NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
In 1948, there were several major variants to the "World"
Junior Heavyweight Title to include strands in Iowa
Ohio, California, and the most acknowledged championship
recognized by the National Wrestling Association.
When the National Wrestling Alliance was expanded out
of Iowa in July 1948, Billy Goelz, the reigning champion
in the Hawkeye State, was given formal recognition.
Waterloo, Iowa: Sunday, August 22, 1948
(Electric Park) ... Al Williams b. Billy Goelz to capture
the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title (one-fall
match) (31:14) ... (promoter: Andy George) ... (referee:
Joe Krescji) ... (1,500 fans)
Note: Reportedly the first time a championship had
changed hands in Waterloo.
Waterloo, Iowa: Sunday, September 5, 1948
(Electric Park) ... Billy Goelz b. Al Williams to regain
the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title (one-fall
match) (46:20) ... Otto Kuss b. Volga Boatman (20:11)
... Carlos Rodriguez b. Johnny Marrs (16:32) ... (promoter:
Andy George)
In November 1949 came a meager of motivations amongst
the members of the National Wrestling Alliance and the
National Wrestling Association. Officials from the
Association attended the St. Louis gathering
and basically signed off on any future title unifications.
Des Moines, Iowa: Wednesday, December 28, 1949
(KRNT Radio Theater) ... Leroy McGuirk b. Billy Goelz to
unify his National Wrestling Association World Junior
Heavyweight Title with Goelz's National Wrestling
Alliance World Junior Title (2/3) ... (promoter: Pinkie
George) ... (2,200 fans)
Sam Avey of Tulsa booked the Junior Heavyweight Title.
On a rain soaked road in Little Rock, Leroy McGuirk was
injured in an automobile accident on February 7, 1950.
The glasses he was wearing shattered, blinding his
only good eye and ending his professional wrestling
career. The World Junior Title was declared vacant
by National Wrestling Alliance officials. A tournament
was scheduled.
Leroy McGuirk joins Sam Avey's office in Tulsa and
helps book the Junior Heavyweight Title.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Monday, November 13, 1950
( ) ... Verne Gagne b. Sonny Myers in a tournament
final to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title ... (promoter: Sam Avey)
Memphis, Tennessee: Monday, November 19, 1951
(The Auditorium) ... Danny McShain b. Verne Gagne to
capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) (Gagne won the first fall, McShain won the
second and third straight) ... Frankie Murdoch (The
Fabulous Texan) b. Jack Kennedy (televised by
WMCT) ... Ivan Rasputin b. Whitey Whittler ...
Chief Big Heart b. "Tiger" Jack Moore ... (referee:
Sid Marcus) ... (sponsored by: American Legion)
Memphis, Tennessee: Monday, August 17, 1953
(The Auditorium) ... Baron Michele Leone b. Danny
McShain to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) (McShainw on the first fall in 13:00, Leone
won the second in 14:00 with a reverse neckbreaker
and then took the match when McShain was unable
to continue) ... Gory Guerrero b. Tommy Baldwin (2/3)
(Baldwin was a substitute for Dizzy Davis, who was
injured) ... Tarzan White b. Dave Sims (18:00) ...
Ricki Starr b. Frank Murdock (DQ) ... (referees:
Sid Marcus, Leo Voss) ... (sponsored by: American
Legion)
There was some controversy during the reign of Baron
Michele Leone, leading some members of the NWA
to consider alternative means of stripping him of his
title claim. Some advised that a double cross
in the ring would be the best option to force him
to drop the title. Names were even considered,
but eventually Leone did the job.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Monday, April 11, 1955
(Fairgrounds Junior Arena) ... Ed Francis b. Baron
Michele Leone to capture the NWA World Junior
Heavyweight Title (2/3) (Leone won the first fall in
19:00, Francis won the second in 10:00 and then
pinned Leone for the third in 6:00) ... Mike
Gallagher b. Ray Stevens (2/3) (third by countout)
... Ricki Starr b. Dutch Schultz (2-0) (second by
DQ) ... (promoter: Sam Avey) ... (referee: Leo
Voss)
Tulsa, Oklahoma: April 1956
(Fairgrounds Junior Arena) ... Mike Clancy b. Ed Francis to
capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title ...
(promoter: Sam Avey)... (matchmaker: Leroy McGuirk)
Note: According to the April 17, 1956 edition of the Daily
Oklahoman, "Irish Mike Clancy ... wrestled the junior
heavyweight wrestling crown from Gentleman Edmund
Francis a week ago in Tulsa."
