Amarillo Wrestling Results

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 4, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. and Fritz Von Erich wrestled to a double disqualification
(1-1) (Von Erich won the first fall with a face claw in 12:30, Funk won the second in 3:40
with his spinning toe hold) … Tony Borne b. Antone “Ripper” Leone (2/3) … Blackjack
Daniels and Stan Kowalski b. Pepper Gonzales and Johnny Kilonis (12:55) … Ricky
Romero b. Danny McShain (cannonball) (6:46) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 11, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. Tony Borne
(2/3) (Funk ended Borne’s 30 win streak) (Borne’s manager Leo Newman failed to
appear) (after the match, Borne attacked the referee, a fan from the audience, and Gory
Guerrero) (Borne was stopped by Blackjack Daniels, Stan Kowalski and Ricky Romero) …
Ricky Romero b. Antone Leone (19:14) (cannonball) … The Viking b. Gory Guerrero (6:
52) … The Bat and Dr. Jerry Graham wrestled Blackjack Daniels and Stan Kowalski to a
double disqualification … Judy Glover b. Mae Goodson (11:04) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 18, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Ricky Romero b. Tony Borne (2-0) (Romero won the first fall by
disqualification in 24:10 when he was tossed over the top rope, Romero pinned Borne for
the second in 3:40) … Stan Kowalski b. Nick Roberts to win the right to name his own
Texas Tag Team Title partner (7:00) (Kowalski won with a standing backbreaker)
(Kowalski named Blackjack Daniels his tag team championship partner) … Dory Funk Sr.
and Nick Roberts b. Blackjack Daniels and Stan Kowalski (17:00) … The Viking b. Johnny
Como (5:40) … Dr. Jerry Graham b. The Masked Bat (11:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 25, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b. Tony Borne and Leo Newman in a
Texas Death Match (33:50) … Texas State Tag Team Champions Blackjack Daniels and
Stan Kowalski b. Antone Leone and Nick Roberts by disqualification in the third fall … The
Viking b. Johnny Demchuk (9:55) … Dr. Jerry Graham and Jack Nichols drew …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 1, 1962
(Sports Arena) … 18-Man Wrestling Tournament … Dan Miller b. Sir Nelson Royal in the
tournament final (alligator clutch) (25:50) … Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero drew (15:
00) … Blackjack Daniels b. Speedy Gonzales (6:35) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Ed Sharpe (3:27)
… Ricky Romero b. Danny McShain (5:23) … Stan Kowalski b. Johnny Demchuk (5:17) …
Nick Roberts b. Gory Guerrero (7:07) … Nelson Royal b. Johnny Como (10:24) … Dan
Miller b. Tommy Phelps (3:54) … Antone Leone and The Viking drew … Dr. Jerry Graham
b. Jackie Nichols (3:37) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Blackjack Daniels (6:32) … Ricky Romero b.
Stan Kowalski (6:35) … Nelson Royal b. Nick Roberts (DQ) … Dan Miller b. Dr. Jerry
Graham … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 8, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Dan Miller and won a $4,000 purse (2/3) … Nelson
Royal and The Viking b. Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero by disqualification (2/3) (the
newspaper stated that the Texas Tag Title could not change hands on a disqualification,
eluding to the possibility that Funk and Romero were the champions) … Johnny Demchuk
and Antone Leone drew … Nick Roberts b. Jackie Nichols … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 15, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Nelson Royal b. Antone Leone (2/3) (Leone was a substitute for Dory
Funk) (when the announcement was made, Funk was attacked by Royal) (Royal received
some outside help from The Viking) … Ricky Romero b. The Viking by disqualification in
the third fall of an even match … Dan Miller b. Johnny Demchuk (6:47) (Demchuk was a
substitute for Antone Leone) … Nick Roberts b. Johnny Como (7:10) (backbreaker) … Dr.
Jerry Graham b. Jackie Nichols by decision … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee:
Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 22, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Antone Leone in a “battle to the end” … Dan Miller
and Ricky Romero drew (20:00) … Johnny Como and Danny McShain drew (McShain was
a substitute for Jackie Nichols) … The Viking b. Johnny Demchuk (10:05) … Dr. Jerry
Graham b. Nick Roberts by disqualification when Roberts threw him over the top rope …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 1, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. The Viking
when the latter was unable to continue … Nelson Royal b. Ricky Romero (2/3) … Nick
Roberts b. Tommy Phelps (3:42) (Phelps was a substitute for Dr. Jerry Graham, who failed
to appear) … Dan Miller b. Danny McShain (4:56) … Johnny Como b. Pete “Speedy”
Gonzales (11:04) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Pat O’Dowdy)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 8, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dan Miller b. Sir Nelson Royal by referee’s decision (2/3) (after the
match, Royal and The Viking beat Miller and Phelps) … Ricky Romero and Eric Rommel b.
Ed Sharpe and the Viking (Sharpe was a substitute for Danny McShain) (Rommel pinned
Sharpe in 19:30) … Jessica Rogers and Evelyn Stevens were both disqualified … Johnny
Como and Nick Roberts drew … The Viking b. Eric Rommel (12:45) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 15, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Ricky Romero and Eric Rommel b. Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking
(DQ) (2/3) … Mark Starr b. Johnny Como (16:40) … Dan Miller and Nick Roberts drew …
Evelyn Stevens b. Jessica Rogers (7:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 22, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Dan Miller (2/3) (Royal was accompanied by his
valet, Jeeves, who halped him in the match) … The Viking b. Tommy Phelps in a boxing
match … Crybaby Cannon b. Ray Duran (6:10) … Eric Rommel b. Johnny Como (10:30)
… Ricky Romero b. Mark Starr (6:30) (cannonball) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

