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Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1966

By: Karl Stern

The year 1966 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.

1966

01-07-1966: Gene Kiniski defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA World heavyweight title in St. Louis, MO in front of 11,612 fans. Lou Thesz last run as NWA World heavyweight champion lasted 1,079 days.

01-09-1966: AWA: St. Paul, MN: Auditorium: Attendance 8,846: Larry Heiniemi defeats Bob Morgan… Chris Tolos defeats Ivan Kalmikoff… Harley Race defeats Eddie Sharkey… Reggie Parks defeats Larry Hennig by DQ… The Crusher defeats Chris Markoff & Steve Druk in a handicap match… AWA World Heavyweight champion Mad Dog Vachon defeats Mighty Igor Vodik (Dick Garza).

Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (sellout): Joe Carollo wrestled The Butcher (Don Jardine) to a Draw… Lonnie Mayne wrestled Mr. Moto to a Draw… Jack Lanza defeats Art Michalik… Judy Grable defeats California Women's champion Linda Carroll to win the title… Texas Death Match: Gorilla Monsoon defeats Luke Graham… WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales wrestled El Mongol to a Time Limit Draw after splitting one fall each.

01-14-1966: Mario Galento defeated Dale Lewis in a hair verses $1000 cage match in Atlanta, GA.

01-18-1966: Dave Batista is born.

01-19-1966: WWWF: Baltimore, MD: Civic Center: Attendance: 7,189: Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Chief Big Heart… Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Jamaica Kid defeated Fuzzy Cupid & Sky Low Low… Angelo Savoldi pinned Tony Altimore… Curtis Iaukea defeated Gino Brito & Arnold Skaaland in a handicap match… Tarzan Tyler defeated US champion Bobo Brazil via count-out… WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino & Johnny Valentine defeated WWWF US Tag Team champions Bill & Dan Miller.

01-23-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,126: Don Savage wrestled Joe Carollo to a Draw… Mr. Moto defeats The Mummy (Benji Ramirez)… Jack Lanza defeats The Butcher (Don Jardine)… Bill Watts defeats Art Michalik… El Mongol & Gorilla Monsoon defeated WWA World Tag Team champions Lonnie Mayne & Luke Graham 2 falls to 1 to win the titles… WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales wrestled Ray Stevens to a Double Count Out after splitting one fall each.

01-24-1966: WWWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 12,354: WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna… Johnny Valentine & Bobo Brazil defeated Bill & Dan Miller… The Beast (John Yachetti) defeated Chief Big Heart… Prince Iaukea (AKA: King Curtis) defeated Magnificent Maurice… Tarzan Tyler defeated Miguel Perez… Antonio Pugliese (AKA: Tony Parisi) defeated Smasher Sloan… Angelo Savoldi battled Pete Sanchez to a draw.

02-04-1966: Al Costello & Louie Tillet defeated The Medics to win the vacant “world” tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,454: Ken Hollis defeats Gus Kalas… Betty Nicoli defeats Jean Antone… Wilbur Snyder defeats Alex Perez… The Funk Brothers (Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk) defeat Dick the Bruiser & Lee Henning… Fritz Von Erich & Moose Cholak defeat Bobby Managoff & Johnny Powers… NWA World Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeats Cowboy Bob Ellis by referee stoppage after taking one fall of the match.

02-09-1966: Nashville, TN: Fairgrounds Coliseum: Attendance 6,672: Jackie Fargo & Ken Hollis wrestled Medic 1 & Tomayo Soto to a Time Limit Draw… Eddie Graham & Sam Steamboat defeat NWA World Tag Team champions (Gulas version) Hiro Matsuda & Kanji Inoki by DQ 2 falls to 1… NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team champions Alex Perez & Tojo Yamamoto defeat Len Rossi & Mario Milano 2 falls to 1 to win the titles.

02-11-1966: Eric & Karl Von Brauner defeated Al Costello & Louie Tillet for the “world” tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

02-13-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,263: Mr. Moto defeats Art Michalik… Bill Watts defeats The Spoiler (Don Jardine)… Holly Howard defeats Nellie Yetts… Gorilla Monsoon defeats Jack Lanza… WWA World Tag Team champions Alberto Torres & Thunderbolt Patterson wrestled Lonnie Mayne & Luke Graham to a Draw… WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales defeats El Mongol by referee stoppage for blood.

