2009
Death of Spike O’Reilly
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12 February 2021
Death of Frank Rimer
Read our tribute to Frank Rimer
13 February 1883
The Pojello Mystery
This was the date on the grave of Karl Pojello, believed incorrect and was actually 31st January, 1883.
Read the Karl Pojello Mystery
13 February 1931
Wrestling Comes To Preston
Preston’s Majestic Ice Rink was packed out for the town’s first All-In wrestling show. Chesterfield’s Johanfesson took on four opponents, Harry Johnson, Billy Clarkson, Sid Weston and Carl Romsky. Only Clarkson lasted more than 5 minutes, just 10 seconds longer. Even by mid February this was a well rehearsed routine for Johanfesson as we have found similar previous challenges at Leicester, Batley, Sheffield, Nottingham, Hanley and Morecambe.
13 February 1931
Wrestling Is Thriving
The Daily Mirror reported that both amateur and professional wrestling was regaining it’s old time popularity. Amateur wrestling was thriving at the Ashdown Club and Henry Irslinger was credited with popularising the professional side. He was said to be wonderfully fit for a man who was winning tournaments twenty-five years earlier.
13 February 1959
Riley Outguns The Polish Eagle
Champion Ernie Riley retained the European light heavyweight title when challenged by Johnny Czeslaw at Cossington Street Baths, Leicester.
13 February 1960
Big Shirl Just Wants To Get Beaten
Raising funds for the World Refugee Year Appeal Fund Halifax wrestler Shirley Crabtree travelled for much of the day on a decorated float around his home town and challenged onlookers to throw more coins on the float than he could carry. Shirley was accompanied by a jazz band that played music from the film “The Five Pennies,” which was showing at the Odeon Cinema.
13 February 1962
Two Unmaskings and A Mystery
What would us fans have given to see an unmasking? Well, not one but two unmaskings at the Eldorado Stadium in Leith. When a dropkick from Max Crabtree floored The Red Scorpion and The Red Devil simultaneously as they were both held in a headlock by brother Shirley the latter tore off their masks. Unfortunately the two wrestlers grabbed conveniently placed towels to cover their faces and tear off to the dressing room. No announcement was made of their identity.
13 February 1963
Pallo Disqualified
Alan Colbeck held on to his European welterweight title against challenger Jackie Pallo, who was disqualified, at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester.
13 February 1980
Breaks Beats The Boy
Jim Breaks retained the British welterweight title against challenger Young David at Southend.
13 February 1981
Jones the Champion
Marty Jones defended the British light heavyweight title at the Civic Hall in Bedworth and kept the belt against challenger Pete Roberts.
13 February 2015
Death of Tony Charles
Read our tribute to Tony Charles
14 February 1936
Reform Needed.
The Daily Worker called for urgent reform to address a matter that was causing considerable unrest among wrestlers. The cause of concern were promoters who routinely lowered wrestlers agreed wages when attendances were lower than expected, pointing out that wages were not raised on a good night. Once again the newspaper called for greater co-operation between wrestlers and promoters if the sport was to remain sustainable.
14 February 1947
Birth of Allan Armstrong
Allan Armstrong is in the A-Z
14 February 1968
Marino Beats Hungarian Challenge
Mike Marino beat Josef Molnar to retain the World Mid Heavyweight title at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester.
14 February 1978
Females Still Outlawed
London County Council voted to continue the ban on female wrestling
14 February 1981
A New Lightweight Champion
Steve Grey defeated Johnny Saint in Hanley by two falls to one to win the World lightweight title.
14 February 2012
Death of Jim Farrell
Read our tribute to Jim Farrell
14 February 2020
Death of Joey Scarlo
Read our tribute to Joey Scarlo
14 February 1920
Birthof Norman Walsh
Read our tribute to Norman Walsh
25493
Wrestling Heritage 