Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1939
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 1939 in wrestling is covered in the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1939
01-02-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: Ladies World champion Mildred Burke defeated Alice St. Clair.
01-06-1939: Buffalo, NY: Broadway Auditorium: Attendance 8,768: Andy Rascher defeats Tiger Joe Marsh… Henry Graber wrestled Wee Willie Davis to a Draw… Mayes McLain defeats Jerry Monahan… Ted Cox defeats Jack Donovan… Wladyslaw Talun defeats George Koverly.
01-11-1939: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (Sellout): Floyd Hansen defeats Joe Campbell… Ed Meske defeats Rusty Westcott… Nick Lutze defeats Mike Mazurki… Jack McDonald defeated Vic Hill… Tom Zaharias defeats Killer Shikuma… Floyd Marshall wrestled Paul Boesch to a 20-minute draw… Gorilla Macias defeats Chief Saunooke… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Hard Boiled Haggerty (Pat McClary) by DQ 2 falls to 1.
01-19-1939: Octavio Gaona defeats Gus Kallio in Mexico City, Mexico to win the NWAssociation World Middleweight title. This marks the championships journey from the United States, originally as the wrestling division of the National Boxing Association, to becoming a Mexican based championship.
Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,500: George Richards defeated Chief Chewacki by DQ... Joe Savoldi defeated Gus Zaharias... Jules Strongbow defeated Jack McArthur... Chief Little Wolf defeated House Painter Hogan... Tom Mahoney defeated Ernie Powers by DQ... Hardy Kruskamp defeated Al Sparks... Joe Savoldi defeated Tom Mahoney... Chief Little Wolf defeated Jim Austeri... Jules Strongbow defeated Hardy Kruskamp... Jules Strongbow defeated Chief Little Wolf... Joe Savoldi defeated Jules Strongbow to win a tournament.
01-20-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 attendance) Pete Schu & Charley Strack defeated Dan O’Connor & Dorv Roche... Roy Dunn defeated Cowboy Luttrell by DQ... Jack Brown defeated Fred Carone.
01-24-1939: In Kansas City, MO: World heavyweight champion Everette Marshall def Lee Wyckoff. Municipal Auditorium: Attendance 5,000: Jack Rogers defeats Leo Alexander… Les Grimes defeats Hans Schnabel… Lou Thesz defeats Fred Peltzer by referee's decision.
01-26-1939: In St. Louis, MO: Attendance: 6,686: World heavyweight champion Everette Marshall defeated Jim Morgan by DQ.
Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 6,000: Nanjo Singh wrestled Alex Kasaboski to a draw... Chris Zaharias defeated Joe Pazandak... Cardiff Giant defeated Scotty McDougall... Man Mountain Dean defeated Dean Rockwell... Chief Chewacki defeated George Richards... Vic Christie wrestled Jules Strongbow to a draw... Nanjo Singh defeated Man Mountain Dean by DQ... Vic Christie defeated Chris Zaharias... Chief Chewacki defeated Cardiff Giant... Hans Steinke defeated Chief Chewacki by DQ... Vic Christie defeated Nanjo Singh... Vic Christie defeated Hans Steinke to win a tournament.
01-27-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 attendance) Dan O’Connor & Dorv Roche defeated Pete Schu & Charley Strack... Dick Powell defeated Young Joe Stecher... Ralph Garibaldi defeated Jack Brown.
Buffalo, NY: Broadway Auditorium: Attendance 8,927: Jerry Monahan defeats Joe Marsh… Dutch Hefner wrestled Wee Willie Davis to a draw… Cy Williams defeats Henry Graber… Ted Cox wrestled Don Evans to a draw… Ed Don George defeats Wladyslaw Talun by count out. This is reported to be Talun's first loss in over 90 matches.
02-06-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 attendance) Roy Welch defeated Charlie Keene... Tetsuro Higami defeated Speedy Warren... Flash Clifford battled Balk Estes to a draw... Sid Marcus defeated Gayle Byrd.
02-09-1939: Tarzán López (Carlos Lopez) defeats Octavio Gaona for the NWAssociation World Middleweight title in Mexico City, Mexico.
02-14-1939: The Golden Terror (Bob Weatherly) is awarded the Maryland World title when Jim Londos no shows.
Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 attendance) Clara Mortenson defeated Mildred White... Charlie Keene & Jack Dillon defeated Roy Welch & Balk Estes... Tetsuro Higami defeated Count Von Bromberg.
02-16-1939: In Kansas City, MO: World heavyweight champion Everette Marshall defeated Hans Schnabel by DQ.
02-17-1939: Iben Seleem (Charles Halevy) dies at the age of 27 in a car accident near Hot Springs, NM.
