St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, January 2, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Frankie Talaber b. Gorgeous George (referee Ray Steele got into it with George and Steele punched him, leading to Talaber’s finish) … Joe Pazandak b. Tom Bradley (12:46) … Paul Brown b. Cliff Olson (DQ) … Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams b. John Cretoria and The Great Kirilenko (2/3) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (referees: Ray Steele, Johnny Anderson) … (3,104 fans) Notes: Williams was an Army soldier, a part of the 16th Armored Division. He was a physical instructor at Camp Crowder and Camp Chafee. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, January 10, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Felix Miquet (17:47) (back body drop) … Ernie Dusek b. Ray Villmer (UTC) … Lee Henning and George Koverly drew (20:00) … The Dusek Brothers (Emil and Joe Dusek) b. Fred Blassie and Jack Hader (2/3) … Ed Meske b. Warren Bockwinkel … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (10,944 fans) … (gate: $11,845.25, net $8,912.96 after taxes) Notes: Meske was said to be a chiropractor in Los Angeles. Longson was making his 85th World Title defense. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, January 17, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Ray Steele b. Gorgeous George (33:45) … John Pesek b. Jack Vansky (15:48) … Jim McMillen and Ruffy Silverstein drew … Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams b. John Cretoria and Ali Pasha … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (6,476 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, January 23, 1947 (The Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Lou Thesz (36:50) … “Whipper” Billy Watson b. “Bulldog” Wagner (16:55) … Ed Meske b. Ernie Dusek (15:48) … The Duseks (Emil and Joe Dusek) b. Warren Bockwinkel and Wally Greb … George Koverly b. Everette Marshall (DQ) (7:48) … Felix Miquet b. Ole Olson … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (15,180 fans) … (gate: $19,560.35) Notes: Longson made his 86th straight successful title defense. Lou was accompanied by his father. The piledriver was illegal in Missouri. St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, February 6, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Ed Meske (16:16) (body slam) … Lou Thesz b. Felix Miquet (11:15) … “Whipper” Billy Watson b. Karl Davis (13:12) … Ernie Dusek b. Joe Corbett … The Dusek Brothers (Emil and Joe Dusek) b. Ralph Garibaldi and Mickey Gold) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (7,649 fans) … (gate: $8,327.80) St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, February 12, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … John Pesek b. Cliff Olson (14:54) … Frankie Talaber b. Ray Steele (DQ) (Talaber was thrown over the top rope) (31:52) … Dick Shikat b. John Cretoria (11: 52) … Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams b. Jack Steele and Jack Vansky (2/3) … Frank Florence and Red Vitale drew (15:00) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (4,723 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Monday, February 17, 1947 (Ainad Temple) … Primo Carnera b. Miguel Torres (9:25) … Tony Garibaldi and Ben Steele drew (30:00) … Finice Hall and Leo Newman b. Paul Kisselbach and Carlos Rodriguez (2/3) … (1,200 fans) Notes: Carnera was accompanied by “Toots” Mondt. Torres was a substitute for Pete Schuh, who was involved in a serious car accident near Springfield, Missouri. He suffered severe facial lacerations. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, February 21, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Billy Watson b. Bill Longson to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Title (18:36) (Watson won by disqualification when Longson punched the referee) (After the match, Longson punched Schwartz a second time) (Watson was accompanied by Phil Lawson) … Ernie Dusek b. Dr. Ed Meske (19:59) … Wee Willie Davis b. Paul Boesch (16: 40) … Babe Sharkey and Francois Valois drew (20:00) … Warren Bockwinkel and Mickey Gold b. The Dusek Brothers (Emil and Joe Dusek) (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referee: Charley Schwartz) … (in attendance: Frank Tunney) … (8,690 fans) Notes: The Missouri State Athletic Commission fined Longson $50 for his actions. Boesch’ s arm became dislocated during his bout with Davis and referee Henry Costa stopped the match. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, February 28, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Ray Steele b. Frankie Talaber (1:06:37) … Dick Shikat b. Jack Steele (11:47) … Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams b. John Cretoria and Cliff Olson (2/3) … Tom Bradley b. Jack Vansky … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (referee: Henry Costa) … (3,610 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, March 7, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … “Whipper” Billy Watson b. Ernie Dusek (16:11) (Canadian Avalanche) … Lou Thesz b. Francois Valois (14:09) … Willie Davis b. Babe Sharkey (10:06) … Warren Bockwinkel and Ed Meske drew (20:00) … Joe Dusek and Ralph Garibaldi b. Carlos Rodriguez and Miguel Torres (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (9,147 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, March 14, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Gorgeous George b. Bob Cummings (22:46) … Ray Steele b. Frank Jares (21:16) … Ruffy Silverstein b. John Cretoria (12:30) … Frankie Talaber and Eddie Williams b. Jack Vansky and Bill Zimovich (2-0) … Tom Bradley b. Cliff Olson (DQ) (Olson used an illegal stranglehold) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (referee: John Turner) … (4,796 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, March 21, 1947 (The Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Whipper” Billy Watson and Lou Thesz were both counted out (21:15) (Watson was unconscious on the arena floor, while Thesz was out cold on the mat in the ring) … Everette Marshall b. Ed Meske … Warren Bockwinkel b. Mickey Gold (10:32) … Francois Valois b. Hans Schnabel (15:52) … The Dusek Brothers (Ernie and Joe Dusek) b. The Garibaldi Brothers (Gino and Ralph Garibaldi) (2-0) (referee stopped match) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Charley Schwartz, Walter McMillan) … (in attendance: Bill Longson) … (12,255 fans) … (gate: $16,230.55) Note: Packs invited members of the Ozark AAU wrestling tournament to the show. Kansas City, Missouri: Saturday, March 22, 1947 (Former Scottish Rite Temple) (Linwood and Paseo) … Orville Brown vs. Lee Wykoff … Jack Johnson vs. Ed Virag … (sponsored by: American Legion) Kansas City, Missouri: Monday, March 24, 1947 (Municipal Auditorium) … Roy Dunn b. Jack Vansky … Ralph Silverstein b. John Cretoria … Frankie Talaber b. Fred Caronne … Jack Fanning and Johnny Plummer drew in 30-minutes St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, March 28, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Bronko Nagurski b. Ray Steele (25:32) … Frankie Talaber b. Jack Vansky (17:02) and Bill Zimovich (1:32) (handicap match) … Abie Coleman b. Jack Conley (9:25) … Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams b. John Cretoria and Jack Steele (2/3) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (referee: Henry Costa) … (5,577 fans) Note: Talaber had to beat both Vansky and Zimovich in 45-minutes. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, April 11, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Yvon Robert and Bob Wagner (9:56) (handicap match, Longson had to beat both in 90:00) (Longson pinned Robert in 8:21 and Wagner in 1:36) … Francois Valois b. Bobby Bruns (19:51) … Ray Eckert and Ray Villmer drew (30:00) … The Dusek Brothers (Ernie and Joe Dusek) b. George and Hans Schnabel (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referee: Lou Spandle) … (10,870 fans) Joplin, Missouri: Thursday, April 17, 1947 (Memorial Hall) … Gorgeous George Wagner b. Jimmy Lee (2/3) (Lee won the first fall in 8- minutes, Wagner won the second in 5-minutes, Wagner won the third in 4-minutes) (Wagner was accompanied by a valet) … Tuffy Truesdale (170 lbs.) threw a 550-pound live aligator … Ray Duran and Tony Morelli drew (45:00) (1-1) (Duran won the first fall in 20- minutes with a crabhold, Morelli won the second in 10-minutes … Jack Terry b. (Angelo?) Lou Savoldi (2/3) … (Terry won the first fall in 10-minutes with a judo chop, Savoldi won the second in 5-minutes, Terry won the third in 6-minutes) … (referee: Jack League) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, April 18, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Gorgeous George b. Frankie Talaber (2/3) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis b. Tom Bradley (11:56) … Frankie Hart b. Whitey Wahlberg (20:46) … Bill Cazzell and Jack Conley b. Bob Cummings and Eddie Williams (2/3) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (referee: Clete Kauffman) … (6,209 fans) … (gate: $5,387) Kansas City, Missouri: Saturday, April 19, 1947 (Former Scottish Rite Temple) … MWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown vs. Ras Samara … Nell Stewart vs. Violet Viann … (sponsored