Dallas Wrestling Results

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, January 8, 1952
(The Sporatorium) … Texas State Heavyweight Champion Duke Keomuke b. Ivan
Kalmikoff (2/3) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Ray Gunkel drew … George “The Great”
Scott b. Al Lovelock … Abdullah Bey b. Gene Allbert … Wilson Moton b. Willie Love
(Negro match) … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, January 15, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas State Heavyweight Champion Duke Keomuka b. Sterling
“Dizzy” Davis (2/3) (Davis failed to appear for the third fall) … Verne Gagne b. Miguel
Guzman (2/3) … Rudolfo Guzman (El Santo) b. Bill Steddum … Ivan Kalmikoff b.
Abdullah Bey … The Great Scott b. Sonny Myers … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
Notes: According to the January 16, 1952 edition of the Dallas Morning News: “Judo-
wrestling Duke Keomuka retained his Texas heavyweight championship at the
Sportatorium Tuesday night but landed in jail temporarily for attacking radio announcer
Charles Boland and ring announcer George Preston in a prematch melee. During an
interview, the Duke demonstrated his judo chop on Boland’s neck and later slugged
Preston, when the latter came to Boland’s assistance. Neither was seriously injured.
Following the match [with Davis], Keomuka surrendered to sheriff’s deputies, was taken
to the county jail, plead guilty to a charge of fighting and was fined $100 and costs. He
was released upon payment of his fine.”

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, January 22, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2-0) (Davis was
disqualified in the second fall) … Verne Gagne and The Great Scott drew … Ray Gunkel
and Bob McCune drew … Sonny Myers b. Marvin Jones … The Guzman Brothers
(Miguel and Rudolfo Guzman) b. Ivan Kalmikoff and Art Nelson … (promoter: Ed
McLemore) … (6,000+ fans)
Notes: Texas State Wrestling Commissioner M.B. Morgan declared the Texas State
Heavyweight Title vacant after Duke Keomuka’s “assault on radio announcer Charlie
Boland last week at the Sportatorium;” Morgan also awarded a “Police Gazette belt
honoring [Verne] Gagne as the outstanding wrestler of 1951,” according to the Dallas
Morning News.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, January 29, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2/3) … Fred Von
Schacht b. Bill Steddum (Steddum was a substitute for Sonny Myers) … Bobby Weaver
b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Miguel Guzman b. Angelo Savoldi … Bob McCune b. George Scott
(reverse referee’s decision) … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (benefit for the March of
Dimes, netted over $6,000) … (near capacity crowd)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, February 5, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Antonino Rocca b. Duke Keomuka (2-0) (second fall by DQ) …
Rito Romero b. Abdullah Bey … Bob McCune b. Kola Kwariani … Art Nelson b. Frederick
Von Schacht … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and The Great Scott drew … (promoter: Ed
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, February 12, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz and Antonino
Rocca drew (1-1) … Duke Keomuka b. Bob McCune … Art Nelson b. Abdullah Bey …
The Great Scott b. Rito Romero … Ray Gunkel and Miguel Guzman b. Ivan Kalmikoff
and Kola Kwariani … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, February 19, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2-0) … Duke Keomuka and
Enrique Llanes drew … Texas Tag Team Champions Ray Gunkel and Miguel Guzman b.
The Great Scott and Art Nelson … Mars Bennett b. Millie Stafford … Louise Green b.
Ethel Johnson (DQ) … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
Note: The Dallas Morning News reported that “Mr. Moto, a 6-foot, 230-pounder, billed
as the Oriental Gorgeous George because of his brilliant robes and man-servant Fuji.”