*In the Thursday, March 29, 1962 edition of the Amarillo Daily News, Gene Kiniski was
billed as the World Heavyweight Champion. “The 6-6, 277-pound Kiniski will be making
his first appearance here. The former University of Arizona gridder won the championship
from Buddy (Nature Boy) Rogers. Kiniski whipped Rogers four times in all.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 29, 1962
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski b. Ricky Romero (2/3)
(Kiniski won the first fall in 11:20 with a backbreaker, Romero won the second in 5:30 with
a cannonball, Kiniski won the third in 6:30) (Kiniski’s Amarillo debut) … North American
Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. Sir Nelson Royal (2-0) (Funk won the first fall
with a spinning toe hold in 15:30, Funk won the second by disqualification in 15:40) (Funk
won 850 silver dollars) … Wahoo McDaniel b. The Viking (DQ) (7:40) (McDaniel’s Amarillo
debut) … Johnny Como, Dan Miller and Eric Rommel b. Crybaby Cannon, Nick Roberts
and Mark Starr … Millie Stafford vs. Evelyn Stevens – Cancelled when Stafford’s plane
was grounded … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Pat O’Dowdy)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 5, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Tony Borne (2/3) (Borne won the first fall in 4:40,
Nelson won the second in 4:10, Nelson won the third by disqualification in 4:30) (Royal
was accompanied by Jeeves) (Borne was accompanied by Lou Newman) … Dory Funk Sr.
and Ricky Romero b. Nick Roberts and The Viking (2/3) … Crybaby Cannon b. Kenny
Ackles (7:45) … Dan Miller b. Eric Rommel (11:10) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 12, 1962
(Sports Arena) … George “Crybaby” Cannon won the 13-man Russian Roulette Battle
Royal (participants: Cannon, Dory Funk, Sir Nelson Royal, Pepe Gonzales, Ray Duran,
Eddie Sharkey, Alex Perez, Dan Miller, Tommy Phelps, Johnny Como, Nick Roberts, Eric
Rommel, Mark Starr) … Dory Funk Sr. and Dan Miller b. George Cannon and Nelson
Royal (2/3) … Nick Roberts b. Mark Starr (4:00) (Roberts was a substitute for Mr. Clean,
who was injured in Seattle) … Johnny Como and Eddie Sharkey drew (15:00) … Eric
Rommel b. Ray Duran (11:10) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 19, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Wahoo McDaniel (2/3) (Royal received some
outside assistance from Jeeves) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Crybaby Cannon (2-0) (Funk was a
substitute for Mr. Clean, who was injured in Seattle) … Ricky Romero and Eric Rommell b.
Ed Sharpe and The Viking (10:50) … Nick Roberts b. Johnny Como (11:15) (backbreaker)
(Roberts was a substitute for Dan Miller) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 26, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Dory Funk Sr. to capture the North American
Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Von Erich won the first fall by disqualification in 13:30 when hit
with a chair, Funk won the second with a spinning toe hold in 10:20, Von Erich won the
third when the referee stopped the match in 14:55 due to a cut on Funk’s forehead) (Von
Erich claimed he was never going to wrestle in Texas if he lost) … Ricky Romero and Sir
Nelson Royal were both counted out (1-1) … Eddie Sharkey b. Ray Duran (7:40) …
Crybaby Cannon b. Nick Roberts in an arm wrestling match (3:16) … Nick Roberts and
Eric Rommel b. Crybaby Cannon and The Viking (10:50) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
… (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 3, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Southwest Tag Team Champions Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking b.
Dan Miller and Danny Plechas (2/3) … Ricky Romero b. Dan Grubmire (2-0) … Eric
Rommel b. Mark Starr (12:00) … Nick Roberts b. Crybaby Cannon by decision …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 10, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b. Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking to
capture the Southwest Tag Team Title (2/3) … Dan Miller b. Crybaby Cannon (8:00) …
Dan Miller b. Crybaby Cannon in an arm-wrestling match … Danny Plechas and Eric
Rommel drew … Nick Roberts b. Gorilla Grubmire (31-seconds) (backbreaker) … The
