Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1930
By: Karl Stern
Much of the text of this entry comes from issue 82 of the DragonKing Press Newsletter available as a downloadable .pdf in the digital downloads section.
The year 1930 is covered on the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1930
01-03-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 9,500: Pat O'Shocker defeats Mike Romano… Bull Komar defeats Charlie Fox… Glen Wade defeats Gino Garibaldi… Jim Londos defeats Karl Pojello.
01-08-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 5,000: Everett Marshall beat Joe Maicewicz… Dr. Karl Sarpolis drew Dick Daviscourt… Dr. P.A. Mullikan wrestled Al Baffert to a draw.
01-15-1930: Eddie Graham (Eddie Gossett) is born in Dayton, TN.
01-22-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 10,000: Everett Marshall beat Stanley Stasiak… Ed “Strangler” Lewis beat Dick Daviscourt… Ad Hermann wrestled Steve Strelich to a draw.
01-30-1930: Boston, MA: Arena: Attendance 10,000: Jack Sherry defeats Carl Lemie… Jack Ganson battled Leo Hyatt to a 15 minute draw… Count Zarynoff battled Renato Gardini to a 20 minute draw… Ed Don George defeats Harry Mamos… Henri Deglane defeats Joe DeVito… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Joe Stecher 2 falls to 1.
02-27-1930: New York City, NY: Coliseum: Attendance 10,000: Vanka Zelesniak defeats Nazzareno Poggi… Herb Freeman defeats Andy Zaharoff… George Hagen battled Joe Komar to a 30 minute draw… George Calza defeats Jim Fenwick… NYSAC World & NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Gino Garibaldi.
03-05-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 10,500: Everett Marshal beat Nick Lutze… Gene LaDoux beat Jerry Monoghan… Dr. Karl Sarpolis beat Martin Zilovich.
03-14-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 8,500: George Tragos defeats Charley Blackstock… Ray Steele defeats Jack Washburn… Rudy Dusek defeats Bill Martin… NWAssociation World & NYSAC World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Jim Clintstock by referee stoppage.
03-20-1930: Boston, MA: Arena: Attendance 12,500: Wladek Zbyszko battled Dan Koloff to a 20 minute time limit draw… Jack Sherry defeats Frank Yusko… Jack Ganson battled Stanley Pinto to a 20 minute time limit draw… Ed Don George battled Jack Wagner to a 15 minute time limit draw… Count Zarynoff battled Joe Malcewicz to a 45 minute draw… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Henri Deglane by referee's stoppage each man having secured one fall. Henri Deglane is tossed from ring and the “crash on his head that could be heard above the screams of the crowd”. Deglane was taken to City Hospital with a concussion, fractured ribs, and multiple lacerations of the head.
03-24-1930: New York City, NY: 71st Regiment Armory: Attendance 10,000: Vanka Zelesniak defeats Jack Roller… Rudy Dusek defeats George Calza… Matros Kirilenko defeats Ned McGuire… George Hagen wrestled Gino Garibaldi to a Time Limit Draw… NYSAC World Heavyweight & NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Ferenc Holuban by Count Out.
04-02-1930: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 4,000: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeated Marin Plestina… Renato Gardini defeated Jack Sullivan… Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ivan Vernyhora… Abdul Ghafoor Khan defeated Harry Mamos… Karol Nowina Zbyszko defeated Carlos Henriquez… Abe Kaplan defeated Oscar Nygren.
Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 9000: Everett Marshall beat Nick Lutze… Dan Koloff beat Gene LaDoux… Steve Strelich beat Dr. P.A. Mullikan by count out.
04-03-1930: Memphis, TN: Ellis Auditorium: No attendance given but reported to be the largest crowd of the year: Joe Varga defeats Whitey Hewitt… NWA World Heavyweight & NYSAC World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat wrestled Peter Sauer (Ray Steele) to Time Limit Draw with no falls taken in 2 hours.
04-04-1930: Hugh Nichols wins a tournament in Cincinnati, OH to become the World lightweight champion defeating Joe Banaski in the finals. The event was promoted by Al Haft.
