Miami Wrestling Results

Miami, Florida: Friday, January 5, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … The Green Shadow and Hank Kulkowich drew (60:00) (1-1) …
Paddy Mack b. George Bennett (2-0) (second fall by DQ) … “Cowboy” Murphy b. Tuffy
Truesdale

Miami, Florida: Friday, January 12, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Herb Welch and Hank
Kulkowich drew (60:00) (1-1) … The Green Shadow b. King Kong (DQ) … Jack DeVault
b. George Bennett (18:00)
Notes: Kulkowich was said to be a “Port Everglades Coast Guard physical training
instructor.” Herb Welch was defending his claim to the junior heavyweight title (195
pound limit).

*On Friday, January 12, 1945, “former Miami Beach boxing promoter” Major W.H.
Peeples announced that he planned to stage a series of shows in conjunction with Mike
Jacobs, New York promoter, at the Armory Arena under the auspices of the Florida
National Guard, according to the Miami Herald. He was going to reopen the Armory
gymnasium for fighters to train, and also planned to stage wrestling matches.

Miami, Florida: Friday, January 19, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Johnnie Mae Young b. Rose Evans (18:00) … The Green Shadow
b. Herb Welch (2/3) … Hank Kulkowich b. Jack DeVault (13:00) … (3,000 fans) (overflow
crowd)
Notes: Mae Young was said to be from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She was called the
“football-playing woman wrestling star.” Rose Evans was from Kansas City.

Miami, Florida: Friday, January 26, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Mae Young b. June Byers (18:00) … The Green Shadow and Roy
Welch drew (60:00) (1-1) … Jack DeVault b. Johnny Carlin (DQ) (12:00) …
(matchmaker: Charlie Laye)
Notes: Byers was coming to Miami from Hollywhere “where she has appeared in several
Grantland Rice sports shorts. She has been wrestling for two years and has made a fine
record.” The winner of the Byers-Young bout would face Mildred Burke next week.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, January 31, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke b. The Purple Flash (22:00)
(non-title match) … Hank Kulkowich b. Nick Contos (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Paddy Mack
b. King Kong (18:00) … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)
Notes: The facility was at Seventh avenue and 27th street. Peeples was “recently
discharged from the Army as a major after almost three years in the service.” Peeples
was also staging a boxing show at the Arena on Thursday. The Armory Arena was also
called the “Dade County Armory.” Kulkowich was living in Fort Lauderdale. Nick Contos
was called the “Yankee Clipper.”

Miami, Florida: Friday, February 2, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke b. Johnnie Mae Young (2-
0) (Young reportedly suffered two broken ribs during the second fall) … Johnny Carlin
and The Green Shadow b. Jack DeVault and Roy Welch

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, February 7, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. Leo Newman (2/3) … Nick Contos and Walter
Underhill were both counted out in the third fall … Young Gotch (Li’l Abner) b. Billy
Williams … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)
Notes: Leo Newman was said to be of the Merchant Marines. Underhill was known as
the “One Man Gang.”

Miami, Florida: Friday, February 9, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Jack Bloomfield b. Johnny Carlin (2/3) … Yaqui Joe b. Jack DeVault
(2/3) … Walter Underhill b. Young Gotch (Abner) (15:00)
Note: Carlin was the new local villain.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, February 14, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. Nick Contos (Condos) (2/3) (Contos suffered a torn
ligament in his elbow and was unable to continue for the third fall) … Jack DeVault b.
Walter Underhill (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Young Gotch (Abner) b. King Kong (18:00) …
(promoter: W.H Peeples)
Note: No show next week due to the Golden Gloves tournament.

Miami, Florida: Friday, February 16, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Johnny Carlin b. Jack Bloomfield (2/3) … Roy Welch and Yaqui Joe
drew (45:00) (1-1) … Leo Newman b. “Cowboy” Murphy (19:00) … (promoter: Charley
Laye)
Notes: After this show, the Biscayne Arena was closed up to be remodeled.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, February 28, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Jack Bloomfield vs. The Masked Phantom (2/3) … Johnny Carlin vs.
Buddy Knox … Leo Newman vs. Roy Welch … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)
Notes: Bloomfield, at different times, was called the Jewish Heavyweight and Jewish
Junior Heavyweight champion. Knox was from Little Rock, Arkansas.

