Wilmington Wrestling Results

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, January 8, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Don Arnold and Joe Pazandak drew (1-1) … The Black Panther (Jim
Mitchell) b. The Masked Terror (2-0) … Ivan the Terrible b. Gino Garibaldi (2/3) … Bob
Corby b. Matt Murphy … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Murphy was said to be from San Pedro.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, January 15, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Lord James Blears vs. Joe Pazandak … Don Arnold vs. Pat Fraley
… Crusher Curtis vs. Butch Levy … Jacobo Macias vs. Ray Piret … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)
Notes: Show cancelled due to rain. Several wrestlers couldn’t make it to the arena.
Levy was said to have made his professional wrestling debut in Wilmington after his
discharge from the Navy.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, January 22, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … World Heavyweight Champion “Baron” Michele Leone b. Hans
Schnabel (2-0) … “Dashing” Dan Cupid b. Prince Haile Selessie (2/3) … Crusher Curtis
and Carlos Guzman drew (30:00) … Ray Piret b. Chester Hayes (Hayes was a substitute
for Jack Britton) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, January 29, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Don Eagle b. Karl Davis (2/3) … Don Arnold and Dennis Clary b. Bill
Hiers and Joe Pazandak (2-0) (1st by DQ) … Carlos Guzman and Ali Pasha drew (45:00)
(1-1) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Hiers was the protégé of Pazandak.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, February 5, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … World Heavyweight Champion “Baron” Michele Leone b. Dr. Lee
Grable (2/3) … Prince Haile Selessie and Little Beaver b. Dan Cupid and Irish Jackie
(2/3) … Carlos Guzman b. Jack Britton (2-0) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (large crowd)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, February 12, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … World Junior Heavyweight Champion Red Berry and Lord James
Blears drew (1-1) … Carlos Guzman and Roger MacKay b. Ivan the Terrible and Ali
Pasha (2/3) … Dave Levin and Ray Piret drew (20:00) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Levin was a substitute for Dennis Clary.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, February 19, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Gino Garibaldi and Joe Pazandak drew (60:00) … Rito Romero b.
Danny Savich (2-0) … The Black Panther and Lord James Blears drew (20:00) … Roger
MacKay b. The Golden Terror (countout) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (referee:
Bobby Coleman)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, February 26, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Carlos Guzman and Rito Romero b. The Golden Terror and Danny
Savich (tag team tournament match) … Carlos Guzman and Rito Romero b. Karl Davis
and Ivan the Terrible (2/3) (tag team tournament match) … Karl Davis and Ivan the
Terrible b. The McDaniels Brothers (Billy and Fred McDaniels) (decision) … (promoter:
Ernie Steffen) … (referee: Hank Methany)
Notes: Opening round of the tag team tournament, which may end up being national.
Australian tag team rules were in effect.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, March 4, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Carlos Guzman and Rito Romero b. Crusher Curtis and Hans
Schnabel (tag team tournament match) … Carlos Guzman and Rito Romero b. The
Golden Terror and Mr. X (2/3) (tag team tournament match) … The Golden Terror and
Mr. X b. Dennis Clary and Jesse James (tag team tournament match) … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen) … (referee: Benny Ginsberg)
Notes: This was said to be the second round of the tag team tournament. Guzman and
Romero now have four wins and no losses.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, March 11, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Gorgeous George b. Ray Piret (2/3) (Piret was a substitute for
Carlos Guzman, who was ill) … The “Hooded Hoodlums” (The Golden Terror and Mr. X)
wrestled Hilo Kolima and Roger MacKay to a draw (45:00) (1-1) (tournament match) … Al
Baffert b. Chick Garibaldi (15:47) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, March 18, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … The Golden Terror b. Billy McDaniels (2/3) … Mr. X b. Dennis Clary
(2/3) … Antone Leone and Fred McDaniels drew (30:00) … Al Baffert b. Hilo Lee Kolima
… (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, March 25, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Billy Varga b. Carlos Guzman (2/3) (the newspaper reported that
after Varga had won, the referee Ted Grice then suddenly called the match a draw)
(Varga was a substitute for “Baron” Michele Leone, who had suffered a “badly punctured
cauliflower ear,” and Dr. Leonard Wood pulled him from the bout) … Lord Blears and
Jesse James b. The Golden Terror and Mr. X … John Cretoria and Dave Levin drew …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (referee: Ted Grice)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, April 1, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … The Black Panther, Carlos Guzman and Ray Piret b. John Cretoria,
The Golden Terror and Mr. X (six-man tag team elimination match) (Panther and Guzman
survived) … John Cretoria and Carlos Guzman drew (30:00) … The Black Panther b. Mr.
X … The Golden Terror b. Ray Piret … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, April 8, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Red Berry b. Carlos Guzman (2/3) … Billy Varga b. Jack Terry …
Dave Levin b. Johnny Demchuk … Jesse James b. Hardy Kruskamp … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)
Note: Children were admitted free with an adult.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, April 15, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Masahiko Kimura and Toshio Yamaguchi b. The Golden Terror and
Mr. X (2/3) … Billy Varga b. Jesse James … Chief Lone Eagle b. Jack Terry (2-0) …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Kimura and Yamaguichi were called Judo experts.

