When Wrestling Was Rasslin'

by Birkholz, Wrestling Promoter Peter

  Other stars of Houston Wrestling that year were Gypsy Joe, Jack O’Reilly, Al Costello, Alo LeiLani, Ted Christy, Ray Stern, Bobby Lane, Lord Carlton, Eddie Gossett, Jean Baillargeon, Aldo Bogni, Bud Curtis, Chris Tolos, Johnny Kostas, Dutch Hefner, Juan Humberto, Johnny James, Jim Wright, Roger McKay, Spider Al Galento, Kurt the Prussian, Kay Bell, Luis Martinez, Chico Casasola, Stu Gibson, Pablo Romero, and Ray Stevens.

  Sigel was very good about starting a new year with a spectacular event or the debut of a rising star. 1954 was no exception. Houston Wrestling witnessed the emergence of Samoan Prince Ulu Tele Maivia. Prince Maivia was first in a long list of wrestling superstars from a famous Samoan family that later introduced Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson, and Duane Johnson, better known as “The Rock.”

  Dick Hutton, a protégé of Ed “Strangler” Lewis who would later become World Heavyweight Champion, invaded the Houston mat wars during that period. Mike Dibiase, a great wrestler and father of future superstar Ted Dibiase, also came to Houston that year. Tragically, Dibiase later died from injuries sustained in the wrestling ring. Angelo Poffo, another name on this impressive list, made it into Ripley’s Believe It or Not by doing 6,033 consecutive sit-ups. Joe Blanchard is also notable, as he became the Texas Heavyweight champion, and was the father of superstar Tully Blanchard. Tosh Togo was a colorful Japanese star who established his reputation in professional wrestling and the movies, playing the villain Odd Job in the classic James Bond movie Goldfinger.

  One of the most interesting matches of the year took place on September 17, 1954, when Joe Blanchard faced Jack Adkisson. While that night they battled in the Houston Wrestling ring, years later they did battle in a vicious promotional war!

  Other stars making their first appearance that year were Jack “Sockeye” McDonald, Sugi Sito, Count Rossi (manager of Chris and John Tolos), Larry Chene, Joe Scarpello, Ilio Di Paulo, George Drake, Roy Shires, Joe “Killer” Christy, Polo Torres, Billy Darnell, and The Sheik of Araby.

  In the Houston Wrestling promotional office, matchmaker Frank Burke was playing a more visible role by doing an excellent job, and also because Morris Sigel was facing medical issues. The Houston Wrestling promotion continued to be a family business, since Burke was related to Sigel.

  As 1955 unfolded, Houston Wrestling fans enjoyed bouts between many of the perennial stars of previous years in both single and tag team action. The year involved numerous tag team showdowns featuring top Japanese stars Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto against a parade of popular Mexican stars, including a young wrestler by the name of Pepper Gomez.

  Gomez made his debut on April 29, 1955, after months of publicity that left Houston Wrestling fans eager to see his performance. Pepper had great credentials and, more importantly, he was managed and trained by Blackie Guzman. Fans were not disappointed, as Gomez was slated in the main event against Duke Keomuka. He beat the established “heel,” much to the shock and delight of the fans.

  Gomez was the number one star in 1955, as he quickly went on to win the Texas Heavyweight Championship and had several shots at World Heavyweight Champion, Lou Thesz. Gomez also developed his own version of the “stomach claw,” which made his rivalry against Duke Keomuka a fierce one all year long.

  Houston Wrestling fans also saw the arrival of Leo Nomellini, who was the talk of the wrestling world since he seemed to be following in the footsteps of legendary Bronko Nagurski. Nomellini was a football star at University of Minnesota, just like Nagurski, and went on to play professional football with the San Francisco 49’ers. When he entered the wrestling mat wars, he pulled a big upset over World Heavyweight Champion, Lou Thesz. However, the historic victory was by disqualification, so Thesz remained the World Heavyweight Champion. There were numerous return matches all across the nation and even in Houston, but Thesz proved over and over again that he was the rightful World Heavyweight Champion.

  Gentleman Ed Frances won the World Junior Heavyweight Title and defended the belt in Houston on several occasions. Frances later became a wrestling promoter in Hawaii and brought his two sons into the business. His oldest boy, Russ Frances, became a favorite in Hawaii and on the west coast. He also played professional football for the San Francisco 49’ers, where he was an All-Pro tight end and one of Hall of Famer quarterback Joe Montana’s favorite receivers.

