Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1937

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 1937 is covered on the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.

1937

01-05-1937: Ed White and Fred Kohler promote their first joint card in Chicago, IL headlined by MWA World champion Everette Marshall and Jim McMillen. Attendance was 5,594.

01-06-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: John Spellman defeats Ray Mallott… Red Vagnone defeats Jack McArthur… Jules Strongbow defeats Tiny Roebuck… Al Bisignano battled Chief Little Wolf to a 20-minute draw… Man Mountain Dean battled Sandor Szabo to a 30-minute draw… Vincent Lopez defeats Nick Lutze by referee's decision… World (original) Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Sammy Stein in 2 falls.

01-08-1937: Legendary wrestler Martin “Farmer” Burns dies in Council Bluffs, IA at the age of 75.

Danno O’Mahoney lost to George Clark of Scotland in the Boston Garden, in Boston, MA his first loss in his home arena. Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 12,000: Dick Stahl battled John Katan to a 20-minute draw… Jimmy Sarandos defeats Abe Kaplan… Charley Strack defeats Lord Albert Mills… Jim Hanley defeats Andy Brown… Gus Sonnenberg defeats Boris Demetroff… Len Macaluso defeats Cy Williams by DQ… George Clark defeats Danno O'Mahoney in 73 minutes.

01-12-1937: Brother Jonathan loses a match to Man Mountain Dean in San Francisco after which he had to shave his beard off. At ringside was Brother Jonathan’s seven-year-old son who went on to become pro wrestler Don Leo Jonathan.

01-22-1937: Sandor Szabo defeats Billy Hanson for the Pacific Coast title in Oakland, CA.

01-26-1937: San Francisco, CA: Dreamland Auditorium: Attendance 8,000: Casey Kazanjian wrestled Fred Meyer to a draw… Tommy Marvin defeats Pat Meehan… Billy Hanson defeats Frank Malcewicz… Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats Rudy Strongberg… Sandor Szabo defeats Bob Russell… World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton wrestled Los Angeles World champion Vincent Lopez to a time limit draw.

01-28-1937: Mildred Burke (Mildred Bliss) becomes the World Women’s wrestling champion in Chattanooga, TN.

01-1937: Ed ‘Strangler” Lewis is married for the fourth time. His new wife is Bobbie Lee West, and they are married in Yuma, Arizona.

02-05-1937: Ray Steele wins the Mid-West title by reverse decision over Everette Marshall in Columbus, OH.

In Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance: 13,000: Charley Strack battled Pat Reilly to a 10 minute draw… Rube Wright defeated Art LeGrand… Mike Mazurki battled Wally Dusek to a 20 minute draw… Cliff Olson defeated Richard Stahl… Cy Williams battled Nick Lutze to a 30 minute draw… Steve Crusher Casey defeated George "Dazzler" Clark.

02-08-1937: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 4,316: Steve Casey defeated Cliff Olson… Danno O’Mahoney defeated Mike Mazurki… Chief Littlewolf defeated Ernie Powers… Len Macaluso defeated Eli Fischer… Hans Kampfer defeated Al Sparks… Gino Garibaldi battled Cy Williams to a draw… Ernie Dusek defeated Bill Sledge.

02-09-1937: Billy Wolfe defeats Clara Mortensen via DQ in a man verses woman match in Atlanta, GA.

02-10-1937: St. Louis, MO: Municipal Auditorium: Attendance 8,504: Paul Shikat defeats George Hagen… Chief Saunooke defeats Tommy O'Toole… Bill Lee defeats Karl Davis… Lou Thesz defeats Hans Steinke… MWA World Heavyweight champion Everett Marshall defeats Ali Baba by DQ.

02-11-1937: Clara Motenson defeats Mildred Burke for the World Women’s title in Chattanooga, TN.

02-16-1937: In Dallas, TX: World champion Everette Marshall defeated Juan Humberto with referee Sam Muchnick. Marshall has Illinois world title recognition. Billy Sandow is traveling with him.

02-24-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 7,500: Abe Yourist defeats Hans Schultz… Hardy Kruskamp defeats Jack McArthur… Chief Chewacki defeats Leo Deglane… Dr. Len Hall battled Jules Strongbow to a 20 minute draw… Ben Morgan defeats Billy Hanson… Dick Lever defeats Red Vagnone… World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Los Angeles World champion Vincent Lopez. Lopez defeated Detton in fall 1 and was disqualified in fall 2. After winning the first fall with a piledriver, Lopez continued to attack Detton and was disqualified. The referee awarded the fall and the remainder of the match to Dean Detton. There was no third fall.

