This week in western Canadian wrestling history …
By Vance Nevada
March 15, 1956 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Fritz Von Erich & Karl Von Schober defeat Ivan & Karol Kalmikoff before a crowd of 11,500 at the Manitoba Arena. Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) would later go on to become the leading promoter in Dallas, Texas and was the patriarch of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty in the U.S., with five sons entering the pro mat ranks
March 16, 1972 – Calgary, Alberta
In a “loser leaves Canada” match, Tor Kamata defeated Kurt Von Hess to win the Stampede Wrestling North American title.
March 17, 1959 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lloyd Antonation defeated Bobby Jones for the Madison Wrestling Club heavyweight title. Antonation was one of three wrestling brothers, the most famous of which was Orest, who gained his greatest fame under the Stampede Wrestling banner as “Buffalo” Bill Cody. Jones was an influential figure as a trainer and mentor to many young wrestlers in the 1950’s and 60’s. Both of Jones’ sons, Rick and Larry would become wrestlers as well and would see their greatest notoriety in television matches for the AWA in Minneapolis.
March 18, 1954 – Calgary, Alberta
The umasked “Zebra Kid”, George Bollas, defeats professional football player, Steve Patrick of the Canadian Football League in Patrick’s pro ring debut.
March 19, 1936 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
World champion Jim Londos headlines a card which features the first Canadian appearance of one of the all time greats and future world champion, Lou Thesz. Thesz, who is regarded by many as of the top “hookers” of his era, drew with Jim McMillen in this debut appearance. Thesz wrestled his final match in Canada on July 10, 1981.
March 20, 1946 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Alex Turk debuts as a promoter in Winnipeg in a card which the local media dubs a “Wrestling Revival” for the city. The premier is headlined by Ray Steele against Reginald Siki and featured long time Minnesota matchmaker, Wally Karbo as referee. Turk held stead in Winnipeg for 20 years before bowing to the emerging American Wrestling Association, as their interests took over Winnipeg as one of the cities in their growing territory.
March 21, 1973 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Abdullah the Butcher defeated Carlos Belafonte by disqualification. Belafonte is best known under his own name, Colon, as one of the founding partners of the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. Under the WWC banner, Colon and Abdullah would battle one another for decades after their earlier matches under Stu Hart in the Stampede Wrestling territory.
Want to know more? Western Canada has been a hotbed of professional wrestling for more than a century and that legacy has been documented in a new book WRESTLING IN THE CANADIAN WEST, available from Crowbar Press. For more information, visit www.vancenevada.ca
Vance Nevada
Author, Wrestling in the Canadian West
AVAILABLE NOW!
www.vancenevada.ca
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