Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1947
By: Karl Stern
The year 1947 in pro wrestling is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1947
01-07-1947: Mildred Burke tells the Newspaper Enterprise Association that she will start a tour that will include Australia, New Zealand, England, and France.
01-08-1947: Bushwhacker Luke (Luke Wickens, AKA Luke Williams) is born.
01-10-1947: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 10,944: Ed Meske defeats Warren Bockwinkel… The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Joe Dusek) defeat Fred Blassie & Jack Hader in 2 straight falls… George Koverly wrestled Lee Henning to a Time Limit Draw… Ernie Dusek defeats Ray Villmer by referee's decision… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Felix Miquet.
01-23-1947: St Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 15,180: Felix Miquet defeats Ole Olson… George Koverly defeats Everett Marshall by DQ… The Dusek Brothers (Emil & Joe Dusek) defeat Wally Greb & Warren Bockwinkel in 2 falls… Ed Meske defeats Ernie Dusek… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Bob Wagner… NWAssociation World champion Bill Longson defeats Lou Thesz.
02-21-1947: St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,690: Mickey Gold & Warren Bockwinkel defeat Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Joe Dusek) in 2 falls… Babe Sharkey battled Francois Valois to a 20 minute draw… Wee Willie Davis defeats Paul Boesch… Ernie Dusek defeats Ed Meske… Whipper Billy Watson defeats NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson to win the title. This match was the first time Longson had been defeated in St Louis since November 20, 1942, when Yvon Robert beat him by countout. Longson had won 87 matches in St. Louis in a row since then.
03-04-1947: A big international tournament comes to a close at the London, England Harringay Arena. The tournament and title of “World champion” was won by Bert Assirati. Others in the tournament included: Gaston Choavaort, Jim Foy, Milo Popooalpolis, Carl Van Wurden, Karloff Manoognan, Izzy Van Dutz, Bert Mansfield, Abdul the Turk, Ivar Martinson, Karl Roginsky, Clem Lawrence, and Phill Siki.
03-05-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Art LeGrand wrestled Eddie Auger to a Time Limit Draw… John Katan defeats Chick Garibaldi… Jack Claybourne wrestled Fred Von Schacht to a Time Limit Draw… Bill Longson defeats Yvon Robert by DQ 2 falls to 1.
03-06-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 11,700 paid (Toronto Daily Star) or 15,000 (Toronto Globe & Mail): Lou Newman wrestled John Katan to a 20 minute draw… Ernie Dusek defeats Ben Sharpe… Frederick Von Schacht defeats Fred Blassie… Larry Moquin wrestled Bob Wagner to a 30 minute draw… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Bill Longson.
03-07-1947: St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,147: Joe Dusek & Ralph Garibaldi defeat Carlos Rodriguez & Miguel Torres… Ed Meske battled Warren Bockwinkel to a 20-minute draw… Wee Willie Davis defeats Babe Sharkey… Lou Thesz defeats Francois Valois… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Ernie Dusek.
03-08-1947: Verne Gagne defeated Dan Dworsky to win the Big Ten heavyweight wrestling championship for the University of Minnesota. Gagne would place third in 1947 in the NCAA tournament behind fellow future pro wrestlers Dick Hutton and Ray Gunkel.
03-13-1937: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: Bob Wagner defeats Pat Flanagan… Ben Sharpe defeats Wee Willie Davis by DQ… The Mummy defeats Jack Hader… Larry Moquin defeats Ernie Dusek… NWAssociation World champion Whipper Billy Watson defeats Frederick Von Schacht.
03-14-1947: Vic Christy defeats Orville Brown in Kansas City for the Midwest title.
03-19-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Eddie Auger wrestled Stan Sitkowski to a Time Limit Draw… Felix Miquet defeats Art LeGrand… Tony Martinelli defeats Emil Dusek by DQ… No Holds Barred Match: Yvon Robert defeats Fred Von Schacht in 2 straight falls.
03-21-1947: St Louis, MO: Arena: Attendance 12,255: Dusek Brothers (Ernie Dusek & Joe Dusek) defeat Garibaldi Brothers (Gino Garibaldi & Ralph Garibaldi) by referee's decision… Francois Valois defeats Hans Schnabel… Warren Bockwinkel defeats Mickey Gold… Everett Marshall defeats Ed Meske… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson battled Lou Thesz to a double count out.