02-15-1966: Nashville, TN: Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum: Attendance 6,738: Ken Hollis wrestled The Red Terror to a Draw… Rita Cortez defeats Sara Lee… Eric Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner (w/Saul Weingeroff) defeat Haystacks Calhoun & Jackie Fargo by Count Out 2 falls to 1… Len Rossi & Mario Milano defeat NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team champions Alex Perez & Tojo Yamamoto 2 falls to 1 to win the titles. Jackie Fargo was special referee.

02-19-1966: San Francisco, CA: Cow Palace: Attendance 9,842: Jim Hady defeats Fritz Von Goering… Bob Boyer defeats Terry Garvin… Luis Hernandez & Luis Martinez defeat Buddy Austin & The Spoiler (Vince Montana)… Gorilla Monsoon defeats Rene Goulet… Bill Watts defeats AWA San Francisco United States champion Kinji Shibuya by referee stoppage for blood 2 falls to 1 to win the title… AWA San Francisco World tag team champions The Blond Bombers (Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens) wrestled Bobo Brazil & Bearcat Wright to a time limit draw after swapping one fall each.

02-21-1966: WWWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 14,303: WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna… Argentina Apollo defeated Tarzan Tyler… Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) defeated Bill & Dan Miller… Prince Iaukea (King Curtis) defeated Chief Big Heart… The Beast (John Yachetti) defeated Miguel Perez… Smasher Sloan defeated Ronnie Etchison… Magnificent Maurice defeated Johnny Carr.

03-04-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,895: Angelo Poffo defeats Corsica Joe… Joe Tangaro defeats Alex Perez… Dan Plechas wrestled Terry Funk to a Time Limit Draw… Dory Funk Jr. defeats The Viking (Bob Morse)… Ernie Ladd & Johnny Powers defeat Lee Henning & Moose Cholak in 2 straight falls… Texas Death Match: Referee: Bobby Bruns… Dory Funk Sr. defeats Dick The Bruiser… Fritz Von Erich defeats Bob Ellis.

03-05-1966: AWA: St. Paul, MN: Auditorium: Attendance 8,450: Eddie Sharkey defeats Juan Zendejas… Ivan Kalmakoff defeats Steve Druk… Chris Tolos defeats Larry Heiniemi… Mighty Igor Vodik defeats Chris Markoff by DQ… Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher defeat AWA World tag team champions Harley Race & Larry Hennig in a non-title match.

Big Time Wrestling: Cobo Arena: Detroit, MI: Attendance 10,500: Art Thomas & Fred Curry wrestled Mr. X & The Student (George Steele) to a Draw… The Mighty Yankees (Moose Evans & Bob Stanlee) defeat Man Mountain Cannon & Ricky Cortez… Don McClarty defeats Paul DeGalles… Bill Miller defeats Chief White Owl & Mike Loren in a handicap match… Ernie Ladd & Lord Layton defeat The Volkoff Brothers (Boris Volkoff & Nicoli Volkoff)… Bobo Brazil defeats Bulldog Brower… Steel Cage Match: Mark Lewin defeats Killer Karl Kox.

03-09-1966: Nashville, TN: Fairgrounds Coliseum: Attendance 7,080: The Sheik defeats Bob Hamby… Alex Perez & Tojo Yamamoto defeat Jack Brisco & Len Rossi 2 falls to 1… Haystacks Calhoun & Jackie Fargo & Mario Milano defeat Eric Von Brauner & Karl von Brauner & Saul Weingeroff by Count Out 2 falls to 1.

03-17-1966: Chief Don Eagle dies of a gunshot wound at his home at the Caughnawaga Indian Reserve.

03-18-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,617: Mario Milano defeats Danny Dusek… Dan Plechas defeats Victor Rivera… Sonny Myers defeats Alex Perez… Dory Funk Jr. wrestled Lee Henning to a Time Limit Draw… Bob Ellis & Pat O'Connor defeat Great Goliath (Moose Evans) & The Crusher 2 falls to 1… Ernie Ladd defeats Moose Cholak… Lou Thesz defeats Johnny Powers.

Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (sellout): Beatnik Bill defeats Dave Cox… Jack Lanza defeats Art Michalik… Maria Deleon defeats Verne Bottoms… Mr. Moto defeats Nikita Mulkovitch… WWA World Tag Team champions Alberto Torres & Thunderbolt Patterson defeat Buddy Austin & The Mighty Atlas… Gorilla Monsoon defeats WWA Brass Knuckles champion El Mongol to win the title.

03-19-1966: AWA: St. Paul, MN: Armory: Attendance 8,647: George Drake defeats Guy Taylor… Chris Tolos defeats Eddie Sharkey… Chris Markoff defeats Mark Starr… AWA World Heavyweight champion Mad Dog Vachon defeats Wilbur Snyder by Count Out… Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher defeat AWA World Tag Team champions Harley Race & Larry Hennig by DQ 2 falls to 1.

03-25-1966: The Medics defeated Karl & Eric Von Brauner to win the “world” tag team titles in a No DQ match in Atlanta, GA.

03-28-1966: WWWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 10,859: WWWF heavyweight champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Prince Iaukea (King Curtis)… U.S. tag team champions Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) defeated Bill & Dan Miller… Bobo Brazil battled Baron Mikel Scicluna to a draw… Argentina Apollo defeated Smasher Sloan… The Sheik defeated Ronnie Etchison… The Beast (John Yachetti) defeated Johnny Carr… Chief Big Heart defeated Magnificent Maurice… Miguel Perez defeated Angelo Savoldi.

03-31-1966: El Espectro del Estrangulador (The Specter of the Strangler) movie is released. A sequel to Santo vs. El Estrangulador. The corpse of El Estrangulador is stolen from the morgue.

04-01-1966: The Infernos defeated Bobby Shane & Mario Galento to win the Southern tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,844: Guy Mitchell wrestled The Viking (Bob Morse) to a Time Limit Draw… Joe Tangaro defeats Hercules Graham by DQ… Dory Funk, Jr. defeats Taro Myaki… Dick the Bruiser defeats Sonny Myers… Johnny Powers wrestled Pat O'Connor to a Time Limit Draw… Ernie Ladd & Bob Ellis defeated The Great Goliath & Moose Cholak 2 falls to 1… NWA World Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeats Fritz Von Erich 2 falls to 1.

04-02-1966: Sheik's Big Time Wrestling: Detroit, MI: Cobo Arena: Attendance 8,975: The Volkoff Brothers (Boris Volkoff & Nicoli Volkoff) defeat Chief White Owl & Gino Brito… Lou Klein defeats Mr. X by DQ… Ricky Cortez defeats Jerry Mayburg… Bill Miller defeats Roy McClarty… Ernie Ladd & Lord Layton defeat The Mighty Yankees (Mighty Yankee 1 & Mighty Yankee 2) by DQ… Killer Karl Kox & The Sheik defeat Bobo Brazil & Mark Lewin by count out.

04-08-1966: NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeated Klondike Bill to retain the title in Atlanta, GA.

04-14-1966: Profanadores De Tumbas (Defilers of Tombs) movie is released. El Santo does battle with a mad scientist creating a monster.

04-15-1966: Los Endemoniados Del Ring (The Damned of the Ring) movie is released. The first in a series of films about a pair of wrestlers called El Angel (The Angel) and Satan, who team up to fight corruption in Wrestling.

04-17-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,227: Nikita Mulkovitch defeats Rick Renaldo… Jack Lanza defeats The Mighty Atlas… Princess Tona Tomah defeats La Santa… Mae Young defeats Kathy Starr… Chain Match: Bobo Brazil defeats Gorilla Monsoon… Buddy Austin & El Mongol defeat WWA World Tag Team champions Alberto Torres & Thunderbolt Patterson 2 falls to 1 to win the titles.

04-30-1966: Vince McMahon’s WWWF television show ends on WNEW and for the first time in a decade WWWF has no television in New York. The Madison Square Garden shows are suspended for eight months. By August, a new station WOR-TV 9 is airing tapes from WWWF again.

