Bearcat Wright Grapples Firpo At Sunnyside

Long Island Star-Journal – May 10, 1960

Bearcat Wright, giant Negro mat favorite, meets Pampero Firpo, bewhiskered South American Wildman, in the non-TV highlight of tonight’s professional wrestling card at Sunnyside Garden.

Gorgeous George Meets Wright At Sunnyside

Long Island Star-Journal – March 19, 1960

Gorgeous George, spectacular blond grappler, will take on Bearcat Wright, giant ex-boxer from Kingston, Jamaica, in the non-televised feature of Sunnyside Garden’s pro wrestling program next Tuesday.

Ripper Collins Beats Reed For Title

Honolulu Star-Bulletin – January 20, 1966

Ripper Collins lifted Ron Reed’s Hawaiian heavyweight title last night by taking two out of three falls at the Honolulu International Center Arena.

Reed won the first fall with a reverse cradle, but Collins captured the second by applying the boots to his foe’s head and stomach. Reed then missed with a flying dropkick and Collins subdued him with an atomic drop.

Zuma, Starr, Calhoun In Mat Bouts

Sunday Herald – August 30, 1959

Four favorites, including a newcomer, will enhance the next weekly wrestling card at the City Arena and on Channel 5 via WNEW-TV on Wednesday.  And each one has the individuality of being a strikingly-different type than the other popular contenders.

Wrestling On Tap

Ocala Star-Banner – May 17, 1972

Florida heavyweight wrestling champion, Jack Brisco, meets Bearcat Wright in the main event of the mat card at the City Auditorium Saturday night.

Brisco is outweighed 231 to 272 pounds by the huge Wright, one of the few nationally-ranked black wrestlers in the pro ranks.

For The Record

Bergen NJ Record – October 18, 1960
By Al Del Greco

Willie (the Beard) Gilzenberg retired a year or so ago to Miami Beach but he’s not lolling under palm trees.

“The action’s up here,” said Willie, “and I’ve got to hustle for the buck. How else can I keep my wife Lil in the style to which she is accustomed and my partner, Babe Culnan, with enough scratch to throw away on the gee-gees?”

Jack Brisco Loses But Still Wins

The Miami News – May 7, 1975

Professional wrestling’s world heavyweight champion lost a match but kept his title last night at Miami Beach Convention Center.  Dory Funk Jr. won by disqualification over Jack Brisco, but a title cannot change hands on a disqualification.

Newest Mat Rage Bows At Olympic

The California Eagle – June 13, 1963

Freddie Blassie and The Destroyer, two of wrestling biggest attractions, will have to share honors with the sensational Bearcat Wright night at the Olympic Auditorium.

Wright, Blassie In Olympic Main

Los Angeles Times – December 13, 1963

Two former heavyweight boxers, Bearcat Wright and Freddie Blassie, clash in the main event of a wrestling card tonight at the Olympic Auditorium.

The Scufflin’ Hillbillies meet Count Billy Varga and Nikita Mulkovich. Kintaro Oki and Mr. Moto face Fritz von Goering and Bobby Duranton in co-features.

In other bouts, Edouard Carpentier meets Red Bastien, Don Savage squares off with The Mummy, the Preacher is in with Bob Stanlee, and Steve Stanlee tackles Judo Gene LeBell.

Bearcat Wright Butts Way To Mat Triumph

Los Angeles Times – December 14, 1963

Bearcat Wright really used his head to retain his claim to the world’s wrestling title at the Olympic Friday night. Wright won the first and third falls with head butts to defeat Freddie Blassie before a turnaway throng of 10,400 fans.

Count Billy Varga and Nikita Mulkovich defeated the Hillbillies, two of three falls, in a tag match; The Mummy defeated Don Savage; Kintaro Oki and Mr. Moto drew with Bobby Duranton and Fritz Von Goering, the Preacher beat Bob Stanlee and Gene LeBell went over Steve Stanlee.