Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1946
By: Karl Stern
The year 1946 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1946
01-04-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,109: Herb Freeman wrestled Joe Dusek to a Time Limit Draw… Ray Eckert defeats Don McIntyre… Ernie Dusek defeats Fred Blassie… George Koverly defeats Vic Christy… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Ray Villmer.
01-09-1946: Denver, CO Police officer Frank A. “Tarzan” Florentine, 250 pounder who has a 60-inch chest and bends six penny nails with his bare hands, is fired from the police force because they deem, he isn’t physically fit. According to them he is 40 pounds overweight. Florentine tells the United Press he would return to his old job as a professional wrestler.
01-10-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 8,000: Chief Saunooke defeats Walter Sirois… Bob Wagner defeats Bobby Roberts… Frank Taylor wrestled Jim Henry to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson wrestled AWA World heavyweight champion Frank Sexton to a Curfew Time Limit Draw.
01-15-1946: In Hamilton, Ontario following the wrestling matches at the Civic Pool, Mike & Ben Sharpe came to the dressing room, saying that they both wanted to become wrestlers. Sons of Digby Sharpe, a former policeman, Ben was a former basketball and rowing star. Ben had been wrestling in England for two years, during and after service with R.C.A.F. Mike, a boxer, wants a wrestling career also.
01-18-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,077: Carlos Rodriguez wrestled Joe Millich to a Time Limit Draw… Laverne Baxter defeats Herb Freeman… Buddy Rogers defeats Joe Dusek… Ernie Dusek defeats Warren Bockwinkel… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats George KO Koverly. Special referee: Jack Dempsey.
01-22-1946: In Dallas, TX at the Sportatorium: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Buddy Rogers 2 falls to 1.
“Wild” Bill Longson
01-26-1946: John Mauldin wins the Atlanta City wrestling title from Jack Kelly in Atlanta, GA.
01-29-1946: Frank Sexton defeats Babe Sharkey in Baltimore, MD to become recognized as World champion in Maryland.
In Dallas, TX at the Sportatorium: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Paul Boesch.
02-01-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,981: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Scotty Williams… Don McIntyre wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a Time Limit Draw… Bobby Bruns defeats Paul Boesch by DQ… Buddy Rogers defeats Laverne Baxter… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Ernie Dusek.
02-07-1946: Cleveland, OH: Arena: Attendance 7,684: Fred Bozik wrestled Frank Julian to a 20-minute draw… Jim Henry defeats Frank Taylor… Fred Von Schacht defeats Kay Bell by DQ… Joe Savoldi defeats John Katan… AWA (Boston) World Heavyweight champion Frank Sexton defeats Whipper Billy Watson after gaining the only fall in an hour and a half.
02-14-1946: Cleveland, OH: Arena: Attendance 10,439: Joe Baneck wrestled Harold Starr to a draw… Kay Bell defeats Bobby Roberts… Fred Von Schacht defeats Pat Healy… Chief Saunooke defeats Jim Henry… The French Angel defeated Man Mountain Dean.
02-15-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,969: Bob Wagner defeats Don McIntyre… Bobby Bruns defeats Vic Holbrook… Buddy Rogers defeats Warren Bockwinkel… Yvon Robert defeats Les Ryan… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Paul Boesch.
02-19-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Arthur LeGrand wrestled Joe Devalteau to a 30-minute draw… George Linnehan wrestled Pat Flanagan to a 30-minute draw… John Katan defeats Al Korman… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff wrestled Yvon Robert to a curfew draw splitting 1 fall each.
02-23-1946: Gory Guerrero defeats Tarzan Lopez for the NWAssociation Middleweight title in Mexico City.
Gory Guerrero
02-28-1946: Herb Welch is injured in a car accident forcing him to vacate the Tennessee World Junior title.
03-01-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,709: Buddy Rogers defeats Gino Vagnone… Larry Moquin defeats Joe Kojut… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Jack Hader… Bobby Bruns wrestled Bob Wagner to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Yvon Robert.
03-04-1946: Orville Brown is again recognized as “National Wrestling Alliance” World champion in Des Moines, IA by Pinkie George.
03-12-1946: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Leo Numa in Dallas, TX at the Sportatorium.
03-13-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Emil Dusek defeats Pat Kelley… George Becker defeats Rudy Dusek… Gino Garibaldi wrestled Wally Dusek to a 30 minute draw… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Ernie Dusek 2 falls to 1.
