Al Karasick

Al Karasick was a prominent wrestling promoter who played a significant role in developing professional wrestling in Hawaii. From the 1930s to the 1960s, he established Hawaii as a thriving wrestling territory and helped bring some of the most renowned wrestlers of the era to the islands.

### **Early Career and Entry into Wrestling Promotion**

Al Karasick was born in Russia in 1903 and immigrated to the United States at a young age. He started his career in professional wrestling as a wrestler but soon transitioned into promoting, realizing that his talents were better suited for the business side of wrestling. By the early 1930s, Karasick had become a wrestling promoter in the Pacific Northwest, primarily in Seattle, Washington. During this period, he formed relationships with various wrestling talents and promoters, which later proved instrumental in expanding his operations to Hawaii.

### **Founding of the Hawaii Territory (1930s)**

Karasick moved to Hawaii in the early 1930s, recognizing an untapped market for professional wrestling on the islands. At the time, Hawaii did not have an established wrestling scene, and Karasick saw an opportunity to introduce the sport to a new audience. He began promoting wrestling shows in Honolulu, particularly at the **Honolulu Civic Auditorium**, which would become the main venue for wrestling events in Hawaii.

Karasick quickly established a regular schedule of wrestling events, importing talent from the mainland United States and Japan to perform in Hawaii. His shows initially drew moderate crowds, but as he refined his approach and brought in more well-known wrestlers, the popularity of wrestling began to grow. By the late 1930s, Karasick had successfully built Hawaii into a viable wrestling territory.

### **Building a Wrestling Hub in Hawaii**

Karasick's promotion was unique due to Hawaii's geographic location between the United States and Japan. This positioning allowed him to draw talent from both the North American and Asian wrestling scenes, making his territory a melting pot of different wrestling styles and talents. He developed relationships with promoters on the mainland, such as **Paul Bowser** in Boston and **Frank Tunney** in Toronto, as well as with Japanese wrestling promoters, allowing him to feature a diverse array of wrestling stars on his cards.

Karasick became known for promoting matches featuring a mix of American-style wrestling and Japanese "puroresu." The territory also featured talent from other parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands, which made Hawaii a unique and vibrant wrestling destination.

### **Joining the National Wrestling Alliance (1949)**

In **1949**, Karasick’s Hawaii territory joined the **National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)**, the governing body of wrestling territories in North America. Membership in the NWA provided Karasick with several advantages, including access to the NWA World Heavyweight Champion and recognition by the larger NWA network. This affiliation gave his shows legitimacy and allowed him to book major stars who traveled through Hawaii to and from other NWA territories, particularly those in Asia and the West Coast of the United States.

Under the NWA banner, Karasick promoted high-profile matches featuring NWA champions, including NWA World Heavyweight Champion **Lou Thesz** and other stars. These matches helped to elevate the status of professional wrestling in Hawaii and contributed to the territory’s growing popularity.

### **Promoting Big Names and Major Events**

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Karasick’s territory thrived. He promoted some of the biggest names in wrestling, including **Lou Thesz**, **Buddy Rogers**, **Pat O'Connor**, **Gorgeous George**, and **Rikidōzan** (a Japanese wrestling legend). Karasick was particularly successful at promoting matches that catered to the diverse demographics of Hawaii, which included a significant Japanese-American population. His collaboration with Japanese wrestlers, especially Rikidōzan, helped draw large crowds and established Hawaii as a hub for international wrestling.

In addition to individual stars, Karasick promoted special events and tournaments that drew attention from fans worldwide. The territory's unique geographic location made it a natural stopover for wrestlers traveling between the United States and Japan, and Karasick took full advantage of this by promoting frequent matches featuring top-tier talent from both continents.

### **Transition and Sale to Ed Francis (1961)**

By the early 1960s, Karasick was looking to scale back his involvement in the wrestling business. He sold the Hawaii territory to **Ed Francis** in **1961**, marking a new era in Hawaiian wrestling. Francis, a former wrestler with a solid understanding of the business, continued to build on the foundation that Karasick had laid, expanding the territory's reach and influence.

Under Francis’s management, the territory was renamed **50th State Big Time Wrestling**. Ed Francis continued many of Karasick's practices, such as maintaining relationships with Japanese promoters and bringing in a diverse roster of talent. Francis would later help launch the careers of future stars like **Curt Hennig** and **Don Muraco**, ensuring the Hawaii territory remained relevant in the evolving wrestling landscape.

### **Karasick's Legacy**

Al Karasick retired after selling his promotion but remained a respected figure in wrestling circles until his death in 1990. He was known for his promotional acumen and his ability to bridge different wrestling cultures, promoting shows that appealed to a diverse audience. His work in Hawaii helped establish professional wrestling as a popular sport in the Pacific region.

Karasick is remembered for his pioneering efforts in bringing professional wrestling to Hawaii and building the territory into a significant stop for international talent. His territory became a key part of the larger wrestling ecosystem, connecting North American and Asian wrestling markets in a way that had never been done before. His contributions laid the groundwork for future promotions in Hawaii and helped solidify the island’s place in wrestling history.