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, February 28, 1958
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Angelo Savoldi b. Mike Clancy
to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) (Savoldi won the first fall in 17:00, Clancy took
the second in 10:00, Savoldi won the third in 23:00)
... Al Kashey b. Frankie Taylor (2-0) ... Southern
Champion Red McIntyre b. The Great Mephisto ...
(promoter: Red Andrews) ... (4,300 fans)
Note: According to a newspaper report, Clancy
won the title from Edmund Francis of Tulsa in
"March" 1956; Savoldi "apparantly won the title
from Leroy McGuirk in a Little Rock bout several years
ago, but his winning pin was nullified by officials."
"McGuirk was on hand Friday night as a representative
of the sponsoring National Wrestling Alliance."
Amarillo, Texas: Thursday, June 5, 1958
(Sports Arena) ... Dory Funk Sr. b. Angelo Savoldi to
capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) ... Mike DiBiase b. Don Evans ... Bob Geigel
b. Cyclone Anaya (DQ) ... Ricky Romero b. Danno
McDonald (judge's decision) ... Little Red Feather
and Tiny Tim b. Bull Brummell and Irish Jackie ...
(promoter: Dr. Karl Sarpolis)
Note: The Amarillo Daily News billed Funk as an
"Umbarger rancher and co-owner of Gem Lake
Swimming Pool."
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, July 11, 1958
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Angelo Savoldi b. Dory Funk
Sr. to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) (Savoldi won the first and third falls) ... The
Donovan Brothers (Doug and Red Donovan) b. The
Great Bolo and Bull Montana (2/3) ... Speedy LaRance
b. Jim LaRock ... (promoter: Red Andrews) ... (4,244
fans)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, February 20, 1959
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Ivan the Terrible b. Angelo
Savoldi to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) ... Pepi Pasquale and Little Beaver b. Antone
Leone and Mighty Schultz ... Lew "Shoulders" Newman
b. Bob Clay ... Tito Carreon b. Al Szasz ... (promoter:
Red Andrews) ... (5,000 fans)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, March 6, 1959
(Stockyard Coliseum) ... Angelo Savoldi b. Ivan the
Terrible to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) ... Antone Leone and Lew Newman b.
Tito Carreon and Chief Lone Eagle ... Carlos Rodriguez
b. Pepi Pasquale ... Bob Clay and Joe Costello drew
... (promoter: Red Andrews) ... (5,000 fans)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, May 29, 1959
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Mike DiBiase b. Angelo
Savoldi to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) ... Women's "International" Champion
The Fabulous Moolah b. Judy Grable ... Rocky
Columbo b. Carlos Rodriguez ... Luigi Columbo
b. Joe Costello ... (promoter: Red Andrews) ...
(2,500 fans)
Note: The Daily Oklahoman spelled Mike DiBiase's
name Dibiasse." In the advertisement for the show,
the newspaper stated: "promoters believe it is the
first time two championships bouts have ever
been offered on the same card in Oklahoma."
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, August 21, 1959
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Angelo Savoldi b. Mike
DiBiase to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) ... Farmer Jones and Sacha the Great drew ...
Mr. X b. Red Donovan ... (promoter: Red Andrews)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, July 22, 1960
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Danny Hodge b. Angelo
Savoldi to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) (Hodge won the second and thid falls) ...
Cowboy Bradley and Judy Glover b. Bull Brummell
and Jessica Rogers ... Jack Curtis and Karol Krauser
drew ... Eddy Sullivan b. Jack Donovan ... Tony
Morelli b. Carlos Rodriguez ... The Great Bolo b.
Lorenzo Parente ... (promoter: Red Andrews) ...
(6,000 fans)
Tampa, Florida: Saturday, July 11, 1964
(The Sportatorium) ... Hiro Matsuda b. Danny Hodge
to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) ... (promoter: Cowboy Luttrall) ... (television
taping ...(broadcast that night on channel 13 in
Tampa)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, November 13, 1964
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Angelo Savoldi b. Hiro Matsuda
to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
(2/3) ... Jack Donovan and Alvero Valesco drew ... Mike
Clancy b. Nelson Royal ... Ken Lucas b. Alex Medina ...
Buddy Allen b. Lon Stuart ... (promoter: Red Andrews)
Newspaper Article: Saturday, Novemer 14, 1964
Daily Oklahoman (page 13B)
"Savoldi Claims Matsuda's Crown - Angelo Savoldi lifted Hiro
Matsuda's Junior Heavyweight Title in the feature of Friday's
pro wrestling show at Stockyards Coliseum."