03-15-1946: El Santo defeats Pete Sancof in Mexico City for the Mexican Welterweight title.
03-19-1946: In Dallas, TX at the Sportatorium: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Leroy McGuirk.
03-27-1946: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 9,000: Jack Pinto defeats Mike Works… Don McIntyre wrestled Jules Strongbow to a draw… George Temple defeats Housepainter Hogan… Vic Holbrook defeats Tug Carlson… Henry Kulkovich & Tony Martinez defeat Marvin Jones & Rebel Russell 2 falls to 1.
03-29-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,392: Joe Kogut defeats Jim Dobie… Joe Dusek defeats Jack Hader… Kay Bell wrestled Ray Villmer to a Time Limit Draw… Lou Thesz defeats Bull Morgan… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bobby Bruns.
04-04-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Brother Russell defeats Al Korman… Warren Bockwinkel defeats John Katan… Hard Boiled Hannigan (Babe Sharkey) defeats Frank Valois… Brother Jonathan defeats Sandy O'Donnell (Ray Eckert)… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Frederick Von Schacht.
04-12-1946: St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Arena: Attendance 17,621: George O'Brien battled Tuffy Truesdale to a 15 minute draw… Emil Dusek defeats Frank Hewitt… Kay Bell defeats Joe Dusek… Ray Villmer defeats Leo Numa… Bobby Bruns defeats Paul Boesch… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Buddy Rogers.
04-24-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Jim Kilonis wrestled Harry Lewis to a Time Limit Draw… Len Hughes defeats Joe Devalteau… Wladyslaw Talun defeats Ed White… The Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Emil Dusek) defeat Yvon Robert & Larry Moquin 2 falls to 1.
04-26-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,108: Ralph Garibaldi defeats Prince Mihalakis… Joe Dusek wrestled Joe Millich to a Time Limit Draw… Kay Bell defeats Laverne Baxter… Ray Villmer defeats Ben Morgan… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bobby Bruns.
04-29-1946: Roy Dunn regains the “National Wrestling Alliance” World title which he created in 1941 by defeating Ed Virag in Wichita, KS. Dunn continues to promote himself as “World champion” until his first retirement in 1948.
04-30-1946: Cliff Gustafson wins an off shoot version of the world title from Ed Virag in St. Louis. Gustafson is managed by Ed “Strangler” Lewis.
05-03-1946: Lou Thesz defeats Buddy Rogers in Houston, TX for the Texas title.
05-10-1946: Lou Thesz does probably his only job for Buddy Rogers for the Texas title in Houston.
05-15-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Al Mercier wrestled Gino Garibaldi to a Time Limit Draw… Felix Miquet defeats Len Hughes… Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel) defeats Bobby Managoff… Special Referee: Jack Sharkey: Yvon Robert defeats Wladyslaw Talun by DQ 2 falls to 1.
05-17-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,478: Buddy Rogers defeats Bob Wagner… George Koverly wrestled Kay Bell to a Double DQ… Nanjo Singh defeats Emil Dusek by DQ… Joe Dusek defeats Johnny Swenski… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Ray Villmer.
05-19-1946: Andre the Giant (Andre Rene Rousimoff) is born in Grenoble, France.
05-22-1946: Lucha libre legend El Solitario (Roberto Gonzalez Cruz) is born in Yahualica, Jalisco, Mexico.
Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Bob Lortie wrestled Larry Poirier to a Time Limit Draw… Gino Garibaldi defeats Pat Flanagan… Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel) wrestled Yvon Robert to a Time Limit Draw… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff wrestled Wladyslaw Talun to a Double DQ.
05-29-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Paul Lortie wrestled John Swenski to a Time Limit Draw… Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel) defeats Jan Gotch… Pat Flanagan defeated Jim Austeri by DQ… Wladyslaw Talun wrestled Felix Miquet to a Double Count Out after splitting one fall each.
St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,295: Bob Wagner defeats Jim Spencer… George Koverly defeats Leif Erickson… The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Joe Dusek) defeat Ralph Garibaldi & Red Vagnone 2 falls to none… Kay Bell defeats Ray Eckert… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Buddy Rogers.
06-05-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 11,000: Les Ryan wrestled Jim Austeri to a Time Limit Draw… Jules Strongbow defeats Henry Kulkavich… Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel) defeats Gino Garibaldi… Yvon Robert defeats Wladyslaw Talun 2 falls to 1.