02-28-1937: The Missing Link (Byron Dewey Robertson) is born.

02-1937: Red Devil (Elmer Guthrie) wins the Florida heavyweight title defeating Dobie Osbourne in Jacksonville, FL.

03-01-1937: Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Arena: Attendance 8,000: Ed Virag defeats Eli Fischer… Bill Sledge defeats Vanka Zelesniak… Gino Garibaldi defeats Mike Strelich… George Koverly defeats Mike Mazurki… Jack Kennedy wrestled Joe Dusek to a double DQ… Steve Casey defeats Cliff Olson.

03-03-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Ted Cox defeats Rudy Strongberg… Len Hall defeats Hans Schultz… Chief Chewacki defeats Tiny Roebuck… Hardy Kruskamp battled Howard Cantowine to a 20-minute draw… Ben Morgan defeats Jules Strongbow… World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Los Angeles World champion Vincent Lopez 2 out of 3 falls. Detton defeats Lopez at 93:00 of fall 1. Lopez defeats Detton at 102:30 of fall 2. Detton defeats Lopez when the match reached the two-hour mark tied at one fall apiece, the referee agreed to given them an extra 15 minutes. After that period, the referee awarded the match to Dean Detton by decision.

03-11-1937: Ray Steele is injured in a car accident forcing him to vacate the Mid-West title.

03-15-1937: Orville Brown defeats Lee Wyckoff in Kansas City for the Kansas City version of the World title.

03-22-1937: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 7,000: Danno O’Mahoney defeated George Koverly… Gino Garibaldi defeated Eli Fischer… Hans Kampfer defeated Joe Maynard… Dr. Ed Meske battled Bill Sledge to a draw… Cliff Olson defeated Wee Willie Davis… Rudy Dusek battled Nick Campofreda to a draw… Bernie Kaplan defeated Ed Cook.

03-30-1937: In Dallas, TX the Cardiff Giant defeats Sol Slagel in a match where the loser had to push the winner down Main Street in a wheel barrow.

St. Louis, MO: Municipal Auditorium: Attendance 8,697: Otto Brexler defeats Cherry Vallina… Killer Shikuma defeats Al Getz… Bill Lee defeats Roy Graham… George Zaharias wrestled Juan Humberto to a Time Limit Draw… Ali Baba defeats Chief Saunooke.

04-01-1937: Camden, NJ: 114th Infantry Armory: Attendance 8,000: Bernie Kaplan defeats Ed Cook… Abe Coleman defeats Ted Keys… Jack Kennedy defeats Jim Coffield… Joe Dusek defeats George McLeod… Gino Garibaldi battled Cliff Olson to a draw. Olson won fall 1. Garibaldi won fall 2. Fall 3 went to the time limit.

04-02-1937: In Chicago, IL Everette Marshall retained the World heavyweight championship over Osley “Chief” Saunooke. Saunooke was disqualified after 16 minutes 45 seconds when he went on a rampage. He floored Emil Thirty, veteran referee, threw Marshall onto the concrete floor. He then worked the 2,096 fans into a riot which resulted in a barrage of bottles, filled with beer, toward the ring. Others threw chairs. One struck Tom Tuite, secretary of the Illinois Athletic Commission and opened a cut on his forehead. Another chair struck a newspaper man and almost knocked him out.

04-15-1937: Camden, NJ: 114th Infantry Armory: Attendance 8,500: Bernie Kaplan defeats George Linnehan… Wally Dusek defeats Jack Hader… Joe Dusek defeats Abe Coleman… Jack Kennedy battled Rudy Dusek to a 30 minute draw… Ernie Dusek defeats Chief Little Wolf.

St. Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 12,687: Don Evans wrestled Lou Plummer to a Time Limit Draw… Lou Thesz defeats Karl Sarpolis… Juan Humberto defeats George Ryan… Jim Henry defeats Chief Saunooke by DQ… MWA World Heavyweight champion Everett Marshall defeats Ali Baba.

