Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1949
By: Karl Stern
The year 1949 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1949
01-1949: Paul Boesch announces he will begin televising wrestling shows in Houston, TX.
01-14-1949: In Chicago at the International Amphitheater: Attendance: 9,486 for a Fred Kohler promoted show.
St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,579: Larry Moquin battled Rebel Russell to a 20 minute draw… Al Lovelock defeats Lou Bernard… Rene Florent defeats Ellis Bashara… Antonio Rocca defeats Jack Moore… NWA World champion Lou Thesz defeats Enrique Torres.
01-27-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Billy Hanson defeats Johnny Marrs… Pat Flanagan wrestled Prince Mihalakis to a 20-minute draw… Ray Villmer defeats Joe Marsh… Masked Marvel & Sandy O'Donnell & Sky Hi Lee defeats Mr. X (Earl McCready) & Whipper Billy Watson & Fred Atkins by count out.
01-28-1949: Wild Red Berry defeats Dizzy Davis for the Texas title in Houston.
St Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 12,496: Warren Bockwinkel defeats Howard Cantonwine… Larry Moquin wrestled Al Lovelock to a 20-minute draw… Rene Florent defeats Jack Moore… Antonino Rocca defeats Ellis Bashara… Enrique Torres defeats Rebel Russell… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Gorgeous George by Count Out.
02-04-1949: Sam Muchnick promoted show in St. Louis draws 10,651 for a Buddy Rogers verses Don Eagle match.
02-09-1949: Gorgeous George (George Wagner) wins a court case preventing Milwaukee area wrestler Joe Arena from using the name “Gorgeous George”.
02-10-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Prince Mihalakis wrestled Paul Stanlee to a 20 minute draw… Pat Flanagan defeats Johnny Marrs… Earl McCready wrestled Billy Hanson to a 30 minute draw… The Sharpe Brothers (Mike Sharpe & Ben Sharpe) defeat Sandy O'Donnell (Ray Eckert) & Al Korman… $500 Challenge Match:
Masked Marvel (Lew Reynheer) defeats Whipper Billy Watson by DQ.
02-17-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 14,000: Pat Flanagan defeats Paul Stanlee… Ben Sharpe defeats Johnny Marrs… Ben Morgan wrestled Earl McCready to a 30 minute draw… Fred Atkins & Ray Villmer defeat Al Korman & Sandy O'Donnell… British Empire Heavyweight Title verses Mask verses Billy Watson's Retirement Match with special referee Ed “Strangler” Lewis: Billy Watson defeats The Masked Marvel (Lew Reynheer)
02-22-1949: The first wrestling show in eleven years is held at New York’s Madison Square Garden featuring Gorgeous George defeating Ernie Dusek in front of 4,197 fans. Also on the show: Golden Superman (Walter Podolak) defeated Angelo Savoldi… George Becker defeated Emil Dusek… Ray Schwartz (AKA: Bobby Becker) defeated Tony Cosenza… Tony Martinelli defeated Howard Cantowine… Wilbur Nead defeated Ivan Kameroff (AKA: Boris Volkoff)… Marvin Mercer battled Kaimon Kudo to a draw… Leonard Butch Levy defeated Lew Laird.
02-25-1949: Ric Flair (Richard Morgan Fliehr) is born.
St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,932: Ellis Bashara defeats Bobby Nelson… Joe Dusek battled Warren Bockwinkel to a 20 minute draw… Rene Florent defeats Wee Willie Davis by DQ… Frederick Von Schacht defeats Larry Moquin… Al Lovelock battled Enrique Torres to a 30 minute draw… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Antonino Rocca.
03-09-1949: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Dick Trout wrestled Mel Peters to a draw… Woody Strode defeats Angelo Cistoldi… Sandor Szabo defeats Tony Morelli… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Danny McShain wrestled Enrique Torres to a time limit draw after splitting one fall each… Primo Carnera defeats Karl Davis in 2 falls.
03-10-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 8,500: Earl McCready defeated Abe Yourist... Fred Atkins defeated Whipper Billy Watson by DQ... Mike Sharpe defeated Ben Morgan... Pat Flanagan defeated Mike Mihalakis... Al Korman wrestled Paul Stanlee to a draw.