  Hard-Boiled Haggerty invaded the Houston Wrestling with his own gimmick. He challenged whoever he met with a harsh, “Want to fight?” His publicity photos featured Haggerty mixing it up with boxing legends Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. Fans did not like him, but they respected his toughness.

  Maurice Vachon, better known as Mad Dog Vachon, also saw action for the first time in the Houston ring that year. So did Tonina, a Mexican wrestling and movie star who made a great impression with the Mexican wrestling fans. He was one of the first in a line of Mexican wrestling and movie stars who gained fame in the Houston Wrestling ring, a list that also included El Santo and Mil Mascaras.

  Other interesting combatants that season were men like Joe (Not the Senator) McCarthy. Recall that since these were the fifties, the Joe McCarthy Red Scare hearings were taking place in the nation's capital. The wrestler made sure his publicity photos and press releases included the much needed disclaimer. Every time his name was in print, “(Not the Senator)” was included in parenthesis. Houston Wrestling fans also watched the debut of Jack Laskin; billed as the greatest Jewish wrestler in the country.

  Other Houston debuts that year included Rocky Colombo, strongman Tony Baillargeon, Don Eagle, Billy Two Rivers, Jimmy Carter (No relation to the future President), six-foot eight-inch Tarzan Mike, Hombre Montana, beautiful Renato El Hermoso, Leo Garibaldi, Tony Martin, Raul Zapada, Rey Urbano, Johnny Rougeau, Pierre La Salle, Ronnie Etchison, Ray Piret, The Mongol, Wilbur Synder, Bozo Brown, Doug Donovan, Hurricane Hans Hermann, Tony Borne, and Jim Dobie.

  In recent years, flamboyant billionaire Donald Trump has learned that he can make even more money with his colorful “firings” on his television show The Apprentice. The Houston Wrestling promotion has also had some very colorful “firings,” including one which holds a very special spot in the folklore of Houston Wrestling.

  It started with the debut of Don Eagle, a popular wrestler managed by his father, War Eagle. Don made money wrestling in the ring, while War Eagle set up his teepee in the lobby and sold Indian merchandise, including souvenirs of his son Don. The problem was that he infringed on the rights of the local wrestling promoters, and even more troublesome, he infringed on the marketing rights of arena concessionaires.

  Matchmaker Frank Burke, who was responsible for the booking office operations of the Houston Wrestling promotion, found himself surrounded by angry promoters and concessionaires from many wrestling towns in the Houston territory. They threatened lawsuits if Burke could not stop War Eagle's souvenir operations.

  Frank Burke tried to reason with War Eagle several times and negotiate a solution, but War Eagle would not budge and continued to set up his teepee wherever his son was wrestling. Burke got into a shouting match with War Eagle in the Houston Wrestling dressing room one night, and according to Paul Boesch, Frank screamed, “You and your son are fired! Pack up your teepee and merchandise and get the hell out of here. I have got feathers coming out of my ass!” Trump that one, Donald!

  In typical Sigel fashion, 1956 began with another event designed to wow the crowds, as he signed World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz to defend his title against the World Negro Champion Luther Lindsey. The World Titles of professional wrestling were still segregated in 1956, but with this historic match, Sigel again demonstrated that he was a pioneer in the area of equal rights. Lindsey was an outstanding athlete, billed as “The Joe Louis of Professional Wrestling.” Just as Louis help tear down the walls of prejudice in the boxing ring, Lindsey was determined to do the same in wrestling. He did not beat Thesz that night, but his performance conveyed a message to the wrestling world that change was coming.

  Several Houston Wrestling debu
ts in 1956 featured future superstars. One highlighted Gene Kelly, a football and wrestling star who was six foot, five inches tall, and weighed over 270 pounds. Kelly later changed his last name to Kiniski and defeated Lou Thesz for the World Title.

  Another notable event was the appearance of Dr. Jerry Graham, who would become one of wrestling’s most explosive stars. He was best known for his days in the old WWF, when some of his matches ended in riots.

  Houston’s own Tiger Conway Sr. made his debut on September 21, 1956, upsetting “Tex” Grady for the Texas Heavyweight Negro title. For the next thirty years, Tiger Sr. was a favorite with Houstonians, both in the wrestling ring and outside the squared circle, because of his efforts to help the people of Houston. He often attended charitable events and made appearances at the veterans' hospital. Whenever there was a call to support others, he was there.