05-06-1966: A tournament is held in Atlanta, GA to crown new Southern tag team champions: The Infernos defeated the Scufflin’ Hillbillies... Bobby Shane & Chief Crazy Horse defeated Billy & Bad Boy Hines... Enrique & Alberto Torres defeated Jack Vansky & Swede Karlson... The Medics defeated Derrell Cochran & Jack Pesek... Enrique & Alberto Torres defeated The Infernos... The Medics defeated Bobby Shane & Chief Crazy Horse... Enrique & Roberto Torres defeated The Medics to win the Southern tag team title tournament... Southern champion Buddy Fuller battled Louie Tillet to a no contest.

St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,850: Angelo Poffo defeats Johnny Kace… Terry Funk defeated The Viking (Bob Morse)… Mario Milano defeats Moose Cholak by DQ… Cowboy Bob Ellis defeats Lee Henning… Ernie Ladd wrestled Fritz von Erich to a 20 minute draw… Lou Thesz & Pat O'Connor defeats Dick The Bruiser & Gene Kiniski 2 falls to 1.

05-09-1966: Birmingham, AL: Municipal Auditorium (future Boutwell Auditorium): Attendance 5,913 (largest crowd in over 10 years): Princess Ubangi defeats Sweet Georgia Brown… Cyclone Soto & Omar Atlas wrestled Tojo Yamamoto & Tomayo Soto Time Limit Draw after splitting one fall each… NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team champions Len Rossi & Mario Milano defeat Doug Lindsay & Treach Phillips 2 falls to 1.

05-14-1966: FA Cup Final Day Wrestling Special 1966 In Brent Town, UK: Brent Town Hall: Shown on ITV: Rikki Starr beat Steve Logan… Bert Royal & Vic Faulkner beat Daniel Aubriot & Gil Cesca… Mick McManus defeated Alan Dennison.

Detroit, MI: Cobo Arena: Attendance 8,541: Fred Curry & Gino Brito defeat Bob Nandor & Mr. X… Ivan Kalmikoff defeats Man Mountain Cannon… Ricky Cortez & The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) defeat Art Thomas & Lou Klein… Little Beaver defeats Sky Low Low… The Student (George Steele) defeats Chief White Owl… Bobo Brazil & Mark Lewin defeat The Volkoff Brothers (Boris Volkoff & Nicoli Volkoff)… Bill Miller defeats Ernie Ladd by DQ… Bob Ellis defeats NWA United States champion The Sheik by DQ.

05-20-1966: La Mano Que Aprieta (The Hand that Squeezes) movie is released. Part two in the Angel and Satan lucha libre movie series. They take on organized crime.

05-27-1966: Louie Tillet defeated Buddy Fuller for the Southern title in Atlanta, GA.

Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (Sellout): Bruce Kirk wrestled The Mighty Atlas to a Draw… Jack Lanza defeats Art Michalik… Thunderbolt Patterson defeats Nikita Mulkovitch… Luis Hernandez defeats Bob Boyer… Bearcat Wright & Bobo Brazil defeat WWA World Tag Team champions Buddy Austin & El Mongol by DQ… WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales defeats Frank Shields (AKA: Bad Boy Shields / Bull Bullinsky) 2 falls to 1.

06-03-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,804: Joe Tommaso defeats Thor Hagen… Sonny Myers wrestled Joe Blanchard to a no contest… The Funk Brothers (Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk) defeat Moose Cholak & Dan Plechas 2 falls to 1… Mario Milano defeated Ivan Volkoff… Ernie Ladd & Bob Ellis & Pat O'Connor defeat Fritz Von Erich & Dick The Bruiser & Moose Evans… NWA World Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski wrestled Lou Thesz to a time limit draw after splitting one fall each.

06-10-1966: The Infernos defeated The Medics to win the held up “World” tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (sellout): Darling Dagmar defeats Diamond Lil… The Mighty Atlas wrestled Thunderbolt Patterson to a Draw… El Mongol & Lonnie Mayne defeat Jack Lanza & Luis Hernandez… Nikita Mulkovitch wrestled The Baby Destroyer to a Draw… WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales defeats Stan Neilson… Bobo Brazil defeats Buddy Austin by referee blood stoppage.

06-17-1966: Buddy Fuller defeated Louie Tillet in a Texas Death Match to win the Southern title in Atlanta, GA. On the same show Enrique & Alberto Torres defeated The Infernos to win the “World” tag team titles.

