Bulgaria: 1935-1938
#PWHS #Results #Europe #Bulgaria #BG #Wrestling #ProWrestling #Sofia #CACC #CatchWrestling #CatchAsCatchCan #GrecoRoman #GraecoRoman
1930 (no results)
1931 (no results)
1932 (no results)
1933 (no results)
1934 (no results)
1935
JUNE 1935
JUNE 20, 1935 (THURSDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000
1 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Kiro Andreeff,
Draw
2 - Henry Stoeff def. George Wilson
3 - Dan Koloff def. Charlie Santen
Notes:
First [known] American style (Catch-as-Catch-Can) pro-wrestling show in Bulgaria.
Four amateur wrestling matches were used to open the show.
Koloff was given media attention for his success in other countries and upon arriving home in Bulgaria was treated with the highest admiration.
It is arguable that he was the number one celebrity in Bulgaria at the time.
Due to this he was carried to the ring on several people's shoulders and with the National Anthem of Bulgaria being played.
JUNE 1935
JUNE 20, 1935 (THURSDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000
1 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Kiro Andreeff,
Draw
2 - Henry Stoeff def. George Wilson
3 - Dan Koloff def. Charlie Santen
Notes:
First [known] American style (Catch-as-Catch-Can) pro-wrestling show in Bulgaria.
Four amateur wrestling matches were used to open the show.
Koloff was given media attention for his success in other countries and upon arriving home in Bulgaria was treated with the highest admiration.
It is arguable that he was the number one celebrity in Bulgaria at the time.
Due to this he was carried to the ring on several people's shoulders and with the National Anthem of Bulgaria being played.
JULY 1935
JULY 7, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
AS-23 Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000
1 - Evstati Georieff def. Kiro Andreeff
2 - George Wilson def. Dick Perron
3 - Henry Stoeff Vs. Charlie Santen,
Draw
4 - Dan Koloff def. Regis Siki,
Two Falls to None (F1 00:37:00 - F2 00:01:00 - C 00:38:00)
Notes:
Several thousand fans were turned away.
It's said like the first show, the crowd is not into the amateur bouts and accordingly they are dropped going forward.
Siki said he arrived the same day of the show, and tiredness is why he lost.
JULY 8, 1935 (MONDAY)-JULY 26, 1935 (FRIDAY)
Graeco-Roman Tournament
Promoters: Lazar Dobricz with Franz Doberl
Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Platzierung / Placement:
1. Emile Czaya.
2. Franz Kawan.
3. Albert Sturm.
4. Todor Bankoff.
Teilnehmer / Participants:
Emile Czaya,
Franz Kawan,
Albert Sturm,
Jeji Goldstein,
Uxa Stibor,
Todor Bankoff,
Arcadi Goyer, [?]
Constantine Stoycescu, [?]
Cinica Cyclope, [?]
Jon Chernoyonu. [?]
Ende Hinweise / End Notes:
The tournament was successful enough that the foreign stars stayed on to tour Bulgaria.
JULY 12, 1935 (FRIDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv, Plòvdiv, Bulgaria
Attendance: 5,000
1 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. George Wilson,
Draw
2 - Charlie Santen def. Kiro Andreeff
3 - Henry Stoeff def. Dick Perron
4 - Dan Koloff def. Jon Draghiceanu
Note:
This is a record for the stadium in attendance.
JULY 15, 1935 (MONDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
"Local Stadium", Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria
Attendance: "Thousands"
1 - Evlogi Georgieff Vs. Georgi Ilcheff,
Draw
2 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Kiro Andreeff,
Draw
3 - Henry Stoeff def. Evstati Georgieff
4 - Dan Koloff def. Charlie Santen
Note:
This is possibly city attendance record.
JULY 21, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Cycling Track, Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
Attendance: 10,000
1 - Kiro Andreeff Vs. Georgi Petroff,
Draw
2 - Jon Draghiceanu def. Charlie Santen
3 - Henry Stoeff Vs. George Wilson,
Draw
4 - Dan Koloff def. Fr. Franculescu
JULY 28, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Cycling Track, Ruse, Ruse, Bulgaria
Attendance: 10,000
1 - George Wilson Vs. Dick Perron,
Draw
2 - Henry Stoeff def. Dimitar Stoycheff
3 - Charlie Santen Vs. Fr. Fraculescu,
Draw
4 - Dan Koloff def. Jon Draghiceanu
Notes:
City attendance and gate record.