Lawman b. Ray Duran (8:12) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 17, 1962
(Sports Arena) … 14-Man Wrestling Tournament … Miguel Castro b. Eric Rommel (35-
seconds) … Bob Geigel b. Gorilla Grubmire (5:00) … Sputnik Monroe b. Eddie Sharkey (2:
45) … Dan Miller b. Sir Nelson Royal (DQ) (6:35) … Crybaby Cannon b. The Lawman (4:
10) … Ricky Romero b. Poncho Pico (5:30) … The Viking b. Miguel Castro (1:35)
(received a bye into the finals) … Bob Geigel and Sputnik Monroe were both disqualified
… Dan Miller b. Crybaby Cannon (4:00) … Ricky Romero b. Nick Roberts (9:35) … Dan
Miller b. Ricky Romero by default in the semifinals … Dan Miller b. The Viking to win the
tournament (6:10) … Judy Glover b. Dot Dotson (6:35) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
Note: Sarpolis was given an award from the United States Air Force and Navy.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 24, 1962
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski b. Dan Miller (2/3) (Miller
pinned Kiniski for the first fall in 9-minutes, Kiniski won the second in 5:40, Kiniski won the
third in 3:50) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Miguel Castro (3:40) (spinning toe hold) … Ricky
Romero b. Sputnik Monroe by countout (Monroe was arrested by police) … Nick Roberts
and Eric Rommel b. Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking (dec., 15:00) … Miguel Castro b. Vic
Christy (30-seconds) (the two wrestled an additional five minutes without either scoring a
fall) … Crybaby Cannon b. Poncho Pico (5:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referee: Tommy Phelps) … (3,000 fans)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 31, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dan Miller, Ricky Romero and Eric Rommel b. Sputnik Monroe, Sir
Nelson Royal and The Viking (2/3) … Vic Christy b. Miguel Castro (7-seconds) (the two
wrestled an additional five minutes without a fall) … Danny Plechas b. Crybaby Cannon (6:
10) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Eric Rommel (12:12) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 7, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Fritz Von Erich vs. Dory Funk
Sr. (Funk likely regained the championship in this match) … Bob Geigel and Ricky
Romero vs. Sputnik Monroe and Sir Nelson Royal … Dan Miller vs. Danny Plechas … Eric
Rommel vs. The Viking … Crybaby Cannon vs. Nick Roberts … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (in attendance: Amarillo Mayor Jack Seale)
Note: Sarpolis invited the actors and actresses filming the movie “Hud Bannon” in the
area.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 14, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sputnik Monroe b. Dan Miller (2/3) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Sir Nelson Royal
(2-0) (Royal was accompanied by Jeeves) … Nick Roberts b. Danny Plechas by decision
… Miguel Castro and The Viking b. Vic Christy and Eric Rommel (13:30) … Millie Stafford
b. Ann Regan (7:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps, Ray
Duran)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 21, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Ricky Romero b. Fritz Von Erich (2/3) (Von Erich won the first fall in 13-
minutes with a clawhold, Romero won the second by disqualification in 3:10, Romero won
the third by disqualification when Von Erich refused to break a hold) … Dory Funk Sr. and
Dan Miller b. Sputnik Monroe, Sir Nelson Royal and Jeeves (2/3) … Wahoo McDaniel and
Nick Roberts b. Danny Plechas and The Viking by decision … Millie Stafford b. Ann Regan
(9:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 28, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. Ricky Romero
(2/3) (Romero won the first fall in 9:30 with a cannonball, Funk won the second with a
spinning toehold in 6:10, Funk won the thrid with a spinning toehold in 11:30) (Funk was
booed for his actions) … Dan Miller b. Sputnik Monroe (2/3) … Johnny Kostas b. Danny
Plechas by decision … Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking b. Wahoo McDaniel and Nick
Roberts (13:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Pat O’Dowdy) …
