Iowa, United States of America: 1941-1949
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1940 (no results)
1941
NOVEMBER 1941
NOVEMBER 22, 1941 (SATURDAY)
Promoter: Bob Craddock
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, Iowa
Referee: Bob Jessen
1 - One Fall
Jack Kennedy def. Gus Alexinis,
Knock-Out (00:17:00)
2 - Two out of Three Falls
Nick Elitch 'Baldplated Greek Veteran' Vs. Ray Schwarz (of Brooklyn),
Time-Limit Draw - One Fall Each (F1 00:26:00 - F2 00:04:00 - TL 00:45:00)
3 - MWA Heavyweight Champion - Two out of Three Falls
Orville Brown (of Wallace, Kan.) (c) def. Dorv Roche (of Decatur, Ill.),
Two Falls to One
Notes:
Brown used a steel chair to win the contest after the referee was knocked out.
Alexinis knocked himself out by missing a dropkick.
1942
AUGUST 1942
AUGUST 9, 1942 (SUNDAY)
Electric Park, Waterloo, Iowa
1 - Emil Dusek def. Jay Steele
(00:12:45)
2 - Wladislaus Zbyszko def. Tom Zaharias,
Disqualification (00:06:20)
3 - Joe Dusek Vs. Orville Brown,
Time-Limit Draw (01:00:00)
Note:
Zbyszko is listed as the Polish Champion.
1943 (no results)
1944
MAY 1944
MAY 3, 1944 (WEDNESDAY)
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
No Wrestling
Notes:
There was a sports show being held here instead.
MAY 10, 1944 (WEDNESDAY)
Promoter: "Pinkie" George
Matchmaker: "Pinkie" George
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Referee: Jack League
1 - One Fall - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Cherry Vallina (of Sapin) def. Johnny Seals (of Des Moines)
(00:14:20)
2 - Two out of Three Falls - Forty-Five Minute Time-Limit
Tom Zaharias (of Pueblo, Colo.) Vs. Big Jack Dillon (of Indianapolis, Ind.),
Two Falls to One (F1 TZ 00:06:15 - F2 JD 00:03:20 - F3 TZ 00:10:40 - C 00:30:15)
3 - [NWA Iowa] World Heavyweight Championship Belt - Two out of Three Falls - Ninety Minute Time-Limit
Dave Levin "Jewish Wrestler" (of New York) def. Ray Steele (c - of Glendale, California),
Two Falls to One (F1 DL 00:20:10 - F2 RS 00:12:17 - F3 DL 00:04:50 - C 00:37:17) - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
Nick Elich weighs 227lbs, and was the originally scheduled opponent for Vallina.
Seals was a substitute for Elich.
Vallina weighs 210lbs and Seals 219.
Zaharias weighs 218lbs and Dillon 229.
Zaharias is described as the "eye-gouging, nose-twisting, hair grasping Zaharias."
It's said this is the first time Levin and Steele have wrestled.
Steele is described as "fat and forty."
It's said that the referee "apparently tired from his vigorous duties in the Tom Zaharias-Jack Dillon semiwindup, allowed many of Steele's crowd-displeasing devices to escape his eye in the final match."
AUGUST 1944
AUGUST 13, 1944 (SUNDAY)
Promoter: Pinkie George
Electric Park, Waterloo, Iowa
Attendance: "Hundreds of Fans Were Turned Away"
Referee: Alex Fidler
1 - Jack Hader (of Kansas City, Mo.) def. Bill Dusek (of Omaha, Neb.)
(00:08:00)
2 - Genetleman Jim Coffield (of Wichita, Kan.) def. Bad Boy Brown (of Chicago)
(00:10:00)
3 - [NWA Iowa] World Heavyweight Championship
Orville Brown (of Centrapolis, Kan.) (c) Vs. Ken Fenelon (of Dubuque, Ia.),
Time-Limit Draw (01:00:00)
Note:
Fenelon is listed as the World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
1945
OCTOBER 1945
OCTOBER 14, 1945 (SUNDAY)
Promoter: Curtis "Sid" Perry
Burlington, Iowa
Referee: Ed Petly
Attendance: 400
1 - Two out of Three Falls
Earl Wampler (of Iowa) def. Texas Jack O'Brien,
Two Falls to None (F1 00:09:00 - F2 00:11:00 - C 00:20:00)
2 - Two out of Three Falls
Mae Young def. Elvira Sondgrass 'Tennessee Mountaineer'
Two Falls to None (F1 00:07:00 - F2 00:06:00 - C 00:13:00)
1946 (no results)
1947
NOVEMBER 1947
NOVEMBER 1, 1947 (SATURDAY)
Des Moines, Iowa
Jack Dempsey arrives here for his referee duties on Monday's show
Notes:
"Pinkie" George, promoter, met Dempsey at the airport.