03-30-1947: Roy Graham defeats Vic Christy for the Midwest title in Kansas City.
04-02-1947: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 9,200: Alex Kasaboski wrestled Paul Matty to a Draw… Gorilla Macias defeats Joel Morris… Antone Leone defeats Ivan Kameroff… Maurice LaChappelle & Terry McGinnis defeat Karl Davis & Rebel Russell 2 falls to 1… AWA World Heavyweight Title & Los Angeles World Heavyweight Title: Enrique Torres (LA) wrestled Frank Sexton (AWA) to a Time Limit Draw.
04-04-1947: Bert Assirati defeats Yvar Martinson in London, England for the British version of the World title.
04-09-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 14,500: Jack Calza wrestled Jack Claybourne to a 20-minute draw… Ernie Dusek defeated Tony Martinelli… Yvon Robert defeated Rudy Dusek… Primo Carnera defeated Emil Dusek by Count Out 2 falls to 1.
Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Sam Menacker defeats Bulldog Clements… Gorilla Macias defeats Chief Thunderbird… George Koverly defeats Hardy Kruskamp… Karl Davis & Rebel Russell defeat Maurice LaChappelle & Terry McGinnis… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres defeats Sandor Szabo 2 falls to 1 with special referee Joe Louis.
04-10-1947: Orville Brown wins the Midwest title from Roy Graham in Kansas City.
04-22-1947: Cliff Gustafson wins an off-shoot version of the NWAssociation world title from Sandor Szabo in Minneapolis.
04-23-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 13,000: Fred Von Schacht wrestled Jack Claybourne to a 20-minute draw… Felix Miquet defeats Jack Calza… Montreal World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Manuel Cortez… Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert defeat The Dusek Brothers (Emil & Ernie Dusek) 2 falls to 1.
04-25-1947: Lou Thesz defeats Whipper Billy Watson in St. Louis, MO for the National Wrestling Association World title at the Kiel Auditorium. Attendance 10,462: In other matches: Tuffy Truesdale defeats Lou Newman… Hans Schnabel battled Warren Bockwinkel to a 20 minute draw… George Koverly defats Roy Graham… Francois Valois defeats Vic Christy… Mike Sharpe defeats Wee Willie Davis.
05-08-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 10,000: Ben Sharpe defeats Dale Wayne… Sky Hi Lee defeats Jack Hader… Mike Sharpe defeats John Katan… Bobby Bruns wrestled Bob Wagner to a Double DQ… Whipper Billy Watson defeats The French Angel (Maurice Tillet).
05-15-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 12,000: Sky Hi Lee defeats Dick Bishop… Ben Sharpe defeats John Katan by DQ… Bob Wagner defeats Bobby Bruns… Mike Sharpe defeats Wee Willie Davis… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz wrestled Whipper Billy Watson to a curfew draw.
05-21-1947: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 8,500: Antone Leone wrestled Carlos Mojica to a Draw… Jack Kennedy defeats Rebel Russell… Reginald Siki defeats Danno O'Mahoney… Bobby Becker defeats Lee Henning… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres wrestled George Becker to a Time Limit Draw after swapping one fall each.
05-23-1947: St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,950: Lou Newman defeats Jose Carrillo… George Koverly defeats Ed Meske… Don Evans defeats Francois Valois… Sharpe Brothers (Ben & Mike Sharpe) defeat Dusek Brothers (Emil & Joe Dusek) 2 falls to 1… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Bill Longson by count out.
05-29-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance: Attendance 12,000: Ken Kenneth defeats Sky Hi Lee by DQ… John Katan defeats Tom Collins… Bob Wagner defeats Brother Jonathan… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Whipper Billy Watson by DQ.
06-11-1947: Montreal, Canada: Forum: Attendance 8,000: Francois Miquet battled Henry Kulkovich to a 20 minute draw… Ray Eckert defeats Frank Valois by count out… Larry Moquin defeats Frederick Von Schacht by DQ… NWAssociation World champion Lou Thesz battled Montreal World champion Yvon Robert to a draw.- Thesz won fall 1. Robert won fall 2. Fall 3 was a double count out.
06-17-1947: Sandor Szabo reclaims an off shoot version of the NWAssociation World title in Minneapolis.
