Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1944
By: Karl Stern
The year 1944 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1944
01-12-1944: The New York State Athletic Commission mails out a letter to all the deputy wrestling commissioners in the state proclaiming that $50 fines would be given to any who: “Throws his opponent out of the ring; uses the drop kick, ups with the knee, strikes with the elbow or closed fist, or uses tactics aimed at knocking an opponent’s head against the steel turnbuckle connecting the ropes to the ring post.”
Pinkie George is again promoting Ray Steele as the National Wrestling Alliance “World” champion in Des Moines, IA.
01-14-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,363: Tony Felice defeats Fred Blassie… Len Hall defeats Joe Dusek… Ernie Dusek wrestled Ralph Garibaldi to a 30-minute draw… Sandor Szabo defeats Tom Zaharias… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats George Koverly.
01-20-1944: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,097: Tom Zaharias wrestled Toar Morgan to a 20-minute draw… Earl McCready defeats Nick Elitch… Karl Davis defeats Jerry Meeker… British Empire Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Hard Boiled Hannigan (Babe Sharkey).
01-23-1944: Steve “Crusher” Casey debuted on the west coast in Fresno, CA defeating Ivan “The Terrible” Rasputin. Many eastern states recognize Casey as the world champion.
01-27-1944: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: Tom Zaharias defeats Jack LaRue… Karl Davis defeats Pat Flanagan… Frank Sexton defeats Earl McCready… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Hard Boiled Hannigan (Babe Sharkey)
02-11-1944: St, Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,470: Ralph Garibaldi defeats Joe Dusek… Earl McCready wrestled Gino Garibaldi to a 30-minute draw… Dave Levin defeats Cowboy Luttrall… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Len Hall… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Warren Bockwinkel by referee stoppage.
02-25-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,886: Gino Garibaldi wrestled Lou Plummer to a 20-minute draw… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Thor Morgan… Earl McCready defeats Laverne Baxter… The Swedish Angel (Olaf Olson) defeats Dave Levin… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Sandor Szabo.
02-26-1944: During a match in Tampa, FL Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats Florida champion Roland Kirchmeyer when Kirchmeyer’s head strikes the floor knocking him out. Lewis refuses the Florida title.
03-07-1944: Babe Sharkey wins a tournament to face Ed “Strangler” Lewis for the Maryland World title defeating Leo Wallick in the finals.
03-10-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,338: Whitey Whittler defeats Eddie Campbell by DQ… Gino Garibaldi defeats Joe Dusek… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Dick Lever… Sandor Szabo defeats Lou Plummer… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats The Swedish Angel (Olaf Olson).
03-13-1944: Gorilla Ramos defeats Gray Mask for the World lightweight title in Hollywood, CA.
03-14-1944: Babe Sharkey defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis to become recognized as World champion in Maryland.
In Hamilton, Ontario at the Civic Pool: World heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Karl Davis.
03-18-1944: In the finals of the National AAU tournament, Verne Gagne is defeated by Dr. M.A. Northrup.
03-22-1944: Boston, MA: Arena: Attendance 6,500: Rebel Russell defeats Farmer Mack… John "Dropkick" Murphy battled Les Ryan to a 20-minute draw… John Katan defeats Art LeGrand… Sandor Szabo defeated Montreal World champion Yvon Robert to win the title 2 falls to 1.
03-23-1944: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto: Attendance 8,500: Karl Davis wrestled Ralph Garibaldi to a Time Limit Draw… Bob Wagner defeats Toar Morgan… Bobby Managoff defeats Frank Judson… Frank Sexton wrestled Tom Zaharias to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Vic Holbrook.
03-24-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,119: Joe Dusek wrestled Lou Plummer to a 20-minute draw… Earl McCready defeats Al Dunlop… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Jack Wentworth… Gino Garibaldi defeats Ernie Dusek… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Sandor Szabo.
03-27-1944: Gray Mask regains the World lightweight title from Gorilla Ramos in Hollywood, CA.
