*Effective January 1, 1956, Bill Longson was the promoter of the Mississippi Valley Sports
Club.

*The program was “being dedicated by the Mississippi Valley organization to the rival
promoter, Sam Muchnick, who is celebrating his tenth year as mat impressario.”

*Lou and Martin Thesz sold their interests in St. Louis to Sam Muchnick




St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, September 14, 1956
(Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Billy “Whipper” Watson b. Buddy
Rogers (DQ) (Rogers ripped the referee’s shirt) (Lee Grable, Tex McKenzie and Bill
Longson tried to quell Rogers) (Rogers earned a $25 fine by the Missouri Athletic
Commissioner Charles W. Pian) … Barbara Baker b. Millie Stafford (18:56) … Tex McKenzie
b. Frank Valois … Mike DiBiase and Joe Dusek wrestled Dick Brown and Dr. Lee Grable to a
draw (45:00) (1-1) … Barney Bernard b. Sammy Ford … (promoter:  Bill Longson) …
(sponsored by:  Mississippi Valley Sports Club) … (5,995 fans)
Notes:  Said to be Watson’s sixth title defense since he won the championship from Lou
Thesz on March 15 in Toronto.  Sammy Ford was from Webster Groves, Missouri.











St. Louis, Missouri:  Friday, November 9, 1956
(Kiel Auditorium) … Lou Thesz b. Billy Watson to regain the NWA World Heavyweight Title
(one-fall match) (Thesz won by countout, as Watson was unable to revive after a 10-count)
(Thesz, at the same time, was outside the ring and was being given a 20-count) (Thesz
returned to the ring prior to being counted out and won the title) (During the match, referee
Davis was knocked out and replaced by John Turner) (Turner was assigned by Missouri
State Athletic Commissioner Charles Pian) (after the match, Watson attacked the referee)
(37:05) … Tex McKenzie b. Sky-Hi Lee (8:23) … The Mighty Ursus b. Barney Bernard (5:44)
and Emil Dusek (3:37) … Billy Darnell and Dr. Lee Grable b. The Dusek Brothers (Ernie and
Joe Dusek) (2/3) (Ernie pinned Darnell in 9:20 with a stepover toe hold for the first fall,
Darnell pinned Ernie in 11:59 for the second, Grable won the third by disqualification when
the Duseks threw him over the top rope in 10:07) … Rocky Monroe and Carlos Moreno drew
(15:00) … (promoter:  Sam Muchnick) … (referees:  Wee Willie Davis, John Turner) …
(9,000 fans)



Research by Tim Hornbaker
St. Louis Wrestling Results - 1956