In Pittsburgh, PA: Forbes Field: Smasher Sloan & Waldo Von Erich & Bulldog Brower beat Argentina Apollo & Ace Freeman & Bob Nandor… Baron Mikel Scicluna drew Bobo Brazil… Johnny Valentine & Johnny DeFazio beat Bill Miller & Ron Etchison… Hurricane Hunt drew Jim Grabmire… Antonio Pugliese beat Arnold Skaaland… WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino beat Prince Iaukea (King Curtis Iaukea) in a "Hawaiian strap" match.

06-18-1966: JWA: in Kawasaki, Japan: Kawasaki Baseball Stadium drawing 15,000: Hishakaku Otsubo beat Gantetsu Matsuoka… Kotetsu Yamamoto beat Akihisa Takachiho (AKA: Great Kabuki)… Iwakichi Hirano beat Kazuo Homma… Kotetsu Yamamoto won a six man battle royal… Kantaro Hoshino beat Raizo Kojika…. Karl Kox beat Yoshinosato… Duke Keomuka beat Joe Carrolo… Giant Baba beat Don Chuy… JWA All-Asian tag team champions Hiro Matsuda & Michiaki Yoshimura drew Eddie Graham & Sam Steamboat.

06-23-1966: Cada Quien Su Lucha (To Each Their Wrestling) movie is released. A part of the long-running film career of comedian "Capulina." This film is notable because it was written by Roberto Gomez Bolanos "Chespirito." The most famous Latin American writer and comedic actor of the 20th Century. Best known to American audiences for the character of "El Chapulin Colorado," which inspired the Simpsons character of Bee Man.

06-24-1966: NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeated Buddy Fuller by DQ in Atlanta, GA.

07-01-1966: NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeated Buddy Fuller in Atlanta, GA.

07-17-1966: Dr. Wagner defeated Raul “Moritas” Reyes in a hair vs mask match in Mexico City.

07-08-1966: Enrique & Alberto Torres (Southern tag team champions) defeated The Infernos to win the “European” tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

07-10-1966: In Toronto, Canada at Maple Leaf Stadium in front of 6,000 fans: Whipper Billy Watson & Bulldog Brower defeated The Masked Yankees (Bob Stanlee & Moose Evans) and unmasked them… Fred Atkins & Tiger Singh defeated Johnny Valentine & Georgios Kanelos… Little Beaver & Cowboy Bradley defeated Sky Low Low & Irish Jackie… The Beast went to a draw with the Caped Crusader… Rocky Johnson defeated Bob Leipler… Johnny Kostas defeated Jungle Jim Starr.

07-15-1966: The Infernos (“World” tag team champions) defeated Enrique & Alberto Torres for the “European” tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

07-22-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (sellout): The Mighty Atlas defeats Len Hughes… Professor Ito defeats Lonnie Mayne… Chief Big Heart wrestled The Magnificent Maurice to a Draw… Luis Hernandez & Mr. Moto wrestled The Vigilantes (Vigilante 1 & Vigilante 2) to a Draw… Bobo Brazil defeats The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) by DQ in 2 falls… Buddy Austin defeats WWA World Heavyweight champion Pedro Morales but does not win the title. Austin took the only fall in a one hour match but because the match was 2/3 falls he did not win the title.

07-25-1966: In Pittsburgh, PA: Forbes Field: Frank Holtz beat Ron Etchison via DQ… Bill Miller beat Prince Iaukea (King Curtis Iaukea)… Little Beaver & Jamaica Kid beat Sky Low Low & Little Brutus… Baron Mikel Scicluna beat Arnold Skaaland… Bob Nandor drew Jim Grabmire… Johnny Valentine beat WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino via DQ.

08-05-1966: Buddy Austin defeats Pedro Morales for the WWA World title in Los Angeles, CA. Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,261: The Mighty Atlas defeats Don Savage… Professor Ito defeats Art Michalik… The Magnificent Maurice defeats Chief Big Heart… The Vigilantes (Jerry & Bobby Christy) defeat Luis Hernandez & Mr. Moto… Bobo Brazil defeats The Hangman (Gene LeBell)

08-06-1966: Vince and Linda McMahon get married.

08-08-1966: Legendary multi-time World heavyweight champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis dies at the age of 75.