*On Wednesday, February 28, 1945, promoter Major W.H. Peeples hosted
“newspapermen, public officials, American Legion reprsentatives, State Guard officials
and the members of the boxing commission at a luncheon at the Seven Seas restaurant,”
according to the Miami Herald.

*The Thursday, March 1, 1945 edition of the Miami Herald reported that “Miami’s city
boxing commission will join the National Boxing Association as a result of an invitation
extended Wednesday by Flamen B. Adae of the Miami Beach commission and first vice
president of the national organization. The NBA controls boxing in all but two states.
Frank Markle, Norman Ganger and Warren Weimer comprise the Miami commission with
W.E. Nichols as secretary. Ganger volunteered to pay the $25 annual dues if the city of
Miami could not take care of the fee out of its revenue.”

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, March 7, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Charley Laye b. The Masked Phantom (2-0) … Johnny Carlin b. Gus
Wisbar (25:00) … King Kong b. Jack Bloomfield (17:30) … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)
Notes: It was said that Buddy Knox “discarded the ‘schoolboy’ title” from his name
“sometime back.” Knox was originally scheduled to wrestle The Masked Phantom in the
main event of this show. Laye was the promoter at the Biscayne Arena.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, March 14, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Johnny Carlin and The Masked Phantom drew (1-1) … Hank
Kulkowich b. Jack Bloomfield (12:00) … Buddy “Curly” Knox b. King Kong (17:00) …
(promoter: W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, March 21, 1945
(Armory Arena) … The Masked Phantom b. Hank Kulkowich (2/3) (third fall by countout)
… Buddy Knox b. Johnny Carlin (18:00) … Jack LaRue b. Gus Wisbar (17:00) …
(promoter: W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, March 28, 1945
(Armory Arena) … The Masked Phantom b. Hank Kulkowich (2/3) (third fall by DQ) …
Jack LaRue b. Buddy Knox (24:00) … Gus Wisbar b. Johnny Carlin (20:00) …
(promoter: W.H Peeples)

*On Saturday, March 31, 1945, promoter Charley Laye announced that wrestling would
return to the remodeled Biscayne Arena on Friday. The facility had been renovated to
seat 4,500 fans. King Kong would face Roy Welch in the main event. It was announced
on Friday, April 6 that this wrestling show was postponed a week “due to the fact
workmen hav enot yet completed installation of new bleachers at the remodeled arena.”
A boxing show scheduled for Monday was also postponed.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, April 4, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. Jack LaRue (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Roy Welch
and Joe Wolfe drew (45:00) … Gus Wisbar b. Red Byrd (22:00) … (promoter: W.H.
Peeples)
Notes: Joe Wolfe was going to make his local debut. He played football at Ohio State, at
guard.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, April 11, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich and Joe Wolfe drew (60:00) (1-1) … Jack LaRue b.
King Kong (26:00) … “Cowboy” Murphy and Gus Wisbar drew (30:00) … (promoter: W.
H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, April 13, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Jake LaRue vs. Charley Laye (2/3) … Gus Wisbar and Joe Wolfe
vs. Gale “Red” Byrd and King Kong (2/3) … (promoter: Charley Laye)
Notes: The Miami Herald stated that “Wolfe and Wisbar claim about 15 straight wins in
tag matches.” This wrestling show was cancelled due to the death of President Roosevelt.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, April 18, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Joe Wolfe b. Jack LaRue (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Hank Kulkowich
and Roy Welch drew … Red Byrd b. “Cowboy” Murphy (13:10) … (promoter: W.H.
Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, April 20, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Jack LaRue vs. Roy Welch … Red Byrd and King Kong vs. Gus
Wisbar and Joe Wolfe … (promoter: Charley Laye)
Notes: After two weeks of postponed shows, this was the return to the remodeled
Biscayne Arena. The paper said that Welch was “a long-time favorite with Biscayne fans.”

