Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 1, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Gordon Hessell b. George Strickland in the finals of a battle royal (2/3) … Al Getz and Jack Kiser drew (1-1) … Battle Royal (number eliminated: Cyclone Burns, Rod Fenton, Al Getz, Jack Kiser) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 8, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Al Getz b. Rod Fenton (2/3) … Gordon Hessell b. Cyclone Burns (2/3) … Pierre LaBelle and George Lopez drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Olan Boynton) … (2,000 fans) (capacity) Notes: Fenton was from Edmonton, Hessell from Radium Springs, New Mexico, LaBelle from Portland and Lopez from Tampico, Mexico. Boynton was said to be an “Amarillo railroader.” Getz was from Pittsburgh. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 15, 1948 (Tri-State Fairgrounds Automobile Building) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Al Getz b. Jack Kiser (2/3) (non-title match, catchweights) … Gordon Hessell and Pierre LaBelle b. Leon Kirilenko and Pat O’Dowdy (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Billy McEuin) … (1,700 fans) Note: Kiser was from Oswego, Oregon. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 22, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Rod Fenton b. Gordon Hessell (2/3) (third fall by countout) … Pat O’Dowdy b. Leon Kirilenko (2/3) … Dory Funk b. George Lopez (rolling short arm scissors) … (promoter: Dory Funk) … (referee: Billy McCune) Note: Funk was called a “handsome newcomer from Hammond, Ind.” Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 29, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Gordon Hessell b. Rod Fenton (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Dory Funk b. Jack Kiser (2/3) … Ace Freeman b. Olan Boynton (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Johnny Carlin) Notes: Carlin was a replacement for Pat O’Dowdy. The newspaper indicated that Funk won his second match “here.” Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 5, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Wayne Martin b. Pat O’Dowdy (2/3) … Dory Funk and Pierre LaBelle drew (45:00) … Karl Gray b. George Lopez … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,500 fans) Notes: Cold weather hampered attendance. Martin was to challenge Al Getz for the Southwest Junior Title on February 19 at the New Arena. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 12, 1948 (Fairgrounds Arena) … Ace Freeman b. Karl Gray (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Leon Kirilenko and Pierre LaBelle drew … Battle Royal (number eliminated: Pat O’Dowdy, Al Getz, Rod Fenton, Pierre LaBelle) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referees: Mickey Barnes, George Lopez) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 19, 1948 (New Sports Arena) … Wayne Martin b. Al Getz to capture the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Ace Freeman b. Rod Fenton (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Dory Funk and Gordon Hessell drew … Karl Gray b. Leon Kirilenko … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referees: Dutch Jones, Jack Sanders) … (3,400+ fans) (standing room only) Notes: This was the opening show at the new Sports Arena. The Amarillo Globe stated that the “crowd seemed to approve, generally, of the new arena.” There was good parking, fans to leave the facility quickly, and it was “heated adequaltely.” The paper stated that “It appeared that the building lacks a great deal of coming up to the 5,000 capacity which was announced originally. Its worst feature is the way it holds tobacco smoke.” Gray was said to be from Milwaukee. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 26, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Karl Gray b. Rod Fenton (2/3) … Dr. Gil Knutson b. Dory Funk (2/3) … Salvator Flores and Pierre LaBelle drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Olan Boynton) … (1,400 fans) Note: Knutson was from Plainview and Davenport. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 4, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Karl Gray b. Dr. Gil Knutson … The Mask b. Dory Funk (2/3) … Gorilla Poggi and Pierre LaBelle drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Bob McCune) Note: The purses of Gray and Knutson were held-up after their controversial match here. Amarillo, Texas: Monday, March 8, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Gil Knutson b. Sergeant Karl Gray (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Al Getz and The Mask drew … Ace Freeman b. Pierre LaBelle (2-0) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Dutch Jones) … (1,591 fans) Notes: The show was held on Monday because of the Southwest Regional Junior College Basketball tournament on Thursday. The local boxing and wrestling commissioner was Roy Greenhill. The Mask’s wife was ringside, and she didn’t wear a protective cover. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 18, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ace Freeman b. Al Getz (decision) … The Mask b. Dr. Gil Knutson (2/3) … Eddie Gideon b. Johnny Carlin (14:00) … Tuffy Truesdale wrestled an alligator named Rodney VII … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Billy McEuin) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 25, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ace Freeman and Eddie Gideon b. Karl Gray and Pat O’Dowdy (2-0) … The Mask b. Gorilla Poggi (1-0) (60:00) … Labo Satro, a champion bag puncher, was featured in a special attraction … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Billy McEuin) … (2,000 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 1, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ace Freeman b. Karl Gray (2-0) … Eddie Gideon and Gorilla Poggi drew (45:00) … Ace Abbott b. Young Sandow (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (2,000 fans) Note: Freeman earned a shot at Wayne Martin’s Southwest Title with his win here. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 8, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin b. Ace Freeman (2/3) … Pat O’Dowdy and Eddie Gideon drew (20:00) … Dr. Gil Knutson and The Mask drew (1-1) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 15, 1948 (Sports Arena) … The Mask b. Gorilla Poggi (2/3) … Ray “Big Train” Clements b. Ace Abbott (2/3) … Walter Stratton and Young Sandow drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 22, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Walter Stratton b. Gorilla Poggi in finals of a battle royal (2/3) … Ray Clements and Gil Knutson drew (1-1) … Battle royal (number eliminated: Ace Abbott, Pat O’ Dowdy, Jack Wentworth) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 29, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin and The Mask wrestled to a no contest (Mask won the first fall, but the match got out of hand during the second, and after the referee was knocked from the ring, wrestling commissioner Roy Greenhill entered the ring and stopped the match) (non-title match) … Eddie Gideon b. Pat O’Dowdy (5 seconds) … Ray Clements and Jack Wentworth drew (15:00) … Ace Abbott and Olan Boynton drew (20:00) (Boynton was a substitute for Gil Knutson, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the week) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Lobo Brown) … (3,000 fans) Note: The purses of both main event wrestlers was held up. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 6, 1948 (Sports Arena) … The Mask b. Ray Clements (2/3) … Eddie Gideon and Jack Wentworth drew (45:00) (no falls) … Billy Hickson b. Yaqui Joe … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Lobo Brown) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 13, 1948 (Sports Arena) … The Mask b. Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin (1- 0) (60:00) (during the match, Martin ripped off his opponent’s mask, but “The Mask” had a second one on underneath) (non-title match) … Eddie Gideon b. Billy Hickson (2/3) … Jack Wentworth b. Walter Stratton … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (3,500 fans) Note: The Mask’s wife was in attendance. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 20, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin b. Eddie Gideon (2/3) (non-title match) … Billy Hickson and Pat O’Dowdy drew (45:00) (1-1) … Olan Boynton b. Billy Sandow … (promoter: Dory Detton) Notes: Martin was a Tulsa policeman. Lobo Brown accepted the challenge of a local wrestling fan named Hayden Martin and a challenge match was added next week. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 27, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Wrestling Tournament … Olan Boynton b. Billy Hickson (2/3) … Dr. Gil Knutson and Jack Wentworth drew (1-1) … Sammy Kohen b. Pat O’Dowdy (16:00) … Lobo Brown b. Hayden Martin (special challenge match) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,500 fans) Notes: The third annual Southwest junior heavyweight tournament began tonight. It was said to be a 16-man tournament. The tournament didn’t encompass all of the matches on each show over the following weeks, but usually just the main event. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 3, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dr. Gil Knutson b. Eddie Gideon (2/3) … Ray Clements b. Ace Abbott (Abbott was unable to continue) … Walter Stratton b. Olan Boynton (DQ) … Billy Hickson and Sammy Kohen drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,100 fans) Notes: Knutson, with the win, advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Leroy McGuirk was credited with inventing the abdominal stretch. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 10, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dr. Gil Knutson b. Olan Boynton (2/3) … Billy Hickson and Sammy Kohen drew (45:00) … George Curtis and Frankie Hill Murdock b. Ray Clements and Pat O’Dowdy (DQ) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referees: Dutch Jones, Billy Sandow) … (1,248 fans) Notes: Boynton was eliminated from the wrestling tournament. Kohen was “sometimes known as the Red Devil.” Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 17, 1948 (Sports Arena) … George Curtis b. Frankie Hill Murdock (2/3) … Ray Clements b. Dory Detton (1-0) (45:00) … Sammy Kohen and Jack Wentworth drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (2,100 fans) Notes: The Clements-Detton bout was a grudge match and the latter received special permission from the wrestling commission to wrestle. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 24, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ray Clements b. Jack Wentworth (2/3) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin b. Sammy Kohen (2/3) (non-title, catchweights) … Frankie Murdock and Billy Weidner b. George Curtis and Billy Hickson … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,650 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 1, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ray Clements b. George Curtis (2/3) … Sammy Kohen b. George Lopez (2/3) … Battle Royal (participants: Billy Weidner, Gil Knutson, Jack Carter, Billy Hickson, Frankie Hill Murdock) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,493 fans) Notes: The Clements-Curtis match was apart of the 16-week junior heavyweight tournament. Clements was from Lubbock. Curtis was eliminated and he was a major, local fan favorite. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 8, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Billy Weidner b. Jack Carter (2/3) … Art Brady b. Sammy Kohen (2-0) (first fall by DQ) … Billy Hickson and George Lopez drew (30:00) … Roland Case b. Hayden Martin … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Gil Knutson) Note: Case and Martin were called semi-pros. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 15, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Henry “Hank” Harrell b. Pat O’Dowdy (2/3) … Art Brady and Billy Weidner drew (45:00) (1-1) … Gil Knutson b. Jack Carter (12:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Dutch Jones) Notes: Harrell, of New Orleans, advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Brady was from Huntington Park, California. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 22, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Billy Weidner b. Henry Harrell (2/3) … Al Getz b. Frankie Murdock (2/3) … George Curtis and George Lopez drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,300 fans) Notes: Weidner advanced to the semifinals of the tournament in the lower bracket. He was called “Boston Billy Weidner” and used a full nelson as a finisher. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 29, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Al Getz b. Gorilla Poggi (2/3) … Art Brady and Billy Hickson wrestled Gil Knutson and Frankie Murdock to a draw (1-1) … Jack Carter b. Karl Gray (16:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Note: Getz moved into the quarterfinals of the junior heavyweight tournament with his win. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 5, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Karl Gray b. Art Brady (forfeit) (tournament match) (Brady was unable to make weight) … Art Brady b. Karl Gray (2-0) (second fall by DQ) … Billy Weidner b. George Curtis (2/3) … Henry Harrell and Gorilla Poggi drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referees: Jack Carter, Billy Hickson) … (1,550 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 12, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Al Getz b. Karl Gray (2/3) … Pat O’Dowdy b. Billy Hickson (1-0) … Gil Knutson b. George Lopez … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Jack Carter) … (1,900 fans) Notes: Getz advanced to the “lower bracket” semifinals of the 16-week wrestling tournament. Carter was from New Zealand and Hickson was from Knoxville. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 19, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Ray “Big Train” Clements b. Gil Knutson (2/3) … Rod Fenton, Al Getz and Karl Gray b. Henry Harrell, Billy Hickson and Billy Weidner … George Curtis and Gorilla Poggi drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (2,300 fans) Note: Knutson was from Davenport, Iowa. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 26, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Billy Weidner b. Al Getz (2/3) … Rod Fenton b. Billy Hickson (2-0) … Rex Mobley b. Karl Gray … Jack Carter and George Curtis drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Note: Weidner won his way into the tournament finals next week against Ray Clements with this victory tonight. The winer of Clements-Weidner was going to wrestle Wayne Martin on September 9. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 2, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Billy Weidner b. Ray Clements in the finals of the tournament (2/3) … Rex Mobley b. Jack Carter … Sammy Kohen b. George Lopez … Battle Royal (other participants: Rod Fenton, Al Getz, Gorilla Poggi, Karl Gray) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (nearly 3,000 fans) Notes: Weidner earned a match with Wayne Martin for the Southwest Junior Title next week and received $2,000. Weidner, reportedly, won a tournament here during the summer of 1946. He was said to be a former circus acrobat. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 9, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Billy Weidner b. Wayne Martin to capture the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Al Getz b. Jack Carter (18:00) … Rod Fenton and Karl Gray b. George Curtis and Rex Mobley (tag team match) … Sammy Kohen and Gorilla Poggi drew (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (3,400 fans) Note: Martin has been champion since beating Al Getz last February. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 16, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Billy Weidner b. Karl Gray (2-0) (Gray was punched out by referee Jack Dempsey) … Al Getz b. George Curtis (18:00) … Rod Fenton and Rex Mobley drew (20:00) … Ace Abbott and Sammy Kohen drew (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Jack Dempsey) … (1,900 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 23, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Billy Weidner and The Mask drew (60:00) (1-1) … Rex Mobley b. Sammy Kohen (2/3) … Gorilla Poggi and Pat O’Dowdy drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Olan Boynton) … (1,800 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 30, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Al Getz b. The Mask (2/3) (Mask was unmasked to reveal Jack Steele of Centerville, Iowa) … Rex Mobley and Billy Weidner b. Rod Fenton and Benny Trudell (2/3) … Sammy Kohen and Sailor Parker drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Ace Abbott) … (1,671 fans) Notes: Mobley was from Borger, Texas. No show next week due to the Tri-State Fair. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 14, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Wayne Martin b. Billy Weidner to capture the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Jack Steele and Dick Trout drew (30:00) … Rod Fenton b. Ace Abbott … Rex Mobley and Benny Trudell drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Al Getz) … (2,377 fans) Notes: The newspaper stated that Trout was returning to Amarillo after “many years.” He “hails from Carbondale, Ill., by way of Tulsa and Hollywood.” Abbott was from Abilene. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 21, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Jack Steele b. Al Getz (2/3) … Rod Fenton, Sammy Kohen and Benny Trudell wrestled Rex Mobley, Sailor Parker and Dick Trout to a draw (1-1) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,900 fans) Note: Getz was the only man to beat Steele in Amarillo. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 28, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dick Trout b. Jack Steele (2/3) … Rex Mobley b. Rod Fenton (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Balk Estes and Al Getz drew (30:00) … Benny Trudell b. Sailor Parker … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (2,000 fans) Notes: Going into this match with Trout, Steele was the top contender to Wayne Martin’s Southwest Junior Title. Trout took over the role. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 4, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dory Funk, Rex Mobley and Dick Trout b. Rod Fenton, Jack Steele and Benny Trudell (2/3) … Al Getz b. Sailor Parker (2-0) … Billy McEuin and Pat O’Dowdy drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,431 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 11, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Elimination Tournament … Dick Trout b. Al Getz (2-0) (advances to finals) … Rod Fenton b. Jack Steele (2/3) (advances to the finals) … Dory Funk b. Benny Trudell (25:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Notes: The top two matches of this show were apart of the elimination tournament to determine a challenger for the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title on November 25. Steele was from Centerville, Iowa. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 18, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Elimination Tournament … Dick Trout b. Rod Fenton in the finals of the wrestling tournament (2/3) … Dory Funk and Al Getz drew (45:00) (1-1) … Benny Trudell b. Pat O’Dowdy … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Vic Weber) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 25, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Wayne Martin b. Dick Trout (2/3) (third fall by countout) … Dory Funk and Al Getz wrestled to a no contest … Pat O’ Dowdy and Vic Weber drew (15:00) … Eddie Gideon b. Benny Trudell (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referees: Olan Boynton, Dutch Jones) … (3,200 fans) Notes: Martin and Trout had to be separated after the bout from continuing their fight. The main event finish was unpopular with fans. At one point during the wild Funk-Getz match, the referee Dutch Jones was knocked out onto the KVAI radio broadcast table, where Wes Carr was doing the play-by-play. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 2, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Al Getz (2/3) … Dick Trout b. Eddie Gideon (2/3) … Olan Boynton and Benny Trudell drew (20:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) Note: Gideon was from Montgomery, Alabama. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 9, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dick Trout b. Wayne Martin to capture the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) (second fall to Trout by DQ when Martin threw him over the top rope) … Dory Funk b. Eddie Gideon (21:00) … Vic Weber b. Benny Trudell (DQ) … Olan Boynton and Pat O’Dowdy drew … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Al Getz) … (3,100 fans) Notes: Tossing a wrestler over the top rope was a violation of National Wrestling Association rules and Col. Harry J. Landry, president of the organization, reportedly wanted that rule adhered to especially in this title match. The Southwest Junior Title had a 190 pound limit. With the win, Trout earned a title match with NWA World Junior Champion Leroy McGuirk. The Amarillo Daily News stated that Trout and McGuirk were “great rivals” as 175 pounders. “Trout was one of McGuirk’s successors as the world 175-pound king, holding the title for two years.” Weber was from Plainview and O’Dowdy from Big Spring. Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 16, 1948 (Sports Arena) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Leroy McGuirk b. Southwest Junior Heavyweight Champion Dick Trout (2/3) (world title match only) … Dory Funk b. Texas State Junior Heavyweight Champion Milt Olsen (25:00) (non-title match) … Eddie Gideon b. Benny Trudell … Olan Boynton and Vic Weber drew (15:00) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (referee: Al Getz) … (2,800 fans) Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 23, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Dick Trout to capture the Southwest Junior Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Al Getz b. Olan Boynton (16:00) … Monte LaDue and Benny Trudell wrestled Eddie Gideon and Milt Olsen to a draw (1-1) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (1,500 fans) … (benefit for the Boys Ranch) Notes: It was said to be Trout’s first defense of the championship. He won it from Wayne Martin of Tulsa two weeks earlier. Funk was from Hammond, Indiana. LaDue was a newcomer from Quebec, Canada. During the show, the “Woodpecker song” was sung by Dallas Hiller, Billy Hiller and Toby Gardner. David Ash sang “Texarkanababy” and Dale Galvin did “sound effects.” Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 30, 1948 (Sports Arena) … Monte LaDue and Milt Olson drew in the finals of a wrestle royal (60:00) (1-1) … Eddie Gideon b. Pat O’Dowdy (2/3) … Wrestle Royal (number eliminated: Benny Trudell, Dory Funk, Olan Boynton, Eddie Gideon, Pat O’Dowdy) … (promoter: Dory Detton) … (2,100 fans) Research by Tim Hornbaker December 11, 2007 |
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