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, February 26, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto b. Ray Gunkel and Miguel Guzman
to capture the Texas State Tag Team Title (2-0) (Moto was managed by Fuji) … Art
Nelson b. Bob McCune … Abdullah Bey b. Roy McClarity … Fuji b. Bobby Weaver
(jacket match) … Ethel Johnson b. Louise Greene … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, March 4, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny
McShain (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (George Scott interfered) … George Scott b. Duke
Keomuka (referee stopped the match due to a cut on Keomuka’s head) … Ray Gunkel
b. Art Nelson … Miguel Guzman and Angelo Savoldi drew … Abdullah Bey b. Doran O’
Hara (O’Hara was a substitute for Enrique Llanes) … (promoter: Ed McLemore) …
(referee: Leo Voss)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, March 11, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … George “The Great” Scott b. Mr. Moto (2/3) (third fall by reverse
decision after Moto and Duke Keomuka refused to halt their attack) (Moto initially won
the third fall with a sleeperhold) … Ray Gunkel and Otto Kuss b. Duke Keomuka and
Eduardo Perez (Perez was a substitute for Fuji) … Abdullah Bey and Art Nelson drew …
Gene Allbert b. Roy McClarity … Bobby Weaver b. Joe Marlowe … (promoter: Ed
McLemore) … (referee: Leo Voss)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, March 18, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Ray Gunkel and Mr. Moto wrestled to a no decision when two
different referees called the match for the other wrestler (Texas Deputy Wrestling
Commissioner Bill Hughes called the match a no decision and held up their purses) …
Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. Duke Keomuka … Miguel Guzman b. George Scott (DQ) … Otto
Kuss b. Angelo Savoldi … Abdullah Bey b. Bob McCune … Gene Allbert and Joe
Cassius drew … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referees: Leo Voss, Bobby Weaver)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, March 25, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Ray Gunkel b. Mr. Moto (2-0) (second fall by DQ when Duke
Keomuka interfered) (Moto initially won the second fall) … Duke Keomuka b. Otto Kuss
… Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. Miguel Guzman … Abdullah Bey and Paul Murdoch (Farmer
Jones) drew … Lino Palomo b. Bobby Weaver … (promoter: Ed McLemore) …
(referee: Leo Voss)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, April 1, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka b. Ray Gunkel (1-0) (Gunkel injured his back
early on in the bout and he was unable to continue) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Mr.
Moto drew (60:00) (1-1) … Farmer Jones b. Art Nelson … Ali Bey and Bob Clay drew …
Lino Palomo b. Bill Steddum … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, April 8, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Paul Murdock b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2/3) … Jack Kennedy and
Dick Raines b. Duke Keomuka and Angelo Savoldi (Raines pinned Savoldi) … Roy
Graham and Art Nelson drew … Bob Clay b. Otto Kuss … Vincent Lopez b. Ellis Bashara
… (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (near capacity crowd)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, April 15, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Dick Raines (2/3) (“loser leaves town” match) … Duke
Keomuka b. Farmer Jones … Texas Women’s Champion Nell Stewart b. Violet Viann …
Ray Gunkel b. George Bollas (DQ) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Lino Palomo drew …
Abdullah Bey b. Vincent Lopez … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (6,003 fans)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, April 22, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Ray Gunkel
(2/3) (Thesz used an airplane spin to win the third fall) … Killer Kowalski was unable to
beat both Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto in a special handicap match (Kowalski was
counted out) … Nell Stewart b. Ella Wladek (billed as being for the Texas Women’s Title)
… George Bollas and The Great Scott drew … Abdullah Bey b. Lino Palomo …
(promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, April 29, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Wladek “Killer” Kowalski b. Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto (special
handicap match) (2-0) (Kowalski forced Moto to submit in the first fall) (George Bollas
interfered during the second, leading to Kowalski’s victory over Keomuka) (Bollas
challenged Kowalski) … George Bollas b. Roy Graham (DQ) … The Great Scott and
Ray Gunkel drew … Juan Hernandez and Mike Paidousis drew … Rolando Vera b.
Abdullah Bey … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (capacity crowd)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, May 6, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Ray Gunkel, Wladek “Killer” Kowaksi and Reggie Lisowski b.
George Bollas, Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto … Wladek “Killer” Kowaksi b. George
Bollas (2-0) … Mr. Moto b. Reggie Lisowski (sleeperhold) … Duke Keomuka b. Ray
Gunkel … Johnny Balbo and Farmer Jones drew … Rolando Vera b. Ivan Kalmikoff (DQ)
… (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, May 13, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b. Mr.
Moto (2-0) (second fall by DQ) (non-title match) (McShain won Moto’s best robe as a
“bounty” and Moto, according to the rules, would be “ineligible for future Dallas main
events for sixty days.”) … Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich wrestled to a no decision …
Ray Gunkel b. Juan Hernandez (Hernandez was a substitute for Rolando Vera) …
George Bollas and Dutch Hefner drew … Reggie Lisowski b. Abdullah Bey … (promoter:
Ed McLemore) … (5,000+ fans)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, May 20, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … George Bollas, Ivan Kalmikoff and Duke Keomuka b. Ray Gunkel,
Reggie Lisowski and Danny Savich … Danny Savich b. Ivan Kalmikoff (DQ) … Duke
Keomuka b. Reggie Lisowski (sleeperhold) … Ray Gunkel b. George Bollas … The
Mighty Atlas b. Roy Graham … Farmer Jones b. Lino Palomo … (promoter: Ed
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, May 27, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Jack O’Brien … Duke Keomuka b. The Mighty
Atlas (default) … Ray Gunkel and Reggie Lisowski b. George Bollas and Ivan Kalmikoff
(decision) … Farmer Jones b. Roy Graham (DQ) … Dutch Hefner b. Bill Staddum …
(promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, June 3, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka b. NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) … Jack Kennedy b. Danny Savich (DQ) … Ray Gunkel and The
Mighty Atlas drew … Reggie Lisowski b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Dutch Hefner b. George Bollas
(decision)
Note: The Dallas Morning News reported: “In taking the final and decidng fall from
McShane, Keomuka claimed that he deserved the title since he weighed in at 200
pounds, the maximum requirement for the belt. At the time the contracts were signed a
week ago it was doubtful that Keomuka would make the weight.”