When they made arrangements for Dempsey to come, it's said George told Dempsey he'd miss the Roosevelt's footbal game today, and he's a rabid fan.
Dempsey replied, "Meet me at the airport at 8:35," he continued, "and we'll both go to the game, I'd like to see 'em myself."
NOVEMBER 2, 1947 (SUNDAY)
Pinkie George's Home, Des Moines, Iowa
1 - Cribbage
Jack Dempsey def. Sec Taylor
NOVEMBER 3, 1947 (MONDAY)
Promoter: "Pinkie George"
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 3,000+ / "Near-Capacity Crowd"
Referees: Bob Forester (matches 1 & 2) & Jack Dempsey (match 3)
1 - Earl Wampler "The Gentleman Farmer" (of Scranton, Ia.) Vs. Ken Fenelon (of Dubuque, Ia.),
Time-Limit Draw (00:30:00)
2 - George Temple (of Los Angeles) def. Larry Tillman (of Tulsa, Okla.),
Disqualification - One Fall Each
3 - NWA [NWAlliance Iowa] World Heavyweight Championship - Two out of Three Falls
Sonny Myers (St. Joseph, Mo.) def. Orville Brown (c - of Wallaca, Kan.),
Two Falls to One - Disqualification (F1 SM 00:25:00- - F2 OB 00:11:41 - F3 SM ??:??:?? - C 00:36:41+ - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
It's said Wampler has the "Iowa Crown."
The winner of match 2 will face Billy Goelz for the Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Temple is listed as the brother of Shirley Temple, the movie actress.
Myers used a scissors lock to win the first fall.
Dempsey is the famous boxer.
Dempsey knocked out Brown at the close of the match.
This is said to be "the first defeat for Orville Brown in seven years on the National Wrestling Association's mat throne."
It's also said to be, "the first time in modern wrestling that a heavyweight championship had changed hands in a Des Moines ring."
[Steele lost this same title here in 1944.
The paper saying "National Wrestling Association" was probably a misprint, as Brown held both the National Wrestling Alliance and Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight titles at this point]
1948
JANUARY 1948
JANUARY 5, 1948 (MONDAY)
Promoter: "Pinkie" George
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Referee: Leo Jensen (match 3)
1 - One Fall - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Joe Dusek (of Omaha) Vs. Frank Taylor (of Toledo, Ohio),
Draw (00:30:00)
2 - One Fall - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Emil Dusek (of Omaha) def. Tug Olsen (of Tulsa, Okla. via Des Moines)
(00:21:15)
3 - National Wrestling Alliance [Iowa] World Heavyweight Championship - Two out of Three Falls - No Time-Limit
Orville Brown (of Wallaca, Kan.) def. Sonny Myers (c - of St. Joseph, Mo.))
Two Falls to One (F1 OB 00:39:55 - F2 SM 00:08:37 - F3 OB 00:07:27 - C 00:55:59) - NEW CHAMPION
Notes:
The Dusek's are said to be part of the one-clan riot squad.
Myers used a body scissors for the second fall.
1949
MAY 1949
MAY 18, 1949 (WEDNESDAY)
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 4,100
Tickets: $0.65-$0.95
Referee: Jack Dempsey (main)
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Rus Samara (of New York) def. Cowboy Roy Graham (of Houston, Tex.)
(00:20:34)
2 - Women's Two out of Three Falls - Forty-Five Minute Time-Limit
Helen Hild (of Omaha, Neb.) def. Nell Stewart (of Dallas, Tex.),
Two Falls to One (F1 HH 00:07:58 - F2 NS 00:08:02 - F3 HH 00:02:15 - C 00:18:15)
3 - National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship - Two out of Three Falls - Ninety Minute Time-Limit
Orville Brown (c - of Wallace, Kan.) def. Bobby Bruns (of Chicago),
Two Falls to One (F1 BB 00:11:34 - F2 OB 00:13:18 - F3 OB 00:10:23 - C 00:35:15)
Notes:
Show starts at 20:30.