(commissioner: Stanley Blackburn)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 5, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Sputnik Monroe b. Dan Miller (Texas Death Match) (Miller was taken to
a local hospital) (Monroe had only one of the eight falls scored) … Killer Karl Kox b. Nick
Roberts (10:30) … Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking b. Wahoo McDaniel and Ricky
Romero (2-0) … Danny Plechas b. Miguel Castro (5:30) … Marcel Semard b. Pee Wee
Lopez (6:40) … Dan Miller b. Sputnik Monroe in a Louisiana Cajun arm wrestling match …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 12, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Sputnik Monroe when the latter was unable to continue
… Killer Karl Kox b. Danny Plechas (2-0) … Dan Miller and Ricky Romero b. Sir Nelson
Royal and The Viking (dec., 20:00) … Little Boy Blue and Marcel Semrad b. Pee Wee
Lopez and Chico Santana (14:00) … Ali Ali b. Wahoo McDaniel with a backbreaker (5:10)
… (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 19, 1962
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski and Fritz Von Erich b. Dory
Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero to capture the Southwest Tag Team Title (2/3) (Kiniski won
the first fall in 11:50 with a backbreaker, Funk beat Kiniski for the second fall with a
spinning toe hold in 11:10, Von Erich pinned Funk for the third) … Killer Karl Kox b. Dan
Miller (8:25) (brainbuster) … Ali Ali b. Miguel Castro (6:20) … The Viking b. Nick Roberts
(8:45) … Sputnik Monroe and Sir Nelson Royal were both counted out … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 26, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Bob Geigel with one fall (60:00) … Dory Funk Sr. and
Ricky Romero b. Sputnik Monroe and The Viking … Joe Scarpello b. Killer Karl Kox (DQ)
(7:42) … Dan Miller b. Ali Ali (1:58) (bulldog headlock) … Johnny Kostas b. Miguel Castro
(5:54) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 2, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Killer Karl Kox b. Ricky Romero (2/3) … Sputnik Monroe and The Viking
drew … Dan Miller b. Sir Nelson Royal (DQ) … Senorita Gonzales b. Jessica Rogers (4:
30) … Nick Roberts b. Poncho Pico (9:40) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee:
Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 9, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Killer Karl Kox b. Dory Funk Sr. by disqualification in the third fall after
Cowboy Carlson attempted to help him … Cowboy Carlson and “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. Sir
Nelson Royal and The Viking (15:30) … Ricky Romero and Sputnik Monroe drew (15:00)
… Nick Roberts b. Ali Ali (5:30) … Senorita Gonzales b. Peggy Allen … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 16, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Southwest Tag Team Champions Gene Kiniski and Fritz Von Erich b.
Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero (2/3) (Funk b. Von Erich for the first fall with his spinning
toehold in 6:35, Kiniski and Von Erich won by countout in 10:52 for the second, Von Erich
pinned Romero in 3:52 for the third) … Killer Karl Kox b. The Viking by default (The match
never starte and Kox knocked his rival out, and Viking could not go on) … Cowboy
Carlson b. Sir Nelson Royal (DQ) (10:40) … Peggy Allen b. Senorita Gonzales (5:30) …
Dan Miller and Nick Roberts drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 23, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Killer Karl Kox and Fritz Von Erich wrestle to a draw (1-1) (both men
were counted out in the third fall) … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. Sputnik Monroe (2-0) … Dan
Miller b. Johnny Como (10:20) … Cowboy Carlson and Ricky Romero b. Sir Nelson Royal
and The Viking (dec., 15:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 30, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. “Cowboy” Bob
Ellis … Killer Karl Kox b. Cowboy Carlson when the latter was unable to continue (Carlson’
s “Indian wife” Yellow Eyes attacked Kox) … Johnny Como b. Ali Ali (10:20) … Dan Miller
and Nick Roberts b. Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking (dec., 15:00) … Ricky Romero b.
Sputnik Monroe (7:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)