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, June 10, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b.
Duke Keomuka (2-0) (first fall by DQ) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Danny Savich
wrestled to a no contest … Ethel Johnson b. Louise Greene … The McDaniel Brothers
(Bill and Fred McDaniel) b. Farmer Jones and “Whiskers” Savage … Ray Gunkel and
Rolando Vera drew … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referee: Ray Gunkel)
Note: The Dallas Morning News reported that “McShane, had a ‘clear title’ to his
championship after defeating challenger Duke Keomuka.” That statement was made in
regards to Keomuka’s non-title victory a week earlier.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, June 17, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. “Wild” Bill
Longson (2/3) (Thesz won the first fall with a flying body scissors, Longson won the
second with a piledriver, and Thesz won the third after a “series of dropkicks”) …
Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Danny Savich wrestled to a no contest … Jack Kennedy and
Duke Keomuka drew … Ethel Johnson b. Kathleen Wimbley … The McDaniel Brothers
(Bill and Fred McDaniel) b. Gory Guerrero and The Mighty Atlas … (promoter: Ed
McLemore) … (largest crowd “of the summer season”)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, June 24, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (1-0) (Davis was prevented
from going on by the ringside doctor) (no holds barred match) … Duke Keomuka b. Ray
Gunkel (Gunkel was Texas Champion) … Farmer Jones, Farmer Pete (midget) and
“Whiskers” Savage b. The McDaniel Brothers (Bill and Fred McDaniel) and Sky Low Low
… Jack Kennedy b. Dutch Hefner … Rolando Vera b. Gene Allbert … (promoter: Ed
McLemore) … (physician: Dr. Allen F. Rowson)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, July 1, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. Danny Savich (2/3) … Miguel Guzman b.
Duke Keomuka … Ray Gunkel b. The Great Scott (DQ) … Rolando Vera b. Abe
Coleman … Ivan Kalmikoff and Jack Kennedy drew (15:00) … Kit Fox b. Dutch Hefner …
(promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, July 8, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. Duke Keomuka (2/3) (Davis won the first
fall by DQ) … Ray Gunkel and Miguel Guzman wrestled Danny Savich and George Scott
to a draw … Kit Fox b. Abie Coleman … Karol Krauser and Professor Roy Shire drew …
Ivan Kalmikoff b. Vern Taft … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (physician: Dr. Allen
Rowson)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, July 15, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2/3) … Chief Kit Fox b. Danny
Savich (countout) … Ricki Starr b. George Scott (decision) … Jack Kennedy b. Karol
Krauser … Ray Gunkel b. Ivan Kalmikoff … Rolando Vera b. Johnny Bence …
(promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, July 22, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Mr. Moto b. Chief Kit Fox (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (referee Steddum
reversed Leo Voss’s decision to award the match to Moto) … Duke Keomuka vs. Ricki
Starr … Danny Savich and George Scott vs. Miguel Guzman and Rolando Vera … Bud
Richardson vs. Willie Spencer (Negro match) … Ray Gunkel vs. George Penchoff …
(promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referees: Leo Voss, Bill Steddum) … (6,549 fans)
(overflow crowd)
Notes: Kit Fox was billed as a Comanche Indian from Oklahoma and he uses a
“tommyhawk slash” as a finisher; Ricki Starr was reported as being 20 years old, 195
pounds, and working toward the junior title.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, July 29, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Chief Kit Fox b. Mr. Moto … Miguel Guzman and Duke Keomuka
drew … Roy Graham and George Penchoff drew … Jack Kennedy b. Dutch Hefner
(abdominal stretch) … Ray Gunkel and Ricki Starr b. Danny Savich and George Scott
(Starr pinned Scott) … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (capacity crowd)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, August 5, 1952
(Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka beat Chief Kit Fox … (Loser Leaves Town Match) Mr.
Moto drew Dick Raines (60:00, 1-1) … Ricki Starr vs Miguel (Black) Guzman … Andre
Drapp beat Ray Gunkel … Danny Savich beat Jack Kennedy … NOTE: "Ray Gunkel
pinned newcomer Andre Drapp in less than a minute in the second event but recalled
the fall when Drapp announced that he was not ready for action. They proceeded and
Drapp pinned Gunkel in five minutes' time in a snappy match." – Dallas TX Morning
News, Aug. 6, 1952 Research by J Michael Kenyon