Saturday, March 15, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from KECA Studio ($1,000)
Saturday, March 22, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from KECA Studio ($1,100)
Saturday, March 29, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from KECA Studio ($1,200)
Saturday, April 5, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from KECA Studio ($1,300)
Saturday, April 12, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from KECA Studio ($1,400)
Tuesday, April 15, 1952 – Jackpot Wrestling from South Gate Arena ($1,500)

*The Sunday, April 20, 1952 edition of the Long Beach Press-Telegram (Long Beach,
CA) reported that “yesterday” negotiations were completed between promoter Ernie
Steffen, the Music Corp. of America, representing John J. Doyle, and Phil Hoffman,
representing KECA (7), for televising an hour show from the Wilmington Bowl. The
program would be shown from 8-9 p.m. and feature Joe “The Champ” Pazandak versus
challengers and a Wrestlers’ Roundtable.

*The Sunday, April 20, 1952 edition of the Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA)
reported that beginning Tuesday, KECA-TV (7) would begin broadcasting a special hour
long wrestling show from the Wilmington Bowl. Joe “The Champ” Pazandak would meet
two challengers in a continuation of the “show formerly known as ‘Beat the Champ.’” As
soon as the two bouts were finished, the cameras would switch to a conference room in
an adjacent building for the “Wrestlers’ Roundtable” portion of the KECA program.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, April 22, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Joe Pazandak (champion) and Billy Varga drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot
match for $1,600) … Billy Varga b. Red Berry (2/3) (main event) … “King Kong” Kashey
b. Chief Lone Eagle (2/3) … Jesse James b. Mr. X … Vic Christy and Hardy Kruskamp
drew … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Notes: The “Pot of Gold” wrestling segment was broadcast on KECA-TV.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, April 29, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Joe Pazandak (champion) b. Ray Piret (TV Jackpot match for
$1,700) … Joe Pazandak (champion) and Pat Fraley drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot match for
$1,700) … Sandor Szabo and Billy Varga wrestled “King Kong” Kashey and Joe
Pazandak to a draw (60:00) (1-1) … Carlos Guzman b. Jack Terry (2-0) (1st by DQ) …
Hardy Kruskamp b. Ray Piret … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Notes: “King Kong” Kashey reportedly returned from Honolulu “last week.” Sandor
Szabo beat Joe Pazandak “two weeks” ago at Ocean Park and it was Pazandak’s first
loss in “almost two years” in this part of the country.