06-22-1947: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown beat Ras Samara.
06-25-1947: In Washington, DC: Griffith Stadium drawing 4,500: World heavyweight champion Frank Sexton drew Primo Carnera.
Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 9,200: Carlos Mojica defeats Steve Gob… Bobby Bruns wrestled Reginald Siki to a draw… Chris Zaharias & Lee Henning defeat Jack Kennedy & Sam Menacker… Vincent Lopez defeats Bobby Becker… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis 2 falls to 1.
07-20-1947: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown drew with Tug Carlson.
07-23-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000: Manuel Cortez wrestled Jack Calza to a Draw… Frank Valois defeated The Mask (Joe Christie) by DQ… Mickey Gold defeated Al Korman… Ray Eckert & Fred Von Schacht defeat Yvon Robert & Larry Moquin by Count Out 2 falls to 1.
07-27-1947: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown beat Tug Carlson.
07-30-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 10,000 (Montreal Gazette) or 8,000 (La Patrie): Jim Austeri wrestled George Temple to a Double Count Out… Sky Hi Lee defeated Frank Valois… Mickey Gold defeated Buddy Knox… Special Referee: Jack Sharkey: Ray Eckert & Fred Von Schacht defeated Larry Moquin & Yvon Robert by DQ 2 falls to 1.
08-06-1947: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Sam Menacker defeats Jack Moore… Jack Kennedy defeats Jules Strongbow… Vincent Lopez defeats Chris Zaharias… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres defeats Frank Jares… The Dusek Brothers (Emil Dusek & Ernie Dusek) defeat The Becker Brothers (Bobby Becker & George Becker) 2 falls to 1.
08-20-1947: Montreal, Canada: Montreal Forum: Attendance 11,000: Fred Von Schacht defeated Jack Calza… Larry Moquin wrestled Mickey Gold to a Time Limit Draw… Sky Hi Lee defeated Ray Eckert… Yvon Robert defeats Primo Carnera by DQ 2 falls to 1.
08-27-1947: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,400 (Sellout): Sam Menacker defeats Joel Morris… Bobby Becker defeats Jules Strongbow… Emil Dusek wrestled George Becker to a draw… George Koverly wrestled Vincent Lopez to a draw… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres defeats Ernie Dusek in one hour. There were no falls taken in 60 minutes, but Torres was awarded the match by referee's decision.
09-03-1947: Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance 10,000: Frank Jares wrestled Vic Christy to a draw… The Swedish Angel (Olaf Olson) defeats Sam Menacker… Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats Vic Holbrook… Maurice LaChappelle & Vincent Lopez defeat Jules Strongbow & Karl Davis… Los Angeles World Heavyweight champion Enrique Torres defeats George Koverly 2 falls to 1.
09-05-1947: In Los Angeles, CA: Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 8,500: Manuel Garza & Jim Mitchell defeated Karl Davis & Willie Davis… Larry Moquin defeated Marvin Jones… Earl McCready defeated Sam Menacker… Reg Siki battled Ray Duran to a draw… Vic Christy battled Jim Henry to a draw.
09-14-1947: In Waterloo, IA Mid-West World champion Orville Brown battled Marshall Estep to a double count out.
09-18-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 9,000: Ben Sharpe wrestled Frank Taylor to a 20 minute draw… Dan O'Connor defeats Pat Flanagan by DQ… Ed Meske wrestled Jack Moore to a 20 minute draw… Jack Claybourne defeats Ken Kenneth by decision… Joe Savoldi defeats John Katan by decision… Whipper Billy Watson defeats Primo Carnera by DQ.
09-24-1947: EMLL: 14th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Coliseo: World Middleweight champion Gori Guerrero beat Rito Romero.
10-02-1947: Toronto, Canada: Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 11,000: Ben Sharpe defeats Len Hall by DQ… Ed Meske wrestled Dan O'Connor to a 20 minute draw… Bobby Becker defeats Jack Moore by decision… Jack Claybourne defeats Ken Kenneth… British Empire Heavyweight champion Whipper Billy Watson wrestled Primo Carnera to a Double DQ with special referee: Jack Sharkey.