03-29-1944: Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 10,000: Sandor Szabo defeated AWA War Time Duration Champion The Golden Terror (Bobby Stewart) to win the title. Sandor Szabo remained the AWA War Time Duration titleholder until he lost it to Steve Casey, returning from the War, in an AWA World Title unification match on April 25, 1945.
03-30-1944: Ronnie Garvin (Roger Barnes) is born.
04-06-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,799: Eddie Campbell defeats Johnny Randa: Lou Plummer defeats Laverne Baxter… Frank Taylor wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a 30-minute draw… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Ray Eckert… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Gino Garibaldi.
04-21-1944: St, Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,801: Al Szasz defeats Eddie Campbell… Lou Plummer wrestled Ralph Garibaldi to a 20-minute draw… Frank Taylor defeats Jack Wentworth… Gino Garibaldi defeats George Koverly… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Whipper Billy Watson by DQ.
04-24-1944: Wild Red Berry regains the World lightweight title from Gray Mask in Hollywood, CA.
04-27-1944: Dave Levin defeats Orville Brown in Kansas City in a one fall match. Levin claims the Midwest title but Brown disputes it claiming the title can only change hands in three falls.
05-04-1944: Dave Levin defeats Orville Brown in Kansas City for the Midwest title. This time the title changes hands.
05-05-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 13,471: Al Szasz defeats Milo Occhi… Ralph Garibaldi wrestled Vic Holbrook to a 20 minute draw… Frank Taylor defeats Joe Dusek… Gino Garibaldi defeats Lou Plummer… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Whipper Billy Watson.
05-10-1944: Dave Levin is recognized in Des Moines, IA as “National Wrestling Alliance” World champion after defeating Ray Steele.
05-17-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,877: Jim Coffield defeats Whitey Whittler… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Jack McDonald… Lou Plummer defeats Frank Taylor… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Vic Holbrook… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Gino Garibaldi.
06-08-1944: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: John Arthur wrestled John Katan to a Time Limit Draw… Bob Wagner defeats Al Dunlop… Nanjo Singh defeats Toar Morgan… Frank Sexton defeats Laverne Baxter… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Whipper Billy Watson in a Wire Fence Match.
06-15-1944: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 8,000: Frank Judson defeats Al Tucker… Leo Numa battled Rebel Russell to a 20-minute draw… Jack Claybourne defeats Les Ryan by DQ… Yvon Robert defeated Montreal World Heavyweight champion Sandor Szabo 2 falls to 1 to win the title.
06-29-1944: Lee Wyckoff wins his fourth Midwest title from Dave Levin in Kansas City.
06-30-1944: Terry Funk is born, the son of Dory Funk, Sr.
St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 6,758: Jack McDonald defeats Whitey Whittler… Dave Feldman defeats Eddie Campbell… Earl McCready defeats Joe Dusek… Ralph Garibaldi wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a 30-minute draw… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Dave Levin.
08-01-1944: The French Angel (Maurice Tillet) defeats Steve Casey for the American Wrestling Association World title in San Francisco, CA.
08-11-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9.876: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Blacksmith Pedigo… Joe Dusek wrestled John Melas to a 20-minute draw… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Babe Zaharias… Chief Saunooke defeats Lou Plummer… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Earl McCready.
08-15-1944: Steve Casey wins the American Wrestling Association World title by defeating The French Angel (Maurice Tillet) in San Francisco, CA.
08-18-1944: Lou Thesz defeats Ernie Dusek in Houston, TX for the Texas title.
08-24-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,895: Whitey Whittler defeats Wayne Barnett… Tuffy Truesdale defeats Eddie Campbell… Chief Saunooke defeats Joe Dusek… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Dick Lever… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Ralph Garibaldi.
09-08-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium. St Louis MO: Attendance 9,876: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Blacksmith Pedigo… Joe Dusek wrestled John Melas to a Time Limit Draw… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Babe Zaharias… Chief Saunooke defeats Lou Plummer… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Earl McCready.
09-12-1944: Former World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg dies at the age of 46 from leukemia.
