50 Years of St. Louis Magazine
The city’s history through our pages

BY JEANNETTE COOPERMAN, NANCY CURTIS, GEORGE MAHE, CHRISTY MARSHALL, JARRETT MEDLIN, WILLIAM POWELL, AND STEFENE RUSSELL

Click here for some great photos and a look at an exciting night of pro wrestling at SICW!

http://www.stlmag.com/Blogs/Look-Listen/December-2013/Slideshow-Championship-Wrestling-in-East-Carondelet/?s=ra

Metro Pro Wrestling – Show 132

– Central States Championship – Dan Walsh (c) (w/ Magic Man) vs. Derek Stone (w/ Lucy Mendez)
– Takeon vs. SBC (w/ Tyler Cook)
– Metro Pro Title Match – “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt (c) vs. “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce

Taped July 2013

By Ben Simon

Art by Rob Schamberger

Updated 5/4/15

In December 2013, Randy Orton and John Cena met to unify the WWE and “World Heavyweight” championships.  After the match, there was one world heavyweight champion in all (the top level) of pro wrestling.  It got me to thinking, can I trace the best lineage of champions all the way from the beginning?

At any time in history, who was the real Heavyweight Champion of the World?

For this project, I had to decide what my definition of “world champion” is.  To many of my friends on the independent circuit, if a title is defended on different continents, it can be a “world title.”  Instead, this lineage follows the title that a wrestling industry majority considers to be the most prestigious at any given time.

Let me lay out some ground rules and specifications.  First, this is not a lineal championship; one doesn’t necessarily have “to beat the man to be the man,” although that is how it almost always works out.  Second, the man can only be the champion if he is recognized as such by the strongest sanctioning group or promoter; Ric Flair‘s “real world champ” campaign in the WWF wasn’t official.  Finally, only one champion can exist at any time; in the summer of 2011, there were two WWE champs simultaneously but that doesn’t apply here.

NOTES

In 1905, Hackenschmidt established himself as the de facto champ with his win over Jenkins.

In 1915, Joe Stecher was the first real successor to the throne following Gotch’s retirement.  Cutler and Schoenlein were not widely-accepted claimants.

In 1929, Gus Sonnenberg was stripped by all of the athletic commissions that went on to form the National Wrestling Association.  This was the start of Tom Packs’s (St. Louis, NWA) vs. Paul Bowser’s (AWA, Boston) promotional squabbles.  Sonnenberg remained AWA champ, but the commissions of the NWA had more power, territory, and recognition.  July 1st, 1929 is listed as an approximation of the stripping.

In 1930, Jim Londos  beat NYSAC Champion Dick Shikat for Shikat’s title.  From this, the NWA commissions recognized Londos as their champion too.  This made “The Golden Greek” the real world champion.

In 1936, Everett Marshall’s public recognition ceased because the NWA wanted to have a tournament to crown a champion.  September 1st, 1936 is an approximation of the reign’s end.

In 1937, John Pesek was given the NWA Title after being the only wrestler to pay to enter the tournament.  His recognition was withdrawn shortly later.  Pesek was a real badass, but the reign was a joke.  He didn’t win or lose the title in the ring.  September 13th, 1937 is an approximation of the reign’s end (in the public eye).

In 1937, Lou Thesz beat Marshall for the AWA (Boston) Championship.  It is uncertain but probable that the National Wrestling Association sanctioned this as well, retroactively.  It was for the Boston title in St. Louis (a NWA town!).  The NWA perhaps still recognized Pesek’s reign at this time, but Thesz was the man!

In 1938, Steve Casey was stripped of his mainstream recognition due to his affiliation and exclusivity with the AWA.  A bogus reason was given that Casey was “out of the country;” if only the Internet existed then!  Everett Marshall is awarded the NWA Title that had been taken from him two years prior.  Casey’s title end is approximated.

From Marshall in 1938 to Thesz in 1949, my lineage follows the old NWA’s official list.

In 1949 during Thesz’s reign, the National Wrestling Association and the new National Wrestling Alliance were consolidated.  The Association was losing ground to Sam Muchnick’s new Alliance before the merger.

From Thesz in 1949 to Flair in 1991, my lineage follows the new NWA’s official list.

In 1991, Flair’s conflict with NWA President Jim Herd came to a boil.  Flair left the Alliance and the Title for Vince McMahon’s WWF.  Succession is interrupted for the first time in 53 years.