02-23-1939: Lou Thesz defeats Everette Marshall for the National Wrestling Association World heavyweight title in St. Louis, MO. St Louis Arena: Attendance 12,100: In other matches: Lee Wyckoff defeats Hans Schnabel… Dorv Roche defeats Young Gotch… Ernie Dusek battled Jim McMillen to a 30 minute draw… Len Hall defeats Jim Morgan by DQ.
02-24-1939: El Capitan Aventurero (The Adventuroes Captain) - A movie where a police captain chases a bank-robbing romantic couple that outsmarts him. The boxer, wrestler, and referee Ruddy Blancerte is a part of the cast.
02-26-1939: Jim Londos is reinstated as World champion in Maryland after paying a $100 fine. He wrestles appointed world champion The Golden Terror (Bob Weatherly) to a draw.
03-02-1939: The Shadow (Marv Westenberg) defeats Steve Casey for the American Wrestling Association world title in Boston, MA. Boston Garden: Attendance 9,000: In other matches: Lord Albert Mills defeated Pat Reilly… Joe Maynard battled Tom Casey to a 15 minute draw… Mayes McLain defeats The Sheik Of Yemen… Pat Kelley defeats Harry Jacobs by DQ… Gus Sonnenberg defeats Rebel Russell.
03-03-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: NWAssociation World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Dan O’Connor... Johnny Plummer defeated Dorv Roche... Cowboy Luttrell defeated Tom Hanley... Dick Powell defeated Joe Campbell... Wrestle Royal Winner: Dick Powell.
03-10-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 attendance) (Special referee: Jack Dempsey) Dorv Roche & Dick Powell defeated Dan O’Connor & Cowboy Luttrell... Johnny Plummer defeated Jack Rogers... Charley Strack defeated Tom Hanley.
03-16-1939: Gus Sonnenberg defeats The Shadow (Marv Westenberg) for the American Wrestling Association world title in Boston, MA. The Shadow is unmasked. Boston Garden: Attendance 7,500: The Sheik Of Yemen defeats Everett Kibbons… Jim Casey defeats Jack Smith… Lord Albert Mills defeats Joe Maynard… Angelo Cistoldi defeats Jack Marshall… Mayes McLain defeats Harry Jacobs.
03-17-1939: Philadelphia, PA: Arena: Attendance 10,000: Maurice LaChappelle defeats Wild Man Zimm… Dropkick Murphy defeats Angelo Leone… Hans Steinke defeats Al Sparks… Nanjo Singh defeats Gene Bowman… George Pencheff defeats Babe Zaharias… Sandor Szabo defeats Vic Christy… World Heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats The Golden Terror (Bobby Stewart).
Buffalo, NY: Broadway Auditorium: Attendance 7,797: Gino Garibaldi defeats Henry Graber… Ted Cox defeats Walter Podolak… Ali Baba defeats Dave Johnson by Count Out… Danno O'Mahoney defeats Jack League… Ed Don George defeats Dutch Hefner.
03-22-1939: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Vic Bruhl defeats Hans Schultz… Bob Gregory wrestled Bobby Coleman to a draw… Tom Zaharias defeats Paul Boesch… Terry McGinnis defeats Abe Goldberg… Laverne Baxter wrestled Man Mountain Dean to a no contest… The Masked Marvel (Jim Henry) defeats Johnny Marrow… Hard Boiled Haggerty (Pat McClary) defeats Otto Schnabel… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Dean Detton by referee stoppage.
03-29-1939: Steve Casey defeats Gus Sonnenberg for the American Wrestling Association World title in Boston, MA.
04-03-1939: In Denver, CO Everette Marshall battled NWAssociation World champion Lou Thesz to a draw.
04-04-1939: AWA: Buffalo, NY: Broadway Auditorium: Attendance 8,803: Bill Longson defeats Andy Rascher… Don Evans defeats Jack Donovan… Cy Williams wrestled Dutch Hefner to a Draw… Gino Garibaldi defeats George Koverly… Hal Rumberg defeats Ed Don George… Steve Casey wrestled Ted Cox to a Time Limit Draw.
04-05-1939: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Fritz Schnabel defeats Tom Zaharias… Laverne Baxter defeats Otto Schnabel… Hans Schnabel defeats Paul Boesch… George Zaharias defeats Pete Mehringer… Man Mountain Dean defeats Chief Little Wolf… Hard Boiled Haggerty (Pat McClary) defeats Gorilla Macias… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Tarzan White by referee stoppage after splitting one fall each. Tarzan White is injured and cannot continue. Tarzan White dove at Jim Londos and fell through the ropes, hitting his head on the concrete. He suffered a concussion and possible skull fracture.
04-07-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: NWAssociation World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Dorv Roche... Harry Kent defeated Cowboy Luttrell... Alf Johnson defeated Dan O’Connor.