04-20-1937: Minneapolis, MN: Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Johnny Marrs defeats Jack Sampson… Scotty Dawkins defeats Jack Reeder… Hans Kaempfer defeats Walter Underhill… Bronko Nagurski wrestled Dick Raines to a double count out.

04-30-1937: Little Beaver (not the famous little people star) defeats Karl Davis in Houston, TX to win the Texas Athletic Commission world title after champion Daniel Boone Savage leaves the building.

05-12-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Arjan Singh defeated Walter Underhill… Hans Steinke defeats Al Tatroff… Jimmy Sarandos defeats Joe Malcewicz… Jumbo Kennedy defeats Tommy Marvin… Daniel Boone Savage defeats Pat Fraley… Clara Mortensen defeats Betty Lee… Baptiste Paul battled Sandor Szabo to a 30 minute draw… World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Len Hall. Detton won the first fall and Hall is injured and cannot continue the second.

05-14-1937: Eddie Baker dies following a match with Roy Welch in Corinth, MS. Baker is believed to have died of a heart attack, he was 36 years old.

Everette Marshall wins the the Texas version of the world title by defeating Little Beaver in Houston, TX.

Roy Welch

Roy Welch

05-18-1937: In Dallas, TX: World champion Everette Marshall def Sol Slagel with referee Sam Muchnick.

05-19-1937: Hugh Nichols defeats Bobby Chick in Tulsa, OK for the world lightweight title.

05-28-1937: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 7,500: Bill Sledge defeats Rebel Russell… Jack Kennedy defeats Jim Coffield… Bernie Kaplan defeats Rube Wright… Joe Cox defeats George Koverly… World (original) Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Ernie Dusek.

06-04-1937: Gorilla Monsoon (Robert Marella) is born.

06-09-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 sellout: Howard Cantowine defeats Al Tatroff… Jimmy Sarandos defeats Walter Underhill… Pat Meehan defeats Tommy Marvin… Len Hall defeats Leo Numa… Hans Steinke defeats Jules Strongbow by DQ… Man Mountain Dean defeats Billy Hanson… World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton defeats Vincent Lopez 2 falls to 1.

06-16-1937: Bronko Nagurski defeats Dean Detton for an off shoot world championship in Minneapolis, MN. Leading wrestling and boxing magazine The Ring recognize Bronko Nagurski as world champion.

06-17-1937: St. Louis, MO: Municipal Auditorium: Attendance 9,113: Ray Eckert wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a Time Limit Draw… Harry Jacobs defeats Laverne Baxter… Juan Humberto defeats Walter Podolak… Nanjo Singh defeats Dan O'Connor… George Koverly wrestled Lou Thesz to a Time Limit Draw… MWA World Heavyweight champion Everett Marshall defeats Ali Baba by DQ.

06-18-1937: In Kansas City, MO: MWA World heavyweight champion Everett Marshall beat Nanjoo Singh… Lou Thesz beat Warren Bockwinkel to win the Missouri title.

06-22-1937: In Dallas, TX: World champion Everette Marshall defeated Billy Edwards.

06-29-1937: Minneapolis, MN: Auditorium: Attendance 8,000: George Sauer battled Scotty Dawkins to a 30 minute draw… Farmer Tobin defeats Marshall Blackstock by DQ… Johnny Marrs defeats Abe Kashey by DQ… Bronko Nagurski defeated World Heavyweight champion Dean Detton to win the title.

06-30-1937: Lee Wyckoff claims the Kansas version of the world title when champion Everette Marshall misses a title defense.

07-07-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 7,426: Wee Willie Davis defeats Arthur Legrand… Cy Williams defeats Legs Langevin… Felix Miquet defeats Fred Meyer… AWA World & Montreal World champion Yvon Robert battled Ed Don George to a draw at 90 minutes after swapping one fall each.

07-11-1937: Waterloo, IA: Electric Park Arena: Attendance 9,000 (Record crowd): Arnold Barta wrestled Frank Topaze to a 30 minute draw… Marshall Blackstock defeats Johnny Marrs… World Heavyweight champion Bronko Nagurski defeats Otto Kuss.

07-12-1937: Veteran promoter Jack Curley dies.

