The dreaded blacklist was a weapon used by promoters of professional wrestling to keep
their talent in check, and syndicates had been utilizing the tool well before the National
Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948.  When the Department of Justice went prying into
the Alliance's practices and history, witnesses spoke about the blacklisting of wrestlers,
promoters, and even referees by the NWA.

Johnny Doyle explained that during early Alliance meetings that he attended, "someone
proposed that the NWA should agree to blacklist wrestlers who got in bad with any NWA
members," according to the DOJ report.  "The NWA attorney who was present, immediately
stopped the discussion and told the meeting that it would be illegal for them to agree to
blacklist anyone.  As soon as the attorney had left and at the same meeting, according to
Doyle, some one (Doyle believes Muchnick) proposed that any member who had trouble
with a wrestler should write the wrestler's name in red on a postcard and send it to all of the
other members without comment.  All would know what this meant.  This would avoid NWA
itself doing the blacklisting."

[Sam] "Muchnick had said at NWA meetings that the NWA was simply a fraternal
organization like the Elks, and that when a member was expelled from one chapter, he was
expelled from all."

Benny "Ginsberg said that he had heard that Muchnick discussed blacklisting wrestlers on
many occasions, but could not recall any specific location."

Doyle claimed to have received 25-35 red inked postcards with wrestler's names on them,
and admitted to sending out one himself with the name of Lord Carlton.

In July 1955, Muchnick was interviewed by an investigator for the DOJ at the Claridge Hotel,
and explained that "he believed John Doyle had recommended the use of red cards for the
black-listing of wrestlers," according to the interview summary.

So, you can clearly see how Doyle was drudging up the skeletons of the NWA, and naming
names, much to the dismay of Alliance members.  But at the same time, Muchnick was firing
back, blaming Doyle for being the mastermind behind their blacklisting methods.  If you read
up a few paragraphs, you'll notice that Doyle also indicated that it was Muchnick who
designed the red-ink notification system.


After recommending a criminal prosecution of the Alliance, the Department of Justice
outlined its findings regarding the blacklisting policy.  The chief investigator felt
that the NWA was refusing to give employment to any wrestler who worked for a
nonmember, as a result, few wrestlers were willing to appear for opposition promoters.  
However, Muchnick told officials that to his knowledge, "no wrestler has ever been barred by
the Alliance."

The investigator disagreed with that belief, saying that the system of "red ink" postcards was
launched as early as the Tulsa convention in 1951.  Muchnick, incidentally, placed Dr. Karl
Sarpolis in connection with this newfangled agreement, and perhaps he was the first one to
make mention of it.  Both Muchnick and Doyle agreed that the discussion of the red ink
postcards occurred in a group after the regular convention meeting.

Sam Menacker of El Paso wrote to Sam Muchnick complaining about wrestler Valentino on
October 17, 1951, but obviously didn't use the correct format to warn his fellow members.  
Menacker also inquired by the status of Lord Carlton, for which Muchnick replied that
Carlton had "done something detrimental to Rudy Dusek."

The act of anyone doing anything "detrimental" to a member of the NWA was grounds for
immediate blacklisting.

Lord Carlton was a hot topic in NWA circles in the early 1950s, most of the time for doing
something against the organization's policy.  In 1953, he'd reportedly wrestled in Montreal
for the Lortie Brothers in opposition to member Eddie Quinn.  He was also in "trouble" for
appearing for Nick Lutze in Southern California.






An Unofficial Listing of Wrestlers who were said to be Blacklisted:

Andy Rockne: (1949)

Rockne owed Chicago booking agent Fred Kohler $75 and members were told not to use
him until he worked out his situation.  Rockne reportedly went to Great Falls to work for Jerry
Meeker, who wasn't a member and out of the Alliance jurisdiction.

Seelie Samara:  (1949)

NWA President Pinkie George told members on September 25, 1949 that Samara was
"suspended" until he fulfills his obligations to Fred Kohler in Chicago.  "Until he straighens
himself out with Fred," George wrote, "he is out."

Sunny War Cloud:  (1950)

Sam Muchnick, in an NWA Bulletin dated January 2, 1950, reported that Sunny War Cloud
agreed to, then backed out of dates for Jerry Meeker in Great Falls.  Meeker asked the
NWA to take action, and Muchnick wanted a formal complaint about the matter in writing.  It
is apparent what Meeker wanted to have happen at this point, but whether or not the
wrestler was ever affected, it isn't known.

Stocky Knielson:  (1950)

During the summer of 1950, Sam Muchnick announced in an official NWA Bulletin that
"Scotty Knielson," who wrestled as "Tugger Zeke and Rod Allen," had left Dyersburg,
Tennessee without giving advance notice.  "He stands suspended by the NWA," Muchnick
stated.

Primo Carnera:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.
Sam Muchnick, in July 1955, denied knowing anything about a conspiracy to blackball
Carnera "to teach him to behave."