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, August 12, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Dick Raines b. Mr. Moto (2/3) (“loser leaves town” match) … Ricki
Starr b. Duke Keomuka (reverse decision) (Starr was a substitute for Miguel Guzman) …
Danny Savich b. Chief Kit Fox … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Andre Drapp drew …
Cyclone Anaya b. Ivan Kalmikoff … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, August 19, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Rito Romero b. Danny Savich (2/3) (Romero was given the third
fall by Texas Deputy Commissioner Bill Hughes due to a cut on Savich’s head) … Duke
Keomuka b. Dick Raines … Andre Drapp b. Roy Graham … Cyclone Anaya and Sterling
“Dizzy” Davis drew … Karol Krauser b. George Penchoff … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
… (5,636 fans)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, August 26, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Rito Romero b. Danny Savich (DQ) … Cyclone Anaya and Andre
Drapp drew (60:00) (1-1) … Dick Raines b. Karol Krauser … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b.
Duke Keomuka (4 seconds) (Raines fought with Keomuka) … Roy Graham b. Dutch
Hefner … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, September 2, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Dick Raines b. Duke Keomuka (2/3) … Ray Gunkel b. Roy
Graham … Jack Kennedy and Danny Savich drew … Cyclone Anaya b. Jack O’Brien …
Andre Drapp b. Johnny Bence … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, September 9, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas State Heavyewight Champion Ray Gunkel b. Dick Raines
(2/3) (Gunkel earned match with Thesz next week) … Duke Keomuka b. Billy Varga (DQ)
… Nell Stewart b. Carol Cook … Roy Graham and Jack O’Brien b. Cyclone Anaya and
Andre Drapp … Jack Kennedy b. Karol Krauser … (promoter: Ed McLemore) …
(referee: Roy Carter)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, September 16, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Ray Gunkel (2-
0) (Gunkel could not continue during the second fall after losing the first) … Cyclone
Anaya b. Duke Keomuka (DQ) (Danny Savich interfered) … Dick Raines vs. Danny
Savich … Nell Stewart b. Ida May … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Dory Funk (local debut)
drew …Billy Varga b. Jack Kennedy … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
Note: The Dallas Morning News reported on September 17, 1952 that “Thesz threw him
[Gunkel] to the mat cracking several neck vertebraes. Dr. Allen F. Rowsen refused to let
Gunkel continue further action.”