06-14-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,488: Frank Marconi wrestled Joe Millich to a Draw… Bob Wagner defeats Ben Morgan… Lou Thesz defeats Bobby Bruns… Ralph Garibaldi & Ray Eckert defeat The Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Joe Dusek)… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Kay Bell.
06-18-1946: Bruiser Brody (Frank Goodish) is born.
06-20-1946: Bobby Bruns wins the Midwest title from Orville Brown via DQ in Kansas City.
07-10-1946: Pro wrestling debuts on Chicago TV on WBKB Channel 4 with Fred Kohler as promoter.
07-16-1946: Louisville, KY: Parkway Field: Attendance 6,500: Frank Marconi wrestled Ray Villmer to a Time Limit Draw… Gino Vagnone defeats Jack Hader… Bobby Bruns defeats Ray Eckert in 2 falls… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Buddy Rogers by referee's decision after splitting one fall each and Buddy Rogers is injured and cannot continue in the final fall.
07-17-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal: Forum: Attendance 12,000: Manuel Cortez wrestled Ralph Garibaldi to a draw… Frank Valois defeats Jules Strongbow… Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel) wrestled Gino Garibaldi to a 20 minute draw… Felix Miquet defeats Dan O'Connor… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Yvon Robert by DQ with special referee Ed “Strangler” Lewis.
07-26-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,365: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Freddie Steele… Bobby Bruns wrestled Ralph Garibaldi to a Time Limit Draw… Jules Strongbow defeats Frederick Von Schacht by DQ… George Temple defeats Joe Millich… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Hans Schnabel.
08-08-1946: Orville Brown wins the Midwest title defeating Bobby Bruns in Kansas City.
08-21-1946: In Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 10,000: Primo Carnera defeated Tommy O'Toole… Enrique Torres & Carlos Mojica defeated Swedish Angel & Jules Strongbow… Reginald Siki defeated Pat Fraley… George Becker battled Reb Russell to a draw… Brother Jonathan battled Jim Casey to a draw.
Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Dan O'Connor wrestled Manuel Cortez to a draw… Frank Valois defeats Henry Kulkovich… Yvon Robert defeated Dave Detton (Warren Bockwinkel)… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Lou Thesz by DQ.
08-28-1946: In Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 7,500: Enrique Torres defeated Swedish Angel… Reginald Siki defeated Reb Russell… George Becker defeated Carlos Mojica… Pat Fraley battled Brother Jonathan to a draw… Paul Matty battled Torchy Smith to a draw.
09-04-1946: In Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 9,400: Primo Carnera defeated Reginald Siki… Tony Martinez & Enrique Torres defeated Reb Russell & Tommy O'Toole… Bobby Bruns defeated Carlos Mojica… George Becker defeated Frank Jares… Torchy Smith defeated George Breckman.
09-06-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,068: Cherry Vallina wrestled Fred Blassie to a Time Limit Draw… George Koverly defeats Walter Sirois… The Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Joe Dusek) defeat Gino Vagnone & Warren Bockwinkel… Buddy Rogers defeats Vic Holbrook… NWA World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bobby Managoff by DQ.
09-08-1946: EMLL: 13th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Coliseo: Steve Morgan beat Tarzan Lopez to win the NWA World Middleweight title… Steve Morgan beat Firpo Sigura to win the Mexican National Heavyweight title.
09-11-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,000: Bull Montana wrestled Manuel Cortez to a draw… Frederick Von Schacht defeats Henry Kulkovich… Yvon Robert defeats Wladyslaw Talun… Lou Thesz defeated Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff 2 falls to 1 to win the title.
09-26-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: Ben Sharpe wrestled Olaf Olson to a Time Limit Draw… Natie Brown defeats Jan Gotch… Karl Davis defeats Toar Morgan… Frank Taylor defeats Lee Henning… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Wladyslaw Talun.
10-02-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Bull Montana wrestled Larry Poirier to a Time Limit Draw… Larry Moquin defeated Dan O'Connor… Frank Valois defeated Fred Von Schacht by DQ… Montreal World Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership. Special Referee: Jack Dempsey: Yvon Robert defeated Bobby Managoff 2 falls to 1. The winner receives a title shot at Lou Thesz on October 16th.
10-03-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 14,000: Emir Badui defeats Karl Davis by DQ… Natie Brown defeats Bobby Nelson… Frank Taylor wrestled Olaf Olson to a 20 minute draw… Terry McGuinness defeats Lee Henning… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Whipper Billy Watson by DQ.
