Amarillo Wrestling Results

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 10, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Jack Dalton (4:30) (Funk’s professional debut) (Jerry
Logan, football player at West Texas, was handcuffed to Jack Dalton’s brother Jim) …
Hercules Cortez b. Killer Karl Kox (13:01) (1-0) (Kox was unable to continue) … Fritz Von
Erich b. Bob Ellis (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Cowboy Carlson and Alex Perez drew (15:00) …
Ricky Romero and Joe Scarpello b. Jim Dalton and Don Duffy (11:55) … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Poncho Pico) … (in attendance: Dory Jr.’s West Texas State
football teammates)
Notes: The Amarillo Daily News reported that Dory Funk Jr. “has been trained by his famed
father, Dory Sr., since he was six years old to be a wrestler.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 17, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski b. Hercules Cortez (2/3) …
Mike DiBiase b. Dory Funk Sr. (1:07) (the two began wrestling before the bell) … Judy
Glover b. Jessica Rogers (9:55) … Cowboy Bradley b. Tiny Roe (boxing match) (Roe
initially won by knockout in the fourth round, but the referee reversed the decision after it
was found that Roe soaked his glove in water) … Don Duffy and Sir Nelson Royal wrestled
Ricky Romero and Joe Scarpello to a draw (20:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referees: Ali Ali, Cowboy Carlson)
Notes: The newspaper reported that this was Cortez’s first loss in the United States since
arriving from Madrid, Spain, two years earlier. Newspaper reports spelled DiBiase’s name
“DiBiasi.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 24, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Mike DiBiase b. Hercules Cortez (8:30) (Cortez had to be carried from the
ring and taken to a local hospital after receiving seven knee drops) … Joe Scarpello b.
Killer Karl Kox (2/3) (third fall by countout) … Dory Funk Sr. and Sir Nelson Royal initially
drew in 15:00, then asked for an additional five minutes, where Funk won in 23 seconds …
Wahoo McDaniel b. Gypsy Biviano (7:06) … Ricky Romero b. The Viking (DQ) (13:50) …
Dory Funk Jr. b. Don Duffy (6:30) (Funk’s second pro match) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Poncho Pico)
Notes: Dory Funk Sr. reportedly regained the North American Title “last week” in Lubbock.
Wahoo McDaniel “resumes his wrestling career.” Recently, he “had been playing pro
football with the Denver Broncos of the American League. He also was a standout gridder
for the University of Oklahoma and Midland High school.” It was said to be the first time Dory
Funk Sr. appeared in a preliminary match, following the rules established the week before
when he wrestled DiBiase. They agreed the loser would wrestle in the opener.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, January 31, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Mike DiBiase and Fritz Von Erich b. Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero
(2/3) (Funk was disqualified in the first fall) (DiBiase was a substitute for Chino Chow of
Hong Kong, who was known as the “Chinese Chopper.”) (The Amarillo Daily News reported
that “Chow wasn’t able to appear as he was arrested by immigration authorities for illegal
entry into the United States”) (DiBiase and Von Erich likely won the Southwest Tag Title
here) … Mike DiBiase b. Sir Nelson Royal (Royal was unable to continue) (winner of this
match was to team with Von Erich in the other main event) … The McClaritys (Don and Roy
McClarity b. Killer Karl Kox and The Viking (9:00) … Bob Ellis and Joe Scarpello drew (Ellis
wouldn’t take a victory after Scarpello was unable to continue) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Alex Perez)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 7, 1963
(Sports Arena) …Mike DiBiase b. Tony Borne (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Dory Funk Sr. and
Fritz Von Erich drew (1-1) (Von Erich wouldn’t wrestle the second fall until referee Wahoo
McDaniel was replaced, and was Wahoo was by Alex Perez) … The McClaritys (Don and
Roy McClarity) b. Don Duffy and Killer Karl Kox (5:50) (Duffy was a substitute for Chino
Chow) … Bob Ellis b. Sir Nelson Royal (9:10) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referees:
Wahoo McDaniel, Alex Perez) … (Texas Wrestling Commissioner: Stanley Blackburn)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 14, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Bob Ellis b. Mike DiBiase (2/3) (during the third fall, a “fan who identified
himself as Bill Watts jumped in the ring and helped Ellis) (Dory Funk Jr. challenged the