Several thousand people were turned away.
AUGUST 1935
AUGUST 4, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Stara Zagora, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Attendance: "Several Thousand in Attendance"
1 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
2 - Henry Stoeff Vs. Dick Perron,
Result Unknown
3 - Charlie Santen Vs. Jon Graghiceanu,
Result Unknown
4 - Dan Koloff def. Fr. Franculescu
Notes:
The first match was between two guys from the local pro-wrestling school.
This is a partial result.
AUGUST 25, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000-30,000
Tickets: 22, 52 or 72 levs
Gate: 310,000 levs
1 - Rematch
George Wilson (of USA) Vs. Dick Perron (of Canada),
Draw (00:30:00)
2 - Charlie Santen (of USA) def. Dimitar Stoycheff (of Bulgaria)
(00:21:00)
3 - Henry Stoeff (of Bulgaria) def. Jeji Goldstein (of Palestine)
(00:14:00)
4 - Rematch - Two out of Three Falls
Dan Koloff (of Bulgaria) def. Regis Siki (of Abyssinia),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:30:00 - F2 00:09:00 - C 00:39:00)
Notes:
The weights went as follows: Wilson, 92kg; Perron, 96; Santen, 105; Stoycheff, 101; Stoeff, 88; Goldstein, 96; Koloff, 105; and Siki, 107.
Like there had been at the previous two Sofia shows, there were supposed to be several amateur bouts prior to the pro bouts.
The bouts were to determine the Bulgarian team for the annual Balkan Games.
The previous year's Balkan Games were the first time Bulgaria had ever had a team compete in an international amateur wrestling competition.
The amateur bouts never took place and amateur wrestling was dropped altogether from the pro shows going forward, the main reason being the complete lack of interest the live crowd had had in the amateur matches at the previous two shows.
Wilson-Perron was a rematch from July 28, 1935.
Santen was originally planned to wrestle Peter Ferestanoff.
Santen used an arm twist for the win.
Siki-Koloff is the rematch from the July 7, 1935 match.
It's said since their prior match, Siki had been wrestling in Germany and had 25 wins in a row with zero defeats.
The press also talked about how Siki had beaten the second biggest star in Bulgaria, Peter Ferestanoff, twice in Germany last year.
Ferestanoff vehemently denied those claims.
Koloff used a slam for the first fall and an armlock for the second.
This was the biggest attendance in Bulgarian history up until this point.
It's also the biggest gate up until this point by 40,000 levs.
Koloff gave most if not all of his pay from this show to various charitable causes.
Stoeff did the same.
AUGUST 1935
AUGUST 4, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Stara Zagora, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Attendance: "Several Thousand in Attendance"
1 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
2 - Henry Stoeff Vs. Dick Perron,
Result Unknown
3 - Charlie Santen Vs. Jon Graghiceanu,
Result Unknown
4 - Dan Koloff def. Fr. Franculescu
Notes:
The first match was between two guys from the local pro-wrestling school.
This is a partial result.
AUGUST 25, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000-30,000
Tickets: 22, 52 or 72 levs
Gate: 310,000 levs
1 - Rematch
George Wilson (of USA) Vs. Dick Perron (of Canada),
Draw (00:30:00)
2 - Charlie Santen (of USA) def. Dimitar Stoycheff (of Bulgaria)
(00:21:00)
3 - Henry Stoeff (of Bulgaria) def. Jeji Goldstein (of Palestine)
(00:14:00)
4 - Rematch - Two out of Three Falls
Dan Koloff (of Bulgaria) def. Regis Siki (of Abyssinia),
Two Falls to None (F1 00:30:00 - F2 00:09:00 - C 00:39:00)
Notes:
The weights went as follows: Wilson, 92kg; Perron, 96; Santen, 105; Stoycheff, 101; Stoeff, 88; Goldstein, 96; Koloff, 105; and Siki, 107.
Like there had been at the previous two Sofia shows, there were supposed to be several amateur bouts prior to the pro bouts.
The bouts were to determine the Bulgarian team for the annual Balkan Games.