Dempsey is listed as the former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
MAY 24, 1949 (TUESDAY)
Babe Bisignano Presents Wrestling Under the Stars: 4 Big Bouts
Promoter: Alphonse "Babe Carnera" Bisignano
Pioneer Memorial Stadium (Bruins Ballpark), Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 750 (estimated)
Tickets: $0.75-$1.20
Referee: "Babe" Bisignano (main)
1 - Frank McGill (of Omaha) def. Leo Jensen (of Des Moines)
(00:12:30)
2 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Earl Wampler (of Scranton) Vs. Joe Dusek (of Omaha),
Time-Limit Draw (00:30:00)
3 - Two out of Three Falls
John Pesek (of Ravenna, Neb.) def. Jack Conley (of Denver),
Two Falls to None (F1 JP 00:20:00 - F2 00:08:02 - C 00:28:02)
4 - Sixty Minute Time-Limit
The Masked Golden Terror Vs. Ken Fenelon (of Dubuque),
Time-Limit Draw - One Fall Each (F1 KF 00:22:15 - F2 MT 00:15:45 - TL 01:00:00)
Notes:
The Des Moines Grade Schools Orchestra had to be delayed by a day as it had been double booked after the wrestling show.
Show started at 20:30.
Said to be the first outdoor show of the season.
Primo Carnera Vs. Jack Conley is announced on May 21, 1949.
Primo Carnera was originally advertised for the show, but pulled out with a claim of injury according to reports on May 22.
The card on May 22 is listed as:
1 - Ken Fenelon Vs. Jack Conley
2 - Earl Wampler Vs. Frank McGill
3 - Joe Dusek Vs. Jack Pesek
4 - The Masked Golden Terror Vs. ????
The card on May 23 & the morning of May 24 is listed as:
1 - Gene Rearden (of Kansas City) Vs. Jack Conley
2 - Earl Wampler Vs. Frank McGill
3 - Joe Dusek Vs. Jack Pesek
4 - The Masked Golden Terror Vs. Ken Fenelon
Fenelon is listed as the former Junior Heavyweight Champion.
John Pesek was not advertised in advance.
[The injuries sustained by Primo were said to be at the hands of Argentina Rocca and was rushed to hospital]
MAY 29, 1949 (SUNDAY)
Inaugural Summer Season Show
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Electric Park Arena, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
1 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
2 - ???? Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
3 - Ras Samara Vs. ????,
Result Unknown
Note:
Samara is listed as the Negro World Heavyweight Champion.
MAY 31, 1949 (TUESDAY)
Babe Bisignano Presents Wrestling Under the Stars: 4 Star Bouts
Promoter Alphonse "Babe Carnera" Bisignano
Pioneer Memorial Stadium (Bruins Ballpark), Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 1,500
Tickets: $0.75-$1.20
1 - Frank McGill (of Omaha) def. Hank Bruner (of New York)
(00:17:00)
2 - Maurice Tillet "The French Angel" (of Chicago) def. Earl Wampler (Scranton, Ia.)
(00:22:15)
3 - Earl Wampler (of Scranton, Ia.) def. Stan Karolyi (of Budapest, Hungary)
(00:23:45
4 - Two out of Three Falls
The Masked Golden Terror defs. Pierre Roberre (of Paris, France)
Two Falls to One (F1 MT 00:22:15 - F2 PR 00:12:10 - F3 MT 00:17:30 - C 00:51:55)
Notes:
Show starts at 20:30.
During the main event a lady from rinside tried to save Roberre with a swing of a metal chair. She hit the Terror four times with the chair.
Wampler filled in for Jack Conley against Tillet hence the double duty.
JUNE 1949
JUNE 1, 1949 (WEDNESDAY)
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 2,414
1 - Johnny Long (of New York) def. Billy Venable (of Chicago)
(00:17:21)
2 - Women's Two out of Three Falls
Violet Viann (of Kansas City) def. Celia Bleven (of Boston),
Two Falls to One (F1 VV 00:09:40 - F2 CB ??:??:?? - F3 VV 00:10:22 - C 00:20:02+)
3 - Team Wrestling
Otto Kuss (of Minneapolis) & Ras Samara (of New York) def. Cowboy Roy Graham (of Houston, Tex.) & Abe (King Kong) Kashey (of Hollywood),
Two Falls to One (F1 RG-AK 00:14:59 - F2 OK-RS 00:03:10 - F3 OK-RS 00:05:15 - C 00:23:24)
JUNE 5, 1949 (SUNDAY)
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Electric Park, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
1 - Johnny Long Vs. Abe (King Kong) Kashey,
Result Unknown
2 - Otto Kuss Vs. Lew Newman,
Result Unknown
3 - Women's Two out of Three Falls - Sixty Minute Time-Limit
Celia Blevins (of New York) Vs. Violet Viann,
Result Unknown
Note:
Show starts at 20:30.
