Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1945
By: Karl Stern
The year 1945 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1945
01-07-1945: Former California recognized world champion Vincent Lopez unmasked the Masked Cougar at Ryan’s Auditorium in Fresno, CA revealing his identity to be Pat Fraley, 240 pound Bostonian and victor in some 60 Fresno appearances.
01-12-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,941: Tuffy Truesdale defeats George O'Brien… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Jack Hader… Ray Eckert defeats Miguel Torres by referee's decision… Wladyslaw Talun defeats Joe Dusek… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats George Koverly by DQ.
01-16-1945: In Hamilton, Ontario at the Civic Pool: World heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Ivan Rasputin (The ring had no ropes. It is unknown if this was by design or by malfunction.)
01-22-1945: Danny McShain wins the World lightweight title from Dick Trout in Hollywood, CA.
01-26-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 13,879: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Scotty Williams… Joe Dusek defeats Fred Carone… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Cherry Vallina… Ray Eckert defeats Chief Saunooke… NWAssociate World Heavyweight champion
Bill Longson defeats Wladyslaw Talun by DQ.
01-27-1945: Bert Assirati defeats George Gregory for the British heavyweight title.
02-09-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,609: Bob Wagner defeats Miguel Torres by referee's decision… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Cherry Vallina… Tuffy Truesdale defeats Johnny Randa… Chris Zaharias wrestled Joe Dusek to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Ray Eckert.
02-23-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 13,807: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Tom Felis… Joe Dusek wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a Time Limit Draw… Bob Wagner defeats Emil Dusek… George Koverly defeats Ralph Garibaldi… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Wladyslaw Talun.
03-03-1945: Professional wrestling suffered a major tragedy when the war department announced that an Army transport plane had crashed in Europe killing 16 people. Six of the victims were professional wrestlers. “That type of entertainment has gone over very big with service men,” one U.S.O. official told the newspapers, “and this is definitely not the first group of wrestlers to be sent overseas.” He explained that the wrestlers had put on exhibition matches, participate in feats of strength, and demonstrate the application and breaking of holds. Killed were: George Mack, Jack Ross, Lester “Kid” Chapman, Al Sabath, Gauis W. Young, and Ben Reuben.
03-09-1945: John Mauldin wins the Atlanta City wrestling title from Son Almand in Atlanta, GA.
03-14-1945: In Ft. Lewis, WA, Man Mountain Dean (Master Sgt. Frank S. Leavitt) began his tour of duty in the Army as a fitness trainer. Dean, who had reportedly weighed 370 pounds had allegedly dropped 100 pounds. He had previously been discharged from the Army due to a kidney disorder but volunteered again and was accepted.
03-23-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,907: Jerry Meeker defeats Jack Hader… Tuffy Truesdale defeats Paul Kisselbach… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Jim Lafkas… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Ray Eckert… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bob Wagner.
03-26-1945: Dick Trout wins the world lightweight title from Danny McShain in Hollywood, CA.
03-30-1945: Future NWA World champion Ronnie Garvin (Roger Barnes) is born.
04-03-1945: Baseball legend Babe Ruth referees two shows for Paul Bowser in Boston, MA.
04-04-1945: Steve Casey defeats Sandor Szabo to unify the AWA World title with the AWA War Time Duration title in Boston, MA. Special referee is Babe Ruth. Boston Garden: Attendance 8,000: Salvatore Balbo defeats Ted Germaine by DQ… Lewis Laird defeats Fred Meyers… Bull Curry wrestled Manuel Cortez to a Time Limit Draw… Babe Sharkey wrestled Leo Numa to a Time Limit Draw.
04-06-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,994: Ralph Garibaldi defeats Jack Hader… Chris Zaharias wrestled Fritz Schnabel to a Time Limit Draw… Vic Christy defeats Cherry Vallina… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Jerry Meeker… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bob Wagner by Count Out.
04-18-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Les Ryan wrestled Pat Flanagan to a Draw… Gino Garibaldi defeats Frank Judson… Emil Dusek wrestled Larry Moquin to a Time Limit Draw… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Rudy Dusek in 2 straight falls.