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, September 23, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2-0) … Duke Keomuka
and Billy Varga drew (60:00) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Billy Varga wrestled Duke
Keomuka and Danny Savich to a no contest … Bill Steddum b. Al Massey … Texas Tag
Team Champions Cyclone Anaya and Miguel Guzman b. The Kasheys (Abe and Al
Kashey) … Andre Drapp b. Carl Engstrom … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, September 30, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Danny Savich b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (Davis was unable to
continue) … Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b. Roy Graham and Jack O’Brien
(Keomuka pinned O’Brien) … Andre Drapp and Billy Varga drew … Cyclone Anaya b.
Abe Kashey (DQ) … Al Kashey b. Bill Steddum … Dory Funk b. Carl Engstrom …
(promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referee: Benny Bickers)
Note: Keomuka was billed as the new Texas champion.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, October 7, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b. Cyclone Anaya and Miguel
Guzman to capture the Texas State Tag Taem Title (2/3) (Keomuka was the Texas
champion) … Dory Funk and Billy Varga drew … “Cowboy” Orv Carlson b. Al Kashey …
Roy Graham b. Abe Kashey … Ricki Starr b. “Spoiler” Hank Metheny … (promoter: Ed
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, October 14, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Ricki Starr b. Danny Savich (2/3) … Andre Drapp b. Duke
Keomuka (2/3) (non-title match) … Ray Gunkel b. Ike Eakins … Jack Kennedy b.
Abdullah Bey … Cowboy Carlson and Miguel Guzman drew (15:00) … (promoter: Ed
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, October 21, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich
b. Ray Gunkel and Ricki Starr (2/3) … Duke Keomuka and Ricki Starr drew (1-1) …
“Cowboy” Orv Carlson b. Carlos Moreno … Abdullah Bey b. Dr. Lee Grable … Andre
Drapp and Dick Raines drew … (promoter: Ed McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, October 28, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … Texas State Heavyweight Champion Duke Keomuka b. Ray
Gunkel in one fall when the latter was unable to continue due to injury (Ricki Starr came
in and wrestled Keomuka as a substitute) … Ricki Starr b. Duke Keomuka (2-0)
(according to the Dallas Morning News, Starr won a “strong claim” to the Texas Title) …
Ricki Starr b. Kinji Shibuya (DQ) … Ike Eakins b. Kinji Shibuya (DQ) … “Cowboy” Orv
Carlson b. Abdullah Bey … Cyclone Anaya b. Roy Graham … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
… (referee: Leo Voss)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, November 4, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … . NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b.
“Wild” Red Berry with a referee’s decision after McShain was unable to continue due to a
severe cut on his head) (2/3) (Berry was disqualified in the second fall after winning the
initial fall) (McShain retained his title) (referee blamed Berry for McShain’s inability to
continue and gave him the bout) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and
Danny Savich b. Ray Gunkela nd Ricki Starr (2/3) … Ginger the Bear b. Danny Savich
(DQ) … Ella Wladek b. Dolores Villa … Juan Humberto b. Ike Eakins … Cyclone Anaya
b. Dory Funk (decision) … Ray Gunkel, Ricki Starr and Ginger the Bear b. Duke
Keomuka, Danny Savich and Kinji Shibuya … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (7,000+
fans)
Note: The Dallas Morning News reported on November 5, 1952 that “over seven
thousand fans, the largest turnout in Dallas wrestling history, packed the Sportatorium to
watch promoter Ed McLemore’s seven match grappling card.”

*On November 7, 1952, the Dallas Morning News reported that Ed McLemore was going
to offer up a new championship for the winner of next Tuesday night’s six-man tag team
bout between Juan Humberto, Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich and the team of
Cowboy Orville Carlson, Ricki Starr and Billy Varga. The main event would be a rematch
between Danny McShain and “Wild” Red Berry.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, November 11, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … “Wild” Red Berry b. NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
Danny McShain (2/3) (third fall by DQ) (McShain won the first fall, Berry won the second,
and Berry won the third by disqualification when McShain “continued to slam Berry
outside the ring.”) … Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich b.
“Cowboy” Orv Carlson and Ricki Starr … “Cowboy” Orv Carlson, Ricki Starr and Billy
Varga b. Juan Humberto, Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich to capture the initial Texas
Six-Man Tag Team Title … Cyclone Anaya and Juan Humberto drew … Billy Varga b.
Andre Drapp … Ella Wladek b. Ethel Brown … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referee:
Leo Voss) … (5,000 fans)
Notes: The Dallas Morning News on November 12, 1952 reported: “A world wrestling
title changed hands for the first time in many years in Dallas Tuesday night at the
Sportatorium when Wild Red Berry defeated he junior heavyweight champion, Danny
McShane, in the feature main event of the six-bout grappling card, witnessed by nearly
5,000 fans.” McShain was “expected to challenge the disqualification decision with the
Texas commission.” It should be noted that no National Wrestling Alliance, board
controlled, titles could change hands on a DQ.