winner, but DiBiase agreed to wrestle him) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Mike DiBiase (28 seconds) …
Fritz Von Erich b. Roy McClarity … The Viking b. Sir Nelson Royal (11:25) … Don McClarity
and Joe Scarpello b. Ali Ali and Killer Karl Kox (Ali was a substitute for Chino Chow, who
missed his third week of matches) (8:00) … Kathy Starr b. Judy Glover (forfeit) …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Alex Perez)
Notes: In the Amarillo Daily News, Dory Funk Jr. was quoted as saying: “I turned pro last
month. I’ve won both my matches but I haven’t been able to get another one. My father
and the promoter are holding me back. I’m good enough for any of those guys and I want a
chance to prove it.” Chino Chow was held by immigration authorities in El Paso for illegal
entry into the country. Bill Watts wanted to wrestle DiBiase, but commissioner Stanley
Blackburn “wouldn’t allow him to wrestle without a license.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 21, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Roy McClarity b. Fritz Von Erich (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Mike DiBiase
and Dory Funk Sr. were both counted out in the third fall … Dory Funk Jr. b. The Viking (1:
10) … Bob Ellis and Ricky Romero b. Don Duffy and Killer Karl Kox (11:20) … Wahoo
McDaniel b. Ali Ali (6:05) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Danno O’Shocker)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, February 28, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. vs. Fritz Von Erich
(one-fall) … Mike DiBiase vs. Ricky Romero … Ed Sharpe vs. Bill Watts (Watts’s pro debut)
… Moose Cholak vs. Roy McClarity … Dory Funk Jr. and Wahoo McDaniel vs. Killer Karl
Kox and The Viking … Don Duffy vs. Don McClarity … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
Note: Ed Sharpe was said to have played football (guard) at the University of Utah. The
Amarillo Daily News also said that Bill Watts was making his “debut as a pro wrestler.” The
paper said that “Watts says he wrestled as an amateur and played pro football.” Von Erich
was billed as being from Stuttgart, Germany.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 7, 1963

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 14, 1963

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 21, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Wrestling Tournament … Wahoo McDaniel b. The Lawman (3:32)
(Lawman was a substitute for Fritz Von Erich, who suffered a broken hand during a bout
with County Boy “Haystacks” Calhoun) … Moose Cholak b. Alex Perez (1:35) … Roy
McClarity b. Bob Stanlee (DQ) (4:30) … Mike DiBiase b. Ricky Romero (DQ) (35 seconds)
… Don McClarity b. Steve Stanlee (3:25) … Killer Karl Kox b. Sir Nelson Royal (5:45) …
Dory Funk Sr. b. The Viking (1:10) (spinning toehold) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Bud Cody (2:30)
(spinning toehold) … Moose Cholak b. Wahoo McDaniel (4:30) … Roy McClarity b. Don
McClarity (6:00) … Mike DiBiase b. Killer Karl Kox (5:10) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Dory Funk Sr.
(forfeit) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Mike DiBiase … Dory Funk Jr b. Moose Cholak in the finals to
win the tournament (3:10) (spinning toehold) (Funk won $2,000 and a match with World
Champion Gene Kiniski next week, the winner of that bout would face Lou Thesz for the
undisputed crown) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
Notes: Dory Funk Jr. had won all five of his pro matches. Fritz Von Erich was rated by the
National Wrestling Alliance to be the number three heavyweight wrestler in the world.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, March 28, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Gene Kiniski to capture the World Heavyweight Title
(2/3) (Kiniski won the first fall in 34:10 after Funk refused to break a spinning toehold)
(Kiniski was unable to continue the rest of the match, and Funk was declared the winner)
(the promoter planned for a match between Funk and official NWA champion Thesz) …
Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b. Mike DiBiase and Bob Stanlee (2/3) … Sputnik Monroe
b. Sir Nelson Royal (13:10) … Wahoo McDaniel b. Steve Stanlee (8:45) … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referees: Alex Perez, Danno O’Shocker)
Notes: Dory Funk Jr. had won all “seven” of professional matches. The Amarillo Daily News
quoted Gene Kiniski as saying: “I want to win as quickly as I can so I can get a shot at Lou
Thesz. I want to clear up this championship deal. I beat Buddy Rogers for the title. Now
Thesz claims it too.” The paper said that “Dory Funk Jr. won Gene Kiniski’s claim to the
world wrestling championship” in its March 29, 1963 edition.

