Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1956
By: Karl Stern
The year 1956 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1956
01-05-1956: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,500: Nick Roberts defeat Firpo Zbyszko… Hard Boiled Haggerty defeats Chief Big Heart & Bob Leipler in a handicap match… Little Beaver & Roger Littlebrook defeat Fuzzy Cupid & Sky Low Low… Fred Atkins defeats Seelie Samara… NWA Canadian Open Tag Team champions Fritz Von Erich & Karl Von Schober wrestled Billy Watson & Yukon Eric to a curfew time limit draw.
01-12-1956: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 11,000: John Foti wrestled Seelie Samara to a 20-minute draw… The Smiths (Al Smith & John Smith) defeat Chief Big Heart & Nick Roberts… Hard Boiled Haggerty defeats Pat Flanagan & Bob Leipler in a handicap match… Lord Athol Layton wrestled Hans Schmidt to a time limit draw… All In Tornado Match: Whipper Billy Watson & Yukon Eric defeat Fritz von Erich & Karl Von Schober.
01-27-1956: Chicago, IL: International Amphitheater: Attendance 8,429: Wilbur Snyder defeats The Mighty Atlas… Lorraine Johnson defeats Shirley Strimple… Angelo Poffo & The Sheik of Araby defeat Roy McClarity & Seymour Koenig 2 falls to 1… NWA United States champion Verne Gagne defeats Dick the Bruiser by DQ 2 falls to 1… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Hans Schmidt 2 falls to 1.
01-29-1956: Montreal, Canada: The Forum: Attendance: 11,000: Buddy Rogers defeated Karl Von Albers... Killer Kowalski defeated Pat O’Connor… Ernie & Emil Dusek defeated Billy Watson & Eddie Auger… Larry Moquin defeated Bull Curry by DQ.
01-1956: Ed “Strangler” Lewis retires as the manager of Lou Thesz.
02-04-1956: Indianapolis, IN: Fairgrounds Coliseum: Attendance 11,500: Ray Gunkel & Billy Goelz defeat Gypsy Joe & The Sheik Of Araby 2 falls to 1… NWA World Women's champion June Byers defeats Kathy Branch in 2 falls… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz wrestled Wilbur Snyder to a no contest. Thesz won the first fall. Snyder defeated Thesz in the second fall. The third fall was a no contest. Wilbur Snyder was counted outside the ring, but Thesz was unable to get back on his feet in the ring before the count of 20. The match was then declared a no contest.
02-18-1956: In Canton, OH: NWA World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Bobo Brazil.
02-20-1956: Boston, MA: Attendance: 5,000: Killer Kowalski defeated Pat O'Conner… Ernie & Emil Dusek defeated Arnold Skaaland & Emil Dupre… Johnny Rougeau defeated Al Getz… Buddy Lee battled Tarzan Bolo to a draw.
03-01-1956: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 15,000: Gypsy Joe wrestled Nick Roberts to a 20-minute draw… The Smiths (Al Smith & John Smith) defeat Don Beitelman & Pat Flanagan… Killer Kowalski defeats Johnny Barend… Pat O'Connor defeats Pat Fraley… Doug Hepburn defeats Seelie Samara… NWA World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz by DQ.
03-03-1956: Milwaukee, WI: Auditorium: Attendance 10,200: Gypsy Joe Dorsetti defeats Len Rossi… Wilbur Snyder defeats Mighty Atlas… NWA World Tag Team champions The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) defeats Angelo Poffo & The Sheik of Araby 2 falls to 1… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Dick Afflis 2 falls to 1.
03-06-1956: Minneapolis, MN: Auditorium: Attendance 9,256: Dan Geohagan (Dan O'Shocker) wrestled Brian Clary to a 30-minute draw… Lionel Baillargeon defeats Gene Dubuque by DQ… Tim Geohagan defeated Larry Hamilton… Match With Two Referees (Special Referees: Bronko Nagurski & Butch Levy) The Kalmikoffs (Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff) defeat Bobby Managoff & Lord Athol Layton by referee stoppage 2 falls to 1.