The previous year's Balkan Games were the first time Bulgaria had ever had a team compete in an international amateur wrestling competition.
The amateur bouts never took place and amateur wrestling was dropped altogether from the pro shows going forward, the main reason being the complete lack of interest the live crowd had had in the amateur matches at the previous two shows.
Wilson-Perron was a rematch from July 28, 1935.
Santen was originally planned to wrestle Peter Ferestanoff.
Santen used an arm twist for the win.
Siki-Koloff is the rematch from the July 7, 1935 match.
It's said since their prior match, Siki had been wrestling in Germany and had 25 wins in a row with zero defeats.
The press also talked about how Siki had beaten the second biggest star in Bulgaria, Peter Ferestanoff, twice in Germany last year.
Ferestanoff vehemently denied those claims.
Koloff used a slam for the first fall and an armlock for the second.
This was the biggest attendance in Bulgarian history up until this point.
It's also the biggest gate up until this point by 40,000 levs.
Koloff gave most if not all of his pay from this show to various charitable causes.
Stoeff did the same.
SEPTEMBER 1935
SEPTEMBER 8, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 30,000
1 - Evstati Georgieff def. Jeji Goldstein
2 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Dick Perron
3 - Henry Stoeff def. George Wilson
4 - Catch-as-Catch-Can
Dan Koloff def. Peter Ferestanoff,
Jury Decision (01:30:00)
Notes:
The final match was five months in the making and the biggest [known] match to ever take place in Bulgaria.
Ever since his return to Bulgaria Koloff had been asked about a bout with Ferestanoff.
At first Koloff stated it was not going to happen.
As you can see he came around to the idea and it then took further time to negotiate details.
During which time it nearly fell through completely, in fact it was so close Charles Rigoulot was contacted to take Ferestanoff's place.
The problems included: money, possible damage to reputations, a lack of trust, the rules of the match, Ferestanoff's schedule and, of course, the finish of the bout.
During advertising for the match it was called "A clash of styles." It was however competed under Catch rules which favored Koloff. Ferestanoff was a Graeco-Roman guy primarily.
This is a Bulgarian sports attendance and great record.
The final match went to a fall-less draw and thus a three-man jury was used to decide the winner.
It was said to be a boring contest.
This is the first [known] instance of a jury being used in Bulgaria. The idea was taken out of a French prompotions rulebook.
Koloff and Stoeff soon traveled aboard following this show.
This was the final show of the 1935 season for Koloff & Stoeff's promotions.
SEPTEMBER 29, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Attendance: 6,000+
1 - Peter Ferestanoff def. Marjan Waluszewski
Notes:
This match was billed as Waluszewski trying to avenge the defeat suffered by his mentor, Teodor Sztekker, at the hands of Ferestanoff.
This was an all Graeco-Roman show.
SEPTEMBER 1935
SEPTEMBER 8, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 30,000
1 - Evstati Georgieff def. Jeji Goldstein
2 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Dick Perron
3 - Henry Stoeff def. George Wilson
4 - Catch-as-Catch-Can
Dan Koloff def. Peter Ferestanoff,
Jury Decision (01:30:00)
Notes:
The final match was five months in the making and the biggest [known] match to ever take place in Bulgaria.
Ever since his return to Bulgaria Koloff had been asked about a bout with Ferestanoff.
At first Koloff stated it was not going to happen.
As you can see he came around to the idea and it then took further time to negotiate details.
During which time it nearly fell through completely, in fact it was so close Charles Rigoulot was contacted to take Ferestanoff's place.
The problems included: money, possible damage to reputations, a lack of trust, the rules of the match, Ferestanoff's schedule and, of course, the finish of the bout.
During advertising for the match it was called "A clash of styles." It was however competed under Catch rules which favored Koloff. Ferestanoff was a Graeco-Roman guy primarily.
This is a Bulgarian sports attendance and great record.
The final match went to a fall-less draw and thus a three-man jury was used to decide the winner.
It was said to be a boring contest.
This is the first [known] instance of a jury being used in Bulgaria. The idea was taken out of a French prompotions rulebook.
Koloff and Stoeff soon traveled aboard following this show.
This was the final show of the 1935 season for Koloff & Stoeff's promotions.