04-20-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,111: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Joe Miller… Jack Hader wrestled Jerry Meeker to a Time Limit Draw… Ralph Garibaldi defeats Fritz Schnabel… George Koverly defeats Chief Little Wolf… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Warren Bockwinkel.
04-25-1945: Sandor Szabo defeats Steve Casey for the American Wrestling Association world title. Boston Arena: Attendance 6,500: Chief Saunooke defeats Jack Bradley… Ed McNeil wrestled Salvatore Balbo to a Time Limit Draw… Manuel Cortez defeats Andy Meixner.
05-02-1945: Frank Sexton defeats Sandor Szabo for the American Wrestling Association world title. Boston, MA: Boston Arena. Attendance 6,500: Ed McNeal wrestled Pat Schaeffer to a Time Limit Draw… Leo Numa wrestled Tiger Tasker to a Time Limit Draw… Chief Saunooke defeats Lewis Laird… Frank Sexton defeats AWA World Heavyweight champion Sandor Szabo to win the title.
05-04-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,162: Gino Vagnone wrestled Jerry Meeker to a Time Limit Draw… Cherry Vallina defeats Jack Singer… Jack Hader defeats Fritz Schnabel… Bob Wagner defeats Ralph Garibaldi… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats George KO Koverly.
05-18-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,176: Gino Vagnone defeats Jack Hader… Barto Hill defeats Emil Dusek… George Koverly defeats Cherry Vallina… Chief Thunderbird defeats Joe Dusek… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Bob Wagner.
06-06-1945: Steve Casey defeats Frank Sexton for the AWA World title in Boston, MA by count out. Boston Arena: Attendance 6,500: Lew Laird defeats George Mansor… Chief Saunooke defeats Charlie Harben… Al Staples wrestled Tiger Tasker to a Time Limit Draw.
06-07-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 8,500: Al Tucker wrestled Jacques Trudeau to a Time Limit Draw… Cliff Olson defeats Les Ryan by DQ… Emil Dusek defeats Pat Welch… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert defeats Joe Savoldi by referee stoppage after splitting one fall each. Joe Savoldi is injured and cannot continue. Forfeits.
06-10-1945: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown beat Vic Holbrook.
06-15-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,893: Tommy Felis wrestled Tuffy Truesdale to a Time Limit Draw… Cherry Vallina defeats Silent Gomez… Gino Vagnone defeats Joe Dusek… Frank Marconi wrestled George Koverly to a Time Limit Draw… Chief Thunderbird defeats Ray Eckert… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Barto Hill.
06-20-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 12,000: Al Mercier wrestled Rebel Russell to a Time Limit Draw… Gino Garibaldi defeats Art LeGrand… The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Rudy Dusek) defeat Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert by DQ 2 falls to 1.
06-27-1945: Frank Sexton regains the AWA World title from Steve Casey in Boston, MA. Boston Arena: Attendance 7,100: Al Staples defeats Fred Meyers… Lewis Laird defeats Pat Schaeffer… Phil Badger defeats Al Castoldi… The Great Mephisto wrestled Salvatore Balbo to a Time Limit Draw.
06-29-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,217: Cherry Vallina wrestled Pete Baer to a Time Limit Draw… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Joe Benincasa… Frank Marconi defeats Jack Dillon… Gino Vagnone defeats Babe Zaharias… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Chief Thunderbird (Jean Baptiste-Paul).
07-01-1945: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown beat Jerry Meeker.
07-04-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 7,000: Tony Martinelli defeats Jacques Trudeau… Gino Garibaldi wrestled Rebel Russell to a double count out… Chick Garibaldi defeats Emil Dusek… Joe Savoldi defeats Montreal World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert in 2 falls to win the title.
07-13-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,219: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Jose Carrillo… Cherry Vallina wrestled Finis Hall to a Time Limit Draw… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Jerry Meeker… Gino Vagnone defeats Bob Wagner… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Frank (Gorilla) Marconi.
07-15-1945: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown pinned Ray Eckert.