*The Sunday, March 31, 1963 edition of the Amarillo Daily News reported that Balk Estes
was Dr. Karl Sarpolis’s matchmaker.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 4, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Mike DiBiase b. Alex Perez (2/3) … Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b.
Killer Karl Kox and Sputnik Monroe (2/3) … Pee Wee Lopez b. Frenchy Semard (15:25) …
Don McClarity and Wahoo McDaniel drew … Roy McClarity b. Bob Stanlee (9:05) …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 11, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. b. Sonny Myers (24:10)
(Myers suffered a dislocated knee while locked in a spinning toehold) … Fritz Von Erich b.
Roy McClarity (Don McClarity interfered) … Pee Wee Lopez and Ricky Romero b. Mike
DiBiase and Frenchy Semard (13:30) (“man an a half” match) … Sputnik Monroe b. Wahoo
McDaniel (6:45) … Killer Karl Kox b. Don McClarity (dec., 10:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis) … (referee: Danno O’Shocker)
Note: According to the Amarillo newspaper, Sonny Myers “won the International
Tournament at Tokyo two years ago.” The reason why the Thesz-Funk match wasn’t
immediately scheduled was because Thesz “isn’t in good enough physical shape yet.”

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 18, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. b. Killer Karl Kox (2-0) …
Tokyo Joe b. Billy Romanoff (1:32) … Ricky Romero b. Hurricane Chandler (15:05) … Mike
DiBiase and Sputnik Monroe b. The McClarity Brothers (Don and Roy McClarity) (8:40) …
Wahoo McDaniel b. Don Duffy (7:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Mike
DiBiase)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, April 25, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. b. Mike DiBiase (2-0) (first
fall by DQ) … Bob Ellis b. Don Duffy (6:20) (Duffy was a substitute for Sputnik Monroe, who
failed to show) … Tokyo Joe b. Wahoo McDaniel (1:10) … Ricky Romero b. Don McClarity
(9:30) … Billy Romanoff and Roy McClarity drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referee: Mike London)
Notes: Bob Ellis “just returned from Tokyo where he reached the semifinals of the
International Tournament,” according to the April 25, 1963 Amarillo Daily News. Sputnik
Monroe captured the North American Title from Dory Funk Sr. on Tuesday in Odessa.
“Funk was wrestling against the orders of his doctor.” Dory Funk Jr. was “undefeated in 11
professional mat battles.” DiBiase was his 12th victim, and he hadn’t even lost a fall yet.

*Did not search the month of May 1963 due to a problem with a microfilm reel.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, May 30, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne and World Heavyweight
Champion Dory Funk Jr. drew (1-1) (Funk won the first fall in 19:00 with a spinning toehold,
Gagne won the second in 4:28 with a sleeperhold) (this marked the first fall Funk had lost in
his pro career) (billed as “world’s championship” title claimant vs. title claimant) … Tokyo
Joe b. Dory Funk Sr. (2/3) … Bob Ellis, Roy McClarity and Wahoo McDaniel b. Mike
DiBiase, Killer Karl Kox and Sputnik Monroe (10:25) … Jose Lothario b. Dick Dunn (9:48) …
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Billy Ramanoff)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 6, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. and Wahoo McDaniel b. Sputnik Monroe and Tokyo Tom
(2/3) (third fall by DQ) (Tokyo Tom hit the referee, then his opponents, while four wrestlers
attempted to stop the carnage) (a “near riot” occurred) … Firtz Von Erich b. Mr. Kleen (2/3)
… Jose Lothario b. Billy Romanoff (9:20) … Dick Dunn b. Roy McClarity … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Alex Perez)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 13, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Funks (Dory Funk Sr. and Dory Funk Jr.) vs. Sputnik Monroe and
Tokyo Tom (2/3) … Wahoo McDaniel vs. Fritz Von Erich (2/3) … Dick Dunn vs. Jose
Lothario … Roy McClarity vs. Billy Romanoff … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
Note: It was said to be the first time father and son, Dory Funk Sr. and Dory Funk Jr., were
teaming up in the ring. The Amarillo Daily News reported on June 13, 1963 that the
wrestling show at the Sports Arena “was stopped by the state athletic commission.”