Dallas TX: November 18, 1952 (Tuesday)
(Sportatorium) … Ricki Starr beat Duke Keomuka (Starr earned title match with Cyclone
Anaya) … (Ladies) June Byers & Millie Stafford beat Dot Dotson & Ella Waldek … Wild
Red Berry beat DannySavich … Billy Varga beat Juan Humberto … Cyclone Anaya beat
Jack Kennedy … NOTE: Originally billed as a Texas title match, the main event went
without that distinction when Keomuka was stripped of the laurels the previous Friday
night (11/14/1952) in Houston by Cyclone Anaya … Byers and Stafford were said to
have defended something called "the national women's tag-team match championship"
(?) Research by J Michael Kenyon

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, November 25, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b. Billy
Varga (2/3) … Bob Clay b. Bill Staddum (DQ) … Cyclone Anaya and Juan Humberto
drew … Duke Keomuka b. Andre Drapp … Ricki Starr b. “Wild” Red Berry … (promoter:
Ed McLemore) … (benefit for the Leader Dogs for the Blind, one fourth of the gross was
donated) … (in attendance: Leroy McGuirk)
Note: Leroy McGuirk made an appearance in the ring in support of the NWA-wide
benefit program.

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, December 2, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya b. Billy Varga
(2-0) … Red Berry and Ricki Starr drew (1-1) … Juan Humberto and Jack Kennedy drew
… Roy Graham b. Kinji Shibuya … Jack O’Reilly b. Gene Allbert … (promoter: Ed
McLemore)

Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, December 9, 1952
(The Sportatorium) … NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain b.
Ricki Starr (2/3) (Starr won the first fall, McShain won the second and third) (Starr was
accompanied by his former University of Purdue wrestling teammate, Ray Gunkel) …
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Cyclone Anaya b. Roy Graham (special handicap
match) (Graham had to beat Anaya twice in 30-minutes or forfeit) (Graham was
disqualified in the first fall and lost the match) … Red Berry and Gory Guerrero drew …
Andre Drapp b. Jack O’Brien … Billy Varga b. Bill Steddum … (promoter: Ed McLemore)
… (matchmaker: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)

*In San Antonio on Wednesday, December 10, 1952, a number of wrestlers refused to
compete in the scheduled show with complaints on the way television was being handled
in Texas.

*The problem beginning in San Antonio created a large rift in the Texas wrestling
landscape. Once the first block tumbled, everything began to fall, and sides were
quickly taken. On one side was the Texas Wrestling Agency, headed by Morris Sigel
and partners Dr. Karl Sarpolis and Frank Burke. On the other was Ed McLemore, the
promoter in Dallas. In a chain of events, McLemore left the National Wrestling Alliance,
saw Sarpolis leave as his matchmaker, and announce that he would continue to promote
shows with new talent. The Texas Wrestling Agency claimed to have owned two-thirds of
the Dallas office that McLemore owned.

*On Friday, December 26, 1952, a representative of the Texas Wrestling Agency, Frank
Burke, announced that the NWA and the wrestlers Dallas fans were used to seeing
would continue being promoted with a tentative start date of January 6. They had not
announced their local promoter or the venue.

*Over the course of the next day, it was announced that Norman Clark of Houston would
move to Dallas and promote NWA stars at Pappy’s Showland. The war would see both
promotions run shows in Dallas on Tuesday nights. Clark leased the Showland for nine
months.

*On Monday, December 29, 1952, eight wrestlers filed suit against promoter Ed
McLemore, matchmaker Dr. Karl Sarpolis, Dallas TV station KRLD-TV, and the Texas
Rasslin’ and Dong King Advertising Agency. The eight wrestlers included Jesus B.
Valencia (Cyclone Anaya), Ray Gunkel, Joseph (Billy) Varga, Bernard Herman (Ricki
Starr), Ralph L. “Red” Berry, Danny (McShane) McShain, Salvador (Gory) Guerrero,a
nd Dory Funk Sr. The group of wrestlers claimed that the contract they had prevented
television stations in Texas from showing them in action, and that the station in Dallas
was doing so, thus, damaging the local draw.

*Ed McLemore began signing up independent talent, wrestlers who were not working for
the National Wrestling Alliance, and received help from Billy Sandow and Jack Pfefer.
Roy Dunn entered Dallas with his claim to the World Heavyweight Title, claiming five wins
over Lou Thesz and a title victory over Everette Marshall.

Research by Tim Hornbaker, J Michael Kenyon
February 15, 2012

Dallas Wrestling Results - 1952