Boston, Massachusetts: Friday, January 4, 1929 (“New” Boston Garden) … Gus Sonnenberg b. Ed “Strangler” Lewis to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2-0) (Sonnenberg won the first fall in 29:46 and then took the second in 8:20) (Lewis was accompanied by manager Billy Sandow, Jerry Sullivan and Tom Draak) (Sonnenberg was managed by James Brown, Jack Albright and Dan Koloff) (Joe Malcewicz was introduced as the winner’s first challenger before the match) … Dan Koloff b. George Walker (26:20) … Howard Cantonwine and Freddie Meyers drew (30:00) … Stanley Stasiak b. Tommy Draak (21:03) … Bibber McCoy b. Sam Skorsky (8:20) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referees: Leon Burbank, Charlie Donnell) … (in attendance: Numerous members of the sporting and civilians communities attended the match including Massachusetts Governor Frank Allen) … (20,000+ fans in attendance) (thousands turned away) … (gate: $72-78,000) ($73,000) Note: Ed Lewis received $50,000 for the match, and Sonnenberg received $8,000. Los Angeles, California: Wednesday, December 10, 1930 (Olympic Auditorium) … Ed Don George b. Gus Sonnenberg to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Sonnenberg won the first fall in 14:07 with a flying tackle, George won the second in 20:30 and George won the third fall in 12:52 with a Japanese armlock) … Henry DeGlane b. Dan Koloff (16:45) … Nick Lutze b. Don DeLaun (16:27) … (promoter: Lou Daro) … (10,000 fans) Notes: “Don George” was billed by the Los Angeles Times as a “youthful newcomer to the wrestling colony.” The paper reported that “the victory was hailed with loud acclaim, the assembled 10,000 fans going wild in their enthusiasm, jumping over the seats in a wild attempt to lift the new champion up on their shoulders.” Los Angeles, California: Monday, April 13, 1931 (Wrigley Field) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Ed Don George to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2-0) (Lewis won the first in 1:10:26, Lewis won the second in 7:42 with a hammerlock) (Lewis was managed by Billy Sandow) … Joe Savoldi b. Myron Cox (9:05) … Joe Malcewicz b. Dick Raines (25:45) (bloody match) … Bill Beth and Ad Santel drew (30:00) … (promoter: Lou Daro) … (matchmaker: Jack E. Daro) … (referees: Col. Ted Hopkins, Don W. McDonald) … (12,000 fans) … (gate: $27,951) Montreal, Quebec: Monday, May 4, 1931 (Mount Royal Arena) … Henri DeGlane b. Ed “Strangler” Lewis to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2-0) (DeGlane won the first fall by pinfall in 33-minutes, DeGlane won the second by disqualification) (Lewis was accompanied by Billy Sandow) (referee: Eugene Tremblay) (after DeGlane had won the first fall, Sandow entered the ring and protested the decision) (Montreal Athletic Commission Chairman Dr. Gason Demers stated that Sandow had no license and directed several police officers to take the manager away from the ring and to the back area) (Lewis was initially awarded the second fall by pinfall) (DeGlane got up holding his right arm and upon an examination, it was found that Lewis had bitten him when Henri attempted to lock a headlock on the defending champion) (referee Tremblay discussed the situation with Demers and Alderman J.A. LaMarre, and finally disqualified Lewis, awarded DeGlane the championship) (five doctors checked DeGlane’s wrist, each stating that he had been seriously hurt) (Sandow issued a challenge to DeGlane immediately after the match) … Bibber McCoy b. George Vasell (2-0) … Lee Wykoff and George Zarynoff drew (30:00) … Nick Lutze and Stanley Stasiak drew (45:00) … (promoters: Louis Letourneau, Lucien Riopel) … (referee: Eugene Tremblay) … (7,500 fans) (new record) … (gate: $10,000+) Boston, Massachusetts: February 10, 1933 (Boston Garden) … Ed Don George b. Henri DeGlane to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (during the third fall, DeGlane suffered a broken collarbone and was unable to continue) (DeGlane won the initial fall in 17:24, George took the second in 1:54) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Sam Smith) Boston, Massachusetts: Tuesday, July 30, 1935 (Braves Field) … Danno O’Mahoney b. Ed Don George to unify their two claims to the World Heavyweight Title (countout) (1:30:00) (Braddock gave George a 20-count and then gave the match to O’ Mahoney) (after the match, George’s chief advisor Frank Delamano tried to attack Braddock and was punched out) … Jim Browning b. Chief Little Moose (17:24) … Gus Sonnenberg b. Boris Demetroff (1: 00) … Billy Bartush and Bibber McCoy drew … Dick Daviscourt and Henri Piers drew … Gino Garibaldi b. George Saunders (26 seconds) … Karl Pojello and George Zarnoff drew … Leo Numa and Frank Sexton drew … John Spellman b. Jack Ross (3:26) … George McLeod b. Jim Wallis (6:53) … Andy Brown b. Danny Winters (5:47) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Jimmy Braddock) … (45,000 fans) … (gate: $70,000) Notes: George’s championship had been recognized in New England and parts of Eastern Canada. This show reportedly broke all records for Bowser and in New England, however, Bowser had a $90,000 gate in July 1929. Manhattan, New York: March 2, 1936 (Madison Square Garden) … Dick Shikat b. Danno O’Mahoney to capture the World Heavyweight Title (18:57) (Shikat threatened to break O’Mahoney’s arm in a hammerlock) (O’Mahoney gave up) … Dean Detton b. Rusty Westcoatt (14:07) … Ed “Strangler” Lewis b. Charlie Strack (7:04) … Ernie Dusek b. Ed Meske (18:23) … Abe Coleman and Gus Sonnenberg drew (30:00) … Sergei Kalmikoff b. Tex Morgan (10:38) … Sandor Vary b. Scotty McDougal (15:09) … (promoter: Jack Curley) … (referee: George Bothner) … (7,000 fans) Paul Bowser and the "Trust" lost control of the legitimate lineage of the world heavyweight championship. As a legal fight for Dick Shikat's contract began, O'Mahoney took victories from Yvon Robert and Ed Don George, and claimed the World Heavyweight championship. As proof of his claim, he carried Bowser's $10,000 diamond championship belt. Montreal, Quebec: Thursday, July 16, 1936 (Montreal Forum) … Yvon Robert b. Danno O’Mahoney to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (after the match, O’Mahoney’s manager Jack McGrath complained that Robert fouled O’Mahoney, and several fights broke out in the ring) (Robert was given the “A.W.A. belt.”) … Floyd Marshall b. Frank Judson (20:10) … Emil Dusek b. Boris Demetroff (25:28) … Abie Kaplan b. Tony Parkin (15:30) … Charlie Strack b. Arthur LeGrand (19:55) … Tommy Nilan and George Wilson drew (10:00) … (promoter: Jack Ganson) … (referee: Danny Murray) … (10,000 fans) Paul Bowser, a brilliant wrestling mind, had strong ties in Montreal and many other wrestling cities. He knew that a singular "World Heavyweight championship" was not important in grappling. In 1938, he decided to run a separate lineage in Montreal with Yvon Robert as the major fan favorite and perpetual champion. At the same time, he'd have the American Wrestling Association championship in Boston. To officially break the one title claim into two separate entities, Bowser's AWA stripped Robert of the World Heavyweight championship on Tuesday, January 25, 1938 and put its recognition behind Lou Thesz. Thesz had beaten Everette Marshall on December 29, 1937 in St. Louis, in what was billed by St. Louis papers as being for the “AWA” Title. Boston, Massachusetts: Friday, February 11, 1938 (Boston Garden) … Steve Casey b. Lou Thesz to capture the World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Thesz won the first fall with a series of headlocks in 29:25, Casey took the second with two flying mares in 11:45, and then the third in 30:15 with his “patented” Killarney Flip.”) … Cliff Olson b. Chief Saunooke (14:48) … George Clark and John Paul Jones drew (15:00) … Ed Don George b. Pat Reilly (24:21) … Harry Maumos and Bibber McCoy drew (10:00) … The Sheik b. Les Ryan (5:02) … Wee Willie Davis b. Angelo Loreno (8:25) … Hans Steinke b. Joe Swan (4:18) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (in attendance: members of the Irish boxing team) … (12-14,000 fans) Notes: Thesz was said to be defending the “corn title,” a midwestern championship. The paper played up the fact that Thesz was the son of a wrestler, who had competed as an amateur in Hungary. It was said to be the largest crowd for wrestling at the Garden in more than two years. After the match, the wife of English wrestler Bob Gregory, Valerie, gave the new champion a belt “emblematic of the corn belt supremacy.” Valerie Gregory was the “daughter of the Rajah of Sarawak.” Tom Fitzgerald of the Boston Globe predicted some sort of “mat renaissance” locally with the surprising success of this show. Bowser now had two champions under his umbrella, Casey and Robert, the writer indicated. Boston, Massachusetts: March 2, 1939 (Boston Garden) … The Shadow b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) … Pat Kelly b. Harry Jacobs (DQ) … Al Mills b. Pat Reilly … Tom Casey and Joe Maynard drew … Mayes McLain b. The Sheik (9:45) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (9,000 fans) Notes: The Shadow was managed by Eddie Quinn. After the match, Bowser allowed The Shadow, who was wearing a black hood, to remain masked. Boston, Massachusetts: March 16, 1939 (Boston Garden) … Gus Sonnenberg b. The Shadow to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Shadow won the initial fall in 26:39, Sonnenberg won the second and then the third with a flying tackle in 3:52) (Sonnenberg unmasked Shadow to be Marvin Westenberg) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (7,500 fans) Note: Westenberg reportedly suffered a knee injury during the match. Boston, Massachusetts: March 29, 1939 (Boston Garden) … Steve Casey b. Gus Sonnenberg to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (33:20) (Sonnenberg suffered a head injury and was taken to a local hospital) … Mayes McLain b. Angelo Cistoldi (23:41) … Harry Jacobs b. Everett Kibbons (7:46) … Tom Casey and The Sheik drew … Al Sparks b. Jim Courtland (5:44) … Frank Brown and Al Mills drew … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (5,000 fans) Albany, New York: April 18, 1939 ( ) ... Ed Don George b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title Buffalo, New York: November 3, 1939 (Broadway Auditorium) ... Steve Casey b. Ed Don George to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (George was unable to continue) (1:04:58) ... Hal Rumberg b. Dutch Hefner ... Frederick Von Schacht b. Jerry Monahan ... Tommy Nilan and Benny Stein drew ... Bill Longson b. Bull Komar ... (4,900 fans) Boston, Massachusetts: May 13, 1940 (Boston Garden) … Maurice Tillet b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (DQ) (Casey won the initial fall by countout in 51:30, Tillet won the second in 17:03 with a bearhug and Tillet won the third by disqualification in 3:00 when Casey attacked referee Gus Sonnenberg) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Gus Sonnenberg) … (8,000 fans) Boston, Massachusetts: May 14, 1942 ( ) ... Steve Casey b. Maurice Tillet to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title ... (promoter: Paul Bowser) Note: Tillet was managed by Karl Pojello. San Francisco, California: August 1, 1944 (Civic Auditorium) … Maurice Tillet b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title … (promoter: Joe Malcewicz) San Francisco, California: August 15, 1944 (Civic Auditorium) … Steve Casey b. Maurice Tillet to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title … (promoter: Joe Malcewicz) By December 1944, Sandor Szabo was recognized as the "Duration" World Heavyweight champion while Steve Casey was overseas with the United States Army in World War II. Boston, Massachusetts: Wednesday, April 4, 1945 (Boston Garden) … Steve “Crusher” Casey b. Sandor Szabo to unify his claim to the AWA World Heavyweight Title with the latter’s “Duration” World Title (1:00:05) … Leo Numa and Babe Sharkey drew (30:00) … Manuel Cortez and Bull Curry drew (20:00) … Lewis Laird b. Dr. Freddie Meyers … Salvatore Balbo b. Ted Germaine (DQ) (12:00) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Babe Ruth) … (6,500 fans) Boston, Massachusetts: Wednesday, April 25, 1945 (Boston Arena) … Sandor Szabo b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Szabo won the first fall in 38:27, Caesy took the second in 17:12, Szabo won the third in 10:29) … Manuel Cortez b. Andy Meixner (14:56) … Salvatore Balbo and Ed McNeal drew (20:00) … Chief Osley Saunooke b. Jack Bradley (8:32) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (6,500 fans) Boston, Massachusetts: Wednesday, May 2, 1945 (Boston Arena) … Frank Sexton b. Sandor Szabo to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (1:11: 09) … Chief Saunooke b. Lewis Laird (17:52) … Leo Numa and Tiger Tasker drew (20:00) … Ed McNeil and Pat Schaeffer drew (20:00) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (6,500 fans) Note: The Boston Daily Globe indicated that the main event finish was a “genuine surprise” to the audience. Boston, Massachusetts: Wednesday, June 6, 1945 (Boston Arena) … Steve Casey b. Frank Sexton to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Sexton won the first fall in 19:26, Casey took the second in 12:41, and during the third fall, both men fell to the floor, and Casey returned first at the 13-minute mark) (the referee was said to have counted to 14 “while Sexton was still outside the ropes”) … Al Staples and Tiger Tasker drew (20:00) … Chief Saunooke b. Charlie Harben (9:21) … Lewis Laird b. George Manson (15:21) … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Steve Passas) Boston, Massachusetts: Wednesday, June 27, 1945 (The Arena) … Frank Sexton b. Steve Casey to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Title … Sal Balbo vs. The Great Mephisto … Lew Laird vs. Pat Schaeffer … Dr. Freddie Meyer vs. Al Staples … Phil Badger and Al Gastoldi were going to provide an exhibition of judo … (promoter: Paul Bowser) … (referee: Marvin Westenberg) Notes: Casey was defending his “$10,000 diamond-studded heavyweight championship belt.” Referees Steve Passas and Leon Burbank were going to be available to assist Westenberg in the main event. The Boston Globe, in its June 27 paper, stated that this show had the “heaviest advance sale in the history of wrestling at the Arena.” There were no results for this show in the Boston Globe. Last show of the season. |
World Heavyweight Title - American Wrestling Association Recognized in Boston by Paul Bowser |