03-16-1949: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,000: Ray Eckert defeats Joe Devalteau… Fred Atkins defeats Francois Lachapelle… Felix Miquet defeats Fred Von Schacht… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats The French Angel (Maurice Tillet) by referee stoppage after splitting one fall each.
03-24-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens; Toronto, ON: Attendance: 5,500: Earl McCready & Larry Moquin defeated Al Korman & Ray O’Donnell... Fred Atkins defeated Mike Sharpe... Lew Reyhneer wrestled Ray Villmer to a draw... Willie Davis defeated Frank Valois... Billy Hansen defeated Abe Yourist.
03-25-1949: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,466: Vic Holbrook defeats Joe Dusek… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Ellis Bashara… Fred Von Schacht defeats Bobby Nelson… Mike Mazurki wrestled Mike Sharpe to a Draw… Enrique Torres defeats Dutch Hefner… Primo Carnera defeats Bill Longson by Count Out.
03-26-1949: Verne Gagne defeats Dick Hutton to win the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship. Hutton would, however, win a third NCAA title in 1950.
03-30-1949: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (Sellout): Dick Trout wrestled Frank Garza to a draw… The Black Panther (Jim Mitchell) defeats Joe Marsh… Jesse James defeats Mel Peters… Woody Strode defeats Al Billings… Special Referees: Tiny Roebuck & Joe Louis: Sandor Szabo & Bobby Managoff defeat George Koverly & Lord James Blears 2 falls to 1.
03-31-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 7,500: Fred Atkins defeated Whipper Billy Watson by count out... Ray Villmer defeated Frank Valois... Al Korman & Ben Morgan defeated Cardiff Giant & Paul Stanlee... Earl McCready wrestled Sandy O’Donnell to a draw... Willie Davis wrestled Larry Moquin to a draw.
04-01-1949: Detroit, MI: Olympia Stadium: Attendance 9,472: Lou Klein defeats Jim Spencer… Ivan Kalmikoff defeats Walter Achiu… Wladek Kowalski defeats Jack Moore… Argentina Rocca defeats Charro Azteca in 2 falls… Jim Londos wrestled Primo Carnera to a Time Limit Draw.
04-06-1949: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Frank Garza wrestled Miguel Torres to a draw… Wladyslaw Talun defeats Mel Peters… Woody Strode defeats Dave Levin… George Koverly wrestled Sandor Szabo to a 30 minute draw… Gorgeous George defeats Lord Blears 2 falls to 1.
Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,500: Joe Christie wrestled Wee Willie Davis to a Double DQ… Billy Hanson wrestled Lew Laird to a Time Limit Draw… Fred Atkins defeats Bobby Nelson… Primo Carnera defeats Ray Eckert in 2 falls.
04-07-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto, ON: Attendance: 6,500: Earl McCready defeated Frank Valois by DQ... Cardiff Giant defeated Ben Morgan... Mike Sharpe wrestled Lew Reyhneer to a draw... Pat Flanagan wrestled Larry Moquin to a draw... Mike Mihalakis wrestled Al Korman to a draw.
04-14-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,500: Fred Atkins wrestled Whipper Billy Watson to a draw. Special referee: Ed “Strangler” Lewis... Ray Villmer defeated Ben Morgan... Sandor Szabo wrestled Billy Hansen to a draw... Ben Sharpe wrestled Willie Davis to a draw.
04-17-1949: in Karachi, Pakistan: National Polo Grounds drawing 100,000: Bholu Pahalwan beat Younus Gujranwala to become the first Pakistan champion. Governor General Khawaja Nazimuddin was in attendance.
04-19-1949: Kansas City, MO: Memorial Hall: Attendance 8,223: Fred Blassie defeats Jules LaRance… Billy Darnell defeats Pete Schuh… World Women's champion Mildred Burke defeats Mae Weston 2 falls to 1… NWA World Heavyweight champion Orville Brown defeats Buddy Rogers by count out.