*The Amarillo Daily News stated, on Thursday, June 20, 1963, that “The license of Doc
Sarpolis was suspended for 60 days last week.” No reason was given. Wrestling was
returning to the Arena under the promotional license of “Honest” Jess Williams.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 20, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. North American
Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (Funk refused to break his
spinning toehold during the third fall) (title couldn’t change hands on a DQ) … Dory Funk Jr.
and Bob Geigel b. Tony Borne and Tokyo Tom (2/3) … Jose Lothario b. Dick Dunn (10:00)
… Judy Glover b. Mary Carpenter (10:38) … Billy Romanoff b. Roy McClarity (10:12) …
(promoter: Jess Williams) .. (referee: Don Slatten)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 27, 1963
(Sports Arena) … World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. b. Pat O’Connor (2/3) (non-
title match) (Funk lost the second fall to O’Connor, only the second fall he’s lost since his
pro debut) … Fritz Von Erich b. Moose Cholak (2-0) (second fall by DQ) … Jose Lothario
and Ricky Romero b. Sputnik Monroe and Billy Romanoff (13:30) … Tokyo Tom failed to
throw Dory Funk Sr. in 5:00 … Roy McClarity b. Dick Dunn (decision) … (promoter: Jess
Williams) … (referee: Dick Dunn)
Notes: The Amarillo newspaper stated that Dory Funk Jr., Verne Gagne, and Lou Thesz all
claim the world heavyweight title. Pat O’Connor “won the championship with a victory over
Dick Hutton on Jan. 9, 1959, in St. Louis. Pat lost the crown to Buddy Rogers on June 30,
1961, at Chicago.”

*In the weeks following, mentions of Dory Funk Jr.’s title claim diminished in press reports.
The Amarillo territory was taking a lot of heat from the management of the National
Wrestling Alliance for recognizing a heavyweight champion of its own.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 4, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Sr. won a 16-man Russian Roulette Battle Royal (number
eliminated: Mr. Kleen, Wahoo McDaniel, Roy McClarity, Nick Roberts, Ricky Romero,
Treach Phillips, El Mongol, Nick Volkoff, Jose Lothario, Billy Romanoff, Sputnik Monroe, Dick
Dunn, Killer Karl Kox, Tokyo Tom, Dory Funk Jr. (Dory Jr. eliminated himself, allowing his
father to win) … Tokyo Tom b. Ricky Romero (2/3) … Jose Lothario b. Nick Volkoff (13:03)
… Sputnik Monroe b. Mr. Kleen … Dory Funk Jr. b. El Mongol (8:00) … (promoter: Jess
Williams)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 11, 1963
(Sports Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz and Dory Funk Sr. drew
(1-1) (Thesz won the first fall in 31:18, Funk won the second fall in 8 seconds with his
spinning toehold) … Dory Funk Jr. and Wahoo McDaniel b. Treach Phillips and Tokyo Tom
(2-0) … Killer Karl Kox b. Roy McClarity (5:35) … Dick Dunn and Sputnik Monroe b. Jose
Lothario and Ricky Romero (11:13) … (promoter: Jess Williams) … (referee: Billy
Romanoff)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 18, 1963
(Sports Arena) …Dory Funk Jr. and Ricky Romero b. Sputnik Monroe and Tokyo Tom (2/3)
(third fall by DQ) … Rasputin b. Wahoo McDaniel (7:33) … Leo Newman b. Killer Karl Kox
(Kox had to score a pinfall in 5:00 with one hand tied behind his back and failed) … Billy
Romanoff b. Moose Cholak (countout) (6:40) … Dick Dunn b. Roy McClarity (6:15) …
(referee: Treach Phillips)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, July 25, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Sputnik Monroe (2-0) (Leo Newman, attempting to hit
Funk, accidently hit Monroe, leading the second fall) … Tokyo Tom b. Ricky Romero (2/3)
(third fall by DQ) … Leo Newman b. Dick Dunn (DQ) (a special rules match with Dunn
receiving $200 if he could beat his opponent in five minutes with his feet “hobbled.”) … Jose
Lothario b. Ed Sharpe (5:33) … Rasputin b. Billy Romanoff (7:57) … Cowboy Bradley b.