09-20-1944: A newspaper article in Auckland, New Zealand had this interesting feature: “One of the most colossal characters in all of wrestledom is Ed “Strangler” Lewis. The 265 pound, 53 year old ace of the world’s mats was a visitor to Vancouver last month after completing a 14 week tour of U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine bases, traveling night and day and giving two hour shows every night. Lewis talks of 36 years of wrestling, explains that he retired about five years ago, stayed out of action for three years, and finally weighed 365 pounds. ‘I came back then’, he says with a chuckle, and his large head, nestling comfortably enough on a neck that takes a 20-inch collar, nods in full agreement with himself. ‘Are wrestlers harder to figure than horses?’ we asked, ‘I don’t think so,” answered Lewis, ‘I could never beat the horses.’
09-22-1944: EMLL: 11th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Coliseo: Gorilla Ramos beat Black Guzman to win the Mexican National Light Heavyweight title.
St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,630: Fred Blassie defeats Finis Hall… Tuffy Truesdale defeats George Dixon by referee stoppage… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Lou Plummer… Al Massey defeats Dick Lever… Earl McCready defeats Thor Morgan… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Chief Saunooke.
09-1944: Carlos “Gorilla” Ramos wins the EMLL National Lightweight title.
10-06-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,644: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Dave Feldman… Chris Zaharias defeats Thor Morgan… Al Massey defeats Wally Greb… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Chief Saunooke… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Earl McCready 2 falls to none.
10-20-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 6,702: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Gus Bouras… Whitey Whittler wrestled Young Gotch to a 20-minute draw… Chris Zaharias defeats Dick Lever… Don Evans defeats Earl McCready… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Warren Bockwinkel.
11-01-1944: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,000: George Cagney defeats Monte LaDue… Larry Moquin defeats Les Ryan… Kay Bell defeats Rebel Russell… Gino Garibaldi defeats Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert by referee stoppage due to injury. Garibaldi becomes champion.
11-03-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,194: Joe Millich wrestled Pierre DeGlane to a 20-minute draw… Tuffy Truesdale defeats Milo Occhi… Chris Zaharias defeats Cowboy Luttrall… Ray Eckert defeats Ralph Garibaldi… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Don Evans.
11-05-1944: Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion, temporarily on furlough from the Army, announced he would referee the feature bout of a wrestling show by promoter Paul Bowser at Boston Garden on November 16.
11-08-1944: Orville Brown returns to Des Moines, IA to wrestle and promoter Pinkie George promotes him as the “National Wrestling Alliance” World champion.
11-16-1944: Referee Joe Louis presides over a War Duration title match in Boston which sees Sandor Szabo defeat Yvon Robert for the title.
11-17-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,931: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Johnny Randa… Al Massey wrestled Chris Zaharias to a 20-minute draw… Joe Dusek defeats Herbie Freeman… John Katan defeats Chief Saunooke… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Don Evans.
11-23-1944: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: George Cagney defeats Joe Maich… Larry Moquin defeats Bob Langevin… Kay Bell defeats George Linnehan… Yvon Robert defeats Montreal World Heavyweight champion Gino Garibaldi 2 falls to 1.
12-01-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,231: George O’Brien defeats Eddie Campbell… Emil Dusek wrestled Jack Hader to a 20-minute draw… Joe Dusek defeats Thor Morgan… Ernie Dusek wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a 30-minute draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats John Katan. This match marked Longson's 59th straight victory in St Louis.
12-08-1944: Houston, TX: Sam Houston Coliseum: Morris Sigel Promotions: Attendance: 11,000: Bobby Managoff defeated Ellis Bashara… World Women's champion Mildred Burke defeated Mae Weston… World Junior heavyweight champion LeRoy McGuirk defeated Sockeye McDonald by referee stoppage… Olaf Olson defeated Texas heavyweight champion Lou Thesz when Thesz suffers a broken shoulder… World heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeated Lou Plummer.
12-15-1944: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,986: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Mickey Barnes… Dick Lever wrestled Emil Dusek to a 30 minute draw… Joe Dusek defeats Wally Greb… Ray Eckert defeats Babe Zaharias…. NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats George Koverly.
Orville Brown
DragonKingKarl (Karl Stern) is a long time pro wrestling historian who has been published in books, newsletters, and podcasts since the mid-1990s.
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