Chicago, Illinois: January 14, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … AWA World Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers b. Donn Lewin (CO) … Bob McCune b. Gene Dubuque (2/3) … Tiger Jagindar b. Otto Schanbel (21:10) … Chris Averoff b. Tony Borne (17:04) … Axel Cadier b. George Bruckman (7:52) … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) … (1,400 fans) Chicago, Ilinois: January 28, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Antonino Rocca b. Lu Montagna (2-0) … Bob McCune b. Kola Kwariani (2-0) … Tiger Jagondar b. Jack Vansky … Joe Dobey and Terry Shane drew (30:00) … Don Arnold and Axel Cadier drew (30:00) … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: February 4, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Gypsy Joe b. Bob DeMarce (2-0) … Don McIntyre b. Tommy O’Toole (2/3) … Jack Guy b. Paul Orth … Tony Borne and Lou Klein drew … Stan Hollick and The Sheik of Araby drew … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Sterling, Illinois: Thursday, March 19, 1953 (Sterling Coliseum) … Verne Gagne b. Sonny Myers … Al Warshawsky vs. Jerry Woods … Farmer Pete and Sonny Boy Cassidy vs. Irish Jackie and Sky Low Low … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Friday, March 20, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Sonny Myers (2/3) (Thesz won in 10:29 for the first fall, Myers won the second in 5:42, Thesz won the third in 6:28) … Tuffy McRae b. Tom Thumb for the “Midget Title” (19:52) … Hans Schmidt b. Bill Melby (18:52) … Stan Hollick and Don Leo Jonathan b. Reggie Lisowski and Bill Sledge (2/3) … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) … (2,600 fans) Note: The Chicago Daily Tribune reported on March 20, 1953 that Lou Thesz’s match at the Rainbo was his first time at “the northside arena in his 16 years of wrestling.” Sterling, Illinois: Thursday, April 2, 1953 (Sterling Coliseum) … Verne Gagne vs. Sonny Myers … Billy Goelz and Jerry Woods vs. Benito Gardini and Zack Malkov … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, April 4, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Cowboy Carlson b. Benito Gardini … Yukon Eric b. Finis Hall … Pedro Godoy b. Balk Estes … Irish McGee and Jerry Woods drew … Juan Garcia and Billy Parks b. Baron Arena and Zack Malkov … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, April 8, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Ski-Hi Lee b. Sonny Myers (DQ) … Mel Dove and Stan Hollick b. Johnny Gates and Jack Moore … Walter Palmer b. Johnny Carlin Dixon, Illinois: May 14, 1953 (Dixon High School Gym) … Verne Gagne vs. The Mighty Atlas … Benito Gardini vs. Billy Goelz … The Great Balbo vs. Reggie Lisowski … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (sponsored by: Dixon Lions Club) Note: Billed as the “First Dixon show.” Chicago, Illinois: May 20, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Antonino Rocca b. Danny Plechas (2-0) (Rocca won the first fall in 20:13 with a backbreaker, Rocca won the second by DQ in 6:20) … Karl Gray and Bobby Nelson b. Mel Dove and Billy Parks (2/3) … Stan Hollick b. Kola Kwariani (12:40) … Bert Rubi b. Bill Allen (21: 10) … Jim Walmsey b. Mike Sipich (DQ) (17:10) … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) … (1,200 fans) Spring Valley, Illinois: Wednesday, May 27, 1953 (Hall Township High School Stadium) … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (sponsored by: Spring Valley Jaycees) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, July 25, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Billy Darnell and Bill Melby b. Martino Angelo and Lord Blears to capture the World Tag Team Title (2/3) (Angelo was a substitute for Lord Athol Layton) … Billy Goelz and The Great Yamato drew (1-1) … Larry Chene b. Johnny Carlin … Zack Malkov and Doran O’Hara drew … Johnny Gilbert b. Einer Olsen … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, August 1, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Hans Schmidt b. Ronnie Etchison … Billy Darnell and Bill Melby b. Zack Malkov and Bobby Nelson … Rocky Columbo and Doran O’Hara drew … Bob Orton Sr. b. Balk Estes … Trader O’Neill b. Treach Phillips … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Peoria, Illinois: Monday, August 3, 1953 (Main Street Arena) … Rocky Columbo and Pat O’Connor b. Rudy Kay and Bob Orton Sr. … Treach Phillips b. Baron Arena … Milt Olsen b. Trader O’Neil … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, August 5, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Yukon Eric b. Chris Zaharias … Sky-Hi Lee b. Zack Malkov … Benito Gardini b. Treach Phillips … Arthur Nielson b. Jerry Woods … Gypsy