Tiny Roe (7:15) … (referee: Treach Phillips)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 1, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Fritz Von Erich (2/3) (Funk was reportedly undefeated in
16 matches) (Von Erich, it was said in the Amarillo paper, won the “American Wrestling
Association championship from Verne Gagne last week”) (non-title match) … Sputnik
Monroe failed to throw Leo Newman in five minutes (Newman’s special rules applied)
(despite not winning, Monroe took the $300 on the line anyway) … Ricky Romero b. Killer
Karl Kox (8:08) … Tokyo Tom b. Jose Lothario (10:50) … Rasputin b. Mr. Kleen (8:55)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 8, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Verne Gagne b. Fritz Von Erich to regain the American Wrestling
Association World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Von Erich won the first fall in 8:30 with his iron
claw, Gagne won the second in 9:55 with his sleeperhold, Gagne won the third in 14:20) …
Dory Funk Jr. and Dory Funk Sr. b. Southwest Tag Team Champions Sputnik Monroe and
Tokyo Tom (2-0) (second fall by DQ) (title couldn’t change hands on a DQ) … Jose
Lothario b. Killer Karl Kox (6:05) … Enrique Torres b. Billy Romanoff (7:17) … Bob Geigel
failed to throw Leo Newman in five minutes (Newman’s special rules applied) (Geigel was
“hobbled” and wore a patch over one eye) ($400 was on the line) … Rasputin b. Ricky
Romero (8:50)
Note: Von Erich reportedly won the AWA Title on July 27 in Omaha.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 15, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Sr. b. Tokyo Tom
(2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Rasputin b. Ricky Romero (2/3) … Dory Funk Jr. and Enrique
Torres b. Antone Leone and Sputnik Monroe (12:22) … Billy Romanoff failed to throw Leo
Newman in five minutes (Newman’s special rules applied) (Romanoff was disqualified for
taking off a sack that was tied on his head) … Jean Antone b. Jessica Rogers (8:10) …
(referee: Dick Dunn)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 22, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Tokyo Tom (55 seconds) (Funk earned a match with
AWA champion Verne Gagne next week) … Art Nelson b. Jose Lothario (16:00) … Rasputin
b. Ricky Romero (18:00) (Rasputin was managed by Leo Newman, who was handcuffed to
Mr. Kleen) … Leo Newman b. Mr. Kleen (Newman’s special rules applied) (Newman received
some help from Rasputin) (3:55) … Sputnik Monroe b. Dick Dunn (9:00)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, August 29, 1963
(Sports Arena) … AWA World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne and Dory Funk Jr. drew
(60:00) (1-1) … Joe Blanchard, Dory Funk Sr. and Ricky Romero b. Sputnik Monroe, Art
Nelson and Tokyo Tom (2/3) … Treach Phillips failed to beat Leo Newman in five minutes
(Newman’s special rules applied) (Phillips had a sack of flour tied to his waist) … Rasputin
b. Jose Lothario (countout) (9:00) … (referee: Dick Dunn)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 5, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Sheik b. Joe Blanchard (5:45) (Blanchard was unable to continue)
(said to be Sheik’s debut in Amarillo) … Dory Funk Sr. b. Rasputin (2-0) (first fall by DQ) …
Sputnik Monroe failed to throw Leo Newman in five minutes (Newman’s special rules
applied) (Monroe wore a sack with eye holes) … Jose Lothario and Ricky Romero wrestled
Sputnik Monroe and Tokyo Tom drew … Art Nelson b. Mr. Kleen (5:15)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 12, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Sheik b. Leo Newman (Newman’s special rules applied) (Sheik won in