07-20-1937: In Boston, MA at Fenway Park drawing 10,000: Jack Marshall beat Tom Hanley… Manuel Cortez beat Swede Nelson… Jim Wright beat Hans Baeur… Rube Wright drew Joe Kugot… Mark Hoesly drew Max Goldberg… George Clark beat Maurice Robert… Ed Don George pinned Billy Bartush… Steve Casey beat Danno O'Mahoney

07-25-1937: Jim Londos defeated Johannes Vaderwalt at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece in front of a reported 70,000 fans.

08-04-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance: Attendance 12,263: Fred Meyers battled Jerry Monahan to a 10 minute draw… Maurice Robert defeats Mike Bouskos… Felix Miquet defeats Cy Williams by DQ… Wee Willie Davis defeats Marvin Westenberg… AWA World & Montreal World champion Yvon Robert defeats Ed Don George by referee stoppage.

08-11-1937: In Los Angeles, CA: Wrigley Field drawing 13,628: Juan Olaquivel beat Benny Ginsberg… Pat Meehan drew Jimmy Sarandos… Jumbo Kennedy beat Jules Strongbow… Ted Key beat Howard Cantowine… Gino Garibaldi beat Ignacio Martinez… Gus Sonnenberg beat Jack Sampson… Nick Lutze beat Pio Pico in a "wrestler vs. boxer" match… Dean Detton beat Hans Steinke (10:20)… World heavyweight champion Bronko Nagurski beat Vincent Lopez.

08-13-1937: Alan Eustace defeats Jack Evans in Jacksonville for the Florida heavyweight title.

09-01-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Prince Bhu Pinder defeats Paul Boesch… Babe Zaharias battled Ted Key to a 15 minute draw… Jack McArthur defeats Dick Lever… Kimon Kudo defeats Laverne Baxter by DQ… Sandor Szabo defeats Jules Strongbow… Nick Lutze defeats Gino Garibaldi by DQ… Ignacio (Pedro) Martinez defeats Juan Olaquivel… World heavyweight champion Bronko Nagurski defeats Daniel Boone Savage in two falls.

09-09-1937: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 8,000: Hank Barber defeats Wee Willie Davis… Billy Hanson defeats Stanley Pinto… Cliff Olson defeats Bill Sledge… Ray Steele defeats Abe Coleman… Chief Thunderbird defeats Rebel Russell… World Heavyweight champion Bronko Nagurski defeats Ernie Dusek.

09-13-1937: John Pesek is awarded the National Wrestling Association world heavyweight title when he becomes the only wrestler to post the required $1000 bond to enter.

09-14-1937: Salvador Gory Guerrero makes his pro wrestling debut at Arena Mexico in Mexico City defeating Rafael Rojo.

09-15-1937: At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 3,000: Jack Curley Memorial Show: Steve Casey defeated Benny Feldman… Danno O’Mahoney battled Ed Don George to a draw… Yvon Robert defeated Billy Bartush… George Clark defeated Jim Wallis… Jesse James battled Billy Raborn to a draw… Ed Virag defeated Ivan Vakturoff… Prof. Pietro Marconi defeated Carl Von Zuppe.

09-19-1937: In Sofia, Bulgaria: Yunak Stadium drawing 25,000: Peter Konstaninoff beat Dimitar Karayaneff… Evlogi Georgieff beat Krum Petroff… Nikolai Zigulinoff drew Georgi Zidarski… Georgi Petroff drew Evstati Georgieff… Dan Koloff beat Al Pereira to win the European Heavyweight title. The title change was not recognized by the sanctioning French promotion.

09-22-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,427: Bibber McCoy battled Len Macaluso to a 20 minute draw… Jack League defeats Jerry Monahan… George Clark defeats John Katan… AWA World & Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Ed Don George.

09-23-1937: EMLL: 4th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Old Arena Mexico: Jack O'Brien beat Joe Maynes.

09-29-1937: A pro wrestling show is held in Tokyo, Japan’s Susaki baseball stadium with former Japanese Olympian Kiyoshi Kose defeating Ken Gen of Korea in two straight falls.

Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Arjan Singh defeats Pat Riley… Nick Lutze defeats Chief Chewacki by DQ… Daniel Boone Savage defeats Pat Meehan… Sandor Szabo defeats Ignacio (Pedro) Martinez… Vincent Lopez defeats Casey Columbo… Gino Garibaldi defeats Abe Goldberg… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World champion Bronko Nagurski defeats Dean Detton by winning 1 fall. Detton is injured and cannot continue the second fall.