04-07-1930: New York City, NY: 71st Regiment Armory: Attendance 10,000: Mike Romano defeats Charley Blackstock… Hans Steinke defeats John Grandovich… Vanka Zelesniak defeats August Benkert… Rudy Dusek defeats Pat McGuire… Gino Garibaldi battled Kola Kwariani to a 45-minute draw… NYSAC World & NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Matros Kirilenko.
04-09-1930: Columbus, OH: Gus Kallio defeated Ray Carpenter in tournament final to win the NWAssociation World Middleweight title to become the first champion.
04-11-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 10,000: Matros Kirilenko defeats Pat McGuire… Rudy Dusek defeats Moose Norbeck… Ray Steele defeats George Manish… NWAssociation World & NYSAC World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Pat O'Shocker.
04-16-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Ad Herman defeats Steve Strelich… Nick Lutze defeats Rex Smith… World Heavyweight Title number one contender match: Everett Marshall defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis 2 falls to 1.
04-21-1930: Pepper Gomez (Joseph Serapio Palemino Gomez) is born.
04-22-1930: Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 15,000: Jack Sherry defeats Joe Rogaski… Henri DeGlane defeats Dan Koloff… Marin Plestina defeats Frank Yusko… Bibber McCoy battled Stanley Pinto to a 20-minute draw… Joe Malcewicz defeats Harry Mamos… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Count Zarynoff 2 falls to 1.
05-05-1930: In Los Angeles, CA: Wrigley Field drawing 17,580: World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg beat Everett Marshall.
New York City, NY: 71st Regiment Armory: Attendance 10,000: Jim Clintstock defeats George Hagen… Matros Kirilenko defeats Mike Romano… NYSAC World & NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Hans Steinke… George Calza defeats Ned McGuire… Rudy Dusek defeats Gino Garibaldi.
05-09-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 8,000: Dick Daviscourt defeats Moose Norbeck… George Calza defeats Rudy Dusek… George Hagen defeats John Maxos… NYSAC World & NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Dick Shikat defeats Ray Steele in 2 hours 9 minutes, 53 seconds.
05-14-1930: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 2,000: Joe Stecher defeated Joe Malcewicz… Reginald Siki defeated John Grandovich… Renato Gardini defeated Mike Kondos… Carlos Henriquez battled Harry Barry Horse to a draw… Ghafoor Khan defeated Gene Bruce… George Zarynoff defeated Harry Mamos… Karol Nowina Zbyszko defeated Charlie West.
05-18-1930: Promoter and wrestler Lee Fields is born in Oklahoma.
05-22-1930: Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 12,000: Jack Wagner defeats Frank Yusko… Dan Koloff battled Gene LeDoux to a draw… Renato Gardini battled Wladek Zbyszko to a draw… Jack Sherry battled Joe Malcewicz to a 15 minute draw… Bibber McCoy defeats Jack Russell… Count Zarynoff battled Ed “Strangler” Lewis to a 30 minute draw… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Henri Deglane 2 falls to 1.
06-06-1930: Jim Londos defeats Dick Shikat in Philadelphia, PA to win the National Wrestling Association’s recognition as World heavyweight champion. He is also recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission as world champion. In other matches at the Baker Bowl drawing 15,000: Tiny Roebuck beat Jack Washburn… Rudy Dusek beat Jim McMillen… Ray Steele beat Pat O'Shocker.
06-20-1930: The Masked Marvel (George Sauer) defeats Gus Kallio in San Antonio, TX to win the NWAssociation World Middleweight title.
06-26-1930: Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 15,000: Joe Malcewicz defeats Joe DeVito… Stanley Stasiak defeats Jack Sherry by DQ… Henri DeGlane defeats Harry Mamos… Jack Ganson battled Stanley Pinto to a 15-minute draw… Count Zarynoff battled Dan Koloff to a 20-minute draw… Jack Wagner battled Renato Gardini to a 30-minute draw… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Bibber McCoy 2 falls to 1.
06-30-1930: In Philadelphia, PA: Municipal Stadium drawing 5,000; Karl Pojello drew Frank Judson… Jim McMillen beat Paul Zarahoff… George Calza beat Dick Daviscourt… Ray Steele beat Rudy Dusek
07-11-1930: The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) is born.
07-16-1930: In Philadelphia, PA: Baker Bowl drawing 8,000: Karl Pojello beat Tony Ruffo… Hans Steinke drew Paul Jones… George Calza beat Tom Marvin… World heavyweight champion Jim Londos beat Ray Steele.