JUNE 12, 1949 (SUNDAY)
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Electric Park, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Tickets: $0.25-$0.80
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Tom Rick Vs. Barney Bernard,
Result Unknown
2 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Ras Samara Vs.Jack Hader,
Result Unknown
3 - World Junior Heavyweight Championship - Sixty Minute Time-Limit
Billy Goelz (c - of Oak Park, Ill.) Vs. Billy Hickson (of Burlington, Iowa),
Result Unknown
Notes:
Show starts at 20:30.
Samara is listed as the Negro Champion.
JUNE 14, 1949 (TUESDAY)
Slam! Bang! Action! Wrestling
Promoter: Alphonse "Babe Carnera" Bisignano
Pioneer Memorial Stadium (Bruins Ballpark), Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 1,800
Tickets: $0.40-$0.95
Referee: Joe Krejet
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Ken Fenelon (of Dubuque) def. Jack Conley (of Denver)
(00:16:01)
2 - Mask on the Line - Two out of Three Falls - Forty Minute Time-Limit
The Masked Golden Terror Vs. Earl Wampler,
Time-Limit Draw - One Fall Each (TL 00:45:00)
3 - National Wrestling Association Heavyweight Championship - Two out of Three Falls - Ninety Minute Time-Limit
Lou Thesz (c) def. Joe Dusek,
Two Falls to None (F1 LT 00:16:00 - F2 LT 00:13:13 - C 00:19:13)
Notes:
Show starts at 20:30.
Originally Sid Nabers is advertised. On June 14 he is replaced by Wampler in the advertising.
JUNE 21, 1949 (TUESDAY)
Wrestling
Promoter: Alphonse "Babe Carnera" Bisignano
Pioneer Memorial Stadium (Bruins Ballpark), Des Moines, Iowa
Attendance: 1,150
Tickets: $0.40-$0.95
Referee: Pat McGill
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Frank McGill (of Omaha) def. Jack Conley (of Denver),
Disqualification (00:15:01)
2 - Two out of Three Falls - Forty-Five Minute Time-Limit
Carlos Rodrigues (of Mexico City, Mexico) def. Jerry Adams (of Lincoln, Neb.),
Two Falls to One (F1 CR 00:09:47 - F2 JA 00:04:57 - F3 CR 00:09:39 - C 00:24:23)
3 - Two out of Three Falls - Ninety Minute Time-Limit
Joe Dusek (of Omaha, Neb.) def. Warren Bockwinkle (of St. Louis via Sioux City, Ia.),
Two Falls to One (F1 WB 00:25:15 - F2 JD 00:14:31 - F3 JD 00:06:41 - C 00:46:27
Notes:
Show starts at 20:30.
There is a ball park bus service.
Frank is said to be the son of Pat.
Originally George "K.O." Koverly was advertised to face Bockwinkle and Dusek against Rodrigues.
Adams stepped in as a substitute against Rodigues.
JUNE 26, 1949 (SUNDAY)
Promoter: P.L. "Pinkie" George
Electric Park, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Tickets: $0.30-$0.80
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Jack Hader Vs. Lew Newman,
Result Unknown
2 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Barney Barnard Vs. Joe Pazandak,
Result Unknown
3 - Sixty Minute Time-Limit
Wladek Kowalski (of Poland) Vs. Tommy Rice (of Hollywood, Ca.),
Result Unknown
Note:
Matches to start at 20:30.
JUNE 30, 1949 (THURSDAY)
Wrestling
Promoter: Alphonse "Babe Carnera" Bisignano
Pioneer Memorial Stadium (Bruins Ballpark), Des Moines, Iowa
Tickets: $0.40-$0.95 - Kids Under 12 Free
1 - Thirty Minute Time-Limit
Chris Zaharias (of Denver) Vs. Joe Dusek (of Omaha),
Time-Limit Draw (00:30:00)
2 - Two out of Three Falls
Ray Eckert (of Cleveland) def. Carlos Rodigues (Mexico City),
Two Falls to One (F1 CR 00:14:14 - F2 RE 00:15:00 - F3 RE 00:14:08 - C 00:43:22)
3 - Two out of Three Falls
Wild Bill Longson (os St. Louis) def. George Holmes (of Los Angeles, Cal.),
Two Falls to None (F1 BL 00:22:11 - F2 BL 00:02:02 - C 00:24:13)
Notes:
The show starts at 20:30.
There was a ball park bus service.
Longson is listed as the former National Wrestling Association Champion.
Holmes is listed as part-time movie actor.
This is the first show promoted by Bisignano that kids under 12 have been allowed in free.
Bisignano's last show as a promoter.
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 Iowa, United States of America: 1941-1949.
Updated: June 4, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
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