10-1937: Bronko Nagurski is stripped of world title recognition in Maryland when he refuses to defend the title against Jim Londos.

10-03-1937: “Bullet” Bob Armstrong (Robert James, Sr.) is born.

10-04-1937: Jim Londos defeats George Pencheff for recognition of the Maryland based world championship in Baltimore, MD. Attendance 15,000 fans for a Police Benefit Show at the Fifth Regiment Armory. Also on the show: Ed Don George defeats Jack Marshall… Nick Campofreda defeats Bill Lewis… Johannes Van der Walt defeats Babe Zaharias… Ali Baba defeats George Koverly… World Women's Lightweight champion Clara Mortensen defeats Marion Gardini.

10-11-1937: Danny McShain defeated “Wild” Red Berry for the World Light Heavyweight title in Hollywood, CA.

10-13-1937: Cleveland, OH: MWA World heavyweight champion Everett Marshall defeated Orville Brown. A riot, clocked at lasting over 15 minutes, followed the main event as Brown went berserk after being victimized by Marshall's piledriver. Five policemen, four wrestlers and two customers helped subdue him. Twenty minutes later, in the showers, Brown professed no memory of the events. "I don't remember anything after that pile driver landed me on my head. Well, I'm glad nobody was killed."

10-18-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 14,000: Jack League wrestled Maurice Robert to a draw… Marvin Westenberg defeats Joe Marsh… Bob Langevin defeats Bob Wagner by DQ… AWA World Heavyweight Title / Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Felix Miquet in 106 minutes. The match was 2/3 falls but after no falls during the match it went to sudden death.

11-06-1937: In Athens, Greece: Panathenaic Stadium drawing 40,000: Jim Londos defeated Johannes Van Derwalt.

11-11-1937: Dale J. Greif sues Sandor Szabo claiming to have been beaten up by the famous shooter following an October match in Santa Monica, CA. He sues for $24,000 claiming a variety of injuries from being “stretched”.

11-16-1937: Ray Steele is suspended for 60 days by the New York State Athletic Commission for using an illegal knee on Bronko Nagurski during a match.

11-17-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 8,500: Dick Lever defeats Laverne Baxter by DQ… Cy Williams defeats Casey Columbo… Nick Lutze battled Stonewall Stewart to a 20-minute draw… Joe Parelli defeats Luis Mayo… Del Kunkel defeats Frank Malcewicz… Jimmy El Pulpo defeats The Masked Marvel… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World champion Bronko Nagurski defeats Dean Detton in 2 falls.

11-22-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Jerry Monahan defeats Andrew Brown… Dick Powell defeats Maurice Robert… Ali Baba defeats Frank Brunowicz… Montreal World / AWA World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Bob Wagner 2 falls to 1. Special Referee: Jack Dempsey.

11-26-1937: Detroit, MI: Olympia: Attendance 11,828: Dean Rockwell defeats Mike Kibbons… Ojagar Toosaa defeats Whitey Grovo… Bobby Bruns defeats Blue Sun Jennings… Dorv Roche defeats Andy Rascher… Jim Londos defeats Ali Baba by count out.

11-28-1937: World champion Everett Marshall defeated Danno O’Mahoney in St. Louis, MO before 8,022 fans.

11-29-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 7,500: Jack League defeats Joe Marsh… Dick Powell defeats Henry Graber… Danno O'Mahoney defeats Fred Meyers… Montreal World & AWA World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Ali Baba by DQ in two falls.

12-01-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 8,500: Rusty Westcott defeats Frank Cutler… Kimon Kudo defeats Joe Parelli… Sammy Stein defeats Harry Jacobs… George Zaharias defeats Cy Williams… Lofty Blomfield defeats Tiny Roebuck… Sandor Szabo defeats Vincent Lopez by Count Out 2 falls to 1… El Pulpo defeats Nick Lutze 2 falls to 1.

12-02-1937: Chattanooga, TN: Memorial Auditorium: The main event was put on second because Everett Marshall had to catch a 10:15PM train. Attendance 5,140: Angelo Cistoldi defeats Milo Steinborn… MWA World Heavyweight champion Everett Marshall wrestled Orville Brown to a one-hour draw… Pete Peterson defeats Karl Davis by DQ… Dorv Roche defeats Dan O'Connor 2 falls to 1.