09-22-1930: Montreal Quebec: Mount Royal Arena: Attendance 9,000: Jack Ganson defeats Stanley Pinto… George Vassell defeats Gene LeDoux… Dan Petroff battled Stanley Stasiak to a 45-minute draw… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Henri Deglane 2 falls to 1.
10-01-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400: Ad Herman battled Steve Strelich to a 30-minute draw… Bibber McCoy defeated Nick Velcoff… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Everett Marshall 2 falls to 1.
10-15-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Attendance: 10,400: Ed Don George beat Bob McCoy… Jose Dominguez beat Joe Malcewicz… Nick Lutze beat Moose Norbeck.
10-03-1930: Gus Kallio defeated The Masked Marvel (George Sauer) to win the NWAssociation World Middleweight title in San Antonio, TX.
10-27-1930: New York City, NY: 71st Regiment Armory: Attendance 9,000: Ivan Vakturoff defeats Ivan Vernyhora… Karl Pojello defeats Firpo Wilcox… Billy Bartush defeats Toots Mondt… Herb Freeman defeats Vanka Zelesniak… Sandor Szabo defeats Paul Harper… World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Matros Kirilenko.
10-29-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400: Henri Deglane defeats Otto Von Hohelachen… Jose Dominguez defeats Moose Norbeck… World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg defeats Ed Don George 2 falls to 1.
11-12-1930: St Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 12,000: Kola Kwariani defeats Marshall Blackstock… George Zaharias defeats Jack Washburn by count out… Milo Steinborn defeats Floyd Marshall… World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Rudy Dusek.
11-14-1930: English wrestling star Shirley “Big Daddy” Crabtree is born.
11-17-1930: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 22,000. An all time indoor attendance record for the garden with a gate of $46,800: World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeated Gino Garibaldi… Herbie Freeman defeated Toots Mondt… Sandor Szabo defeated George Hagen… Matros Kirilenko battled Hans Steinke to a draw… Rosario Impellitiere defeated Jack Russell… Jim McMillen battled Dick Shikat to a draw… Joe Parelli defeated Jim Straits… Renato Gardini defeated Dimitri Demetroff… George Calza defeated Firpo Wilcox. (Note: The 22,000 attendance number is skeptical. This is the number Jack Curley claimed but it was never verified by any impartial agency.)
11-28-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 8,500: Pat O'Shocker wrestled Ralph Wilson to a Time Limit Draw… Hans Steinke defeats John Katan… Sandor Szabo defeats Paul Harper… Tiny Roebuck defeats Dick Daviscourt… Dick Shikat defeats Ray Steele.
12-10-1930: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Nick Lutze defeats Don DeLaun… Henri Deglane defeats Dan Koloff… Ed Don George defeats World heavyweight champion Gus Sonnenberg 2 out of 3 falls to win the title.
12-12-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 10,000; Hans Steinke defeats Jack Taylor… Sandor Szabo defeats Firpo Wilcox… Ray Steele defeats Earl McCready… Karl Pojello battled Pat O'Shocker to a 45 minute draw… World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Tiny Roebuck.
12-17-1930: St Louis, MO: Coliseum: Attendance 9,379: Dick Daviscourt defeats Jack Washburn… George Zaharias battled Rudy Dusek to a 30 minute draw… Ray Steele defeats Fred Grubmeier… NWA & NYSAC World champion Jim Londos defeats Milo Steinborn.
12-26-1930: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 10,000: Earl McCready defeats Firpo Wilcox… Ray Steele defeats George Manish… Hans Steinke battled Dick Shikat to a 30 minute draw… Sandor Szabo defeats Andrew Zarahoff… World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Tiny Roebuck.
12-29-1930: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: Reported 22,000 / 19,715 actual paid. $44,878 gate: World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeated Ferenc Holuban… Jim McMillen defeated Jim Clinstock… Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ivan Vakturoff… Sandor Szabo defeated Mike Romano… Herbie Freeman defeated Willie Davis… Gino Garibaldi battled Taro Miyaki to a draw… Karl Pojello defeated Abe Kaplan… Omar Mullain defeated Firpo Wilcox.
Ed Don George
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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