04-18-1939: Ed Don George defeats Steve Casey for the American Wrestling Association World title by decision. Capitol Arena, Albany NY: Attendance was only 1,200 fans. In other matches Pete Beltran defeats Eddie Newman… Chief Chewacki defeats Al Mercier. The title match went 92 minutes until the 11pm Curfew. No Falls were taken and Ed Don George was awarded the title by judge's decision.
04-21-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: NWAssociation World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz battled Dorv Roche to a draw... Johnny Plummer defeated Harry Kent... Joe Corbett defeated Alf Johnson by DQ.
05-05-1939: Bill Watts is born.
05-08-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 in attendance) Tetsuro Higami defeated Roy Welch... Ginger the Bear defeated Mike Nazarian... Joe Gunther defeated Walter Miller... Jack Dillon defeated Red Roberts.
05-22-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 in attendance) Ginger the Bear defeated Mike Nazarian... Joe Gunther battled Billy Fox to a draw... Bill Collins defeated Red Ace... Roy Welch battled Sid Marcus to a draw.
06-01-1939: A downturn in pro wrestling popularity in Toronto, Canada results in no wrestling shows between now and October 19th.
06-03-1939: In Washington DC at Griffith Stadium: Attendance: 1,200: World heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeated Golden Terror.
06-05-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 in attendance) Ginger the Bear defeated Art O’Mahoney and Joe Gunther... Ginger the Bear defeated Tetsuro Higami... Roy Welch battled Jimmy Goodrich to a draw... Sid Marcus defeated Mike Nazarian by DQ.
06-14-1939: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 9,500: Bob Gregory defeats Billy Grubbs… Edward Payson defeats Tiny Roebuck… Jiu Jitsu Match: Mitsugi Hamanaka defeats Joe Parelli… Casey Columbo wrestling Flash Gordon to a 20 minute draw… Jose Sevilla wrestled Nick Lutze to a 20 minute draw… George Pencheff defeats Myron Cox… The Black Panther (Wee Willie Davis) defeats Bolo Garcia… World Heavyweight & Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Jim Londos defeats Hans Steinke 2 falls to 1.
06-19-1939: Leroy McGuirk defeats John Swenski for the World Junior title in Hollywood, CA. This victory by McGuirk is recognized by the National Wrestling Association. McGuirk would reign unbroken as champion until 1950.
06-23-1939: Houston, TX: Sam Houston Coliseum: Attendance: 9,000: Bronko Nagurski regains the World title from Lou Thesz in for the National Wrestling Association. Lou Thesz suffers a broken knee cap in this match.
06-26-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: (Approximately 5,000 in attendance) Joe Gunther defeated Tetsuro Higami... Carlos Rodriquez defeated Billy Fox... Al Szasz defeated Jimmy Goodrich by DQ... Larry Tillman defeated Tony Bommerito.
07-10-1939: Ed “Strangler” Lewis begins his new job as an assistant match maker in Hollywood, CA booking the heavyweights.
08-1939: Eddie Quinn takes over promoting in Montreal from Emile Maupas. Quinn immediately has success using Yvon Robert as his top star and he continued to promote in the area for 25 years, until 1964.
08-05-1939: Mort Henderson, the famous Masked Marvel of the 1915-1916 International Tournament dies at the age of 60.
08-07-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: Carlos Rodriquez defeated Joe Gunther to win the Southern Junior heavyweight title. Gunther was the first champion, having won it last fall in a tournament in New Orleans. He defeated Art O’Mahoney in the final match.
08-08-1939: Ernie Dusek defeats Danno O’Mahoney in a Montreal tournament to win the Montreal AWA title.
08-16-1939: Leo Pardello, former wrestler, dies at the age of 72 in New York.
08-28-1939: In Birmingham, AL Carlos Rodriquez gave up his Southern junior heavyweight belt to become a heavyweight.
09-14-1939: EMLL: 6th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Old Arena Mexico: Bob Arreola beat Ciclon Veloz, Sr. to win the Mexican National Welterweight title.
09-15-1939: Birmingham, Alabama: National Wrestling Association World heavyweight champion Bronko Nagurski defeated Frank Sexton... Tiny Morgan defeated Chief Saunooke... Johnny Marrs defeated Tommy Marvin.
11-03-1939: Steve Casey defeats Ed Don George for the American Wrestling Association World title in Buffalo, NY to avenge an earlier decision to give the title to George.
12-21-1939: The state of Rhode Island bans Gus Sonnenberg from wrestling due to a heart condition.
1939 (unspecified): Hikoo Shoji and Kiyoshi Kato form the Japan Pro-Wrestling Alliance but pro wrestling again fails to draw in Japan.
Steve “Crusher” Casey
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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