04-22-1949: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,129: Dutch Hefner defeats Ed Virag… Emil Dusek wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a 20 minute draw… Felix Miquet defeats Fred Von Schacht… Al Lovelock wrestled Mike Mazurki to a Time Limit Draw… Primo Carnera defeats Bill Longson by DQ… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Enrique Torres.
Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,000: Ray Villmer defeated Fred Atkins... Mike Sharpe wrestled Willie Davis to a draw... Lew Reyhneer wrestled Larry Moquin to a draw... Billy Hansen defeated Ben Morgan by DQ... Ben Sharpe wrestled Sandy O’Donnell to a draw.
04-26-1949: Jerry “Crusher” Blackwell is born.
04-29-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,000: Whipper Billy Watson defeated Ray Villmer... Willie Davis defeated Mike Sharpe... Cardiff Giant defeated Ben Sharpe... Ben Morgan wrestled Billy Hansen to a draw... Pat Flanagan wrestled Art Brady to a draw.
05-03-1949: Verne Gagne makes his pro wrestling debut at the Minneapolis, MN Auditorium in front of 2,724 fans defeating Abe Kashey.
05-18-1949: Promoter Eddie Quinn: Montreal, Canada: Forum: Attendance 10,000: Angelo Savoldi wrestled Kola Kwariani to a 30-minute draw… Felix Miquet wrestled Sandor Szabo to a 30-minute draw… Larry Moquin defeats Fred Von Schacht by DQ… Antonino Rocca defeats Rebel Russell… Non-Title Match (one fall): Yvon Robert defeats Whipper Billy Watson. Somehow, it had been agreed upon that Montreal World Champion, Billy Watson would face Robert in a one-fall match. However, the athletic commission said it had to be 2/3 falls for a title match, and it was made non-title
05-20-1949: In a wrestling match in Italy, wrestler Adi Berber dies after receiving a broken neck.
05-21-1949: Cliff Gustafson retires while holding an off-shoot version of the NWAssociation World title. That world title claim is now abandoned. The title had been recognized by Tony Stecher who was a founding member of the National Wrestling Alliance, but he allowed Gustafson to retire with this version of the championship despite recognizing the NWA World title for almost a year.
05-28-1949: Tarzán López (Carlos Lopez) defeated Mike Kelly in Mexico City, Mexico to win the NWAssociation World Middleweight title.
06-09-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,500: Whipper Billy Watson defeated Willie Davis... Tug Carlson defeated Sandy O’Donnell... Al Lovelock defeated Sky Hi Lee... Cardiff Giant wrestled Billy Hansen to a draw... Al Korman defeated Art Brady.
06-23-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens; Toronto, ON: Attendance: 5,500: Fred Atkins wrestled Billy Watson to an 80 minute draw... Tug Carlson defeated Sky Hi Lee by DQ... Al Lovelock defeated George O’Malley by count out... Mike Sharpe wrestled Willie Davis to a draw... Ben Sharpe wrestled Frank Hewitt to a draw.
07-01-1949: Cavernario Galindo (Rodolfo Galindo) defeats Tarzan Lopez in Mexico City for the EMLL National lightweight title. Lopez had held the title since 1947. Galindo eventually becomes an actor.
07-07-1949: George Bollas defeats Buddy Rogers for the Jack Pfeffer Ohio version of the World title in Toledo, OH.
07-15-1949: Tom Mahoney defeats Al Massey in Atlanta, GA to win the Southern title.
07-24-1949: In Waterloo, IA: NWA World heavyweight champion Orville Brown drew with Otto Kuss.
07-29-1949: Pinkie George, Orville Brown, Al Haft, Wally Karbo, Sam Muchnick, and Lou Thesz meet at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel in Columbus, OH to settle the St. Louis promotional war. There would be a match between Lou Thesz and Orville Brown with the winner unifying the NWAlliance and NWAssociation World titles. Frank Sexton would meet the winner. Membership into the NWA was also extended to several other promoters including Fred Kohler, Paul Bowser, Morris Sigel, and Toots Mondt.