Joe and Bobby Nelson wrestled Rocky Columbo and The Great Balbo drew Peoria, Illinois: August 10, 1953 (Main Street Arena) … Verne Gagne b. Hans Schmidt (DQ) … Rocky Columbo b. Baron Arena … Zack Malkov b. Jerry Woods Peoria, Illinois: August 17, 1953 (Main Street Arena) … Yukon Eric b. Ivan Rasputin … Jack Carter and Gypsy Joe drew … Fuzzy Cupid b. Pee Wee James Peoria, Illinois: August 24, 1953 (Main Street Arena) … Tarzan Kowalski b. Pat O’Connor … The Great Balbo and Gypsy Joe drew … Doran O’Hara b. Vincent Lopez Rockford, Illinois: August 26, 1953 ( ) … Jim Dobie vs. Mr. America … Terry Major vs. Ella Waldek … Billy Darnell and Bill Melby vs. Chest Bernard and Bob DeMarce … (sponsored by: Rockford Lions Club) Note: According to one source, this was Rockford, Iowa, which is a town of less than 1,000 people. Peoria, Illinois: August 31, 1953 (Main Street Arena) … Yukon Eric b. Sky-Hi Lee (DQ) … Rocky Columbo and Billy Goelz drew … Doran O’Hara b. Rudy Kay Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, September 2, 1953 (Ranibo Arena) … Art Neilson b. Ski-Hi Lee … The Great Yamato and Gyspy Joe drew with The Great Balbo and Rocco Colombo … Reggie Lisowski b. Carl Engstromg … Jack Carter and Juan Hernandez drew … Milt Olsen b. Trader O’Neill … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) *Between Friday, September 4 and Sunday, September 6, 1953, the members of the National Wrestling Alliance met in Chicago for their annual convention. During this meeting, Sam Muchnick was re-elected NWA President. Verne Gagne was also named United States Heavyweight Champion. Chicago, Illinois: Friday, September 4, 1953 (Parichy Stadium) … Gypsy Joe and Reggie Lisowski vs. Carl Engstrom and Farmer Don Marlin Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, September 5, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Joe Christie vs. Verne Gagne … Billy McDaniels vs. Hans Schmidt … six matches in total … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (television commentator: Jack Brickhouse) … (in attendance: Pinkie George, Ed Don George, Roy Welch, Dory Detton, Tony Stecher, Paul Jones, Al Karasick, Max Clayton, Rudy Dusek, Billy Watson, Nick Gulas, Wally Karbo, Paul Boesch) Note: Verne Gagne was announced by Jack Brickhouse as being awarded the United States Heavyweight Title. He was honored by a host of NWA members. *On Sunday, September 6, 1953, Wrestling Film was featured on WBKB-TV (channel 7) at 10:15 p.m. Chicago, Illinois: Monday, September 7, 1953 (Shewbridge Field) … The Mighty Atlas vs. Pat O’Connor … The Canadian Angel and Reggie Lisowski vs. Jack Carter and Pierre LaBelle Note: The facility was at 74th and Aberdeen. *On Tuesday, September 8, 1953, Wrestling Film was featured on WGN-TV (channel 9) at 8:00 p. m. Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, September 9, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Champion Lou Thesz b. Jim Wright (2-0) … Art Neilson b. Reggie Lisowski (2/3) … The Great Yamato b. Juan Hernandez … Carl Engstrom b. Jack Carter … Balk Estes b. The Canadian Angel … The Great Balbo and Doran O’Hara drew … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) … (television on WBKB (channel 7) at 8:45 p.m.) Note: This show begins at 8:30 p.m. Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, September 12, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Verne Gagne b. Sky-Hi Lee … Art Neilsen b. Carl Engstrom … Rudy Kay b. Maurice Roberre … Gypsy Joe b. Jack Carter … The Great Yamato and Pierre LaBelle drew … Juan Hernandez b. Kostas Davelis … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (television on WGN-TV (channel 9) at 8:30 p.m.) Notes: Before his match, Gagne was “awarded a belt emblematic of the United States heavyweight wrestling championship.” Illinois State Athletic Commision Chairman Livingston Osborne presented the championship belt to Gagne “in behalf of many of the nation’s mat promoters while the Dumont TV network gave wrestling fans a look at the historic proceedings.” – The actual presentation was made in the WGN-TV studios, not at the Marigold, according to a letter from Kohler to Muchnick in October 1953. The show started at 8:30 p.m. Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, September 16, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Sonny Myers vs. Art Neilsen … The Great Yamato and Gypsy Joe vs. Juan Hernandez and Doran O’Hara … Johnny Gilbert vs. Sheik of Araby … Balk Estes vs. Bobby Nelson … The Canadian Angel vs. Milt Olsen … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Note: The newspaper stated that “Myers has not lost a match in 14 starts in Chicago,” and was a “leading contender for Lou Thesz’s wrestling title.” Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, September 19, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Chest Bernard vs. Verne Gagne … Rudy Kay vs. Pat O’Connor …Billy Goelz vs. Doran O’Hara … The Canadian Angel vs. Rocky Columbo … Juan Hernandez vs. Al Warshawski … The Mighty Schult vs. Sky Low Low … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, September 23, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Five matches … Midget Championship Tournament Matches Chicago, Illinois: Friday, September 25, 1953 (International Amphitheatre) … Hans Schmidt b. Yukon Eric (2/3) … Bill Darnell and Bill Melby b. Mighty Atlas and Bob Orton Sr. (2/3) … Billy Goelz b. The Great Yamato (DQ) … Art Nielson b. Bobby Nelson … Larry Chene and Rocky Columbo drew … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, September 30, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Yukon Eric vs. The Canadian Angel and Zack Malkov … Midget Championship Tournament … Sky Low Low vs. Tom Thumb … Little Beaver vs. The Mighty Schultz … three other matches … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Note: This was said to be the “semifinal matches in the midget championship tourney.” Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, October 10, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. Joe Christie and Ike Eakins (2-0) … Johnny Gilbert b. The Canadian Angel (DQ) … Bob DeMarce b. Ned Taylor … Larry Chene and Billy Goelz drew … The Mighty Atlas b. Frank Hurley (2-0) … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, October 14, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Ray Gunkel b. Ski-Hi Lee (2-0) … Frankie Talaber b. Eddie Gossett … Johnny Gilbert and Angelo Poffo b. Doran O’Hara and Zack Malkov (2/3) … Jack Carter and Balk Estes drew … Dave Sims b. Man Mountain Dean Jr. Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, October 17, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. Billy Darnell and Bill Melby to capture the World Tag Team Title (2-0) … Yukon Eric b. Firpo Zbyszko … Rocky Columbo and Pierre LaBelle drew … Sheik of Araby b. Johnny Gilbert … Jack Carter b. Paul DeGallis … Art Neilson b. Doran O’Hara … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (1,654 fans) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, October 21, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. The Great Zorro … Kay Bell and Walter Palmer b. Finis Hall and Chris Zaharias … Ray Gunkel b. Bobby Nelson … Bob Geigel b. Joe Scarpello … Hans Hermann b. Al Rossi … Frankie Talaber b. Ali Pasha … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: Friday, October 23, 1953 (International Amphitheatre) … NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. Hans Schmidt (2/3) (Gagne won the first fall in 5:18, Schmidt won the second in 8-minutes, Gagne won the third in 2:03) … Pat O’Connor b. Art Neilson (DQ) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. The Mighty Atlas and Bob Orton Sr. … Rudy Kay b. Bobby Nelson … Rocky Columbo and Gypsy Joe drew … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Note: The Chicago Daily Tribune reported on October 24, 1953 that “Verne Gagne, recognized as the heavyweight wrestling champion by the Illinois Athletic Commisison.” Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, October 24, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. Lou Pitoscio (2- 0) … Killer Kowalski b. Dick Holbrook … Paul DeVallis b. Milt Olsen … Bob McCune b. Chest Bernard … Whitey Wahlberg b. The Canadian Angel … The Sheik of Araby b. Jack Carter … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, October 28, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Hans Hermann (2-0) … Larry Chene and Walter Palmer b. Johnny Gates and Steve Zold … Roy McClarity b. Killer Christie … Bob Geigel b. Lou Klein (DQ) … Frankie Talaber b. Jack Vansky … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, October 31, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. The Great Yamato … The Canadian Angel b. Pierre LaBelle … Bull Montana b. Balk Estes … Killer Kowalski b. Angelo Poffo … Bob McCune b. Jan Gotch … Whitey Wahlberg b. Paul DeGallis … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, November 4, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Buddy Rogers and Frankie Talaber drew after a double knockout (1-1) … Jim Wright b. Walter Palmer … Guy Brunetti and Joe Tangero wrestled Joe Christie and The Great Zorro to a no contest … Chris Averoff b. Johnny Gates … Stan Holek b. Dan Ferrazo Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, November 7, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Killer