Lubbock, Texas: Wednesday, September 5, 1962
( ) … Fritz Von Erich b. Dory Funk Sr. to capture the North American Heavyweight Title

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 6, 1962
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Fritz Von Erich b. “Cowboy” Bob
Ellis when the referee stopped the match due to a cut on Ellis’s forehead (2/3) … Killer
Karl Kox b. Nick Roberts when the latter was unable to continue (Roberts was a substitute
for Dory Funk, who was injured in Lubbock) … Bob Geigel and Joe Scarpello b. Sir Nelson
Royal and The Viking (dec., 15:00) … Joe Scarpello b. Sir Nelson Royal (1:40) … Cowboy
Carlson and Ricky Romero drew … Johnny Como b. Sputnik Monroe (6:50) … (promoter:
Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referees: Dan Miller, Tommy Phelps)

*The Amarillo Daily News reported on Thursday, September 6, 1962 that “It’s a real
feather in the cap of Doc Sarpolis of Amarillo, newly elected president of the National
Wrestling Alliance.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 13, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Joe Scarpello b. Killer Karl Kox (2/3) (Scarpello won the third fall by
disqualification) … Cowboy Carlson, “Cowboy” Bob Ellis and Ricky Romero b. Ali Ali, Sir
Nelson Royal and The Viking (2/3) (Royal was accompanied by Jeeves) (Carlson was
accompanied by Yellow Eyes) … Gypsy Biviano b. Poncho Pico (10:35) … Johnny Como
and Dan Miller drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)
Note: No show next week due to the Tri-State Fair.

*The Amarillo Daily News reported on September 20, 1962 that the Texas State Athletic
Commission did not recognize a North American Heavyweight Champion after a
controversial match in Lubbock between Fritz Von Erich and Dory Funk Sr.

*The Amarillo Daily News reported on Sunday, September 23, 1962 that “Funk’s left eye
was seriously injured and he has been in Mayo’s Clinic in Rochester, Minn.” He was
injured in a match at Lubbock versus Fritz Von Erich.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 27, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. and Fritz Von Erich were both counted out in the third fall
of an even match (1-1) (Von Erich won the first fall in 7:35, Funk won the second with a
spinning toehold in 9:40) (both were counted out in 13:45) (match to determine the vacant
North American Heavyweight Championship) (a fan from the crowd attacked Von Erich and
was fought off by both Fritz and Funk) (Von Erich and Funk fought outside the Sports
Arena and were both arrested) (a car’s windshield was broken out) … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis
b. Killer Karl Kox (dec., 30:00) … Joe Scarpello b. Ali Ali (6:10) (Ali was a substitute for
Ricky Romero) … Sir Nelson Royal and The Viking b. Johnny Como and Cowboy Carlson
(12:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps) … (benefit for the
Boys’ Ranch)