In 1992, Ric Flair wins the WWF’s Royal Rumble match and the WWF Championship.  The WWF had been expanding since 1983 and this event seemed to shift fans’ interest in favor of the WWF Title.  “Real World Champion,” indeed!

From Flair in 1992 to present day, my lineage follows WWE’s official WWE Championship list, with one exception.  CM Punk was deemed to be an official champion in the summer of 2011.  Rey Mysterio’s and John Cena’s opposing reigns weren’t seen as the best; Punk’s is counted for that time.

This canon of world heavyweight champions may change with my philosophy someday.  However, I think pro wrestling is more fun with only one world champ at a time.  The title at the top means more.  Really, this is a list of the men who were the official champions of the top promotional entities of their days.

Even wrestlers in peak shape can have underlying health conditions, such as issues with their feet. Say if they have heel spurs, then they have to get more comfortable by getting one of the best shoes for heel spurs to protect your feet when outside of the ring.

I’m interested in what the MWR readers think of this.  Comment and let me know.

Real World Championship Fun Facts

• Sheamus is the third Irish champion, behind Danno O’Mahony and Steve Casey.
• Alberto Del Rio is the only Mexican champion.
• Giant Baba is the only Japanese champion.
• Saint Louis has the most title changes at 18.  New York City is in second with 11.  Thanks, Tom and Sam!
• Lou Thesz has the longest single reign ever at 2,805 days.
• Semi-related house cleaning: Georg Hackenschmidt’s name misses the “e” on purpose.  It’s pronounced “Gay-Org.”
• The 30’s were confusing and really difficult to research.
• Hulk Hogan clocks in at a mere 98 days.  His prime was during the wild 80’s, when Flair still had hold of the big belt.
• Bruno Sammartino isn’t on this list.  Neither is Verne Gagne.  They were beloved champions but never held #1.
• 72 Champions, 171 single reigns

All-Time Leaderboard

Always the bad guy Travis Cook does not even grant a picture with his former partner on the mic at GCW.

The month of December is known for the time of giving, so it is only fitting that we honor a man that continues to give to pro wrestling in the Midwest, Patrick Brandmeyer. When we started MWR over 6 years there were many promoters, wrestlers and fans that felt that pro wrestling was about to be a long lost memory, especially with the success of another sport I enjoy UFC.

One of the men that has been important in support pro wrestling on the Independent level is Patrick Brandmeyer. Patrick went to his first independent show in 2000, and has been a wrestling historian ever since, as you can see him write the results of each match that take place on a piece a paper, and keeping fans informed through his blogged that is shared on the wrestling website St Louis Wrestling Community.

Let us take a look at a small list of the ways that Patrick has supported pro wrestling and some key facts on one of MWR’s closest friends.

1) First Independent show 2000 GCW at North County Tech High School in Florissant, MO, May 19, 2000. Main event was Pete Madden vs. Danny Boy. Show also had Makaze vs. Mike Sharona vs. Nikki Strychnin.

2) A year or two into going to GCW attendance that they asked about using his photos and for him writing stuff for the event programs and website.

3) Worked with Travis Cook do to commentary for two years One of the most notable matches he called was Cowboy Bob Orton vs. Dingo in Mt. Vernon. Plus a few Jerry Lynn matches.

4) Sends results from the shows he attends to Pro Wrestling Illustrated to let the country know of the hard work that promoters and wrestlers do to entertain the fans.

5) One of the Biggest fans of the late Gateway Championship Wrestling. Though the company is no longer any more, he continues to support the wrestlers that made it great, yet still gives the same amount of respect to the wrestlers that have come along ever since.

6) Brandmeyer is an aspiring comedian on the side after going to a few open-mics when Dan Walsh was going to the Funny Bone regularly, so he got it is his head that he wanted to try it. First time on stage was June 20th of 2006.Highlights have been the the paid gigs definitely as well as getting to host the weekend shows at the Comedy Forum and Comedy Etc, plus the road gig he did in Quincy, Illinois.

7) Patrick has been a columnist for MWR since the early stages of the site. Today he continues to contribute with articles on the site and for the upcoming 2013 MWR Yearbook.

8) SICW in EC on Saturday will make 46 shows that he attended for 2013.

The truth of the matter is that you can find hundreds, if not thousands of people that can give you information on WWE or spend money and time on that promotion, but there are very few people who are not wrestlers that are willing to take the time to cover the sport or use their talents to help out the foundation of pro wrestling for such a long time. I hate to say it but even at this stage of how easy it is to put something on the net, Patrick often has more information on his blog than many have on their own wrestling website.