SEPTEMBER 29, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Attendance: 6,000+
1 - Peter Ferestanoff def. Marjan Waluszewski
Notes:
This match was billed as Waluszewski trying to avenge the defeat suffered by his mentor, Teodor Sztekker, at the hands of Ferestanoff.
This was an all Graeco-Roman show.
OCTOBER 1935
OCTOBER 6, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Ruse, Ruse, Bulgaria
Attendance: 8,000
1 - T. Georgieff def. Tz. Hristoff
2 - Angel Velkoff def. M. Dimitroff
3 - Peter Ferestanoff def. Marjan Waluszewski
Note:
This was an all Graeco-Roman Show.
OCTOBER 13, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Gorna Oryahovitsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Attendance: 4,000
1 - Angel Velkoff def. M. Dimitroff
2 - Peter Ferestanoff def. Jan Urban
Note:
This was an all Graeco-Roman show.
OCTOBER 20, 1935 (SUNDAY)
Veliko Tarnovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
1 - Peter Ferestanoff def. Jan Urban
Notes:
This was an all Graeco-Roman show.
Ferestanoff left to travel abroad shortly after this.
1936
JUNE 1936
JUNE 7, 1936 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 15,000
1 - Peter Konstantinoff def. Ivan Mancheff
2 - Dimitar Stoycheff Vs. Georgi Petroff
3 - Kiro Andreeff Vs. Todor Novakoff,
Draw
4 - Henry Stoeff def. Dr. Boris Solonovich
Note:
This is the opening match of the 1936 season for Koloff & Stoeff's promotions.
JUNE 14, 1936 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Stara Zagora, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Attendance: "Big Crowd" & "Bigger Than Last Year's Show in Stara Zagora"
1 - Dimitar Karayaneff Vs. Peyo Vajaroff,
Draw
2 - Georg Petroff Vs. Kiro Andreeff,
Draw
3 - Henry Stoeff def. Dimitar Stoycheff
4 - Dan Koloff def. Todor Bankoff
JUNE 21, 1936 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Levski Stadium, Plovdiv, Plòvdiv, Bulgaria
Attendance: 15,000
1 - Georgi Petroff Vs. Dr. Boris Solonovich,
Draw
2 - Dimitar Stoycheff def. Todor Bankoff
3 - Henry Stoeff def. Evstati Georgieff
4 - Dan Koloff def. Frank Bronowicz
Note:
This was a city attendance record.
JUNE 28, 1936 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 4,000
1 - Dr. Boris Solonovich def. Peter Konstantinoff
2 - Todor Bankoff Vs. Georgi Petroff,
Draw
3 - Dimitar Stoycheff def. Kiro Andreeff
4 - Frank Bronowicz def. Henry Stoeff
5 - Dan Koloff def. Mark Passmann
[This was Koloff's final match in Bulgaria for over a year]
JULY 1936
JULY 5, 1936 (SUNDAY)
Promoters: Dan Koloff & Henry Stoeff
The Field of Arsenal Ltd., Kazanlak, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Attendance: 3,000
1 - Nikola Ilcheff def. Arabjan Bick
2 - Kiro Andreeff def. Dimitar Karayaneff
3 - Frank Bronowicz def. Georgi Petroff
4 - Henry Stoeff def. Todor Bankoff
Notes:
Dan Koloff was present at this show although he did not wrestle.
Instead Koloff just came out to make a special appearance even though he had been advertised to officiate a match.
The official reason given for his lack of a contest was due to a "Lack of a suitable opponent."
[The real reason was probably something else though.
This is the final show of the 1936 season. It was not stated why the season was much shorter than the 1935 season. Three possibilities are:
1. Koloff had picked up an injury.
2. There was an issue with securing top quality foreign talent for Koloff to go up against.
3. Koloff & Stoeff would have a falling out shortly after this final show.
Also worth mentioning is that Bulgarian wrestlers were getting more regular opportunities to work outside of Bulgaria. As you would expect with big stars being able to travel, it left those who remained in Bulgaria plodding along. The high number of people attending shows from just a year prior was over. With mainly just local lads left to perform; the attraction just was not there to the masses and thus the promoters who remained there had to decrease the regularity of shows]
1937
SEPTEMBER 1937
SEPTEMBER 19, 1937 (SUNDAY)
Promotion: Club "Dan Koloff"
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 20,000+
1 - Peter Konstaninoff def. Dimitar Karayaneff
2 - Evlogi Georgieff def. Krum Petroff
3 - Nikolai Zigulinoff Vs. Georgi Zidarski,
Draw
4 - Georgi Petroff Vs. Evstati Georgieff,
Draw
5 - European Heavyweight Championship
Dan Koloff def. Al Pereira (c)
NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
This appears to be Zigulinoff's professional debut.