*The Amarillo Daily News reported on Thursday, September 27, 1962 that “Promoter Doc
Sarpolis (recently elected president of the National Wrestling Alliance) landed the match
for the main event tonight at the Sports Arena.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 4, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Mr. Clean (2/3) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Sir Nelson Royal
(19:30) … Darling Dagmar b. Baby Cheryl (4:55) … Joe Scarpello b. The Viking (33-
seconds) … The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) b. Johnny Como and Ricky
Romero (14:11) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 11, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Ricky Romero (2/3) … The Dalton Brothers (Jack and
Jim Dalton) b. Cowboy Carlson and “Cowboy” Bob Ellis (26:35) … Joe Scarpello b. The
Viking (56-seconds) (The Viking was accompanied by Sir Nelson Royal) … Killer Karl Kox
b. Mr. Clean by countout (6:20) … Johnny Como b. Sir Nelson Royal (10:55) …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

*The Amarillo Daily News reported on Sunday, October 14, 1962 that “Kiniski is the World
Champion and Von Erich is marked third by the National Wrestling Alliance.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 18, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b. Gene Kiniski and Fritz Von Erich to
capture the Southwest Tag Team Title (2/3) (Kiniski pinned Romero for the first fall after a
backbreaker in 13:10, Funk forced Kiniski to submit for the second with his spinning toe
hold in 11:20, Funk and Romero won the third by countout in 7:05 after Von Erich
accidently hit Kiniski with a chair) (after the match, Kiniski attacked Von Erich and the
brawl needed eight wrestlers to pull them apart) … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. Jack Dalton (DQ)
(8:05) … Cowboy Carlson b. The Viking (10:35) … Joe Scarpello b. Killer Karl Kox (dec.,
10:00) … Sir Nelson Royal b. Jim Dalton (7:25) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 25, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. b. World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski (non-title
match) (one-fall match) (22:40) … Lou Thesz b. Fritz Von Erich (2/3) (Von Erich won the
first fall in 10:30 with an iron claw, Thesz won the second in 6:10, Thesz won the third by
disqualification in 4:20) … The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) b. Johnny Como and
Joe Scarpello (11:00) … Cowboy Carlson and “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. Sir Nelson Royal and
The Viking (14:40) … Mr. Clean b. Mephisto in an arm wrestling match by decision after
the latter cheated (Mephisto was managed by Vincent Bagala) (wealthy California
businessman) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Tommy Phelps)
Note: Billed as the “Biggest and Greatest Card in the History of Amarillo Wrestling.”
Sarpolis stated that “This is the best card I’ve had since I started promoting wrestling in
Amarillo.” He was reported as being the “newly elected president of the National Wrestling
Alliance.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 1, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Fritz Von Erich to capture the North American
Heavyweight Title (lumberjack rules match with 10 grapplers around the ring) (2/3) (Funk
won the first fall in 10:30, Von Erich won the second with an iron claw in 9:40, Funk won
the third in 10:10) … The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) b. Cowboy Carlson and
“Cowboy” Bob Ellis (11:50) (Daltons earned a Southwest Tag Team Title match) … Joe
Scarpello b. Sir Nelson Royal (10:40) … Ricky Romero b. Johnny Como (7:00) … Killer
Karl Kox b. Tito Carreon (9:20) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 8, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Gene Kiniski (2/3) (Kiniski won the first fall in 7:32,
Von Erich won the second with an iron claw in 6:10, Von Erich won the third in 4:10) (a six-
foot chain link fence surrounded the ring) … Southwest Tag Team Champions Dory Funk
Sr. and Ricky Romero b. The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) (2/3) … Cowboy
Carlson and Joe Scarpello drew … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. The Viking (8:35) … Evelyn
Stevens b. Adrian Ames (5:55) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 15, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Mr. Clean b. Mephisto (DQ) (5:55) … Killer Karl Kox b. Cowboy Carlson
in two-of-three-falls when the latter was unable to continue … The Dalton Brothers (Jack
and Jim Dalton) b. Sir Nelson Royal, The Viking and Jeeves (8:10) … Joe Scarpello b.
Johnny Como (6:00) … Ricky Romero b. Tito Carreon (8:20) (cannonball) … (promoter:
Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Pat O’Dowdy, Poncho Pico)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 22, 1962
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski b. Mike DiBiase (2/3)
(Kiniski won the first fall with a backbreaker in 14:35, DiBiase won the second in 2:30,
Kiniski won the third in 4:40) … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. The Viking (8:00) … Cowboy
Carlson and Ricky Romero b. The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) (10:05) … Dory
Funk Sr. and Joe Scarpello drew … Killer Karl Kox b. Mr. Clean (7:50) … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis)
Note: DiBiase’s name was often spelled “DiBiasi” in the Amarillo newspaper.