03-15-1956: Whipper Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz in Toronto, Canada by count out and is awarded the NWA World heavyweight title. The special referee for the match was pro boxing legend Jack Dempsey. Toronto, Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 15,000: Dick Huffman defeats Pat Fraley… Pat O'Connor defeats Don Beitelman… Fred Atkins & Hard Boiled Haggerty defeat Ilio DiPaolo & Nick Roberts… Gorgeous George defeats Bob Leipler… Whipper Billy Watson defeats NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz by count out. Special referee: Jack Dempsey.
In Uline Arena in Washington, D.C., former boxing legend Joe Louis, indebted to the IRS for a reported $1,243,097, makes his wrestling debut despite pleas that it is, “beneath his dignity.” Louis wins his first match over Rocky Lee in a match refereed by another famous pro boxer also in financial trouble, “Jersey” Joe Walcott. Joe Louis’ wrestling career didn’t last long. In a match in Columbus, OH, a mistimed move saw him break two ribs and bruise his heart. Just to show how wrestling was disdained as a sport in the 1950’s, Joe Louis wife said watching him wrestle was like, “watching the President wash dishes.”
03-18-1956: Rick Martel (Rick Vignault) is born.
04-1956: Mike Clancy defeats Mike DiBiase in Little Rock, AR for the NWA World Junior title.
04-06-1956: St Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 12,000: Dick Hutton defeats Aldo Bogni… Joe Dusek wrestled Ike Eakins to a 20 minute draw… Bobby Bruns & Fritz Von Ulm defeat Chest Bernard & Stu Gibson 2 falls to 1… Ethel Brown defeats Millie Stafford… Pat O'Connor defeats Lord Layton… NWA World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz by DQ.
Chicago, IL: International Amphitheater: Attendance 9,522: The Sheik Of Araby defeats Luis Martinez… Tiny Roe defeats Ivan the Terrible… Dick the Bruiser defeats Bill Melby by referee stoppage… Hans Schmidt defeats Angelo Poffo… Verne Gagne & Wilbur Snyder defeat The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) 2 falls to 1.
04-07-1956: Verne Gagne is awarded the NWA United States title.
04-18-1956: Edouardo Carpentier makes his Montreal debut defeating Angelo Savoldi in front of a crowd of 8,000.
La Sombra Vengadora (The Avenging Shadow) movie is released. A masked vigilante called La Sombra Vengadora clashes with a drug kingpin named La Mano Negra (The black hand). La Sombra is a masked hero who looks almost exactly like the pro wrestler Rayo De Jalisco, who debuted the gimmick in 1960. La Sombra Vengadora would also be brought into wrestling in 1958 by the wrestler Rogelio De La Paz.
04-25-1956: Eddie Quinn Promotions: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Carl Engstrom wrestled Maurice Vachon to a Draw… The Great Kato defeats Steve Gob… Ron Etchison defeats Arnold Skaaland… Edouard Carpentier defeats Len Montana… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Wladek (Killer) Kowalski by DQ 2 falls to 1.
04-26-1956: JWA: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 13,000: NWA World tag team champions Ben & Mike Sharpe beat Rikidozan & Kokichi Endo.
04-28-1956: In Canton, OH: NWA World heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson beat Bobo Brazil.
05-04-1956: Chicago, IL: International Amphitheater: Attendance 8,818: Hans Schmidt defeats Dave Jons… Dick the Bruiser defeats Stan Lisowski by DQ… Reggie Lisowski defeats Bill Melby… Rose Roman & Shirley Strimple defeats Ada Ash & Lorraine Johnson 2 falls to 1… NWA United States champion Verne Gagne wrestled Wilbur Snyder to a time limit draw after swapping one fall each.
05-21-1956: Boston, MA: Attendance: 5,000: Verne Gagne battled Pat O'Conner to a draw… Fabulous Moolah & Red Tigress defeated Pat Sherry & Judy Grable… Tiny Tim defeated Fuzzy Cupid… Manuel Cortez defeated Gypsy Joe by count out… Emil Dupree defeated Rocky Barron.
