January 2, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
No card

“A New Deal for Fresno wrestling fans will soon be here. No more substitutions – no more
“fat men” wrestlers who were through twenty years ago. See Al Dermer’s first show,
Thursday, January 9th.”
(Fresno Bee Republican, Jan 2 1941)

January 9, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jesse James d. Red Lyons (2-0, referee Strangler Lewis)
Mike Nazarian d. Tiger Tsakoff (2-1)
Gust Johnson drew Ace Freeman
Steve Streilich d. Jack Terry

“A ten count was tolled off as the crowd stood in memory of the late Jim Ryan, sports
promoter and owner of Ryan’s Auditorium. Ryan died a week ago.”

Al Dermer’s first card

January 16, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Mike Nazarian d. Red Berry (world light heavyweight champion) (2-1)
Danny McShain drew Dave Levin (1-1)
Dude Chick d. Silent Rattan
Danny Savich drew Tiger Tsakoff

Nazarian was over the weight limit, so no title change.

January 23, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Mike Nazarian d. Jesse James (2-1)
Dude Chick d. Dave Levin (2-1)
Silent Rattan d. Whitey Wahlberg
Tiger Tsakoff d. Gene Blackley

January 30, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Arena)
Jesse James d. Mike Nazarian
Danny McShain (junior heavyweight champion) d. Dude Chick (2-1)
Taro Ito d. Red Lyons (2-0)
Walter Achiu d. Ace Freeman
Rube Borders d. Young Gotch

February 6, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Taro Ito d. Danny McShain (junior heavyweight champ) (2-1)
Jesse James d. Dave Levin (2-1)
Walter Achiu d. Jack Terry
Paavo Katonen d. Silent Rattan

No title switch as Ito was above the weight limit

February 13, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Arena)
Danny McShain (junior heavyweight champ) d. Taro Ito (2-1)
Mike Nazarian d. Dude Chick (2-1)
Paavo Katonen d. Red Lyons
Rube Borders drew Ace Freeman

February 20, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jesse James d. Mike Nazarian (2-0)
Dave Levin d. (DQ) Danny McShain (junior light heavyweight champ) (2-1)
Paavo Katonen d. Taro Ito
Silent Rattan d. Ace Freeman

February 27, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Danny McShain d. Jesse James (2-1)
Paavo Katonen drew Tony Morelli (1-1)
Dave Levin d. (DQ) Alex Kasaboski (2-1)
Red Lyons d. Taro Ito

March 6, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jesse James d. Danny McShain (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) (2-1) new
champ
Paavo Katonen d. (DQ) Alex Kasaboski (2-1)
Dave Levin drew Billy Weidner (1-1)
Tony Morelli d. Red Lyons
Gust Johnson d. Rube Borders

March 13, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Danny McShain d. Paavo Katonen (2-1)
Billy Weidner d. Tony Morelli (2-0)
George Dusette d. Tiger Tsakoff (2-0)
Gust Johnson d. Taro Ito

March 20, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jesse James (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) d. Danny McShain (2-0)
Billy Weidner drew Alex Kasaboski (1-1)
George Dusette d. Red Lyons (2-0)
Johnny Nemanic d. Jack Terry

March 27, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Alex Kasaboski d. Danny McShain (2-1)
Billy Weidner d. George Dusette (2-1)
Dude Chick d. Dave Levin (2-0)
Red Lyons d. Johnny Nemanic
Jack Terry drew Rube Borders

April 3, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Alex Kasaboski d. Jesse James (2-1)
Dick Raines d. Luigi Bacigalupi (2-0)
Billy Weidner d. Mike Nazarian (2-1)
Gust Johnson drew Danny Savich

April 10, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Alex Kasaboski (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) d. (DQ) Billy Weidner (2-1)
George Dusette d. Dude Chick (2-1)
Paavo Katonen drew Herb Parks (1-1)
Walter Podolak d. Tony Morelli
Gil Knutson d. Gene Blackley

April 17, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Alex Kasaboski (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) d. Billy Weidner (2-1)
George Dusette d. Paavo Katonen (2-1)
Gil Knutson d. Silent Rattan
Herb Parks d. Tex Hager

April 24, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
George Dusette d. Alex Kasaboski (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) (2-1, special
referee Jack Dempsey) new champ
Paavo Katonen d. Herb Parks (2-0)
Walter Podolak d. Red Lyons
Jim Heffner d. Gil Knutson
Balk Estes drew Silent Rattan

Dempsey reported as making $181 plus $25 for expenses for his appearance. The card
was said to have netted $535.