07-16-1945: Montreal, Canada: Delorimier Stadium: Attendance 16,000: Jacques Trudeau vs. Jean Pusie to a Time Limit Draw… Tony Martinelli defeats Art LeGrand by DQ… Gino Garibaldi defeats Rebel Russell… The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Rudy Dusek) defeat Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert 2 falls to 1.
07-18-1945: Carlos Colon is born.
07-22-1945: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown battled Ray Eckert to a draw.
07-27-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7.431: Finice Hall defeats Freddie Steele… Don McIntyre wrestled Jerry Meeker to a Time Limit Draw… Gene Blackley defeats Cherry Vallina… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Bob Wagner by DQ… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Gino Vagnone.
08-01-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 8,700: Arthur LeGrand wrestled Joe Devalteau to a 20 minute draw… Gino Garibaldi defeats Jim Wallace… Bobby Managoff defeats Tony Martinelli… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Joe Savoldi defeats Yvon Robert by DQ 2 falls to 1.
08-03-1945: Houston, TX: Sam Houston Coliseum: Attendance 6,000: Jack O'Brien defeats Johnny Becker… Dizzy Davis defeats Angelo Savoldi by DQ… Maurice LaChappelle defeats Lou Plummer… Don Evans defeats Ellis Bashara and Jack Kennedy and Paul Murdoch and Roy Graham in a five man battle royal… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson wrestled Buddy Rogers to 90 minute time limit draw after swapping one fall each.
08-10-1945: St. Louis, MO: Keil Auditorium: Attendance 9,145: Gene Blackley defeats Finice Hall… Don McIntyre defeats Ralph Garibaldi by DQ… Elmer Estep defeats Otto Schnabel… Ray Eckert wrestled Rudy Strongberg to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Gino Vagnone.
08-16-1945: Dick Murdoch is born in Amarillo, TX. He is the son of local wrestler Frankie Hill Murdoch.
08-22-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,389: Henry Kulkovich defeats Larry Raymond… Don Eagle defeats Al Tucker… Larry Moquin defeats Frank Judson… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Joe Savoldi defeated Bobby Managoff by count out.
08-24-1945: Rocky Johnson is born in Washington D.C.
09-04-1945: Herb Welch defeats Don Cortez for the “Mexican Junior title” in Nashville, TN.
09-07-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,318: Ralph Garibaldi defeats Don McIntyre by Count Out… Ray Eckert wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a Time Limit Draw… Vic Christy defeats Dick Lever… Olaf Olson defeats Gino Vagnone… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Don Evans.
09-10-1945: In Fort Worth, TX: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Leroy McGuirk.
09-11-1945: Hamilton, Ontario at the Ball Park: Fence around ring: Whipper Billy Watson & Jimmy Sims beat John Katan & Dr. Len Hall by DQ... Earl McCready battled Olaf Olson to a draw... Pat Flanagan battled Walter Sirois to a draw... Attendance: 5,200, paid-largest crowd in history of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada wrestling.
09-12-1945: Montreal, Canada: Forum: Attendance 10,389: Arthur LeGrand wrestled Maurice Latchford to a 20 minute draw… Henry Kulkovich defeats Chief Joseph War Eagle… Rebel Russell wrestled Rudy Dusek to a 30 minute draw… Bobby Managoff defeats Montreal World Heavyweight champion Joe Savoldi by count out 2 falls to 1 to win the title.
09-19-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 11,000: Pat Welch defeats Ray Bell… Les Ryan wrestled Rebel Russell to a Time Limit Draw… Joe Steele defeats Henry Kulkavich by DQ… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Larry Moquin in 75:00. Scheduled for 2/3 falls, after an hour became sudden death OT.
09-21-1945: EMLL: 12th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Coliseo: Gori Guerrero beat Bobby Bonales to win the Mexican National Middleweight title.
09-23-1945: In Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico at Plaza de Toros el Progreso: Rito Romero defeated El Asesino in a hair verses mask match unmasking him as Cesareo Manriquez Gonzalez. Gonzalez eventually dawns another mask and goes on to great popularity as Medico Asesino.
09-25-1945: Gory Guerrero defeats Bobby Bonales for the EMLL National Middleweight title in Mexico City.