05-30-1956: Eddie Quinn Promotions: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Mike Paidousis defeats Carl Engstrom… Paul Baillargeon wrestled Ron Etchison to a Draw… Edouard Carpentier defeats Frank Valois… Don Leo Jonathan defeats Manuel Cortez… Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeats Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert 2 falls to 1 to win the title.
06-02-1956: Joe Louis wrestles Rocky Lee in Huntington, WV and already talks of retirement, just three months after his debut, due to continued harassment from the IRS.
06-06-1956: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Frank Valois wrestled Manuel Cortez to a Draw… Ron Etchison defeats Mike Paidousis… Yvon Robert defeats Paul Baillargeon… Edouard Carpentier defeats Don Leo Jonathan by DQ 2 falls to 1.
06-07-1956: JWA: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall: NWA World tag team champions Ben & Mike Sharpe drew Rikidozan & Kokichi Endo. Attendance was 15,000.
Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Fuzzy Cupid & Sky Low Low defeat Lord Littlebrook & Tiny Tim… Ike Eakins wrestled Pat Flanagan to a time limit draw… Prince Maivia defeats Larry Hamilton… Dick Hutton defeats Aldo Bogni… NWA World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson wrestled Pat O'Connor to a curfew draw.
06-21-1956: Vince McMahon’s pro wrestling television show begins airing on WABD channel 5 in New York City. The television program revitalizes wrestling in the New York market.
07-06-1956: Chicago, IL: International Amphitheater: Attendance 8,853: Angelo Poffo defeats Don Pollack… The Sheik of Araby defeats Warren Bockwinkel… Bill Melby defeats Benito Gardini… The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) defeat Dick the Bruiser & Hans Schmidt by DQ in 2 falls… Lou Thesz wrestled NWA United States champion Wilbur Snyder to a 1 hour draw.
07-18-1956: In Montreal, QB, Canada: Delorimier Stadium drawing 23,227: Little Beaver & Brown Panther beat Sky Low Low & Fuzzy Cupid… Manuel Cortez drew Ernie Dusek… Yvon Robert beat Emil Dusek… Bobby Managoff drew Don Eagle… Don Leo Jonathan beat Frank Valois… Antonino Rocca drew Eduardo Carpentier.
Buck Weaver dies as the result of a heart attack suffered during a match in Montpelier, IN two days earlier.
La Sombra Vengadora Contra La Mano Negra (The Avenging Shadow Against the Black Hand) movie is released. It is he sequel to the April 1956 La Sombra Vengadora movie.
07-23-1956: Edmonton Gardens: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Attendance 6,000 (sellout): Adrien Baillargeon defeats Sammy Menacker… John Paul Henning defeats Ted Christy… Stu Hart defeats Dick Hrstich… NWA World Women's tag team champions Bonnie Watson & Penny Banner defeat June Byers & Mars Bennett 2 falls to 1… Hard Boiled Haggerty defeats Mighty Ursus… NWA World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson wrestled Pat O'Connor to a Time Limit Draw after splitting one fall each.
07-26-1956: Tommy Rich (Thomas Richardson) is born.
08-04-1956: El Gladiator (Luis Ramirez), a former top Mexican bodybuilder, defeats El Santo in Mexico City for the Mexican National Middleweight title. El Santo had held the title since 1946. This win marked the high point in El Gladiator’s career as he was gunned down a few years later in a Mexican bar.
Milwaukee, WI: County Stadium: Attendance 16,069: Bill Melby defeats Benito Gardini… Women's Battle Royal: Ada Ash defeats Lorraine Johnson, Ramona TeSelle, Raymonde Coty, and Rose Roman… NWA Chicago World tag team champions The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) defeat Hans Schmidt & Dick The Bruiser 2 falls to 1… Antonino Rocca defeats Angelo Poffo 2 falls to 1… Verne Gagne defeats NWA United States Heavyweight (Chicago version) champion Wilbur Snyder by DQ 2 falls to 1. Special Referee: Jack Dempsey.
