Ed Don George

Ed Don George was a prominent professional wrestler and promoter who played a significant role in the wrestling scene in Buffalo, New York, through his promotion, the **Upstate Athletic Club**. His tenure as both a wrestler and promoter had a substantial impact on wrestling in the Northeast and the broader landscape of professional wrestling in the United States.

### **Background: Ed Don George as a Wrestler**

Ed Don George, born Edward Nye George Jr. in 1905, was a former amateur wrestling star and Olympic athlete. He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, which established him as a credible grappler and a major draw in professional wrestling.

George transitioned to professional wrestling in the late 1920s and quickly became one of the top stars of his era, largely due to his legitimate athletic background and wrestling skills. In **1931**, he became the **World Heavyweight Champion** after defeating Gus Sonnenberg. During the 1930s, George was a major figure in the wrestling world, participating in high-profile matches against notable opponents like **Strangler Lewis** and **Danno O'Mahony**.

### **Founding of the Upstate Athletic Club:**

After establishing himself as a top wrestler, Ed Don George turned his attention to promotion. In the late 1930s, he founded the **Upstate Athletic Club** in Buffalo, New York, where he began promoting professional wrestling events. The territory was part of a larger network of regional promotions, often referred to as the "Buffalo Circuit," which covered Western New York, including Buffalo, Rochester, and parts of Ontario, Canada.

The Upstate Athletic Club operated in Buffalo and was known for promoting events at the **Memorial Auditorium** and other local venues. George used his name recognition and reputation to attract top talent to the area, creating a thriving wrestling scene in Buffalo during the 1940s and 1950s.

### **Relationship with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA):**

When the **National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)** was founded in **1948**, Ed Don George's Upstate Athletic Club became one of its early members. This alliance was crucial for the club, as it allowed George to bring in top talent from other NWA territories and, in turn, send his wrestlers to compete elsewhere. This affiliation provided legitimacy and ensured that George's promotion had access to the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, one of the biggest draws in professional wrestling at the time.

The Upstate Athletic Club benefited from its NWA membership by being able to promote title defenses by the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, which drew large crowds to the Buffalo area. George’s strong connections within the wrestling world, including his friendships with other promoters, helped him maintain the territory’s importance within the NWA structure.

### **Key Events and Feuds:**

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Upstate Athletic Club hosted numerous high-profile matches and feuds that kept the Buffalo wrestling scene vibrant. Some of the key wrestlers who appeared in the territory included **Lou Thesz**, **Whipper Billy Watson**, **Antonino Rocca**, **Buddy Rogers**, and **Bobo Brazil**. These wrestlers were among the biggest stars of their time, and their appearances in Buffalo helped boost the territory's popularity.

One of the notable moments for the territory came in **1949** when the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, **Lou Thesz**, defended his title in Buffalo against **Whipper Billy Watson**, a Canadian wrestling star. This match drew a large crowd and reinforced Buffalo's importance as a key wrestling market.

### **Ed Don George's Role as an NWA Executive:**

Ed Don George was not just a promoter; he also played a significant role within the NWA itself. He was elected as the NWA president in **1950**, a position he held until **1952**. During his tenure, he was involved in several key decisions that helped shape the direction of the NWA, particularly in managing the relationship between different territories and maintaining the legitimacy of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

As president, George worked to resolve disputes between member promoters and ensured that the NWA adhered to its core principles of cooperation and mutual benefit. His experience as both a wrestler and a promoter gave him a unique perspective that was valuable in managing the organization.

### **Decline of the Territory:**

The Upstate Athletic Club faced several challenges in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The rise of television wrestling and the expansion of larger promotions, like **Capital Wrestling Corporation** (the precursor to the WWF), began to encroach on smaller territories like Buffalo. Television allowed larger promotions to reach wider audiences, diminishing the draw of regional promotions that relied heavily on live gate receipts.

By the early 1960s, Ed Don George began to wind down his promotional activities. The wrestling scene in Buffalo and the surrounding areas started to decline as more fans turned to television to watch wrestling from other parts of the country.

### **Legacy of Ed Don George and the Upstate Athletic Club:**

Although the Upstate Athletic Club eventually ceased operations, Ed Don George’s contributions to professional wrestling were significant. He was respected as a legitimate athlete who brought a sense of authenticity and credibility to professional wrestling. His promotion played a key role in the development of wrestling in the Buffalo area, and his work as an NWA executive helped maintain the organization's stability during a period of growth and change.

George remained a respected figure in wrestling until his passing in **1985**. The territory he built, while no longer in operation, left a lasting legacy in the history of professional wrestling, particularly in how smaller, regional promotions helped sustain and build the popularity of the sport across North America.