12-03-1937: Buffalo, NY: Memorial Auditorium: Attendance 5,406: Frank Bronowicz defeats Art Mayer… Dick Powell wrestled Jack League to a draw… Marvin Westenberg defeats Joe Marsh… Danno O'Mahoney defeats Legs Langevin… Ed Don George defeats Ali Baba.

Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 7,500: Len Macaluso defeats Mike Szabo… Chief Saunooke wrestled Hans Steinke to a 30-minute draw… George Clark defeats Jack Zarnas… Jesse James defeats Jack Singer… Johannes Van der Walt defeats Angelo Patti… Billy Hanson wrestled Pat Meehan to a 30-minute draw… Jim Londos defeats Chief Thunderbird.

12-08-1937: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 7,500: Chris Zaharias wrestled Kimon Kudo to a 20-minute draw… Billy Grubbs defeats Johnny Del Rio… Chief Little Wolf defeats Andy Meixner… Sammy Stein defeats Pat Fraley… Del Kunkel defeats Joe Parelli…. Australian Rounds Match: Lofty Blomfield wrestled Sandor Szabo to a draw splitting one fall each ending with 8 rounds… El Pulpo defeats Nick Lutze 2 falls to 1.

12-09-1937: Camden, NJ: 114th Infantry Armory: Attendance 5,500: Bronco Valdez defeats Jack Hader… Jack Donovan wrestled Jack Kennedy to a 30-minute draw… George Koverly defeats Henry Piers… Ernie Dusek defeats Stanley Pinto… Gino Garibaldi defeats Cliff Olson.

12-13-1937: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 5,000: Jerry Monahan wrestled Maurice Robert to a draw… Dick Powell defeats Jack League… Bob Wagner defeats George Mansor… AWA World & Montreal World champion Yvon Robert defeats Felix Miquet 2 falls to 1.

12-15-1937: St. Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 6,836: Ray Eckert wrestled Ray Villmer to a 15-minute draw… Ernie Dusek defeats Pete Peterson… Rudy Dusek wrestled Young Gotch to a draw… Lou Thesz defeats Pat McClary… Ali Baba defeats Hardy Kruskamp… Jim Londos defeats Johannes Van der Walt.

12-17-1937: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 8,000: Billy Hanson defeats Juan Olaquivel… Pat Meehan defeats Vanka Zelesniak… Al Pereira defeats Abe Kashey by DQ… Clarence Bado defeats Franz Schuman… Jesse James defeats Tony Siano… George Clark wrestled Johannes Van der Walt to a 50-minute draw… Jim Londos defeats Chief Thunderbird.

12-22-1937: Boston, MA: Boston Garden: Attendance 7,000: Tom Kaivola defeats Dick Stahl… Jack Zarnas wrestled Maurice Robert to a 15-minute draw… Chief Saunooke defeats Art LeGrand… Ed Don George defeats Tom Hanley… Steve Casey defeats Slim Zimbleman… George Clark wrestled Vic Christy to a 30-minute draw… AWA World Heavyweight & Montreal World champion Yvon Robert defeats Danno O'Mahoney 2 falls to 1. Yvon Robert would be stripped of the AWA title a few weeks later when Lou Thesz won the MWA Title from Marshall. Promoter Paul Bowser, named Thesz the AWA Champion.

12-28-1937: Detroit, MI, Olympia: Attendance: 10,000 (Detroit Free Press) or 9,528 (Detroit Times): Bill Lee defeats Eddie Newman… Dean Rockwell defeats Fred Peterson… Chief Thunderbird defeats Blue Sun Jennings… Danno O'Mahoney defeats Babe Zaharias… Bobby Bruns battled Orville Brown to a 30-minute draw… Jim Londos defeats Ali Baba.

12-29-1937: Lou Thesz becomes the World heavyweight champion by defeating Everette Marshall in St. Louis, MO in front of a crowd of 7,534. He is awarded the Paul Bowser AWA World title based on this victory. Also, on the show Danno O’Mahoney defeated Paul Jones. Yvon Robert refuses to face Lou Thesz and is stripped of the AWA title by Bowser but continues to defend the title in Montreal, Canada.

12301937 Lou Thesz wrestling.JPG
Bronko Nagurski.jpeg

Bronko Nagurski

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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