Hungary: 1920-1926
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1920
OCTOBER 1920
OCTOBER ??, 1920 (????)-OCTOBER ??, 1920 (????)
Graeco-Roman Tournament
Circus Beketow, Budapest, Central Hungary, Hungary
Teilnehmer / Participants:
Josef Steinbach,
John Zipps,
Rudolf Benold,
Franz Mrna,
Josef Havlicek,
Gustav Czaja.
Ende Hinweise / End Notes:
No further information.
1921 (no results)
1922 (no results)
1923 (no results)
1924 (no results)
1925 (no results)
1926
OCTOBER 1926
OCTOBER 1, 1926 (FRIDAY)-OCTOBER 15, 1926 (FRIDAY)
Graeco-Roman Tournament
Promoter: Rezso Árvái
Schmidt Arena (Circus), Budapest, Central Hungary, Hungary
Teilnehmer / Participants:
Josef Czaja,
Josef Steinbach,
Franz Solar.
Ende Hinweise / End Notes:
A scandal broke out on the final day of the tournament.
Árvái stated that based on their contract with the circus the wrestlers were supposed to get 70% of the net income of the circus' third performance each day, i.e. the evening one where the wrestling matches took place.
Each night after the matches the director would pay the money to Josef Czaja, who would then divide it between the wrestlers.
According to the promoter for two weeks of matches Czaja was given 2.8 million Hungarian koronas.
On the final day Czaja went to the director and demanded the money upfront and he wanted not 70% of the net income for the third performance, but rather 70% of the gate for the entire day.
The director also claimed that he had found out that during the final night's matches Czaja was planning on advertising to the crowd that the final two days of matches would instead take place at Circus Beketow (a rival circus).
The promoter refused to pay more and pay upfront so, as commanded by Czaja, the wrestlers refused to go out and wrestle.
So, the promoter went out in front of the packed circus and told the fans about this, but he also took it a step further.
He told the audience they would not be missing much anyway since the matches had been fake to begin with.
The promoter revealed that Josef Czaja was the one in charge of the wrestlers and Czaja alone had been deciding who wins and who loses.
The crowd was furious and a dozen or so policeman had to intervene and clear out the circus.
In the days that followed Czaja completely denied the claims about predetermined matches, stating he had always been a legitimate wrestler and won all of his matches fairly.
He also denied asking for more money.
Czaja also claimed that the wrestlers' intention was to hold the finals of the tournament at the bigger Circus Beketow, since such a big tournament deserved to finish in a bigger venue, and that they were contracted to Schmidt Arena only until October 13 (and not indefinitely like the promoter had claimed), so in order to prevent them from going over to Beketow the director told these lies and tried to damage their reputation.
There was talk of both sides suing each other afterwards, but it's unclear if anything came of that.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Hungary: 1920-1926.
Updated: September 9, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Information came from contemporary newspapers unless otherwise stated.
Results from Hungary: 1920-1926.
Updated: September 9, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
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