08-19-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (Sellout): Chief Big Heart defeats Broadway Venus… Professor Ito defeats Rick Renaldo… Fritz Von Goering wrestled Mr. Moto to a Draw… The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) wrestled The Magnificent Maurice to a Draw… WWA World Tag Team champions Luis Hernandez & Pedro Morales defeat The Vigilantes (Jerry & Bobby Christy) by referee's decision… WWA World champion Buddy Austin wrestled Bobo Brazil to a time limit draw after splitting one fall each.

Enrique & Alberto Torres defeated The Infernos to win the Southern, “World”, and “European” tag team titles and The Infernos had to leave town- Atlanta, GA.

08-20-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 12,205: Angelo Poffo defeats Tamayo Sato… Betty Nicoli defeats Mae Goodson… Joe Tangaro defeats The Viking… Eddie Graham defeats Tommy Phillips… Dory Funk Sr. wrestled Bob Geigel to a draw… Hercules Graham defeats Sonny Myers & Whipper Billy Watson in a handicap match… Pat O'Connor & Bobby Managoff defeats Moose Evans & Moose Cholak 2 falls to 1… Dory Funk Jr. defeats Fritz von Erich… Lou Thesz defeats The Crusher.

WWWF tapes from Washington DC tapings begin airing in New York on WOR-TV channel 9.

In Pittsburgh, PA: Forbes Field: Little Beaver & Cowboy Bradley beat Sky Low Low & Fuzzy Cupid… Johnny DeFazio & Antonio Pugliese beat Baron Gattoni & Jim Grabmire… Mr. Kleen beat Prince Iaukea (King Curtis Iaukea) via DQ… Bulldog Brower beat Benny Lima & Nick DePaulo in a handicap match… Chief White Owl beat The Beast… Hurricane Hunt beat Bull Gannon… WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Johnny Valentine.

In Indianapolis, IN in front of 7,000 fans: Dick the Bruiser battled NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski to a draw… Wilbur Snyder & Luis Martinez defeated The Assassins (Jody Hamilton & Tom Renesto)… Cowboy Bob Ellis battled The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) to a double DQ… Chris Markoff defeated Roger Dolly… Mitsu Arakawa defeated Johnny Kace… Toni Rose defeated Princess Little Cloud.

08-22-1966: Birmingham, AL: Municipal Auditorium: Attendance 6,386: Darling Dagmar defeats Diamond Lil… Lou Thesz defeats Ronnie Etchison 2 falls to 1… Len Rossi & Mario Milano & Tom Drake defeat The Mad Mongol & Tojo Yamamoto & Tomayo Soto 2 falls to 1.

08-25-1966: El Hijo de Huracan Ramirez (The Son of Huracan Ramirez) movie is released. The son of the legend puts on the mask. This is the first movie where the title character is played by the actual wrestler.

08-27-1966: JWA: in Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Stadium: Kantaro Hoshino beat Gantetsu Matsuoka… Kotetsu Yamamoto beat Hideyuki Nagasawa… Mighty Atlas beat Yoshinosato via DQ… JWA All Asian tag team champions Giant Baba & Michiaki Yoshimura beat The Vigilantes (Bobby & Jerry Christy).

Birmingham, AL: Municipal Auditorium (future Boutwell Auditorium): Record attendance of 6,477: Ronnie Etchison & Tom Drake defeat The Mad Mongol & Tojo Yamamoto by DQ 2 falls to 1… Luis Garcia defeats Charlie Laye… The Blue Infernos (Blue Inferno 1 & Blue Inferno 2) defeat Len Rossi & Mario Milano 2 falls to 1.

09-02-1966: Bobo Brazil wins the WWA World title from Buddy Austin in Los Angeles, CA when the match is stopped due to bleeding by Austin. Attendance 10,241: Professor Ito defeats Chief Big Heart… Betty Lopez defeats Mae Young… Fritz Von Goering & Mike Paidousis wrestled Luis Hernandez & Pedro Morales to a Draw… The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) defeats The Magnificent Maurice

EMLL 33rd Anniversary Show 1 of 2: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Mexico: Rene Guajardo beat Felipe Ham Lee in a hair vs. hair match… Jerry London beat Karloff Lagarde in a hair vs. hair match.