  The Houston Wrestling program of March 23, 1956, headlined the news that Lou Thesz had been defeated, handicapped by a broken elbow, and the new World Champion was Whipper Billy Watson. This upset took place in the Maple Leaf Gardens before more than fifteen thousand wrestling fans. The special referee was Jack Dempsey.

  Lou Thesz returned from his injury and defeated Whipper Watson on November 9, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri. Thesz was also busy training his new protégé, Sam Steamboat, who hailed from Hawaii and made his Houston Wrestling debut that year.

  Jim LaRock, a member of the 1952 United States Olympic wrestling team, was also featured in Houston. LaRock was a sensational scientific wrestler, and challenged anybody to step in the ring with him. It did not matter if the challenge was answered by someone in the dressing room or someone in the audience. In the wrestling program, Sigel offered $250 to anybody who could beat LaRock in a fifteen-minute match. Many fans tried, but nobody could beat LaRock. This was another example of Sigel’s flair for showmanship. While these bouts against fans must have been exciting to watch, personal injury lawyers would likely discourage such promotions in these days of expensive lawsuits.

  On September 21, 1956, fans also witnessed the most explosive brain-busting debut of the year, with masked Mexican Superstar, El Medico. His “brain buster” was a maneuver in which El Medico jumped high into the air, and viciously drove his elbow into the head of his opponent. Often the other wrestler was knocked unconscious. El Medico then caused a riotous scene by brain-busting television announcer Paul Boesch, and anyone else who got in his way. Wrestlers, referees, and some of Houston’s finest had to contain the non-English speaking grappler, and since the event was televised, it had Houston wrestling fans in a tizzy all week long. I still remember the night El Medico used the “brain buster” on my father, who was working security. My brothers, friends, and I saw it on television, and stayed up just to feel the bump on my father’s head when he came home.

  The next Friday night, thousands of Houston Wrestling fans converged to see the masked Mexican Wildman in action. El Medico did not disappoint, and commenced to dominate the main event spot. While fans did not like him, they sure did fear him! Favorites like Pepper Gomez, Bull Curry, Danny McShane, Duke Keomuka, and others were ready to battle El Medico, who became a Houston Wrestling legend.

  Many other stars also made their first appearances that year, including the Amazing Zuma, Ramon Torres, Nanjo Singh, Skull Murphy, Manuel Cortez, Alvero Velazco, Sammy Berg, Luigi Macera, Len Hughes, Bill Savage, George Drake, Jack Vansky, Ricky Waldo, Red Donovan (who came to join his brother Doug), Robin Hood, Suni War Cloud, Len Crosby, the Great Bolo, Herbie Freeman, and the Elephant Boy.

  The first big Houston Wrestling story of 1957 featured El Medico and Pepper Gomez teaming up to win the Texas Tag Team championship belts. That news was trumped by their more explosive bust-up, a savage feud that turned wild and bloody. The rivalry set records for action in the ring, and sales at the box office. Pepper Gomez was a primary contender for the Texas Heavyweight Championship belt, and he was a top contender for the World Heavyweight Title held by Lou Thesz. Gomez and Thesz had several fantastic showdowns, yet Thesz barely escaped with his title each time. The rivalry became more explosive when Ed “Strangler” Lewis, longtime friend and manager of Thesz, switched from Thesz’s corner to Gomez’s corner. Wrestling fans were stunned, certain that Lewis' knowledge would help Gomez win the World Title. While that event did not occur, it led to Sigel and Houston Wrestling having a banner year.

  This time was also marked by the entrance of a young Mexican star, Jose Lothario, on January 4, 1957. Lothario became quite popular, but did not remain in Houston due to prior commitments. He would return years later, and become one of Houston Wrestling’s all-time greats.

  Fans were also introduced to several giants of professional wrestling, including six foot, six inch Don Leo Jonathan, who weighed 280 pounds, and Big Tex McKenzie, who was six feet nine inches tall and weighed 285 pounds. Don Leo Jonathan went on to win the Texas Heavyweight title and compete for the World Title against Thesz on several occasions. Country Boy Calhoun, who weighed over 552 pounds and hailed from Arkansas, was another huge grappler who came to Houston and later became the famous Haystacks Calhoun.

  Other noteworthy debuts that year include high-flying Red Bastien, Ivan the Terrible (who won the Texas Heavyweight Championship on his debut), and Bill Melby, who not only won his scheduled match against Duke Keomuka on his first night of wrestling, but substituted for an injured Pepper Gomez and won the Texas Heavyweight Championship.