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, April 25, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. King Kong (2/3) … Jack LaRue b. Dan Mueller (16:
00) … Joe Wolfe b. Red Byrd (21:00) … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, April 27, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. Jack LaRue (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Joe Wolfe
b. King Kong … Red Byrd b. Gus Wisbar (29:00) … (promoter: Charley Laye)
Note: LaRue was barred from using his piledriver in Miami.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, May 2, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Joe Wolfe b Jack LaRue (1-0) (60:00) … Gus Wisbar b. Danny
Mueller (12:00) … Turhen (Turban) Bey b. Red Byrd (24:00) … (promoter: W.H.
Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, May 4, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Jack LaRue and Joe Wolfe vs. Hank Kulkowich and Turhen Bey
(2/3) … (promoter: Charley Laye)

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, May 9, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Jack LaRue and Tommy O’Toole drew (1-1) … Phil Steddum b.
Turhen Bey (17:00) … Bill Canny b. “Cowboy” Murphy … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, May 11, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Hank Kulkowich b. Jack LaRue … Li’l Abner Gotch b. Turhen Bey
(DQ) … Bill Canny and Bill Steddum drew (30:00)
Note: LaRue was indefinitely suspended by the State Athletic Commission for his actions
in this match with Kulkowich.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, May 16, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Hank Kulkowich and Tommy O’Toole drew (60:00) (1-1) … Bill Canny
b. Bill Steddum (12:05) … Turhen Bey and Li’l Abner Gotch drew (30:00) … (promoter:
W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, May 18, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Turban Bey and Tommy O’Toole b Hank Kulkowich and (?) … Bill
Canny b. Bill Steaddum (12:00)

Miami, Florida: Friday, May 25, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Li’l Abner Gotch and Roy Welch b. Turhan Bey and Bill Canny (2/3)
… Tommy O’Tolle b. Leo Newman (11:00)

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, May 30, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Turhan Bey b. Li’l Abner Gotch (2/3) … June Byers b. Jackie LaRue
(DQ) (12:00) … Hank Kulkowich and Roy Welch drew (30:00) … (promoter: W.H.
Peeples)
Note: “Jackie” LaRue was the wife of Jack LaRue.

Miami, Florida: Friday, June 1, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Roy Welch b. Turben Bey (2/3) (during the third fall, Bey was
knocked out when he was thrown against the ropes, which broke, and he smashed
against the ring post) … King Kong and Tommy O’Toole drew (30:00) … June Byers b.
Doris Dean (12:00)

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, June 6, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Ace Freeman and Hank Kulkowich b. Johnny Carlin and Tommy O’
Toole … Ace Freeman b. Johnny Carlin … Tommy O’Toole b. Hank Kulkowich …
(promoter: W.H. Peeples) … (“sizeable crowd”)

Miami, Florida: Friday, June 8, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Johnny Carlin b. Ace Freeman (2/3) (third fall by DQ) … Li’l Abner
Gotch b. King Kong … June Byers b. Bobbie LaRue … (matchmaker: Pat Malone) …
(referee: Doc Howarsky)
Notes: It is unclear when Malone became the matchmaker at the Biscayne Arena and
whether or not Charley Laye was out from behind-the-scenes of this operation. “Bobbie”
LaRue was called the wife of Jack LaRue.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, June 13, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Johnny Carlin and Tommy O’Toole b. Li’l Abner Gotch and King Kong
(1-0) … “Cowboy” Murphy b. Dan Muller (the two were the first eliminated in a wrestle
royal) … Carlin and O’Toole reportedly were the survivors of the wrestle royal …
(promoter: W.H Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, June 15, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … Tommy O’Toole b. Roy Welch (2/3) (the ropes broke during the
third fall and O’Toole was given the match by the referee) … Red Byrd and King Kong b.
Li’l Abner Gotch and Danny Muller (Miller) … (matchmaker: Pat Malone)
Notes: Muller was said to be from Hollywood. Gotch was “of Morrison Field,” and Byrd
was from Louisville. No show next week at the Biscayne Arena.

Miami, Florida: Wednesday, June 20, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Roy Welch b. Johnny Carlin (2/3) … Ace Freeman b. Leo Newman (22:
00) … Gale “Red” Byrd and Bill Steddum drew (30:00) … Wes Bunce and Al Patski
“staged a judo exhibition of mixed boxing and wrestling” … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)
Notes: Patski was said to be from Honolulu. Freeman was from New York City.

Miami, Florida: Wedneday, June 27, 1945
(Armory Arena) … Johnny Carlin vs. Ace Freeman … King Kong vs. Tommy O’Toole …
Gale “Red” Byrd vs. Chuck Gore … (promoter: W.H. Peeples)

Miami, Florida: Friday, June 29, 1945
(Biscayne Arena) … The Masked Phantom b. Li’l Abner Gotch (2/3) … Gale “Red” Byrd
b. Ace Freeman (17:00) … Johnny Carlin and Young Sandow drew

Research by Tim Hornbaker
November 6, 2007

Miami Wrestling Results - 1945