TIME CAPSULE: THIS WEEK IN WESTERN CANADA WRESTLING HISTORY
By Vance Nevada on 3/8/2010 11:11 AM
There's no doubt that wrestling in western Canada has a distinct and lasting
legacy. Here are a few interesting tidbits culled from the collection for this
week (March 8 to 14) in the history books:
March 8, 1963 - CALGARY, ALBERTA
Dr. Jerry Graham arrived in Calgary to much fanfare, having come to western
Canada freshly off a main event run against WWE champion Bruno Sammartino and
enjoyed a lengthy winning streak in 1963. However, on March 8th, determined to
end the streak, Ronnie Etchison placed a call to renowned hypnotist Reveen just
moments before a Calgary bout and the newspapers reported the following morning
that under hypnosis, Etchison took the win.
March 9, 1964 - LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA
Wrestling bears were a common attraction for more than 25 years in western
Canada. Sometimes the bears were pitted against all comers from the crowd, other
times they were in the ring against wrestlers, and there are reports of bears
being entered in battle royals from time to time. However, on March 9, 1964, a
one of a kind event occured: The wrestling bear was changed by a woman. Grace
Van Wieren is the only women in Canadian wrestling history to ever step in the
ring against a bear.
March 10, 1980 - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Second generation wrestler, and outstanding heavyweight in his own right, Don
Leo Jonathan wrestled the last match of his 31 year ring career teaming with
Andre the Giant and Roddy Piper to defeat Buddy Rose and the Sheepherders
(better known as the Bushwhackers years later in the WWE). Don Leo wrestled more
than 2,800 matches during his storeyed career.
March 11, 1991 - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
Tony Condello emerges after a seven year retirement from the ring to partner
with the popular E.Z. Ryder to battle The Natural (Don Callis) and The Golden
Sheik. Callis would later go on to a short run with the WWE as "The Jackyl" in
1997. The Golden Sheik (Larry Dubesky) is the uncle of current Ring of Honor
star Kenny Omega.
March 12, 1936 - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
East Indian wrestler Tiger Daula defeated Sandor Szabo in a mud wrestling match.
During this era, mud matches were commonly billed as "hindu style" bouts.
Attendance for the card was 5,400 and included an appearance by famed wrestling
pioneer Ed "Strangler" Lewis
March 13, 1947 - CALGARY, ALBERTA
A riot erupts at the Victoria Pavilion during a match between Saskatchewan
Sports Hall of Famer Earl McCready and Al "Mr. Murder" Mills after the referee
is thrown from the ring. Police respond to restore order, but not before Mills
sustained cuts to his face at the hands of the irate ringsiders.
March 14, 1961 - EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Not convinced that Stampede Wrestling influenced the industry significantly?
More than 1,200 wrestlers passed through the Hart family territory, including a
number of wrestlers who are now recognized by the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in
New York State, the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame in Iowa, and the WWE Hall of Fame.
In 1961, an Edmonton card featured wrestling appearances by Roy Shire (best
known as the long time promoter of the San Francisco area), Ed Francis (who
ruled the roost as Hawaii's top promoter for several years), and Gino Marella
(who held considerable influence in the northeast U.S. as one of the key players
in Vince McMahon's WWE empire - best known by the name Gorilla Monsoon).
- For more great historical tidbits and tales from the ring, you may want to
check out
WRESTLING IN THE CANADIAN WEST, available in stores and online
now. For more information check out
www.vancenevada.ca