  Nicky Bockwinkel, son of wresting star Warren Bockwinkel, made his debut on July 12, 1957, against Joe Blanchard. Bockwinkel would later dominate Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association, holding the AWA World Championship belt on several occasions. As you may remember, Bockwinkel would go on to play a crucial role in the final chapters of the Houston Wrestling promotion.

  Lenny “Bull” Montana first wrestled in Houston on November 1, 1957. He was six feet six inches tall, weighed 320 pounds,and became known for his role in Francis Ford Coppola’s historic movie The Godfather. Montana played Luca Brasi, the hit man employed by Don Corleone. As the story goes, when Lenny had to act out the intense choking scene in which he was assassinated, he was able to do it in one take. This shocked Coppola, but Montana reminded the Oscar-winning director that he had been making his living as a professional wrestler for many years, so the skill came naturally to him. Lenny Montana made a great Luca Brasi!

  Mexican sensation and legendary El Santo also came on the scene that year, and was already dominating the Mexican professional wrestling and movie business. When he came to Houston Wrestling, Mexican wrestling fans brought their entire families, including several generations.

  El Santo made his debut on Sigel’s biggest card of 1957, since the promoter was celebrating his 41st year in Houston Wrestling. The record-setting event took place in the Sam Houston Coliseum, which was also air conditioned, unlike the City Auditorium. That night Thesz defended his World Heavyweight Championship against El Medico, and the supporting card featured Johnny Valentine against Negro Heavyweight Champion Luther Lindsey, Pepper Gomez against Don Leo Jonathan, Nicky Bockwinkel against Duke Keomuka. To show his appreciation for the support Houston Wrestling fans had given him over forty years, Sigel lowered the ticket price to ninety cents, which drew a turn-away crowd of over eleven thousand.

  The program of November 29, 1957, informed fans that Thesz had lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Dick Hutton in Toronto in front of a sell-out crowd of over ten thousand Canadian wrestling fans. Remember that Hutton was the young star that Ed “Strangler” Lewis, friend and manager of Thesz, trained for a career in professional wrestling. Even Thesz helped the promising Hutton when he was first breaking into the business. Some mat experts wonder if Hutton beat Thesz, or if Thesz “handed” him the belt. Only Thesz would ever know for sure, and unfortunately the legend is gone.

  Another interesting event that year occurred when Channel 13 tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Houston Wrestling television show by adding another w
restling show to their lineup, one that aired late Sunday afternoon. The new show featured the workouts of various wrestling stars, but did not last long. Fans didn't want to see fitness routines, they wanted to see action.

  Other wrestlers who first stepped inside the Houston Wrestling ring that year included Judo Jack Terry, Thor Hagan Lee Henning, Bill Fletcher, Cuban star Chico Amaro, Tokyo Joe, Jim Blood, Bennie Matta, “Pet” Brown, Jim Hady, Fritz Von Ulm, Juan Garcia, Chet Wallick, Rip Rogers, Con Bruno, Ike Eakins, Reggie Parks, Czaya Nandor, Nikita Zolotoff, Paul of France, Marco Polo, Kurt Von Pappenheim, Doc Gallagher, Crusher Dugan, Johnny Walker, Danny O’Shocker, Gypsy Joe, Brother Frank Jares, and Billy King.

  The headline of the Houston Wrestling program of January 3, 1958 read “New Faces Feature First Card of Year!” A record six new stars debuted that night. Promoter Morris Sigel and Matchmaker Frank Burke were reloading with a new slate of talent. Casey McShane, brother of Danny McShane, was one of the top stars. The McShane brothers were one more tag team added to an impressive list. Jesus Cardenas, another new Mexican wrestler, stood six feet five inches, and weighed over 325 pounds. Up to that time, he was the biggest Latin American wrestler to enter the Houston mat wars.

  It did not take long for the hot feuds of 1957 to continue in the new year. One between Johnny Valentine and Bull Curry had endured for months, as both wrestlers delighted in calling each other “jackass” on the Houston Wrestling television show. Sigel shrewdly signed the two to a showdown, the loser of which would have to ride a jackass named Old Speedy around the ring. The quote of the year came from Irish Danny McShane, who exclaimed, “There will be three jackasses in the ring. The only trouble is that the donkey, Old Speedy, is the only one smart enough to realize that he is a jackass.” Bull Curry lost the match and suffered the resulting humiliation. Old Speedy refused to comment.