I was able to ask Patrick his thoughts of being an important member of the wrestling community recently and he had this to say.

“It’s funny because I have trouble thinking of myself as any more than a fan. But at a time in my life when I didn’t have any sort of social life to speak of, these guys and gals put up with me hanging around the shows all the time.

They let me be a small part of a business that I’d been a fan of for a long time, and I’m grateful to them for that.

While I’m probably a “smart mark” in some sense, I do my best to remain a fan at heart. There have been plenty of times when cynicism got the better of me, though.

It happens. Any fan wants wrestling to be done his or her “way”. If you want wrestling to happen that way, you’d better get a promoter’s license.

A lot of indy wrestling is discovered through word of mouth. I went to broadcasting school with Ryan Ash and he told me about GCW; I don’t know if I would have started going to shows otherwise.

That’s why I make an effort to tell people about indy wrestling. There are another options besides the stuff on TV and sometimes people aren’t aware of them.

I always recommend indy wrestling to fans…it puts things in perspective since most wrestlers started on that level. It’s more “up close and personal” than a WWE show.

You see people on TV or at a distance in a big arena, they’re larger than life. You see them at an indy show and they’re people like any of us. I guess that’s one way to put it.”

Patrick plans on being in East Carondelet for SICW huge Christmas show, feel free to come up and say hi to one of pro wrestling’s biggest supporters.

If you would like to see Patrick Brandmeyer at the Funny Bone next Tuesday Funny Bone: 614 Westport Plaza Dr. in St. Louis(though it’s more like Maryland Heights). Open-mics are $5, with a two-drink minimum. Patrick wanted to let everyone know that there are “No guarantee I’ll make the list, there are usually a lot of people signing up and only so many slots to fill.”

On a personal level I would like to thank Patrick for his friendship to the MWR family, the support of pro wrestling in the Midwest as well his awesome contributions for the write ups

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Melanie Cruise is one of pro wrestling’s most talented women in the world, we are thrilled to have her wearing our shirt and would love to have you do the same.

Hello my friends it is that time of the year to purchase your loved one or even yourselves a Christmas gift.

MWR would like to offer you an exclusive offer on some really great MWR wear for the winter holidays.

We hope to be at SICW in East Carondelet, Illinois this Saturday with special guest Hillbilly Jim, plus a star studded night of wrestling that includes this awesome matches.

-Ron Powers vs. Flash Flanagan

-Ken Kasa vs. Jake Dirden – Classic Title

-Ricky Cruz vs. Bull Bronson – No-DQ Match

-Gary Jackson vs. Waco

-Daniel Eads vs. Dave Vaughn

-Chaz Wesson, Heath Hatton, & Bobby D vs. Alexandre Rudolph, Ax Allwardt, & Joker

-Appearing: Hillbilly Jim

So for only ten dollars you will be able to watch an awesome night of wrestling with the family.

MWR will be offering a great deal on winter and summer MWR Wrestling t-shirts .

Even in the winter Devyn Nicole has the Midwest in a heatwave, while modeling the MWR shirt.

For only $20.00 each we have these in stock (note price is per each one).

1 Large MWR Black Hoodie

3 XL Black Zipper Starter MWR Jacket

1 3XL MWR Fruit of the Look zip Hoodie

1 Large MWR Grey Starter Zip Jacket

1 Large MWR Black Zip Starter Hoodie

1 Large MWR Starter Zip Jacket

1 Small MWR Blue Starter Zip hoodie

ACH and Dingo are 2 of the very best wrestler during the MWR Years…Here they join a friend for a photo of MWR love.

$13.00

1 Med MWR Green Long Sleeve t-shirt

$10.00

Your choice of MWR Med pocket T with the MWR logo on the back, Grey, Black, Maroon, and Grey

The sexy MWR Diva Dubray Tallman poses with a Dynamo Pro Wrestling fans.

Here at MWR we also have various MWR size and color t-shirts up to XL $10.00 2XL and above 13.00

These are the prices if you catch us at a show, if you would like to have them sent to your house we would love to do that but the cost of S&H will be $5.00 per shirt.

Sean Vincent has been out of action for some time now, but the very talanted Canadian rocks a MWR hat while he heals up.

Please contact Brian Kelley at his facebook or flairwhoooooo@yahoo.com to arrange an order to make sure that we are not sold out.. Please put MWR Christmas order in the subject line .

Fans from 3XW in Iowa all the way to the STL have shown their love for MWR