Posted June 28, 20223 yr comment_5984642 History of Pro Wrestling #8 (03:59:46) Matches from January-May 1952 LOU THESZ vs VERNE GAGNE (01/25/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:55:41) Widely considered one of Thesz’s best matches and one of the best matches of the decade. Thesz looks great, but Verne Gagne has a breakout performance. Match goes to a 60-minute draw. “Two technicians working snugly with each other. A match that shows the depth of Thesz working more heelish and Gagne being a valiant face. **** (7.8)” — reader Chad Campbell HAILE SELASSIE vs FUZZY CUPID (04/04/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:22:26) One fall little people match. IVAN RASPUTIN & CHEST BERNARD & FRITZ VON SCHACHT vs DON VEITELMAN & FARMER DON MARLIN & PAT O'CONNOR (04/04/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:37:43) VERNE GAGNE vs MIGHTY ATLAS (04/04/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:41:55) FRITZ VON SCHACHT vs FARMER DON MARLIN (04/05/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:26:48) GREAT TOGO vs ZACK MALKOV (04/05/1952; NWA Chicago; 00:26:33) KILLER KOWALSKI vs MR. MOTO & DUKE KEOMUKA (04/29/1952; Southwest Sports; Dallas Sportatorium; 00:23:40) Matches like this with Kowalski taking on two wrestlers did a lot to establish Kowalski as a monster heel. As a matter of meaningless trivia, I believe this is the oldest handicap match that exists on tape. KILLER KOWALSKI & RAY GUNKEL & REGGIE LISOWSKI vs DUKE KEOMUKA & GEORGE BOLLAS & MR. MOTO (05/06/1952; Southwest Sports; Dallas Sportatorium; 00:05:00)