07-31-1949: In Waterloo, IA: NWA World champion Orville Brown beat Otto Kuss.
08-08-1949: Former French wrestling champion Ivan “The Terrible” Maximovich Podubny dies in Moscow.
08-18-1949: Dave Levin wins the Ohio version of the World title from George Bollas in Toledo.
Toronto, Canada: East York Collegiate Stadium: Attendance: 6,000: Whipper Billy Watson defeated Wladek (Killer) Kowalski by count out... Plus other matches with unknown results: Sky Hi Lee vs. Tom Rice... Abe Zvonkin vs. Pat Flanagan... Billy Hansen vs. George O’Malley... Al Korman vs. Herb Larson.
09-01-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,000: Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeated Sky Hi Lee by DQ... Mike & Ben Sharpe defeated Al Korman & George O’Malley... Tug Carlson defeated Abe Zvonkin... Dan O’Connor wrestled Pat Flanagan to a draw.
09-08-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,000: Whipper Billy Watson defeated Fred Atkins by DQ... Mike & Ben Sharpe wrestled Sky Hi Lee & Al Korman to a draw... Seelie Samara defeated Dan O’Connor by DQ... Tug Carlson defeated George O’Malley.
09-15-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Al Korman wrestled Tug Carlson to a 20 minute draw… Seelie Samara defeats George O'Malley… Pat Flanagan defeats Jim Henry by DQ… Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeats Dan O'Connor… British Empire Heavyweight Champion Whipper Billy Watson defeated Fred Atkins.
09-16-1949: The Red Menace (Bill Cazzell) wins the Southern title from Don McIntyre in Atlanta, GA.
09-18-1949: Lizmark (Juan Banos) is born in Lano Grande, Mexico.
09-21-1949: Montreal, Canada: Forum: Promoter Eddie Quinn: Attendance 9,500: Eddie Auger defeats Joe Christie by DQ… Manuel Cortez wrestled Ovila Asselin to a 20-minute draw… Fred Atkins defeats Frank Valois… Lou Thesz & Whipper Billy Watson defeat Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert by Count Out 2 falls to 1.
09-26-1949: The first Southern (Florida area) champion is crowned when Danny Dusek wins a tournament final over Pedro Godoy in Tampa, FL. The group is promoted by Homer Hesterly and Bill Sallade. It is later sold to Clarence “Cowboy” Luttrell, then to Eddie Graham (Gossett), and ultimately to Duke Keomuka and Hiro Matsuda.
09-29-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 5,000: Whipper Billy Watson & Pat Flanagan defeated Fred Atkins & Jim Henry... Ben Sharpe defeated Hard Boiled Hannigan by DQ... Seelie Samara defeated Al Korman... Antone Leone wrestled Bill Stack to a draw.
09-30-1949: EMLL: 16th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Coliseo: Jack O'Brien beat Roy Landru… Enrique Llanes beat Wolf Rubinsky… Tarzan Lopez & Bobby Bonales beat El Santo & Gori Guerrero.
10-12-1949: Stan “The Lariat” Hansen is born.
10-13-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 6,000: NWAssociation World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Fred Atkins by DQ... Seelie Samara defeated Jim Henry... Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeated Tiger Tasker... Mayes McLain wrestled Angelo Cistoldi to a draw... Antone Leone wrestled Frank Taylor to a draw.
10-26-1949: Austin Idol (Dennis McCord) is born.
El Satanico (Daniel Lopez) is born in Guadalajara, Mexico.
10-27-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: 6,000: Yvon Robert defeated Wladek (Killer) Kowalski... Al Lovelock wrestled Sky Hi Lee to a draw... Yukon Eric defeated Faro Renaldi... Jim Henry defeated Dan O’Connor... Al Korman wrestled Tiger Tasker to a draw.
10-28-1949: Ad Santel Promotions: Oakland CA: Auditorium: Attendance 6,500: Bobby Becker wrestled Kay Bell to a Time Limit Draw… George Pencheff defeats Hank Metheny… George Becker wrestled Ray Eckert to a Time Limit Draw after splitting one fall each… AWA World Heavyweight champion Frank Sexton defeats Billy Hanson by referee's decision after winning the only fall in the match.