10-16-1947: Toronto, Maple Leaf Gardens: Attendance 11,000: Ed Meske battled Joe Savoldi to a draw… Dan O'Connor battled Jack Claybourne to a draw… Mike Sharpe defeats Jack Moore… NWAssociation World & Montreal World champion Lou Thesz battles Whipper Billy Watson to a double count out.
10-24-1947: St Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,996: Sharpe Brothers (Ben & Mike Sharpe) defeat Don McIntyre & Tom Mahoney… Ernie Dusek defeats George Koverly by DQ… Buddy Rogers defeats Pat Flanigan… NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeats Bill Longson.
11-03-1947: Sonny Myers defeats Orville Brown for the “National Wrestling Alliance” World title in Des Moines, IA.
11-12-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 7,000. Tournament for a match with AWA World champion Frank Sexton. Larry Moquin defeated Kolo Stasiak… Jim Mitchell defeated Senator Hartford… Ray Duran defeated Alex Kasaboski… Manuel Garza defeated Vic Christy… Marvin Jones defeated Chief War Cloud… Jules Strongbow defeated Mickey Page… Larry Moquin defeated Bomber Kulkovich… Jim Mitchell defeated Ray Duran… Marvin Jones defeated Manuel Garza… Marvin Jones defeated Jim Mitchell… Larry Moquin defeated Jules Strongbow… Larry Moquin defeated Marvin Jones to win the tournament.
11-19-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 10,000: AWA World champion Frank Sexton defeated Larry Moquin… Gorgeous George defeated Sam Menacher… Karl Davis & Willie Davis defeated Manuel Garza & Bomber Kulkovich… Jim Mitchell defeated Kolo Stasiak… Chief War Cloud battled Marvin Jones to a draw.
11-21-1947: Bill Longson defeats Lou Thesz in St. Louis, MO for the National Wrestling Association World title. In other matches at the Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 9,802: Sharpe Brothers (Ben Sharpe & Mike Sharpe) defeat Ben Hogan & Pat Fraley… Ernie Dusek battled Ray Villmer to a 30 minute draw… Pat Flanagan defeats Emil Dusek… Bill Longson defeated NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz to win the title.
11-25-1947: In Minneapolis, MN World heavyweight champion claimant Sandor Szabo defeated Dick Raines.
11-26-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 9,000: AWA World heavyweight champion Frank Sexton defeated Jim Mitchell… Gorgeous George defeated Larry Moquin… Karl Davis & Willie Davis defeated Ray Duran & Manuel Garza… Bomber Kulkovich battled Jules Strongbow to a draw… Marvin Jones battled Sam Menacher to a draw.
12-02-1947: In Minneapolis, MN World heavyweight champion claimant Sandor Szabo battled Buddy Rogers to a draw.
12-03-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 9,600: Karl Davis & Willie Davis defeated Enrique Torres & Manuel Garza… Gorgeous George defeated Reg Siki in 12 seconds… Jim Mitchell defeated Sam Menacher… Chief War Cloud defeated Jules Strongbow… Marvin Jones battled Manna Singh to a draw.
12-05-1947: St. Louis, MO: Kiel Auditorium: Attendance 8,581: Ralph Garibaldi & Warren Bockwinkel defeat Henry Piers & Thor Morgan… Ray Villmer defeats Vic Holbrook… Joe Dusek defeats Olaf Erickson… NWAssociation World Heavyweight champion Bill Longson defeats Buddy Rogers.
12-10-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 9,000: Enrique Torres & Manuel Garza defeated Karl Davis & Willie Davis… Gorgeous George battled Jim Mitchell to a draw… Dutch Hefner defeated Terry McGinnis… Chief War Cloud defeated Kolo Stasiak… Sam Menacher defeated Alex Kasaboski.
12-13-1947: Dino Bravo (Adolfo Brescino) is born.
12-17-1947: In Los Angeles, CA at the Olympic Auditorium: Attendance: 10,400: Frank Sexton battled Enrique Torres… Gorgeous George defeated George Temple… Sandor Szabo defeated Dutch Hefner… Jim Mitchell defeated Sam Menacher… Willie Davis defeated Senator Hartford… Reg Siki defeated Marvin Jones.
12-19-1947: Tug Carlson defeats Orville Brown in St. Joseph, MO for the Midwest title.
12-26-1947: Orville Brown wins the Midwest title from Tug Carlson in St. Joseph, MO.
Sonny Myers
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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