*The May 4, 1952 edition of the Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA) reported
that Sandor Szabo was taking over Joe “The Champ” Pazandak’s spot on the “Pot of
Gold” telecast on KECA-TV at 8:00 p.m. Pazandak was said to be leaving for Australia
and Szabo was awarded the spot because he was the only man to pin Pazandak in more
than “four years.” Szabo defeated Pazandak recently at Ocean Park.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, May 6, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Hilo Lee Kolima (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) and Hans Schnabel drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot match) … World
Junior Heavyweight Champion Rito Romero b. “Tarzan” Ted Christy (2-0) (non-title
match) … “King Kong” Kashey b. Jesse James (2/3) … Ray Piret b. Chester Hayes …
Bob Corby and Al Kashey drew (20:00) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (broadcast on
KECA at 8:00 p.m.)
Notes: Romero was said to be the holder of the “National Wrestling Association’s Junior
Heavyweight Title and belt,” and was the conquorer of Red Berry. Fans of Torrence,
Lomita, and Harbor City were seated ringside as their cities were honored by the club
and KECA with a “salute.” Sandor Szabo was taking over the “Pot of Gold” TV program
feature, according to the newspaper report, and was defending $1,800 in prize money.
At this show, Szabo was originally scheduled to wrestle Chester Hayes and a “surprise”
opponent in the “Pot of Gold” matches. He was debuting as the defender of the $1,800
on the televised KECA (7) “Wrestling Jackpot” program. The “Jackpot” matches were the
only bouts to be telecast from the show, and broadcast between 8:00-9:00 p.m. Al
Kashey was making his local debut. Ray Piret was originally booked to wrestle George
Temple.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, May 13, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … The Golden Terror and “King Kong” Kashey b. Carlos Guzman and
Jesse James (2/3) … Cowboy Cassidy b. “Wild” Irish Jackie … “Hard Boiled” Hardy
Kruskamp b. Dennis Clary … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Notes: No TV cameras at arena. The KECA-TV broadcast shifted to the South Gate
Arena.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, May 20, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Carlos Guzman and Rito Romero b. The Golden Terror and “King
Kong” Kashey (2/3) … Dr. Lee Grable b. “Honest” John Cretoria (DQ) … “Hard Boiled”
Hardy Kruskamp and Dave Levin drew (45:00) (1-1) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) …
(referee: Pete Mehringer)
Note: No TV cameras at arena.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, May 27, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Rito Romero b. “King Kong” Kashey (2/3) … Pablo Romero b. Ted
Christy (2/3) … Carlos Guzman and Hardy Kruskamp drew (30:00) … Dave Levin b.
Chester Hayes … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: No TV cameras at arena.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, June 3, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Pablo Romero b. Hardy Kruskamp (2-0) … Carlos Guzman b. John
Smith (2/3) … Chief Lone Eagle b. “Crybaby” Bob Corby (DQ) … Al Smith b. Dave Levin
… (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (referee: Benny Ginsberg)
Notes: No television from Wilmington Bowl tonight. KECA cameras were at South Gate
Arena. The Long Beach Press-Telegram, on June 3, 1952, stated that Rito Romero
claimed the Junior Heavyweight Title and holds the “National Wrestling Association’s belt
and recognition.” Benny Ginsberg was “one-time a claimant to the heavyweight title.”

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, June 10, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Dr. Lee Grable b. Sandor Szabo to capture the “2,300 prize purse”
and the KECA Jackpot title (20:17) (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor Szabo (champion) and
Billy Varga drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot match) … Antone Leone b. Pablo Romero (2/3) …
Dr. Lee Grable b. Mr. X (2-0) … Hard Boiled Hardy Kruskamp b. Count Cretoria … Al
Kashey b. Alex Kasaboski … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (referee: Benny Ginsberg)
Notes: Billed as a “Marathon” card. The newspaper stated that the KECA (7) “Wrestling
Jackpot” show “swings back from South Gate Arena.” Cameras returned to the
Wilmington Bowl for the television program broadcast between 8-9 p.m.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, June 17, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Dr. Lee Grable (champion) b. Red Shoes Dugan (TV Jackpot
match) … Dr. Lee Grable (champion) b. Matt Kosternich (TV Jackpot match) … Danny
McShain b. Dave Levin (2-0) … Karl Davis b. Mr. X (Mr. X unmasked to be Tom
“Renesta”) … Pablo Romero and Billy Varga drew (30:00) … Al Kashey b. Hard Boiled
Hardy Kruskamp (dec., 20:00) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, June 24, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Dr. Lee Grable (champion) b. Bob Bristol (18:00) (TV Jackpot
match) … Dr. Lee Grable (champion) and Sandor Szabo drew (TV Jackpot match) …
Baron Michele Leone b. Pablo Romero (2/3) … Sandor Szabo b. Crusher Cretoria (2-0)
… Al Kashey b. Chester Hayes … Al Baffert b. Bob “Crybaby” Corby … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)
Note: The newspaper called the jackpot matches “Pot of Gold” bouts.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, July 1, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo b. Dr. Lee Grable to capture the $1,000 Jackpot (TV
Jackpot match) … Dr. Lee Grable (champion) and Antone Leone drew (30:00) (TV
Jackpot match) … Antone Leone b. Carlos Guzman (2/3) … Al and “King” Kashey b. The
Golden Terror and Mr. X (2/3) … Al Baffert and Matt Kosternich drew … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)
Notes: “King” Kashey was Abe Kashey and he teamed with his son Al. Baffert was said
to be a Bethleham Steel shipyard worker.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, July 8, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Mr. X (Tom Renesto) (TV Jackpot
match) … Sandor Szabo (champion) and Vic Christy drew (15:00) (TV Jackpot match) …
Crusher Cretoria and Al Kashey drew (30:00) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Notes: Admission was free to fans. Mr. X was reportedly unmasked two weeks earlier by
Karl Davis to be “Bronko Renesta.” Szabo was making his first defense of the “Jackpot”
since he’d regained it. He lost it to Dr. Lee Grable “five weeks ago.”