He is billed as having being successful in the athletic competitions held amongst the Sofia police force.
At the last event he is said to have finished in first place for three different sports.
[Although the title was billed as being on the line locally, it was actually a French championship. It came from France that it was not a title match and Pereira was still the reigning champion
As far as is known Koloff had absolutely no idea at the time - he would have to retire soon due to health issues - this would be his last appearance in Bulgaria as a professional wrestler]
1938
JUNE 1938
JUNE 12, 1938 (SUNDAY)
Promotion: Club "Dan Koloff"
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
1 - Krum Petroff Vs. Todor Ivanoff
2 - Henry Stoeff Vs. "A Foreign Wrestler"
3 - Todor Bankoff Vs. Sandor Vary
Notes:
This show was cancelled.
Nikolai Zigulinoff, Peter Konstantinoff and Dimitar Karayeneff were announced for the card with others to be.
SEPTEMBER 1938
SEPTEMBER 22, 1938 (THURSDAY)
Bulgarian Wrestling Championship: Opening Day
Promotion: Club "Dan Koloff"
Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Notes:
This is the opening day for the tournament which finished on September 25, 1938.
Held in a smaller venue than the final day.
This featured five different tournaments to crown Bulgarian recognized champions in each weightclass.
SEPTEMBER 23, 1938 (FRIDAY)
Bulgarian Wrestling Championship: Penultimate Day
Promotion: Club "Dan Koloff"
Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Note:
Held in a smaller venue than the final day.
SEPTEMBER 25, 1938 (SUNDAY)
Bulgarian Wrestling Championship: Final Day
Promotion: Club "Dan Koloff"
Yunak Stadium, Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Attendance: 2,500
1 - Non-Tournament Match
Ivan Simeonoff def. Ivan Ivanoff
NEW CHAMPION
2 - Bulgarian Lightweight Championship - Final
Boris Vodenicharoff def. Serafim Mashaloff
NEW CHAMPION
3 - Bulgarian Welterweight Championship - Final
Todor Ivanoff def. Raichin Hristoff
NEW CHAMPION
4 - Bulgarian Middleweight Championship - Final
Icho Kiaeff def. Stancho Peeff
NEW CHAMPION
5 - Bulgarian Light Heavyweight Championship - Final
Krum Petroff def. Asparuh Chankoff
NEW CHAMPION
6 - Bulgarian Heavyweight Championship - Final
Todor Bankoff def. Evstati Georgieff
NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
This is the final day for the tournament which opened on September 22, 1938.
Platzierung / Placement:
Bulgarian Heavyweight Championship:
1. Todor Bankoff.
2. Evstati Georgieff.
Bulgarian Light Heavyweight Championship:
1. Krum Petroff.
2. Asparuh Chankoff.
Bulgarian Middleweight Championship:
1. Icho Kiaeff.
2. Stancho Peeff.
Bulgarian Welterweight Championship:
1. Todor Ivanoff.
2. Raichin Hristoff.
Bulgarian Lightweight Championship:
1. Boris Vodenicharoff.
2. Serafim Mashaloff.
Bankoff was also announced as the "Heir of Dan Koloff."
With this he became the third "heir", Dimitar Stoycheff was the first "heir" as stated by Koloff himself upon first arriving in Bulgaria.
He later bestowed the "heirship" upon Peter Konstantinoff.
No official championship belts were given to the winners of the tournaments and due to the lack of interest from the public - mainly due to a lack of top-tier names - the tournaments didn't end up meaning much in the grand scheme of things with the championships being forgotten about after a few months.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by #PWHS or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Bulgaria: 1935-1938.
Updated: October 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by #PWHS or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Bulgaria: 1935-1938.
Updated: October 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