09-14-1966: In Nashville, TN in front of 5,022 fans: NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeated Jackie Fargo by DQ… Tojo Yamamoto & Tamaya Soto defeated Len Rossi & Mario Milano to retain the Southern tag team titles… Jose Moto defeated Charlie Lay… Karl Von Brauner defeated Gus Kalis… Giant Evans battled Al Costello to a draw… Moose Evans defeated Luke Graham in an Indian Strap match.

09-16-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,995: The Viking (Bob Morse) defeats Thor Hagen… Lorenzo Parente defeats The Mongol… Bob Geigel defeats Timothy Geohagen… Sonny Myers wrestled Hercules Graham to a Time Limit Draw… Fritz Von Erich defeats The Funks (Terry Funk & Dory Funk Sr.) by DQ in a handicap match… Bob Ellis & Johnny Valentine defeat Moose Cholak & Johnny Powers 2 falls to 1… NWA World Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeats Dory Funk Jr. by referee stoppage 2 falls to 1.

09-23-1966: Louie Tillet & Butcher Vachon defeated Enrique & Alberto Torres to win the Southern tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) and Ed McLemore open Southwest Promotions, Inc. They split off from Houston booking agent Morris Sigel.

09-30-1966: EMLL 33rd Anniversary Show 2 of 2: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Mexico: Rene Guajardo beat Jerry London in a hair vs. hair match.

10-02-1966: Rodney Anoia (AKA: Yokozuna) is born.

10-07-1966: Butcher Vachon defeated Alberto Torres in a loser leaves town match in Atlanta, GA.

St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,410: Angelo Poffo wrestled Jack Donovan to a Time Limit Draw… Chris Markoff defeats Luis Martinez… Sweet Daddy Siki defeats Dan Plechas… Wilbur Snyder defeats Mitsu Arakawa… Pat O'Connor defeats Johnny Powers… Dick The Bruiser defeats Hercules Graham in a Texas Death match… The Funk Brothers (Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk) defeat Fritz Von Erich & The Crusher 2 falls to 1.

10-08-1966: Mitsu Arakawa defeated Dick the Bruiser for the Indiana version of the WWA World title.

10-12-1966: Tokyo Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall: Attendance: 10,500: Hiroshi Nakagawa beat Katsuhisa Shibata… Masao Kimura beat Haruka Eigen… Iwao Takeshita beat Isamu Teranishi… Tadaharu Tanaka beat Sankichi Takasakiyama… Masked Hercules (Bobby Graham) beat Masanori Saito… Dean Higuchi & Toyonobori beat Sonny Myers & Johnny Powers via DQ… Antonio Inoki beat Johnny Valentine via countout.

10-13-1966: Former World heavyweight champion Sandor Szabo dies of a heart attack at age 60.

10-14-1966: Lou Thesz defeated Buddy Austin for the WWA World title in Los Angeles, CA.. Attendance 10,147. The Pasadena Independent says Standing Room Only crowd of 11,263: Pedro Morales defeats Joe Flores… El Shereef defeats Chief Big Heart… Luis Hernandez defeats Gorilla Marconi… Lita Marez defeats Mae Young… Bobo Brazil & Mark Lewin & The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) defeat El Mongol & Hard Boiled Haggerty & The Magnificent Maurice.

NWA World heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeated Butcher Vachon by DQ in Atlanta, GA.

10-21-1966: Enrique & Ramon Torres defeated Butcher Vachon & Louie Tillet to win the Southern tag team titles in Atlanta, GA.

In Pittsburgh, PA: WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.

10-22-1966: In St. Paul, MN in front of 5,496 fans: Verne Gagne defeated The Alaskan… Killer Kowalski defeated Blackjack Lanza… Larry Hennig & Harley Race defeated Reggie Parks & Doug Gilbert… Billy Red Cloud and Big K battled to a draw… Jim Raschke (AKA: Baron Von Raschke) defeated Paul Caruso.

10-28-1966: Mark Lewin wins the WWA World title from Lou Thesz in Los Angeles, CA. Olympic Auditorium. Attendance 10,204… The Magnificent Maurice defeats Gorilla Marconi… The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) defeats El Mongol… Buddy Austin defeats Haystacks Calhoun… California State Women's champion Lita Marez defeats Mae Young… El Shereef (Jerry Woods) & Hard Boiled Haggerty defeat WWA World Tag Team champions Luis Hernandez & Pedro Morales to win the titles.