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, July 15, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Johnny Demchuk (TV Jackpot match)
… Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Jack Terry (DQ) (TV Jackpot match) … Ali Bey and
Antone Leone b. Carlos Guzman and Pablo Romero … Dave Levin b. Ted Christy (2/3)
… Al Mottberg b. Al Baffert (DQ) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, July 22, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Rey Urbano (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo and Ted Christy drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot match) … Jungle Boy b. Ali Bey
(2/3) … Pablo Romero b. Frank Jares (2/3) (3rd by countout) … Ted Christy b. Matt
Kosternich … Al Kashey and Dave Levin drew (20:00) … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Pablo Romero was the brother of Rito Romero.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, July 29, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Ted Christy (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Jungle Boy (TV Jackpot match) … Jungle Boy b. Pablo
Romero (2/3) (main event) … The Smith Brothers (Al and John Smith) wrestled the
Christy Brothers (Ted and Vic Christy) to a draw (1-1) (45:00) … Al Mottberg b. Chester
Hayes … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, August 5, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Jack Terry (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) and Red Berry drew (TV Jackpot match) … Jungle Boy b.
“Wild” Red Berry (2/3) (main event) … Frank Jares b. Chief Lone Eagle (2/3) … Al
Mottberg b. Crusher Cretoria … The Golden Terror and Matt Kosternich drew (20:00) …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, August 12, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Louie Miller (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) and Frank Jares drew (TV Jackpot match) … Jungle Boy and
Rito Romero drew (1-1) (60:00) (main event) … Frank Jares b. Jack Terry (2/3) … Al
Mottberg b. The Golden Terror … Mr. X and Woody Strode drew (20:00) … (promoter:
Ernie Steffen)
Note: Mottberg was also spelled “Motteberg,” and he was called a longshoreman from
Lomita.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, August 19, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Al Baffert (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) and George Becker drew (TV Jackpot match) … The Becker
Brothers (Bobby and George Becker) b. Crusher Cretoria and Pat Fraley (2/3) … Jungle
Boy b. Matt Kosternich (2/3) … Al Mottberg b. Mr. X … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, August 26, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Jack Terry (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Ramon Cernandez (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor Szabo b.
Jungle Boy (2/3) (main event) … Carlos Guzman b. Frank Jares (2/3) (third by countout)
… Pablo Romero b. Jack Terry … Al Mottberg b. Mr. X … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, September 2, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Ali Bey (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor
Szabo (champion) b. The Golden Terror (TV Jackpot match) … Baron Michele Leone b.
Dr. Lee Grable (2-0) … Mr. Moto b. Carlos Guzman … “Brother” Frank Jares b. Pablo
Romero … Jack Terry b. Rey Urbano … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, September 9, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Mr. Moto (2/3) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Joe Campbell (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor Szabo
(champion) and Karl Davis drew (30:00) (TV Jackpot match) … Chief Lone Eagle b. Ted
Christy (2/3) … Karl Davis b. Woody Strode … Crusher Cretoria b. Rey Urbano …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, September 16, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Tom O’Dell (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Karl Davis (TV Jackpot match) … Mr. Moto b. Pablo Romero
(2/3) (main event) … Karl Davis b. The Golden Terror … Tony Morelli b. Chuck Leonard
… Mr. X b. Tom O’Dell … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, September 23, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Woody Strode (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo b. Ted Christy (TV Jackpot match) … Karl Davis and Sandor Szabo drew
(referee knocked out and match declared a draw) (main event) … Ted Christy b. Dr. Lee
Grable … Jerry Christy b. Jack Terry … The Golden Terror and Woody Strode drew …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (referee: Mike Ruby)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, September 30, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Red Shoes Dugan (TV Jackpot match)
… Sandor Szabo (champion) b. The Golden Terror (TV Jackpot match) … Karl Davis b.
Woody Strode (2/3) … Vic Holbrook b. Joe Tangaro … Jerry Christy b. The Golden
Terror … Brave Wolf and Thor Hagen drew … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, October 7, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Red Shoes Dugan (TV Jackpot match)
… Sandor Szabo (champion) and Frank Jares drew (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor Szabo
b. Karl Davis (main event) … Bobby Becker and Frank Jares drew (1-1) … Jerry Christy
b. Chester Hayes … Pablo Martinez and Silent Frenchman drew … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen) … (2,300 fans)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, October 14, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Buddy Jackson (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Guy Brunetti (TV Jackpot match) … Karl Davis and Frank
Jares b. Pablo Romero and Sandor Szabo (2-0) … Mystery Mike b. Jerry Christy …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, October 21, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Whipper O’Dell (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Brave Wolf (TV Jackpot match) … Sandor Szabo b. Frank
Jares (main event) … Mystery Mike b. Pablo Romero … Juan Hernandez b. Tom Renesto
… Guy Brunetti and Johnny James drew … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, October 28, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) and The Zebra Kid drew (TV Jackpot
match) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Woody Strode (TV Jackpot match) … Vincent
Lopez b. Frank Jares (2-0) (1st by DQ) … Mystery Mike b. Woody Strode (2/3) … Biedra
Grande (Big Rock) b. The Golden Terror … Vic Holbrook b. Guy Brunetti … (promoter:
Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, November 4, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Vincent Lopez and Mr. Moto drew (1-1) … LaRoca Ortega b.
“Cowboy” Tom Renesto … Mystery Mike b. Al Mottbert … Juan Hernandez b. Chester
Hayes … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, November 11, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz and Antonino Rocca
trained with Sandor Szabo in separate workouts … 3 amateur tryout bouts, all ended in
no decisions … (promoter: Ernie Steffen) … (2,000 fans)
Notes: This was an Armistice Night show that was free to the public. Thesz and Rocca
were in workout sessions with Sandor Szabo in preparation for their Wednesday night
bout at the Olympic Auditorium. The show was broadcast on KECA-TV (channel 7) at 8:
00 p.m.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, November 18, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Guy Brunetti (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo and Vic Holbrook drew (TV Jackpot match) … Ed Gardenia and Vic
Holbrook b. Vincent Lopez and Pablo Romero (2/3) … Mystery Mike b. Rey Urbano (2-0)
… LaRoco Ortega b. Guy Brunetti … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: Brunetti’s last name was spelled “Burnetti” in the local newspaper.