10-16-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 11,000: Albert Mills defeats Dan O'Connor… Frank Valois wrestled Rebel Russell to a 30 minute draw… Larry Moquin defeats Fred Von Schacht by DQ… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Yvon Robert by DQ.
10-18-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,050: George O'Brien defeats Leo Newman… The Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Joe Dusek) defeat Rudy Strongberg & Warren Bockwinkel in 2 straight falls… Felix Miquet defeats Thor Morgan… Everett Marshall defeats Vincent Lopez… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bobby Managoff.
10-22-1946: Bronko Nagurski defeats Sandor Szabo for the Pacific Coast title in San Francisco, CA.
11-06-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Frederick Von Schacht defeats George Linnehan… Manuel Cortez defeats Rebel Russell by DQ… George Koverly defeats Archie Campbell… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Yvon Robert by count out.
11-13-1946: Montreal Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 14,351: Manuel Cortez defeats Andy Campbell… Ernie Dusek wrestled Felix Miquet to a Time Limit Draw… Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert defeat Fred Von Schacht & George Koverly in 2 straight falls.
11-15-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,921: George Koverly defeats Jack Dillon… The Garibaldi Brothers (Chick Garibaldi & Ralph Garibaldi) defeat The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Joe Dusek) in 2 straight falls… Ernie Dusek defeats Wladyslaw Talun… Everett Marshall defeats Danno O'Mahoney… Buddy Rogers wrestled Jack Moore to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Felix Miquet by DQ.
11-20-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Manuel Cortez defeats Len Hughes… Rebel Russell defeats Archie Campbell… Joe Savoldi wrestled Larry Moquin to a draw… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Bobby Managoff 2 falls to 1.
11-21-1946: Cleveland, OH: Arena: Attendance 9,279: Fred Bozik defeats Eric Holmback… Rudy Dusek wrestled Max Krauser to a draw… Don Evans defeats Frank Valois… Special Referee: Jack Sharkey: Primo Carnera defeats Jules Strongbow in 2 falls.
11-28-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: Ted Christy wrestled Paul Boesch to a 20-minute draw… Ivan Rasputin defeats Henry Piers… Olaf Olson defeats Pat Flanagan… Karl Davis defeats Frank Taylor… Whipper Billy Watson & Vic Christy defeat Bob Wagner & Sandy O'Donnell (Ray Eckert).
12-04-1946: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Art LeGrand defeats Bull Curry by Count Out… Larry Moquin wrestled Bobby Managoff to a Time Limit Draw… Joe Savoldi wrestled Felix Miquet to a Time Limit Draw… Yvon Robert defeats Fred Von Schacht 2 falls to 1.
12-10-1946: Len Hall defeats Sandor Szabo for an off-shoot World title in Minneapolis, MN based on the National Wrestling Association title at the Minneapolis Auditorium. Attendance 8,000: Tom Bradley defeats Jack Hader by DQ… Billy Bartush wrestled Tom Rice to a Time Limit Draw… Joe Pazandak defeated Johnny Marrs.
12-12-1946: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 12,000: Ted Christy defeats Pat Flanagan by decision… Wladyslaw Talun wrestled Ben Sharpe to a 20-minute draw… Danno O'Mahoney defeats Jules Strongbow… Sandy O'Donnell (Ray Eckert) wrestled Vic Christy to a 30-minute draw… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Bob Wagner by count out… Primo Carnera defeated Karl Davis.
12-13-1946: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,560: Jose Carrillo & Tuffy Truesdale defeat George O'Brien & Johnny Randa in 2 straight falls… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Jack Kelly… Felix Miquet defeats Ernie Dusek by DQ… Lee Henning defeats The Masked Marvel… Buddy Rogers wrestled Ed Meske to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Jim Casey (Jim Casey was the brother of Steve “Crusher” Casey, multi-time AWA World champion)
12-17-1946: Sandor Szabo defeats Len Hall to regain an off-shoot version of the National Wrestling Association title in Minneapolis, MN at the Minneapolis Auditorium: Attendance 6,500: George Gordienko defeats Charlie Harben… Cal Rees wrestled Mike Burnell to a Time Limit Draw… Ray Steele Tom Rice.
1946: George Bollas (AKA: Zebra Kid) wins the NCAA championship as a heavyweight out of Ohio State.
Sandor Szabo
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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