Week Beginning 19th July
19 July 1934
Birth of Johnny Eagles
Read our tribute to Johnny Eagles
19 July 1993
Death of Bruno Elrington
Read our tribute to Bruno Elrington
19 July 2007
Death of Eugene Stezycki
Read our tribute to Eugene Stezycki
20 July 1937 A Godly Challenge
The vicar of Grantham, Rev. Warde, and the Minister of the Congregational Church were unwelcome spectators at the wrestling show following their criticism of the event and attempts to get the council to ban wrestling. The clergymen had preached from the pulpit and described “a barbaric sport, appealing to baser natures” during their sermons. At least they called it a sport. Promoter of the show, Johanfesson, issued a public challenge to wrestle the two clergymen which was not accepted.
20 July 1948
Assirati Gives Scot A Headache
It was a short night’s work for Bert Assirati and George Clark, the latter with a bad head. They met in a British heavyweight title match at Pittodrie Park in Aberdeen. Clark went into an immediate lead in the first round. In the third Assirati threw Clark, who landed on his head, and he was counted out.
20 July 1971
Vic Faulkner Takes the Crown
Vic Faulkner won a knock out tournament at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, to win the vacant British welterweight championship. In the quarter final Sid Cooper’s use of dubious tactics were to no avail with Vic taking the only fall required in the third round. Nottingham’s Al Nicol was Vic’s opponent in the semi-final with Vic taking the winner in round 4.
The final, and championship contest between Vic and Adrian Street was decided over the best of three falls. Vic took the deciding fall in the seventh round.
Results: Nicol 1:0 Fortuna, Faulkner 1:0 Cooper, Serjeant 1:0 Baron, Street 1:0 Szakacs,
Faulkner 1:0 Nicol, Street 1:0 Serjeant, Faulkner 2:1 Street.
Referee: Bernard Murray
20th July 1974
Goldbelt Back In Charge
At Belle Vue in Manchester Brian Maxine defeated Mick McMichael to regain the British middleweight title he had lost a month earlier.
21 July 1934
Birth of Ted Heath
Read our tribute to Ted Heath
21 July 1962
Riley Win
In Grantham Ernie Riley defeated Bob Sweeney by two falls to one to retain the British light heavyweight title.
21 July 1967
A Right Royal Do
At the Ayr Ice Rink a No Contest result and Clayton Thomson retained the British middleweight title against Bert Royal.
21 July 1980
A Spot of Bother
Chaos at a wrestling event at the Arbroath Community Centre reportedly led to some families leaving early. Problems arose during a match between the Mighty Chang and Lee Thomas. After The Mighty Chang hit his opponent with a plastic bottle an angry member of the audience threw a bottle at Chang. The bottle missed and went into the crowd, no one was injured. The match was halted and declared a “No Contest.”
21 July 2005
Death of Al Hayes
Read our tribute to Al Hayes
21 July 2020
Death of Dave Kidney
Read our tribute to Dave Kidney
22 July 1932
Foundation Stone Laid for Liverpool Stadium
Lord Lonsdale laid the foundation stone for Liverpool Stadium. The Stadium was opened three months later, on 20th October.
22 July 1947
Birth of Bob Roop
Bob Roop is in the A-Z
22 July 1975
Death of Ivar Martinsen
Ivar Martinsen is in the A-Z
23 July 1898
Birth of Harry Joyce
Read our tribute to Harry Joyce
23 July 1919
Birth of Mustapha Nasser
Read our tribute to Mustapha Nasser
23 July 1920
Birth of Max Ward
Read our tribute to Max Ward
23 July 1940
Birth of Thunder Sugiyama
Thunder Sugiyama is in the A-Z
24 July 1933
No Mountain Too High
The match that had been on and off was finally on, and ten thousand fans packed into Headingley Rugby League ground in Leeds. Belgian and European heavyweight champion Laurent Gerstmans got to grips with British heavyweight champion Douglas Clark.
https://wrestlingheritage.co.uk/no-mountain-too-high/
24 July 1979
Death of Pepe (Hercules) Cortez
Pepe Cortez is in the A-Z
24 July 1997
Death of Leon Arras
Read our tribute to Leon Arras
24 July 2023
Death of Adrian Street
Read our tribute to Adrian Street
25 July ?
Birth of Julien Morice
Julien Morice is in the A-Z
25 July 1899
Birth of Carl Van Wurden
Read our tribute to Carl Van Wurden
25 July 1917
Birth of Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Watson is in the A-Z
25 July 1928
Birth of Johnny Czeslaw
Read our tribute to Johnny Czeslaw
25 July 1935
Birth of Tiger Jimmy Ryan
Read our tribute to Jimmy Ryan
25 July 1941
Birth of Maurice La Rue
Read our tribute to Maurice LaRue
25 July 1958
Riley Wins Battle of the Roses
Ernie Riley retained the British light heavyweight title against Eric Taylor.
25 July 1970
All Out In Manchester
At Belle Vue in Manchester champion Jim Breaks retained the European lightweight title when both he and challenger Zoltan Boscik were counted out.
25 July 1977
Marching Orders for the Giant Guardsman
In Bridlington Tony St Clair retained the British heavyweight title when Big Daddy was disqualified.
25 July 1980
Something to Get Your Teeth Into
Pat Roach was chosen to play the role of a vampire opposite Peter Cushing in a forthcoming horror film.
25 July 1987
Death of Tom Wade
Read our tribute to Tom Wade
25 July 2007
Death of Bob Bell
Read our tribute to Bob Bell
25 July 2013
Death of Frank O’Donnell
Read our tribute to Frank O’Donnell
25 July 2019
Death of Jim Rawlings
Read our tribute to Jim Rawlings
25 July 2020
Death of Zoltan Boscik
Read our tribute to Zoltan Boscik
25 July 2022
Death of Wolfgang Starck
Wolfgang Starck is in the A-Z
WO03
26627
Wrestling Heritage 