Sonnenberg-Spellman to Wrestle Tomorrow

Pawtucket Times – October 15, 1928

The growing popularity of professional wrestling among college men is well indicated by the Acme A. A.’s opening grappling show of the season at the Arcadia, Providence, tomorrow night, at least half of the contestants being graduates of the higher institutions of learning. “Dynamite” Sonnenberg boasts a diploma from Dartmouth, where he gained fame as “All American” tackle; John Spellman was graduated from Brown after winning an Olympic wrestling championship and starring as a football tackle, and Jack Wagner is a Montana State College product.

Sonnenberg in Hospital With Infection of Leg

Pawtucket Times – April 28, 1928

Gus Sonnenberg, “Minute Man” of the professional wrestling ring, was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital last evening suffering from septic poisoning in his right leg. Sonnenberg, according to Dr. John A. Bolster, may be out of action for some time, depending upon the seriousness of the infection.

Sonnenberg received an abrasion in a bout approximately two weeks ago and it became infected. He wrestled in Boston Thursday night, and yesterday became so ill that removal to the hospital was considered necessary.

Komar or DeVito to Tackle Lewis

Pawtucket Times – April 10, 1928

The elimination tournament to determine an opponent for “Strangler” Ed Lewis in a championship match at Providence reaches a climax at the Arcadia in Providence this evening when Joe (“Bull”) Komar, who is generally regarded as the roughest and most unpopular matman in the game, meets the Italian favorite, Joe De Vito, who has won all his Providence matches impressively. Matchmaker Cy Mitchell plans to send the winner of the match against Lewis at the Arcadia within a fortnight.

Sonnenberg, Spellman Victors in Mat Bouts

Pawtucket Times – March 6, 1928

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, March 6 – Gus Sonnenberg and John Spellman, ex-football stars at Dartmouth and Brown, respectively, featured a professional wrestling show last night. Sonnenberg, using some of the tactics that won him fame on the gridiron, threw George Leon of Chicago in six minutes.

Spellman, an Olympic champion, had a tougher time, but finally beat John Ward, strapping Oklahoma youth after losing the first fall.

Spellman-Sonnenberg on Mat Card Tonight

Pawtucket Times – February 6, 1928

John Spellman and Gus Sonnenberg, two of the most popular players in the Steam Roller football team, feature tonight’s wrestling card at the Arcadia ballroom, Providence. Spellman, who was a star at Brown and who was Olympic champion, is well along the road toward the topnotchers, according to Frank Herrick, coach at Brown. Sonnenberg is in his first season as a professional and is making a great impression.

Many football followers who have never attended a wrestling contest are planning to be present at the encounters to see how their gridiron idols make out in their wrestling ventures.

Bob Kruse Is Held To Draw By Westenberg

Victoria Daily Times – June 5, 1931

Heavyweight Wrestlers Thrill Vancouver Crowd With Action Galore

Malcewicz Defeats L’Heureux; Kruse Appears Here To-morrow Night

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Bob Kruse, Portland heavyweight wrestler, will appear in the main event of the wrestling card at the Tillicum gymnasium to-morrow evening, with Ivan Siemans, Bremerton, as his opponent.  In the five-round semi-windup Ray Frisbie tackles Jack O’Dell.

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Vancouver, June 5 – Bob Kruse of Portland and Billy Westenberg, Tacoma, roused a lethargic wrestling crowd to roars of tumultuous cheering and jeering as they swirled like lithe tornadoes through six rounds of rip-roaring grappling at the Arena yesterday evening to wind up in the final canto with a fall each and the honors even.

Lack Of Action Causes Siki Bout To Be Halted

Buffalo Evening News – April 14, 1932

PHILADELPHIA, April, 14 (AP). – Gus Sonnenberg of Providence threw Karl Pojello of Chicago with a flying tackle in 15 minutes, 13 seconds Wednesday night.  Joe Malcewicz of Utica and Count George Zarynoff of Ukrainia wrestled to a draw in a 30-minute semi-final.

Referee Benny Paul threw Reginald Siki, Abyssinia Negro, and Kara Pasha, the Turk, out of the ring after 27:34 elapsed without action.

Nick Lutze, former Notre Dame football player, won a 30-minute decision over Pat McKay of Memphis.

Browning Pins Negro Marvel

New York Times-Union – June 10, 1932
By Jack Andrews

After quite some embarrassment, Jim Browning, the Verona, Mo., Razzle Dazzle got his turnover scissors working on the rubbery Reginald Siki, Sengalese negro marvel, last night at Hawkins Stadium and it was all over in 38:50 just before Jupiter Pumphandle Pluvius got down to some serious work.  It drizzled all through the final event.

Much of the dazzle was taken out of the barrel-legged James, until he finally got the eel-like negro in that vise-like lock.  Siki put up a glittering exhibition of defensive wrestling, the like of which has never been seen in these parts.

New Stars Will Feature Wrestling Card Wednesday

The St. Maurice Valley Chronicle – October 29, 1936

Steve Casey, New Irish Sensation Will Be Seen Here Against Jack Donovan. – Gus Sonnenberg Makes Comeback.

Steve Casey, highly touted Irish grappler who is being groomed for a title bout with Yvon Robert for the championship, will be one of the headliners in the fine wrestling card prepared by Promoter Gruninger for local fans next Wednesday night at the Arena.

He will be matched against Jack Donovan, another topnotcher who has been giving excellent shows in Montreal recently, and the experts will be interested in seeing how the newcomer stacks up against fast American opposition.

Sonnenberg Visits Rollerway for Mat Feature

The Pawtucket Times – March, 8 1939

Axel Madsen of Denmark, better known as Raggnar Halldin, will meet Frenchy La Rue of Toronto in the special bout of the weekly wrestling show at the North Attleboro Rollerway, tomorrow night.

Headlining the card will be a best two falls main bout, with a 90-minute time limit, between Dynamite Gus Sonnenberg of Dartmouth, former heavyweight champion of the world, and Manuel Cortez, who only a year ago was the occupant of the world junior Heavyweight throne.

Sonnenberg, inventor of the wrestling flying tackle and the most colorful of all heavyweights, is riding the crest of a comeback. He hasn’t been defeated in more than a year and now stands in the threshold of a title match with Steve “Crusher” Casey.