Kowalski b. Bull Allen … Yukon Eric b. Bobby Nelson … Bob McCune b. Frank Marconi … Rocky Columbo and Gypsy Joe drew … Doran O’Hara b. Mike Sipich … Billy Goelz b. The Canadian Angel … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, November 11, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Buddy Rogers b. Frankie Talaber … Dr. Bill Miller b. Tarzan White … John Argon and Merill Larson drew … Guy Brunetti and Joe Tangaro b. Carlos Rodriguez and Babe Zaharias … Jack Shepherd b. John Delaney … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, November 14, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Ray Gunkel b. Joe Christie (televised) … Hans Schmidt b. George Scott (2- 0) (televised) … Art Neilson b. Doran O’Hara … Whitey Wahlberg b. Ned Taylor … Balk Estes and The Great Balbo drew … The Sheik of Araby b. Mel Dove … (promoter: Fred Kohler) … (announcer: Jack Brickhouse) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, November 18, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz b. Paul Baillargeon … Dr. Bill Miller b. Dan O’Shocker … Guy Brunetti and Joe Tangaro b. Jim Wright and Chris Zaharias … Kay Bell b. Jules LaRance … Roy McClarity and Walter Palmer drew … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: Friday, November 20, 1953 (International Amphitheatre) … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) b. Killer Kowalski and Hans Schmidt (2/3) (special referee: Jack Dempsey) (Sharpes won the third fall by DQ) … Ray Gunkel b. Bull Montana … Yukon Eric b. Art Neilson … Billy Darnell b. Gypsy Joe … Bill Melby and Bob Orton Sr. drew (30:00) … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, November 21, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Ray Gunekl b. Babe Zaharias … Mel Dove b. Johnny Carlin … Gordon Hessell b. Ned Taylor … The Sheik of Araby b. Danny Ferrazo … Art Neilson b. Bob DeMarce … Bob McCune b. Art Bull … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, November 28, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Ray Gunkel b. The Mighty Atlas (2/3) … Mel Dove and Whitey Wahlbreg drew … Hans Schmidt b. Vic Holbrook … Angelo Poffo b. Paul DeGalles … Billy Goelz b. Benito Gardini (DQ) … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, December 2, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Don Eagle b. Bob Geigel … Al Kashey b. Jack Vansky … Walter Palmer b. Bull Allen … Bobby Managoff Jr. b. Hans Hermann … Guy Brunetti and Joe Tangaro b. Johnny Delaney and Bob Massey … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, December 5, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne b. Angelo Savoldi (2-0) … Gordon Hessell and Whitey Wahlberg drew … Larry Chene b. Paul DeGalles … Ivan Rasputin b. Jerry Woods … Mel Dove and Angelo Poffo b. Gypsy Joe and The Sheik of Araby (DQ) … Bob McCune b. Zack Malkov … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, December 9, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … Walter Palmer b. Tony Steele … Don Eagle b. George Macricostas … Guy Brunetti and The Great Zorro drew … Bobby Managoff Jr. b. Joe Christie … Abe Kashey and Joe Tangaro drew … Al Kashey b. Joe Campbell Chicago, Illinois: Friday, December 11, 1953 (International Amphitheatre) … NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne and Killer Kowalski wrestled to a no contest … The Sharpe Brothers (Ben and Mike Sharpe) wrestled Pat O’Connor and Yukon Eric to a no contest … Billy Darnell b. Frederick Von Schact … The Great Balbo b. Benito Gardini (DQ) … Ivan Rasputin b. Bill Melby … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Saturday, December 12, 1953 (Marigold Arena) … Ray Gunkel b. Frederick Von Schact (Gunkel was accompanied by his manager Jack Dempsey) … The Sheik of Araby b. Rocky Columbo (2/3) … Ivan Rasputin b. Mel Dove … Larry Chene and Whitey Wahlberg drew … Angelo Poffo b. Reggie Lisowski (DQ) … Benito Gardini b. Jerry Woods … (promoter: Fred Kohler) Chicago, Illinois: Wednesday, December 16, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … (promoter: Leoanrd Schwartz) Chicago, Illinois: December 30, 1953 (Rainbo Arena) … NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz and Bobby Managoff drew (60: 00) (1-1) (Thesz won the first fall in 24:16, Managoff won the second in 9:12) … Ruffy Silverstein b. Lou LaPoske (4:08) (the latter was unable to continue) … Ray Eckert b. “Irish” Jack Kelly (4: 13) … Lou Klein and Professor Roy Shire drew (30:00) … Ed Cholak and Tony Steele drew (30: 00) … Mike Blazer b. Tony Borne (6:17) … (promoter: Leonard Schwartz) Research by Tim Hornbaker January 1, 2008 |
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