12 seconds and captured the $900 prize) (eight wrestlers failed to conquer Newman) …
The Sheik b. Ricky Romero (12:00) (Romero suffered a neck injury and was unable to
continue) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Rasputin (2-0) (Rasputin was forced to remove his mask) …
Tiny Roe b. Chico Diaz (9:15) … Dale Lewis and Luis Martinez b. Sputnik Monroe and
Tokyo Tom (10:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Canyon, Texas: Thursday, September 19, 1963
(West Texas State Fieldhouse) … Dory Funk Jr. b. Sputnik Monroe (2/3) … Dick the Bruiser
b. Dick Steinborn (2/3) (Steinborn was a substitute for Buddy Fuller) … The Sheik b. Luis
Martinez (12:06) … Dale Lewis and Ricky Romero b. Rasputin and Tokyo Tom (15:45)
Note: The Sports Arena wasn’t available because of the Tri-State Fair.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, September 26, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dale Lewis b. Tokyo Tom in the finals of a five-man tournament to earn a
match with AWA World Champion Verne Gagne (Lewis also won $600) (10:20) … Tokyo
Tom b. Sputnik Monroe (8:57) … Tokyo Tom b. Ricky Romero (14:00) … Dale Lewis b. Bob
Geigel (dec., 15:00) … Luis Martinez b. Rudy Kay (9:50) … Joe Gump b. Treach Phillips (7:
03) … Jessica Rogers b. Mars Mooney (8:12) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee:
Jack Cain)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 3, 1963
(Sports Arena) … AWA World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. Dale Lewis (2/3) …
The Sheik b. Dory Funk Jr. (2-0) (during the first fall, Sheik “burned Dory Jr. with a big
match that he pulled out of his trunks”) (Funk was unable to continue) (It was reportedly
Funk’s first loss in 20 engagements) … Joe Gump b. Rudy Kay (6:30) … Sputnik Monroe
and Ricky Romero drew … Tokyo Tom b. Luis Martinez (11:48) … (promoter: Dr. Karl
Sarpolis)
Note: Dale Lewis was billed as a “former pupil” of Gagne.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 10, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Sheik b. Dory Funk Sr. to capture the North American Heavyweight
Title (Texas Detah Match) (if Sheik would have lost, he would have been forced out of
Texas) (Funk wanted the match after his son was burned the week before) (Sheik used the
same burning tactics, plus the camel clutch, to win this match) … Sputnik Monroe and
Tokyo Tom were both initially counted out (9:30), but continued and Tom won by pinfall (2:
25) … Rudy Kay and Luis Martinez drew … Dale Lewis and Ricky Romero b. Joe Gump and
Treach Phillips (16:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 17, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Sheik b. Ricky Romero (2/3) (Romero was the first wrestler to gain a
fall versus Sheik in the latter’s sixth straight victory) (Sheik would have been forced to give
$1,000 to the United Fund if he would have used the “mysterious fire” again in this bout”) …
Dory Funk Jr. b. Joe Gump (9:10) … Tokyo Tom b. Rudy Kay (9:00) … Ann Spencer b.
Sweet Georgia Brown (7:20) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 24, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Tokyo Tom b. Sputnik Monroe (2/3) (Tom received some help from Amos
Hawkins) … Dory Funk Jr., Dale Lewis and Ricky Romero b. Joe Gump, Hoss Hulett and
Harley Race (2/3) … Pat Kelly and Luis Martinez drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, October 31, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion The Sheik b. Dory Funk Sr. (2/3)
(third fall by DQ) (Funk pummeled the referees) … Pat Kelly and Ken Lucas drew … Dory
Funk Jr. b. Harley Race (11:55) (spinning toehold) … Dale Lewis and Luis Martinez b. Rudy
Kay and Tokyo Tom (11:05) … Ricky Romero and Sputnik Monroe drew … (promoter: Dr.