08-06-1956: Washington, DC: Griffith Stadium: Attendance 8,262: Fifi Cortez & Slave Girl Moolah defeat Judy Grable & Pat Shelly… Skull Murphy defeats Angelo Martinelli… Dick Steinborn defeats Billy Red Lyons… Great Scott wrestled Killer Kowalski to a Double DQ… Hans Schmidt wrestled Verne Gagne to a No Contest… Antonino Rocca defeats Karl von Hess 2 falls to 1.
08-08-1956: Montreal, Canada: Delorimier Stadium: Attendance 20,139: Frank Valois wrestled Mike Paidousis to a draw… The Dusek Brothers (Emil & Ernie Dusek) wrestled Billy Darnell & Larry Moquin to a draw… Don Eagle defeats Mr. Hito… Bobby Managoff defeats Don Leo Jonathan by DQ… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Wladek (Killer) Kowalski wrestled Edouard Carpentier to a no contest. After splitting one fall each the main event ended when the referee took a bump and was injured.
08-15-1956: In Montreal, QB, Canada: Delorimier Stadium drawing 21,454: Eduardo Carpentier beat Montreal World champion Killer Kowalski via DQ. Rocky Marciano was the referee.
09-08-1956: Boxing champion Archie Moore knocks out wrestler Roy Shire in a boxer verses wrestler match in Ogden, UT.
09-14-1956: El Santo regains the Mexican National Middleweight title from El Gladiator in Mexico City.
Chicago, IL: International Amphitheater: Attendance 8,223: Joan Ballard defeats Jean Noble… Don Pollack defeats Benito Gardini… Bill Melby wrestled Carl Engstrom to a 30-minute draw… Angelo Poffo defeats Mighty Atlas… Verne Gagne & Antonino Rocca & Wilbur Snyder defeats Dick the Bruiser & The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) 2 falls to 1.
09-18-1956: Jack Pfeiffer holds a women’s world title tournament in Baltimore, MD which is won by Fabulous Moolah (then known as Slave Girl Moolah). The title is originally an outlaw belt but eventually becomes recognized internationally and Moolah becomes one of the foremost women wrestlers ever.
San Francisco, CA: Winterland Arena: Attendance 5,434: Pete Peterson wrestled Ramon Cernandes to a Time Limit Draw… Johnny Barend defeats Pedro Godoy… Enrique Torres & Ronnie Etchison wrestled The Sharpe Brothers (Ben Sharpe & Mike Sharpe) to a Time Limit Draw… NWA World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz by DQ 2 falls to 1.
09-19-1956: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,000: Billy Darnell wrestled Mike Paidousis to a Draw… Hard Boiled Haggerty defeats Larry Moquin… Ramon Torres defeats Joe Christie by DQ… Don Leo Jonathan wrestled Yvon Robert to a Double DQ… Antonino Rocca wrestled Wladek (Killer) Kowalski to a Double Count Out after splitting one fall each.
09-21-1956: Ricky Morton is born. He is son of wrestler Paul Morton.
EMLL: 23rd Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Mexico drawing 17,678: El Santo beat El Gladiator in a mask vs. mask match.
09-26-1956: Ladron De Cadaveres (The Corpse thief) movie is released. A wrestler accepts the challenge of a monstrous wrestler in order to solve a murder mystery.
10-03-1956: In Athens, Greece: Panathenaic Stadium drawing 40,000: Jim Londos beat Jim Wright.
10-15-1956: The United States of America verses National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Civil Action No. 3-729 is filed before Judge William F. Riley in Des Moines, IA. The U.S. government is officially taking action against the NWA for antitrust violations. Despite the ruling against the NWA, little actually changes.
10-19-1956: Rene Guajardo defeats El Santo for the NWA World Middleweight title in Monterrey, Mexico.
10-20-1956: In Canton, OH at Memorial Hall: NWA World heavyweight champion Whipper Watson beat Buddy Rogers by DQ.
11-09-1956: Lou Thesz defeats Whipper Billy Watson in St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium to regain the NWA World heavyweight title by count out. Attendance 9,000: Carlos Moreno wrestled Rocky Monroe to a 15 minute draw… Billy Darnell & Dr. Lee Grable defeat The Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Joe Dusek) 2 falls to 1… Mighty Ursus defeats Chest Bernard & Emil Dusek in 2 falls… Tex McKenzie defeats Sky Hi Lee… NWA World champion Lou Thesz defeats Whipper Billy Watson to win the World title by count out.