by: American Legion) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday April 25, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Lou Thesz b. “Whipper” Billy Watson to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Title (25:41) (Watson was accompanied by Phil Lawson) … Mike Sharpe b. “Wee” Willie Davis (17:31) … Francois Valois b. Vic Christy (16:09) … George Koverly b. Roy Graham (11:51) … Warren Bockwinkel and Hans Schnabel drew (20:00) … Tuffy Truesdale b. Lou Newman (12:14) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (10,462 fans) Notes: Lawson complained about the finish of the match and reportedly appealed to National Wrestling Association President Col. Harry J. Landry. Watson was guaranteed a rematch within 60-days. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, May 2, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Sterling “Dizzy” Davis and Frankie Talaber b. Gorgeous George (handicap match) … Eddie Williams b. The Great Kirilenko … Bob Cummings b. “Wild” Bill Zimovich (DQ) … Frankie Hart and Pierre LaBelle b. Bill Cazzell and Jack Conley … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (5,346 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: May 28, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Gorgeous George b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (24:35) … Ray Steele and Frankie Talaber drew … Butch Levy b. Andy Moen … Jack Conley and Jack Vansky b. Johnny James and Pierre LaBelle … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (3,270 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: June 12, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Ray Steele b. Bronko Nagurski (34:06) … Dizzy Davis b. Bob Cummings … Butch Levy b. Jack Conley … Joe Lynam and Frankie Talaber b. Steve Nenoff and Danny Savich … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (2,316 fans) … (season finale) St. Louis, Missouri: Thursday, July 3, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Don Evans (16:15) … Mike Sharpe b. Joe Dusek (12: 22) … Felix Miquet b. Eric Holmback (7:48) … Warren Bockwinkel b. Frank Marconi (10:28) … Fred Blassie and Ralph Garibaldi drew (20:00) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (3,000 fans) *The Wednesday, July 9, 1947 edition of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that Sam Muchnick was married in Galveston, Texas on Monday at the home of a friend there. He married Helen Wildefong of St. Louis and was scheduled to return to the city on July 13. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, July 18, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Buddy Rogers (20: 18) (body block) … Dave Levin and Bobby Managoff drew (30:00) … Mike Sharpe b. Ole Olson (7:35) … Ben Sharpe b. Jack Dillon (10:51) … Warren Bockwinkel b. Rudy Kay (13: 30) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (7,377 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, October 24, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Bill Longson (23:55) (Thesz landed on the referee during the match, knocking the latter out, and then Longson gained the advantage and had the pin on Thesz when the referee was not there to count it) (the referee regained consciousness for Thesz’s pin) … Buddy Rogers b. Pat Flanigan (14: 26) … Ernie Dusek b. George Koverly (DQ) (16:34) (Koverly punched the referee) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. Tom Mahoney and Don McIntyre (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (referees: Henry Costa, Charles Schwartz) … (8,996 fans) Notes: Schwartz worked the main event and may have suffered a fractured wrist during the action. Koverly was fined $25 for his actions by Charles Pian. Joplin, Missouri: Thursday, October 30, 1947 (Memorial Hall) … Dizzy Davis and Jimmy Lott b. Red Berry and Leroy McGuirk (2-0) (Davis pinned McGuirk for the first fall in 20-minutes, Lott pinned Berry for the second) … Danny Savich b. John Swenski (2/3) (Savich won the first fall in 18-minutes, Swenski won the second in 1-minute, Savich won the third in 13-minutes) … (referee: Jack League) Note: Many people from Pittsburg, Kansas were in attendance. Pittsburg was Berry’s hometown, and where he was a park comissioner. St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, October 31, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Dizzy Davis b. Gorgeous George (2/3) (George won the initial fall in 16: 02, Davis took the second in 4:20 and the third in 10:07 when the referee reversed his decision) … Frankie Talaber b. Bill Zimovich (12:15) … Frankie Hart b. Monte LaDue (9:07) … Billy Darnell and Pierre LaBelle b. Bill Cazzell and Buck