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, November 25, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Ed Gardenia (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo and The Zebra Kid drew (TV Jackpot match) … Primo Carnera b. Vic
Holbrook (2-0) (1st by DQ) … The Zebra Kid b. Pablo Romero … Matt (Murphy)
Kosternich and Ray Piret drew … LaRoca Ortega b. Ted Christy … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, December 2, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Rey Urbano (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo and Mr. Moto drew (TV Jackpot match) … Karl Davis and The Zebra Kid b.
Juan Hernandez and LaRoca Ortega (2-0) … Jerry Christy b. Ed Gardenia … Matt
Kosternich and Mystery Mike drew … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, December 9, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Matt (Murphy) Kosternich (TV Jackpot
match) … Sandor Szabo (champion) and Hombre Montana drew (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo b. Mr. Moto (2/3) (main event) … LaRoca Ortega b. “Tarzan” Ted Christy
… Sam Silver b. Whipper O’Dell … Jerry Christy and Antone Leone drew … (promoter:
Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, December 16, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Sheik Ben Ali (TV Jackpot match) …
Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Pepi Pasquale (TV Jackpot match) … Hombre Montana b.
LaRoca Ortega (2/3) … Rito Romero and The Zebra Kid drew (1-1) (45:00) … “Bad Boy”
Gardenia b. Pepi Pasquale … Caesar Sando b. Antone Leone … (promoter: Ernie
Steffen)
Note: The jackpot matches were televised.

Wilmington, California; Tuesday, December 23, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … The Zebra Kid b. Sandor Szabo to win the KECA-TV Wrestling
Jackpot (9:12) … Sandor Szabo (champion) b. Chester Hayes (TV Jackpot match) …
Jerry Christy and Dave Levin b. “Bad Boy Gardenia and The Zebra Kid (2/3) … Matt
(Murphy) Kosternich and Pepi Pasquale drew (1-1) … Al Motteberg b. “Cowboy” Tom
Renesto … (promoter: Ernie Steffen)

Wilmington, California: Tuesday, December 30, 1952
(Wilmington Bowl) … The Zebra Kid (champion) and Bobby Managoff drew (TV Jackpot
match) … The Zebra Kid (champion) and Warren Bockwinkel drew (TV Jackpot match) …
Karl Davis b. LaRoca Ortega (2/3) … Jerry Christy b. “Bad Boy” Gardenia … Pat Meehan
b. Johnny Demchuk … Juan Hernandez and Matt (Murphy) Kosternich drew …
(promoter: Ernie Steffen)
Note: This was Zebra Kid’s first defense of the TV Jackpot championship.

Research by Tim Hornbaker
September 16, 2010

Wilmington Wrestling Results - 1952