May 1, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
George Dusette (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) d. Paavo Katonen (2-1)
Billy Weidner drew Walter Podolak (1-1)
Monte LaDue d. Tex Hager
Rube Borders drew Silent Rattan

May 8, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Walter Podolak d. (DQ) Alex Kasaboski (2-1)
Billy Weidner d. Jim Heffner (2-0)
Danny Savich d. Monte LaDue
Mr. X d. Balk Estes
Bob Montgomery d. Tiger Tsakoff

May 15, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
George Dusette (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) d. Walter Podolak (2-0)
Paavo Katonen/Danny Savich d. Monte LaDue/Mr. X (2-0, team wrestling)
Billy Weidner drew Bob Montgomery (1-1)
Balk Estes d. Tiger Tsakoff

May 22, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Black Panther (Pacific Coast champ) d. Otto Kuss (2-0)
George Dusette drew Danny McShain (1-1)
Ivan Rasputin drew Frank Judson
Danny Savich d. Bob Montgomery

May 29, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Ray Steele (NWAssociation world champ) d. Tom Zaharias (2-0)
Danny McShain/Mr. X d. Alex Kasaboski/Monte LaDue (2-1, team wrestling)
Paavo Katonen d. Danny Savich
Gust Johnson d. Balk Estes

June 5, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Ray Steele (NWAssociation world champ) d. Tom Zaharias (2-0)
Danny McShain d. George Dusette (Pacific Coast junior heavyweight champ) (2-1) new
champ
Paavo Katonen d. (DQ) Monte LaDue
Mr. X drew Gil Knutson

June 12, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry d. Billy Weidner (2-1)
Rudy LaDitzi d. Raoul Lopez (2-0)
Jim Heffner/Monte LaDue d. Paavo Katonen/Mr. X (team wrestling)
Gil Knutson drew Gust Johnson

June 19, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry d. George Dusette (2-1)
Rudy LaDitzi d. Mike Mazurki (2-1)
Dude Chick d. Monte LaDue
Gil Knutson d. Young Gotch

June 26, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Vincent Lopez d. (DQ) Rudy LaDitzi (2-1)
Danny McShain d. Monte LaDue (2-1)
Walter Podolak d. Dude Chick
Karl Gray d. Balk Estes

LaDue subbed for Mr. X. Gray called Walter Grey, but in all probability it’s Karl Gray.

July 3, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Vincent Lopez d. Rudy LaDitzi (2-1)
Red Berry (world junior heavyweight champ) d. Walter Podolak (2-0)
George Dusette drew Karl Gray
Gil Knutson d. Red Lyons

July 10, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Blimp Levy d. Rudy LaDitzi (2-1)
Danny McShain d. Alex Kasaboski (2-1)
George Dusette d. Taro Ito
Gust Johnson d. Karl Gray

July 17, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Danny McShain d. Red Berry (world light heavyweight champ) (2-1, non-title)
Jesse James d. George Dusette (2-1)
Alex Kasaboski d. Walter Podolak
Monte LaDue d. Silent Rattan

July 24, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Danny McShain d. Jesse James (2-1, winner gets a shot at Red Berry)
Dude Chick d. Alex Kasaboski (2-0)
Sheik Mar Allah d. (DQ) Monte LaDue
Gust Johnson drew Billy Vargo

July 31, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (world light heavyweight champion) d. Danny McShain (2-1)
Jim Casey drew Bill Longson (Pacific Coast champion)
Ali Adali d. Johnny Marrs (2-0)
Bill Vargo d. (DQ) Monte LaDue

August 7, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Bill Longson (Pacific Coast champ) d. Frank Jordan (2-0)
Jesse James d. Dude Chick (2-1)
Danno O’Mahoney d. Mike Mazurki
Bill Vargo d. Sheik Mar Allah

August 14, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Bill Longson (Pacific Coast champ) d. Ali Adali (2-1)
Red Berry (world light heavyweight champ) d. Jesse James (2-1)
Frank Sexton drew Jim Casey
George Dusette drew Billy Vargo

August 21, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Frank Sexton d. Jim Casey (1-0)
Red Berry d. Danny McShain (2-1)
Rudy LaDitzi d. Red Carlton
George Dusette d. Gust Johnson

August 28, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Paavo Katonen (world junior heavyweight champ) d. Red Berry (2-1)
Bill Longson drew Alberto Corral (1-1)
Pantaleon Manlapig d. Rudy LaDitzi
Bill Vargo d. Silent Rattan