Lipscomb (2/3) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (3,490 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, November 7, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Buddy Rogers (10:35) (Rogers knocked himself out when he missed a kangaroo kick) (Rogers attacked Longson after the match) … Ernie Dusek b. Pat Fraley (17:07) … Pat Flanigan and Dave Levin drew (20:00) … Duke Keomuka b. Tuffy Truesdale (15:42) … Warren Bockwinkel and Ray Villmer b. The Dusek Brothers (Emil and Joe Dusek) (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (7,083 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Wednesday, November 12, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Frankie Talaber b. Sterling “Dizzy” Davis (2/3) … Bill Kuusisto b. Abe Kashey (21:40) … Billy Darnell b. Jack Conley (DQ) (10:30) … Frankie Hart and Pierre LaBelle b. Monte LaDue and Bill Zimovich (2-0) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (2,768 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, November 21, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Bill Longson b. Lou Thesz to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Title (25:15) (reverse leglock) (during the match, both fell from the ring and Thesz landed on his left knee, and suffered an injury) (this injury led to the finish) … Pat Flanigan b. Emil Dusek (13:02) … Ernie Dusek and Ray Villmer drew (30:00) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. Pat Fraley and Ben Hogan (elimination match) (Fraley was disqualified first after 6:47 and the Sharpes beat Hogan in 1:04) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (9,802 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: November 28, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Sandor Szabo b. Joe Pazandak (24:13) … The Great Mephisto b. Buck Lipscomb … Buddy Jackson b. Alex Kaffner … Frankie Hart and Whitey Wahlberg b. Bill Cazzell and Steve Nenoff … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (4,702 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, December 5, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Buddy Rogers (15: 16) (Rogers struck the corner post with his head during the final moments) … Joe Dusek b. Olaf Erickson (16:48) … Ray Villmer b. Vic Holbrook (20:07) ... Warren Bockwinkel and Ralph Garibaldi b. Thor Morgan and Henry Piers (Piers was disqualified and Morgan was pinned) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (8,581 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, December 12, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … Abe Kashey b. Frankie Talaber (21:49) … Otto Kuss b. Jack Conley (16:34) (Conley was a substitute for Bill Kussisto) … Jack Conley and Bill Zimovich b. Billy Darnell and Frankie Hart (2/3) … Buddy Jackson b. Frankie James (16:23) (black wrestlers) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (3,483 fans) Notes: Kashey needed a police escort from the ring after displaying his viciousness against Talaber. Kuusisto was unable to wrestle due to a high fever and high blood pressure. Joplin, Missouri: Thursday, December 18, 1947 (Memorial Hall) … Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke b. June Byers (2/3) (Byers won the first fall in 13-minutes, Burke won the second in 5-minutes with an aligator clutch, Burke won the third in 4-minutes) … Danny McShain b. The Great Balbo (2/3) (McShain won the first fall in 11-minutes, Balbo won the second in 4-minutes, McShain took the third in 5- minutes) … Red Berry b. Farmer Jones (2/3) (Berry won the first fall in 7-minutes, Jones won the second in 6-minutes, Berry won the third in 11-minutes with an octopus hold) … Karl Gray and Dr. Gill Knutson drew (30:00) … (large crowd) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, December 19, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bill Longson b. Ray Villmer (18:15) … Dave Levin and Buddy Rogers drew (30:00) … Mike Sharpe b. Olaf Olson (12:42) … Tuffy Truesdale b. Eddie Theriault (14:20) … The Dusek Brothers (Ernie and Joe Dusek) b. The Garibaldi Brothers (Gino and Ralph Garibaldi) (2-0) … (promoter: Tom Packs) … (7,444 fans) St. Louis, Missouri: Friday, December 26, 1947 (Kiel Auditorium) … AWA World Heavyweight Champion Frank Sexton b. Abe Kashey (32: 45) … Juan Hernandez and Frankie Talaber b. Jack Conley and Finice Hall (2/3) … Otto Kuss b. Ed Virag (19:16) … Paul Kisselbach b. Bill Cazzell (10:36) … (promoter: Sam Muchnick) … (5,256 fans) Notes: “Powerhouse” Sexton was said to be 6’2” and weighing 235 from Sedalia, Ohio. Virag was called a one-time claimant. Research by Tim Hornbaker |
St. Louis Wrestling Results - 1947 |