Columbus Wrestling Results

Columbus, Ohio: Thursday, January 28, 1937
(The Auditorium) … Charles “Midget” Fischer b. Billy Weidner to capture the MWA World
Light Heavyweight Title (42:32) (piledriver) … Ray Steele b. Paul Jones (decision) … Bill
Hasson b. Bob Blake … Frank Wolfe b. Leo Wallick … Lem Stecklin b. Angelo Martini
(submission) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Clete Kauffman)
Notes: Ray Steele replaced Orville Brown, who developed an eye infection. Brown was
said to be from Florida. Weidner was from San Francisco. Sponsored by the Quality
Club. Weidner captured the championship with a victory over George Dusette of Detroit
“early last summer.”

Columbus, Ohio: Friday, February 5, 1937
(The Auditorium) … World Heavyweight champion Everette Marshall b. Ray Steele (45:00)
(controversial finish) … Martin Levy b. Abe Rothberg (4:25) … Paul Jones b. Hans
Schnabel (12:03) … Killer Shikuma b. Dutch Schultz (11:20) … Andy Rascher b. Al Getz
(15:50) … Gorilla Parker b. Tony Galento … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Clete
Kauffman) … (5,000 fans)
Notes: The Columbus Dispatch (2/4/1937) reported that the ex-manager of Jack
Dempsey, Jack Kearns offered Ray Steele $10,000 to wrestle Dick Shikat at the Olympia in
Detroit, if Steele was to beat Everette Marshall for the World Title in Columbus. Kearns
was the boxing and wrestling promoter at the Olympia. Levy claimed to be the world’s
largest athlete. Benefit for the Red Cross flood relief fund. The Columbus Athletic
Commission decided that Marshall violated its rules during the main event and declared
Steele the winner, also withholding Marshall’s pay. A rematch must be held within 90
days. Mrs. C.W. England of 562 Lindwood Avenue was hit in the head with a bottle thrown
by a riotous fan. William Peer was also hit. $1,200 was donated to the Red Cross.

*The Columbus Sunday Dispatch on February 7, 1937 reported the Columbus Wrestling
Commission held a special meeting on Saturday afternoon to examine the Steele-Marshall
situation. There was some question of how was the rightful world champion. The
commission decided that Marshall was suspended for 90 days for his “foul tactics.” Steele
officially won the match by disqualification. The commission did not recognize Steele as
the new World Champion. Alfred E. Ballin was the chairman of the commission. Marshall
would remain the titleholder. Billy Sandow disputed the ruling and suspension. A letter
from Ballin to William McKinnon, the Columbus Dispatch sports editor, was printed in the
newspaper on February 11. Ballin described the Steele-Marshall situation, and he
reaffirmed that Steele was the winner. He regretted the unfortunate situation and also
reminded McKinnon that Marshall was “not recognized” as the world champion by the
National Wrestling Association.

Columbus, Ohio: Friday, February 12, 1937
(The Auditorium) … The Great Mephisto b. Bert Rubi (35:18) … Lem Stecklin b. Billy
Parker (dec., 30:00) … Clarence Cleete and Killer Shikuma drew (30:00) … Andy Rascher
b. Jack Vincent (12:39) … Buddy Hoskins b. Bob Smith (boxing) … (promoter: Al Haft) …
(3,800 fans)
Note: Bert Rubi claimed to hold victories over Pinky Gardner, Joe Turner, and Maurice
LaChappelle during his touring of the eastern part of the United States.

*The Sunday, February 14, 1937 edition of the Columbus Dispatch reported that Ray
Steele was claiming the World Heavyweight Title based on his recent match with Everette
Marshall. Marshall was “officially recognized [as] champion in five states where state
athletic commissions function. In Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Colorado.”
In Missouri, the commission was considering ordering a bout between Steele and Marshall
to settle the matter.

Columbus, Ohio: Friday, February 19, 1937
(The Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Title claimant Ray Steele b. Paul Jones (38:19) …
Lee Wykoff b. Sun Jennings (12:52) … Andy Rascher b. Hans Schnabel (15:12) … Oki
Shikina b. Turp Grimes (11:54) … Stacy Hall b. Blacksmith Pedigo (decision) …
(promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Chob Sisson)
Notes: The newspaper claimed that Paul Jones held a win over John Pesek. Steele was
still claiming the world title. Dick Shikat put up a $1,000 guarantee to meet the winner.
After the show, the paper stated that “Jones was as aggressive as Donald Duck for about
30 minutes.”

Columbus, Ohio: Thursday, February 25, 1937
(The Auditorium) … MWA World Light Heavyweight champion Charles “Midget” Fischer b.
The Great Mephisto (over an hour, match went to an extra period) (Mephisto suffered a
broken hand in the match) … Pat Schaefer b. Alex Kasoboski (decision) … Dick Shikat b.
Chief Sunoco (8:03) (half-Nelson) … Oki Shikima b. Roy Graham (17:05) … Frank Wolfe
b. Jack Vincent (9:50) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referee: Dr. Dan Whitacre)
Notes: Whitacre was a former Ohio State wrestler and well known sportsman. Dr. J.B.
Eckstorm, Columbus Boxing and Wrestling Commission physician, announced Mephisto’s
broken hand after an X-ray was taken. The Columbus Dispatch claimed that Mephisto was
“by far the better of the two throughout the regulation affair.” Mephisto was from
Connecticut.

Columbus, Ohio: Thursday, March 4, 1937
(The Auditorium) … World Heavyweight Title claimant Ray Steele vs. Dick Shikat …
(promoter: Al Haft)

Columbus, Ohio: Thursday, October 28, 1937
( ) ... World Heavyweight Champion Everette Marshall b. Orville Brown (41:39)
Note: Brown was billed as being from Florida

Research by Tim Hornbaker

Columbus Wrestling Results - 1937