Note: The November 13, 1964 edition of the Daily
Oklahoman stated: "Junior heavyweight champion Hira (sic)
Matsuda meets Angelo Savoldi in the non-title feature of
Friday's 8:30 p.m. pro wrestling show at Stockyards
Coliseum.
Savoldi was billed as the World Junior Champion in
Oklahoma City following the November 13 bout
It was apparently a title match. According to other
reports, Matsuda remained champion through
January 1965, when he reportedly lost a title bout
to Danny Hodge in Tulsa. This has to be confirmed.
On January 15, 1965, Hodge was billed as the World
Junior Heavyweight Champion in Denver.
Savoldi, however, remained titleholder in Oklahoma
City and maybe other towns on the booking circuit of
McGuirk through at least April 23, 1965.
Spring 1965 (?)
Danny Hodge b. Angelo Savoldi to capture the NWA
World Junior Heavyweight Title
*Hodge may have united the two strands.
According to sources, Hodge traded the belt back
and forth with Lorenzo Parente in 1965. According
to research, Hodge was holding the belt through
through most of the summer and into the winter.
More evidence is needed to prove Parente's claim.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Friday, January 14, 1966
(Stockyards Coliseum) ... Lorenzo Parente b. Danny
Hodge to capture the NWA World Junior Heavyweight
Title (2/3) ... Ray Gordon vs. Chuck Karbo ... The
Assassins vs. Bruce Kirk and Argentina Zuma ...
Jack Brisco vs. Kurt Steiger ... (promoter: Red
Andrews)
Notes: The January 19, 1966 edition of the Daily
Oklahoma stated: "Doctors have ordered pro wrestler
Danny Hodge out of action indefinitely because of an
injured back and neck and exhaustion, promoter Leroy
McGuirk said Tuesday. Hodge was hurt in a car
wreck at Wichita Falls Friday and collapsed in the
Stockyards Coliseum ring Friday night in his title bout
with Lorenzo Parente, who was declared winer and
new junior heavyweight champion." Other sources
claim this January 14 match was in Tulsa. They are
incorrect.
February 1966
Joe McCarthy b. Lorenzo Parente to capture the NWA
World Junior Heavyweight Title.
Little Rock, Arkansas (?): Spring 1966
Danny Hodge b. Joe McCarthy to capture the NWA
World Junior Heavyweight Title.
Unofficial Title Switches
Dallas, Texas: Tuesday, November 11, 1952 (The Sportatorium) … “Wild” Red Berry b. NWA World
Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny McShain (2/3)
(third fall by DQ) (McShain won the first fall,
Berry won the second, and Berry won the third
by disqualification when McShain “continued to
slam Berry outside the ring.”)
… Texas Tag Team Champions Duke Keomuka and
Danny Savich b. “Cowboy” Orv Carlson and Ricki Starr …
“Cowboy” Orv Carlson, Ricki Starr and Billy Varga b.
Juan Humberto, Duke Keomuka and Danny Savich to
capture the initial Texas Six-Man Tag Team Title …
Cyclone Anaya and Juan Humberto drew … Billy
Varga b. Andre Drapp … Ella Wladek b. Ethel
Brown … (promoter: Ed McLemore) … (referee:
Leo Voss) … (5,000 fans) Notes: The Dallas Morning News on November 12, 1952
reported: “A world wrestling title changed hands for the first
time in many years in Dallas Tuesday night at the Sportatorium
when Wild Red Berry defeated he junior heavyweight champion,
Danny McShane, in the feature main event of the six-bout
grappling card, witnessed by nearly 5,000 fans.” McShain was
“expected to challenge the disqualification decision with the
Texas commission.” It should be noted that no National Wrestling
Alliance board controlled titles could change hands on a DQ.
Galveston, Texas: Thursday, November 27, 1952 (City Auditorium) … Danny McShain b. Red Berry to unify
his NWA World Heavyweight Title with Berry’s claim
(2/3) (McShain won the first fall, Berry won the second
and McShain took the final) … Ray Gunkel b. Carlos
Moreno (15:00) … Marvin Jones b. “Cowboy” Bob Clay
(11:00) … Cowboy Carlson and Ricki Starr drew … Herman
Hall and Charles Spencer Jr. drew (15:00) … (benefit for
the Leader Dogs for the Blind, one fourth of the gross
was donated) … (in attendance: Leroy McGuirk)
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