Lord Leslie Carlton:  (1953)


Buddy Rogers:  (1951)

According to Dan Parker's column on May 16, 1951, "Herman Rohde" was suspended for
acts detrimental to the best interests of wrestling.  Rogers, incidentally, appeared in
Montreal until his May 31 showing in Boston.  It isn't known what authoritative group
suspended Rogers, and why.

Sterling "Dizzy" Davis:

Al Billings, who worked in the office of Johnny Doyle for about 7-8 years, claimed that he
remembered seeing a card sent to Doyle with Davis's name on it, indicated that he was
being suspended throughout the NWA for wrestling for a oppositional troupe in Houston.  
However, it may have been a card regarding "Dizzy's" place in the Morris Sigel-Ed
McLemore rivalry instead.

Jerrry "Killer" Christy: (Date:  1948-1950)

Jerry Christy's name was on an undated letter written by NWA President Pinkie George,
saying that he'd "caused injury to Harry Light in Detroit."  George noted that Christy was a
"top attraction for LIght," and had "pulled out without any notice leaving the Detroit promoter
holding the bag." George wanted Christy to clear himself with Light, "as per our
Constitution," and told members that the NWA was "for the small promoter as well as the big
ones."

Butch Levy: (pre-03/1955)

According to Benny Ginsberg, who spoke with a Department of Justice investigator, Levy
was a "good man, All American at Minneapolis, was given the run-around by Doyle Booking
because he was too good."

Rube Wright: (pre-03/1955)

Ginsberg told the DOJ that Wright was a good wrestler, can't get work in Southern
California.  Can get work elsewhere, however.

Pat Fraley:  (pre-03/1955)

Fraley can't work in Southern California, according to Ginsberg, for reasons unknown.  
"Apparently he tried to book the local office."

Abe Stein:  (1953?)

The DOJ interview with Ginsberg stated that Stein "brought his family to the coast and got in
bad with Nichols and Doyle Booking.  For a while he was blackballed everywhere.  He is now
used occasionally."  According to Johnny Doyle, Stein may have been blacklisted for
wrestling under the auspices of a rival promoter to Eddie Quinn in Montreal.  Stein also
worked under the name, "Lord Anthony," and competed for the Nick Lutze group in Los
Angeles in 1953.  In July 1955, Sam Muchnick denied knowing anything about Stein being
blacklisted.

Frank Jares:  (1954)

Sandor Szabo of the California Wrestling Office told Jares that he couldn't use him because
the latter had worked for Johnny Doyle in New York City in the creation of a wrestling film.  
Jares admitted that he got a few dates in smaller arenas and "seldom at main events." Jares
left Southern California and went to work for Jim Crockett, another NWA member.

Tom Renesto:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Juan Zapeda:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Johnny Moochy:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Bernard Pantazi:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los
Angeles.  Worked under the guise, "Count DaVinci."

Hal Keene:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los
Angeles.  Worked under the name, "Baron DaVinci," brother of "Count DaVinci."

Myron Cox:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Johnny James: (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Ray Gideon:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Al Baffert:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los
Angeles.  In July 1955, Sam Muchnick denied knowing anything about Baffert being
blacklisted.

Karl Johnson:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Frank Murdock:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los
Angeles.  Sam Muchnick claimed he talked to Murdock during his interview with the
Department of Justice in 1955, and told Murdock that "he could wrestle for whomever he
wished."

Frank Hickey:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Al Motteberg:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Al Gomez:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Ray Winchell:  (1953)

Reported by Johnny Doyle to the NWA as working for Nick Lutze's promotion in Los Angeles.

Jack Claybourne:  (?)

There was talk that Claybourne had been recommended for the blacklist by Al Karasick of
Honolulu.  Sam Menacker didn't believe Claybourne had ever been blackballed, and claimed
he "had been instrumental in getting Claybourne a license to fight in the State of Texas,"
according to his DOJ interview. Menacker didn't believe Karasick did it, saying that the
Hawaiian booker was a "fine gentleman."

Antone Leone:

Morris Sigel, Houston booker, wrote a letter to Sam Muchnick in March 1954, telling him that
he'd heard that Leone was going to wrestle for Ed McLemore in Dallas.  Sigel wrote, "I surely
will appreciate anything you can do toward trying to stop him." Leone reportedly considered
himself a "free agent," and would wrestle for whoever he wanted.

Tarzan White:

The Houston wrestling outfit complained to Sam Muchnick in April 1954 that Tarzan White
was being advertised for a wrestling show run by Ed McLemore in Dallas in opposition to
them.  White was also tied to a group of independent guys from Alabama run by Dick Lever.

Al Massey:

Al Massey was said to be tied to an independent group run by Dick Lever in April 1954, and
reported to Sam Muchnick by Morris Sigel.
The National Wrestling Alliance Blacklist
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