11-14-1976: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,307: Little Beaver & Lord Littlebrook defeat Fuzzy Cupid & Ivan The Terrible… Angelo Savoldi wrestled Frank Valois to a Time Limit Draw… Manuel Cortez defeats Joe Christie… Don Leo Jonathan defeats Ramon Torres… Edouard Carpentier wrestled Hard Boiled Haggerty to a Double DQ after splitting one fall each.
11-21-1956: Buffalo, NY: Memorial Auditorium: Attendance 11,221: Dick Hutton defeats Steve Stanlee… Buddy Rogers defeats Ilio DiPaolo by count out… Yukon Eric defeats Sky Hi Lee… Wilbur Snyder wrestled Verne Gagne to double count out… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Karl Karlsson… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Baron Gattoni.
11-22-1956: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 11,000: Gene Kiniski defeats Maurice LaPointe… Bobby Managoff defeats Joe Christie… Buddy Rogers defeats Shag Thomas… The Brunetti Brothers (Guy Brunetti & Joe Brunetti) defeat The Gallagher Brothers (Doc Gallagher & Mike Gallagher)… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz wrestled Whipper Billy Watson to a curfew draw.
11-23-1956: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,985: Billy Darnell defeats Rocky Monroe… Luther Lindsay defeats Charlie Hoover… Penny Banner defeats Betty Hawkins… Edouard Carpentier defeats Joe Christie… Wladek (Killer) Kowalski & Buddy Rogers defeats Mighty Ursus & Billy Watson 2 falls to 1.
11-24-1956: Milwaukee, WI: Auditorium: Attendance 9,112: Paul Bunyan defeats Hans Hermann… Angelo Poffo defeats Bill Melby 2 falls to 1… Wilbur Snyder defeats Dick the Bruiser by DQ… The Volkoff Brothers (Boris Volkoff & Nicoli Volkoff) defeat NWA Chicago World Tag Team champions The Lisowski Brothers (Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski) 2 falls to 1 to win the titles.
11-26-1956: Vince McMahon (Senior) promotes his first card at Madison Square Garden headlined by Antonino Rocca and Dick the Bruiser. The crowd is reported to be a disappointing 10,400. This is the first show at Madison Square Garden in almost a year. Antonino Rocca defeated Dick the Bruiser… Hans Schmidt defeated Dick Steinborn… Mr. Moto defeated Jackie Fargo… Skull Murphy battled Great Scott to a draw… Lord Littlebrook & Little Beaver defeated Fuzzy Cupid & Ivan the Terrible… Cowboy Rocky Lee defeated Harry Lewis… Miguel Perez defeated Kenny Ackles.
12-14-1956: Dr. Jerry Graham defeats Bobby Wepner for the Southern title in Atlanta, GA.
Houston, TX: Sam Houston Coliseum: Attendance 9,000: Larry Chene defeats Lee Henning… Sam Steamboat defeats Duke Keomuka by DQ… Pepper Gomez wrestled The Amazing Zuma to a Time Limit Draw… Luther Lindsay defeats Tiger Conway… Bull Curry defeats Stu Gibson… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz wrestled El Medico to a Time Limit Draw after splitting one fall each.
12-19-1956: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Len Hughes wrestled Manuel Cortez to a 20 minute draw… Larry Moquin defeats Joe Christie… Paul Baillargeon defeats Frank Valois… Hard Boiled Haggerty defeats Don Leo Jonathan by count out… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Wladek Kowalski wrestled Edouard Carpentier to a curfew draw after splitting one fall each.
12-27-1956: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 8,500: Timothy Geohagen wrestled Sky Hi Lee to a Time Limit Draw… Gene Kiniski defeats Mark Lewin… Pat O'Connor defeats Maurice LaPointe… The Brown Panther & Lord Littlebrook defeat Ivan The Terrible & Irish Jackie… Buddy Rogers defeats Whipper Billy Watson by DQ.
El Santo
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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