Longson lost the Pacific Coast belt to Frank Sexton on August 25 in San Francisco

September 4, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Frank Sexton (Pacific Coast champ) d. (DQ) Bill Longson (2-1)
Paavo Katonen d. Jesse James (2-1)
Sandor Szabo (NWAssociation world champ) drew Pantaleon Manlapig
George Dusette d. Billy Weidner

Katonen lost the world junior heavyweight championship about a week ago

September 11, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (world junior heavyweight champ) drew Paavo Katonen (1-1)
Alberto Corral d. Hans Schultz (2-0)
Ali Adali d. (DQ) Rudy LaDitzi
Sheik Mar Allah drew Fred Villaria

September 18, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Bronko Nagurski drew Bill Longson (1-1)
Jesse James d. Bill Vargo (2-1)
Pantaleon Manlapig d. Fred Meyers
Sheik Mar Allah d. Gust Johnson

September 25, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (world junior heavyweight champ) d. Paavo Katonen
Frank Sexton (Pacific Coast champ) d. Cardiff Giant (2-0)
Alberto Corral drew Rudy LaDitzi
Sheik Mar Allah d. Rosey Rosenbaum
Silent Rattan d. Fred Villaria

October 2, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Pantaleon Manlapig d. (DQ) Laverne Baxter (2-0)
Bill Vargo d. Sheik Mar Allah (1-0)
Jim Casey d. Rudy LaDitzi (2-0)
Don Sebastian d. Billy Weidner

Baxter subbed for Abe Kashey

October 9, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jim Casey (Pacific Coast champ) d. Bill Longson (2-1)
Billy Vargo d. Billy Weidner (2-1)
Don Sebastian drew Sheik Mar Allah
Bolo Garcia d. Hans Schultz

Weidner subbed for Paavo Katonen

October 16, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (world junior heavyweight champ) d. Billy Vargo (2-1)
Frank Sexton d. Ali Adali (2-1)
Joaquin Murietta d. Hans Schultz
Don Sebastian d. (DQ) Yukon Jake

October 23, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (national junior heavyweight champ) drew Billy Vargo (1-1)
Jim Casey (Pacific Coast champ) d. Pete Peterson (2-1)
Yukon Jake d. Sheik Mar Allah
Joaquin Murietta d. Charles Rainer

October 30, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Jim Casey (Pacific Coast champ) vs. Frank Sexton
Paavo Katonen vs. Yukon Jake
Pat Rooney vs. Joaquin Murietta
Don Sebastian vs. Ted Tourtas

November 6, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (junior heavyweight champ) d. Yukon Jake (2-1)
Jim Casey d. Joaquin Murietta (Murietta unable to continue)
Pete Peterson drew Harry Kent
Don Sebastian d. (DQ) Paul Bozzell

November 13, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Pete Peterson no contest Harry Kent (1-1)
Billy Vargo d. (DQ) Yukon Jake (2-1)
Brother Jonathan d. Tug Carlson
Paul Bozzell drew Gene Blackley

November 21, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium) Friday
Frank Sexton (Pacific Coast champ) d. (DQ) Harry Kent
Billy Vargo d. Paavo Katonen (2-1)
Jim Casey drew Joaquin Murietta
Don Sebastian d. Jimmy Goodrich

Friday card because of Thanksgiving

November 27, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Don Sebastian d. Billy Vargo (2-1)
Jim Casey d. Ali Adali (2-1)
Danny McShain d. Paul Bozell
Brother Jonathan d. Fred Meyers

Adali subbed for Joaquin Murietta

December 4, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Don Sebastian d. (DQ) Red Berry (junior heavyweight champ) (2-1)
Frank Sexton (Pacific Coast champ) d. Brother Jonathan (2-0)
Danny McShain no contest Yukon Jake
Pedro Brazil drew Pete Peterson

No title change as Sebastian was over the weight limit

December 11, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (world junior heavyweight champ) d. Yukon Jake (2-1)
Jim Casey d. Cardiff Giant (2-0)
Danny McShain d. Don Sebastian
Harry Kent d. Pedro Brazil (2-0)

Cardiff Giant subbed for Pete Petersen

December 18, 1941 Fresno, CA (Ryan’s Auditorium)
Red Berry (NWA world junior heavyweight champ) d. Danny McShain (2-1)
Alberto Corral d. (DQ) Harry Kent (2-1)
Hardy Kruskamp drew Jim Casey
George Dusette d. Paavo Katonen

Last card of 1941

Research by Becky Taylor
Fresno Wrestling Results - 1941