*The Amarillo Daily News on Thursday, November 22, 1962, reported that “Iron Mike
protested that Gene (Kiniski) wouldn’t give him a shot at the crown and the National
Wrestling Alliance ordered the match. Sites from coast to coast wree bidding for the
match but Promoter Doc Sarpolis (president of the National Wrestling Alliance) landed the
match for Amarillo.” DiBiase was quoted as saying “If he wasn’t scared, he wouldn’t have
waited until the National Wrestling Alliance made him put up his championship against me.”

*The Amarillo Daily News on Friday, November 23, 1962, reported that “DiBiase had
defeated Kiniski in Phoenix last June. The National Wrestling Alliance had ordered Kiniski
to meet Iron Mike in a title match.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 29, 1962
(Sports Arena) … “Cowboy” Bob Ellis b. Fritz Von Erich by reverse decision after Fritz
wouldn’t release a hold (2-1) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Mephisto (2-0) (Funk won the second fall
by disqualification) … Mike DiBiase b. Killer Karl Kox when the latter could not continue …
Cowboy Carlson and Ricky Romero b. The Dalton Brothers (Jack and Jim Dalton) … Joe
Scarpello b. The Viking (9:10) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referees: Ali Ali,
Poncho Rico)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 6, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Fritz Von Erich b. Dory Funk Sr. (German Death Match, referee would
decide the winner by the amount of blood lost, no time-limit, no disqualifications) (each
wrestler would have a handkerchief held by the referee – the wrestler with the first
handkerchief covered with blood would lose) (Funk won the only two falls in 7:30 and 12:
30, but falls didn’t count) (the match ended ended when Fritz smashed Funk on his head
with a soft drink box in 14:30) … Jack Dalton and Killer Karl Kox b. Mike DiBiase and Joe
Scarpello (2/3) (Kox was unable to wrestle for the third fall) … Mephisto and Ricky Romero
drew … Cowboy Carlson b. Jim Dalton (5:55) (bulldog headlock) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Ali Ali) … (near capacity crowd)
Note: Funk reportedly had to spend a week at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
after getting a thumb in the eye from Von Erich.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 13, 1962
(Sports Arena) … Joe Scarpello won a 14-man Russian Roulette Battle Royal (number of
elimination: Cowboy Carlson, Jim Dalton, Mike DiBiase, Jack Dalton, Dory Funk, Ali Ali,
Ricky Romero, Tito Carreon, Gypsy Biviano, Nick Roberts, Killer Karl Kox, Mephisto, and
Bob Ellis) (Scarpello won $1,000) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Jack Dalton (7:10) … Bob Ellis b.
Mephisto (2/3) … Mike DiBiase b. Killer Karl Kox to capture the Nebraska State
Heavyweight Title (16:20) (it was reported that both men were from Omaha) … Cowboy
Carlson and Ricky Romero b. Ali Ali and Jim Dalton (11:10) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis)
Note: Next show: January 10, 1963.

Research by Tim Hornbaker
April 18, 2007

Amarillo Wrestling Results - 1962