Karl Sarpolis) … (referees: Jack Cain, Rudy Kay)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 7, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Tag Team Title Tournament .. Karate Shibuya and Tokyo
Tom b. Pat Kelly and Dale Lewis (7:04) … Rocket and Sputnick Monroe b. Ken Lucas and
Ivan Malkov (11:30) (Malkov was a substitute for The Great Dane) … The Funks (Dory
Funk Jr. and Dory Funk Sr.) b. Rudy Kay and Harley Race (11:35) (Kay was a substitute for
Joe Gump) … The Sheik and Fritz Von Erich b. Luis Martinez and Ricky Romero (6:35) …
The Funks b. The Sheik and Fritz Von Erich (7:40) (Sheik accidentally burned his partner
and Von Erich wanted a match) … Karate Shibuya and Tokyo Tom b. Rocket and Sputnik
Monroe (11:45) … The Funks b. Karate Shibuya and Tokyo Tom in the tournament final to
capture the vacant North American Tag Team Title (2/3) (Dory Jr. put out Tom with a
spinning toehold in the third fall) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 14, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion The Sheik and Fritz Von Erich
wrestled to a double disqualification in the third fall (1-1) … Dale Lewis b. Joe Gump (14:35)
(eight-man battle) (number eliminated: Sputnik Monroe, Dory Funk Sr., Rudy Kay, Luis
Martinez, Pat Kelly, The Great Dane) … Dale Lewis and Sputnik Monroe b. The Great Dane
and Joe Gump … Pat Kelly and Luis Martinez drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) …
(referee: Jack Cain)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 21, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Tag Team Champions The Funks (Dory Funk Jr. and
Dory Funk Sr.) b. Sputnik Monroe and The Sheik (2/3) … Dale Lewis b. Fritz Von Erich
(reverse decision) (Von Erich didn’t show up in time and Joe Gump started the match
versus Lewis) (after ten minutes, Von Erich ran to the ring to wrestle Lewis) (Von Erich
refused to break his iron claw and was disqualified, and when Lewis couldn’t continue, Fritz
was given the match – that decision was reversed by the promoter) … Luis Martinez b. Ken
Lucas (14:20) … Pat Kelly and Harley Race drew … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, November 28, 1963
(Sports Arena) … Dory Funk Jr. b. The Sheik (Texas Death Match) (Funk pinned Sheik in
45 seconds after hitting him with a chair) (Sheik was unable to continue) (Sheik’s first loss in
Amarillo) (after the match, Sheik attacked the referee and put a camel clutch on Dory Jr.) …
Tokyo Tom b. Dick Dunn (2/3) … Ken Lucas b. Pat Kelly (10:06) … Judy Grable b. Debra
Scott (12:00) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee: Jack Cain)
Note: The Amarillo Daily News reported that Dory Funk Sr. was “still mad” at Jack Cain, and
put a double wrist lock on him. Cain was taken to a hospital.

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 5, 1963
(Sports Arena) … The Sheik b. American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight
Champion Verne Gagne (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (title couldn’t change hands because of the
DQ) … North American Tag Team Champions The Funks (Dory Funk Jr. and Dory Funk
Sr.) b. Kinji Shibuya and Tokyo Tom (2/3) … Harley Race and Ricky Romero drew … Ken
Lucas b. Rudy Kay (8:23) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, December 12, 1963
(Sports Arena) … North American Heavyweight Champion The Sheik b. Pat O’Connor (2/3)
(third fall by countout) … North American Tag Team Champions The Funks (Dory Funk Jr.
and Dory Funk Sr.) b. Sputnik Monroe and Harley Race (2/3) … Ken Lucas b. Bill Graham
(8:35) … Dale Lewis b. Joe Gump (12:30) … (promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis) … (referee:
Rudy Kay)
Note: Next show on January 9, 1964.

*Research by Tim Hornbaker
May 27, 2007

Amarillo Wrestling Results - 1963