Name: Joe Pazandak
Born: 10/23/1914
Deceased: 12/10/1983

Joe “The Champ” Pazandak was known from Winnipeg Canada to New Zealand, and from
the lakes of Minnesota clear to the Pacific shore of California, where for 9 months
Pazandak had the”streak” in his “Beat The Champ” segment, besting all challengers. The
segment itself was a stroke of genius as they allowed amateurs and pros a shot at
Pazandak, provided they cleared the California State Athletic Board screening. The purse
was started at $1,000 and would increase by $100 for every win Pazandak amassed. If the
“champ” got through all competition in a season meaning $2,500 in prize money, it would
be donated to charity, and then the pot would start again at $1,000.

The ruggedly tough, late, great Johnny Valentine finally put an end to the streak, but what
a wild run Pazandak had, sometimes besting two foes! Lou Thesz, has been noted as
saying that, this really hurt Pazandak’s credibility but that Valentine (whom Thesz
considered amongst the very toughest ever to lace up a pair of boots) was very
concerned prior to the match, that he might be taken to the center of the ring and hooked
and stretched.

There is debate over why this shoot took place between Valentine and Pazandak, but it is
evident that after a wildly successful run on KTLA, Johnny Doyle’s promotion had lost its
deal with the station, and there is reason to believe that Valentine was sent in by a group
of rival promoters, especially considering that Doyle was eventually ousted from promoting
power in California. It should be noted that Pazandak was heading into the twilight of his
career here and Valentine was most certainly on the rise to the top. Also, Valentine later
took a page out of Pazandak’s routine with his $1,000 Silver Dollar Challenge on Crockett
TV, years later so I think this tells you Valentine’s respect level for the famed, old shooter.
In my book of notes I have that Joe Pazandak wrestled Johnny Valentine to a draw in
Houston, TX November 4th 1949.

The war veteran Pazandak used to carry a towel that he would “snap” prior to matches,
acting as a human alarm clock of sorts, letting challengers and audiences know, that this
contest is going to be a little different than that which preceeded it.

Pazandak had a legal forfeit bond put up challenging anyone to take it, and this challenge
was the talk of wrestling during this era.

Pazandak operated briefly as the mysterious masked “Dark Secret” before losing the hood
to the late, great Hungarian wrestler Szandor Szabo.

Amongst the notables that “the Champ” helped train; Larry ”the Axe” Hennig, Verne
Gagne, Red Bastien and Roy McClarty. Pazandak is also credited for finding famed
shooter George Gordienko and former NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, Pat O’
Connor.

Biography by Robert Murillo
Joe Pazandak Wrestling History