10-01-1945: In Savannah, GA at the Municipal Auditorium: NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeated Nick Carter.
10-04-1945: After being discharged from the Army, Sam Muchnick applies for a promoters license from the Missouri State Athletic Commission.
10-12-1945: Dusty Rhodes is born.
10-15-1945: In Ft. Worth, TX: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Fred Von Schacht.
10-17-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 15,000: Frank Valois defeats Henry Kulkavich… Don Eagle defeats Rebel Russell… Gino Garibaldi wrestled Larry Moquin to a Time Limit Draw… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Felix Miquet by referee stoppage after splitting one fall each. Miquet is injured and cannot continue. Forfeits.
10-19-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,902: Whitey Whittler defeats Chico Salzar… Joe Dusek wrestled Joe Millich to a Time Limit Draw… Ray Villmer defeats Abe Yourist… Paul Boesch defeats Olaf Olson… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Vic Christy by referee's decision.
10-22-1945: Portland, OR wrestler Martin “The Blimp” Levy, who reportedly weighs 640 pounds, is sued by his former wife claiming he doesn’t support her. Levy produces an Alabama divorce decree and the case is dismissed.
In Ft. Worth, TX: NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeated Brother Jonathan.
10-24-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 9,000: Henry Kulkovich wrestled Les Ryan to a draw… Frank Valois defeats Rebel Russell… Gino Garibaldi defeats Don Eagle… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Joe Savoldi 2 falls to 1.
11-02-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,273: Whitey Whittler defeats Cain O'Connor… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Tony Martinelli… Leo Numa defeats Emil Dusek… Ray Villmer defeats Joe Dusek… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Paul Boesch.
11-06-1945: In Hamilton, Ontario at the Civic Pool: World heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat John Katan.
11-07-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 11,000: Don Eagle defeats Les Ryan… Frank Valois defeats Art LeGrand… Larry Moquin defeats Henry Kulkovich… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Yvon Robert 2 falls to 1.
11-16-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,710: Leo Numa defeats Thor Morgan… Joe Dusek defeats Walter Sirois… Emil Dusek wrestled Joe Millich to a Time Limit Draw… George Koverly wrestled Ray Villmer to a Time Limit Draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Vic Christy.
11-21-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Fred Carone wrestles Len Hughes to a 20 minute draw… Rudy Dusek defeats Les Ryan… Felix Miquet defeats Henry Kulkovich… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff defeats Yvon Robert by DQ 2 falls to 1.
11-28-1945: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Henry Kulkavich wrestled Frank Judson to a Time Limit Draw… Len Hughes defeats Les Ryan… Larry Moquin defeats Fred Carone… Special Referee: Jack Dempsey: Yvon Robert & Felix Miquet defeat The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Rudy Dusek) 2 falls to 1.
11-30-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,028: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Tommy Felis… Joe Dusek wrestled Warren Bockwinkel to a Time Limit Draw… George Koverly defeats Abe Yourist… Leo Numa defeats Olaf Olson… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Ray Villmer.
12-05-1945: Sam Muchnick promotes his first wrestling show at the Kiel Auditorium. Wrestlers on the show included Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Cliff Gustafson, Ed Virag, Roy Dunn, and Lee Wykoff. Everette Marshall no shows.
12-06-1945: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: Either 14,000 (Toronto Globe & Mail) or 10,000 Toronto Daily: Pat Flanagan wrestled Al Korman to a 20 minute draw… Sandy O'Donnell defeats Al Dunlop… Frank Taylor defeats Walter Sirois… Kay Bell wrestled Bob Wagner to a 30 minute draw… AWA World Heavyweight Title vs British Empire Heavyweight Title Match: Special Referee: Jack Dempsey: Frank Sexton (AWA champion) wrestled Whipper Billy Watson (British Empire champion) to a curfew time limit draw .
12-21-1945: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 7,635: Joe Dusek wrestled Joe Millich to a Time Limit Draw… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Whitey Whittler… Ernie Dusek defeats Don McIntyre… Ray Villmer defeats Ray Eckert… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Leo Numa.
Steve “Crusher” Casey
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