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.

Lewis To Wrestle At Auditorium Tonight

Pawtucket Times – April 20, 1927

Professional wrestling, which has been undergoing a revival in all parts of the country will be in order tonight at the Auditorium with a series of four of four matches between men of established reputation, the main event bringing together “Strangler” Ed Lewis, holder of the Tex Rickard $10,000 belt, against Dr. Karl Sarpolis, the Lithuanian physician wrestler. They are to go best two out of three falls to a finish.

The supporting numbers indicate a well-balanced programme. Ned McGuire, the Irish giant, and Mike Romano, the Italian heavyweight, are down for a one fall match, and as both have wrestled Lewis and scored falls, the winner will get after the champion real hard for a return match.

Two Features For Stadium Mat Show

Albany Times-Union – August 4, 1933

The double windup idea will be revived for Tuesday night’s wrestling show at Hawkins Stadium with Karol Zbyszko doing battle with Reginald Siki and Charley Hanson scuffling with Mike Romano.

The Zbyszko-Siki match has a definite attraction in that it brings together two masters of defense, two grapplers who have attracted more than ordinary attention by their ability to break away easily from grips that cause many others to twist and groan in “pathetic” discomfort.

Zbyszko Beats Siki In Albany

Cohoes American – August 9, 1938

Karl Zbyszko, 200, defeated Reginald Siki, 218, after 44 minutes, 50 seconds of the main wrestling bout at Hawkins Stadium last night.  Zbyszko used a Japanese push to gain the verdict after Siki had the better of the milling throughout the greater part of the bout.

Wrestling Results

Buffalo Evening News – September 7, 1932
By the Associated Press

THREE RIVERS, Que., (AP) – Joe Malcewicz, 202, Utica, N. Y., defeated Al Mercier, Chocutimi, Que., two falls to one (Malcewicz, 20; Mercier, 22; Malcewicz, 12)

NEW YORK, (AP) – Sammy Stein, 202, Newark, threw Bill Middlekoff, 222, Florida, in 17 minutes, 56 seconds ; Sid Westrich, 206, New York, threw Mike Romano, 205, Italy, in 18:57; Bruno Goriarani, 209, Italy, threw Benny Ginsberg, 210, Chicago, 17:08; Matros Kirilenko, 216, Russia, threw Michael Orgovanya, 202, Hungary, in 17:36, and Steve Znoski, 216, Poland, threw Jerry Monahan, 215, California, in 22:32.

Zbyszko Wins Mat Feature

Albany Evening News – August 9, 1933

Kick to Chin Upsets Siki in Main Bout at Stadium

A well placed kick to the chin enabled Karol Zbyszko of Chicago to defeat a heavier and stronger opponent in the main match of the Albany Sports Club wrestling show in Hawkins Stadium last night.

Zbyszko was wrestling Reginald Siki, Senegalese who holds the European championship, and was behind on points despite his best efforts.  The Negro’s greater weight and strength seemed too much of a handicap.  Siki however, grabbed both of Zbyszko’s legs after 44 minutes of grappling and stood erect in an effort to force Zbyszko’s shoulders to the mat.

The Grunt And Groan Business

Canadian Business – January 1948
by Andy O’Brien

For better or for worse, the hilariously maligned science of Grunt and Groan has been parlayed into big business in Montreal.   Local enthusiasts there contributed more than $300,000 to wrestling during 1947.   This all-time record box office gross, amassed during 40 shows at the Forum and exceeding even the previous turnstile feat of $240,264 in 1946 at the same Forum, has firmly entrenched the Canadian metropolis as wrestling mecca of the world and a reformed Boston taxi-driver as Pachyderm Promotional Peer.

Executives of more prosaic business enterprises are often surprised to learn that Grunt and Groan Inc. operates more by guide than by guess.

Mike Romano Thrown

The Daily Argus – March 6, 1930

New York, Mar. 6 – (UP) – Ferenc Holuban, European wrestling champion threw Mike Romano of Italy in 4:30 of last night’s feature match at Ridgewood Grove.  Matros Kerilenko, Russia, threw Andrew Zaharoff, Russia, in 16:30; George Tragos, Chicago, won a 30-minute decision over Ned McGrath, Boston; Henry Steinbach, Germany, threw Jack Washburn, California, in 13 minutes and Kola Kwariani, Italy, pinned Jack Taylor, New York, in 13 minutes.

‘Ali Baba Bah!’ – So Scoffs Gus

Detroit Free Press – April 28, 1936

As far as Gus Sonnenberg is concerned, he will be wrestling for the world’s championship Friday night when he takes on Danno O’Mahoney at the Olympia. The dispute in the courts has not affected Gus in the least.

Big Wayne Munn Defeated Romans

The Nevada Daily Mail – February 19, 1925

Took Champion Just A Few Minutes To Win Last Night’s Match.

Chicago, Feb. 19. – Wrestling fans here believed today that any mat artist, who seeks to take away the championship laurels claimed by Wayne Munn, Nebraska grappler, will have his work cut out for him.