11-05-1966: JWA: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall: Kantaro Hoshino beat Akihisa Takachiho… Mitsu Hirai beat Bob Boyer… George Cannon bet Kumagoro Okuma… Kintaro Oki beat Gorilla Monsoon via countout… JWA All Asian tag team champions Giant Baba & Michiaki Yoshimura beat Mike Paidousis & Fritz Von Goering to win the NWA International tag team titles.

11-07-1966: WWWF returns to Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY for the first time in eight months. Attendance: 14,159: WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bulldog Brower… Bobo Brazil battled Bill Miller to a draw… Baron Mikel Scicluna & Smasher Sloan defeated Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) & Louis Cerdan (Gino Brito)… El Toro (Jess Ortega) defeated Miguel Perez… Argentina Apollo defeated Roberto Gonzalez… Little Beaver & Jamaica Kid defeated Sky Low Low & Billy the Kid… Tank Morgan defeated Ricky Sexton… Mr. Kleen (Ernest Bemis) defeated Tony Nero.

11-11-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 11,267: El Mongol wrestled The Magnificent Maurice - Draw… Mr. Moto defeats Bandito Lopez… Nick Bockwinkel wrestled Rip Miller - Draw… Victor The Bear defeats The Hangman… WWA World Tag Team champions El Shereef & Hard Boiled Haggerty defeat Luis Hernandez & Pedro Morales… WWA World Heavyweight champion Mark Lewin wrestled Buddy Austin - Time Limit Draw after swapping one fall each.

11-12-1966: Dick the Bruiser defeated Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World heavyweight title in Omaha, NE.

11-19-1966: Mad Dog Vachon regains the AWA World heavyweight title from Dick the Bruiser in Omaha, NE.

Tokyo Pro Wrestling: in Osaka, Japan: Osaka Baseball Stadium drawing 14,000: Antonio Inoki beat Johnny Valentine in three falls to win the Toronto-based U.S. title.

11-25-1966: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 11,892: Lorenzo Parente defeats Jose Betancourt… Lee Henning defeats Ronnie Etchison… Dory Funk, Sr. defeats Joe Tomasso… Wilbur Snyder defeats Chris Markoff… Waldo von Erich & The Crusher defeated The Funk Brothers (Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr.) 2 falls to 1… Lou Thesz defeated Hercules Graham… NWA World Heavyweight champion Gene Kiniski defeats Dick the Bruiser 2 falls to 1.

12-03-1966: JWA: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 15,300: Gankichi Hirano pinned Masayuki Fujii… Kiyotaka Otsubo pinned Gentetsu Matsuoka… Shinya Kojika battled Akihisa Takachiho to a double count out… Kantaro Hoshino pinned Kotetsu Yamamoto… Luis Hernandez pinned Yoshinosato… Kintaro Oki & Michiaki Yoshimura beat Eddie Morrow & Tarzan Zorro (Hans Mortier) to win the vacant JWA All-Asian tag team titles… NWA International champion Giant Baba beat Fritz Von Erich.

12-09-1966: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: More than 11,000: Killer Karl Kox defeats Lou Anthony… Killer Karl Kox defeats Don Savage… Mr. Moto & Paul Diamond defeat El Mongol & The Magnificent Maurice… Bobo Brazil defeats El Shereef… WWA World Heavyweight champion Mark Lewin defeats Buddy Austin.

12-12-1966: WWWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 12,029: WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Tank Morgan… Bobo Brazil & Argentina Apollo & Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) defeated Bill Miller & El Toro (Jess Ortega) & Baron Mikel Scicluna. This appears to be the first ever six man tag team match at Madison Square Garden… Bulldog Brower defeated Miguel Perez… Luke Graham defeated Louis Cerdan (Gino Brito)… Spiros Arion defeated Smasher Sloan… The Sheik defeated Ricky Sexton… Arman Hussain defeated Tony Nero… Angelo Savoldi defeated Roberto Gonzalez.

Yoshihiro Asai (AKA: Ultimo Dragon) is born.

12-27-1966: Bill Goldberg is born.

Gene Kiniski

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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