10-29-1949: No Me Defiendas Compadre (No Defend Me Buddy) - A part of the long-running comedy series of movies by German "Tin Tan" Valdes is released. This one features the main character working as a wrestler as he tries to avoid going to jail.
11-01-1949: National Wrestling Alliance World heavyweight champion Orville Brown is seriously injured in a car accident along with Bobby Bruns. The car they are riding in hits a stalled tractor trailer near Eaglesville, MO.
11-02-1949: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 8,000: Baron Michele Leone defeated Terry McGinnis.
Eddie Quinn Promotion: Montreal Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Steve Stanlee defeats Les Ryan… Nanjo Singh defeats Frank Hurley… Henri Vermeersch defeats Tiger Tasker… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yukon Eric defeats Bobby Managoff 2 falls to 1.
11-03-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto, ON: Attendance: 9,000: Yvon Robert defeated Billy Watson by DQ... Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeated Jim Henry by count out... Yukon Eric defeated Al Korman... Frank Taylor wrestled George O’Malley to a draw... Angelo Cistoldi wrestled Toar Morgan to a draw.
11-17-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto, ON: Attendance: 10,000: Whipper Billy Watson defeated Yvon Robert by DQ to win the British Empire title. Special referee: Ed “Strangler” Lewis... Yukon Eric defeated Frank Taylor... Joe Christie wrestled Toar Morgan to a draw... Pat Flanagan wrestled Steve Stanlee to a draw... Angelo Cistoldi defeated George O’Malley.
11-24-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance "Almost 10,000": Kay Bell defeats Al Korman… Al Lovelock defeats Buddy Drummond… Sky Hi Lee defeats Toar Morgan… Yukon Eric defeats Wee Willie Davis… NWA British Empire Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Yvon Robert by DQ with special referee: Max Baer.
11-25-1949: The unification match between National Wrestling Alliance World champion Orville Brown and National Wrestling Association World champion Lou Thesz doesn’t take place due to the serious injuries suffered by Brown in a car accident. A meeting takes place in St. Louis presided over by Ed “Strangler” Lewis. A championship committee is formed which names Thesz champion to represent the Alliance.
Danno O’Connor wins the Southern title from Don McIntyre in Atlanta, GA.
11-27-1949: The NWA awards the World heavyweight title to Lou Thesz.
11-29-1949: Jerry “The King” Lawler is born.
Dutch Mantell is born.
12-03-1949: In Mansfield, OH: AWA World champion Frank Sexton beat Fred Bozic.
12-08-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto, ON: Attendance: 10,000: Fred Atkins defeated Yukon Eric by count out... Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeated Frank Taylor... Seelie Samara defeated Angelo Cistoldi... Pat Flanagan wrestled Al Lovelock to a draw... Kay Bell wrestled Mayes McLain to a draw.
12-12-1949: Wrestling returns again to Madison Square Garden in New York City. This time with better results than the February 1949 show which drew only 4,197. 17,854 attendance sees Antonino Rocca defeat Gene Stanlee. In other matches: Primo Carnera defeated Jim Henry… Lord Carlton defeated Ivan Kameroff… Joe Savoldi battled Marvin Mercer to a draw… Johnny Barend defeated Kola Kwariani… Chief Yaqui defeated George Bruckman… Steve Karas defeated Martin Cardigan.
12-15-1949: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Toronto, ON: Attendance: 9,000: Yukon Eric defeated Fred Atkins by DQ... Wladek (Killer) Kowalski defeated Angelo Cistoldi... Al Lovelock defeated Frank Taylor... Pat Flanagan defeated Al Korman... Jim Henry wrestled Toar Morgan to a draw.
12-16-1949: Verne Gagne defeats Leo Newman in Houston for the Texas title.
12-23-1949: Ray Villmer wins the Southern title from George Flynn in Atlanta, GA.
12-28-1949: Leroy McGuirk defeated Billy Goelz in Des Moines, IA to unify the NWAssociation and the NWAlliance World Junior titles.
Orville Brown
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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