Pre-1953

01-18-1948:  Promoters Tony Stecher, Pinkie George, Maxwell Clayton, Bill Colbert, Max Yeargain, and Tom McHuge meet in Des Moines, IA to form a syndicate alliance to promote boxing. This template agreement lays the foundation for an alliance to promote and protect pro wrestling promoters later in the year - the National Wrestling Alliance.

04-05-1948:  WGN channel 9 in Chicago opens and pro wrestling from Fred Kohler was part of the initial line-up. Kohler also has a program on WBKB as well which runs until September.

07-15-1948: Boston, MA: Arena: Attendance 8,000: Bibber McCoy defeats Harry Finkelstein… Bull Curry wrestled George O’Malley to a 20-minute draw… Marvin Westenberg wrestled Steve Casey to a 30-minute draw… AWA World champion Frank Sexton wrestled Primo Carnera to a time limit draw after trading one fall each.

07-18-1948:  The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is formed in Waterloo, IA with Pinkie George named the first President. A syndicate of promoters meet in Waterloo, IA at the Hotel President. Participating in the conference are Pinkie George, Maxwell Clayton, Orville Brown, Sam Muchnick, and Wally Karbo (representing Tony Stecher). Orville Brown is recognized as the first NWA World heavyweight champion.

09-25-1948:  A second National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) meeting is held. This time in Minneapolis, MN at the Dyckman Hotel. Tony Stecher, Pinkie George, Max Clayton, Orville Brown, Sam Muchnick, Frankie Talaber (representing Al Haft), and Bert Ruby (representing Harry Light) are present. They alter a few of the original NWA rules and agree to recognize Orville Brown as the first and only NWAlliance World Heavyweight champion.

10-22-1948:  In his Wrestling program column “In the Ring with Sam Muchnick”, Muchnick gives more insight into the recently formed National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) including who some of the other people were that were considered for the first NWA World heavyweight title besides Orville Brown. Tony Stecher wanted Cliff Gustafson; Al Haft wanted Ruffy Silverstein. However, Harry Light, George Simpson, Pinkie George, and Muchnick voted for Orville Brown.

12-03-1948: Vince McMahon (Sr) is hired to manage Turner’s Arena in New York City.

02-22-1949:  The first wrestling show in eleven years is held at New York’s Madison Square Garden featuring Gorgeous George defeating Ernie Dusek in front of 4,197 fans. Also on the show: Golden Superman (Walter Podolak) defeated Angelo Savoldi… George Becker defeated Emil Dusek… Ray Schwartz (AKA: Bobby Becker) defeated Tony Cosenza… Tony Martinelli defeated Howard Cantowine… Wilbur Nead defeated Ivan Kameroff (AKA: Boris Volkoff)… Marvin Mercer battled Kaimon Kudo to a draw… Leonard Butch Levy defeated Lew Laird.

12-12-1949: Wrestling returns again to Madison Square Garden in New York City. This time with better results than the February 1949 show which drew only 4,197. 17,854 attendance sees Antonino Rocca defeat Gene Stanlee. In other matches: Primo Carnera defeated Jim Henry… Lord Carlton defeated Ivan Kameroff… Joe Savoldi battled Marvin Mercer to a draw… Johnny Barend defeated Kola Kwariani… Chief Yaqui defeated George Bruckman… Steve Karas defeated Martin Cardigan.

03-06-1950:  At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 16,979: Antonino Rocca battled Gene Stanlee to a draw… Don Eagle defeated Gino Martinelli… Lord Carlton defeated Wally Dusek… Johnny Barend defeated Rocco Colombo… George Becker defeated Mike Mazurki… Frederick Von Schacht defeated Kola Kwariani… Marvin Mercer defeated Francois Miquet (AKA: Corsica Joe).

05-14-1950:  Madison Square Garden promoter William F. Johnston dies of a heart attack the day before a show he was to have promoted takes place at MSG.

05-15-1950:  At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 14,246: A moment of silence is held for promoter William F. Johnston who died the day before… Antonino Rocca defeated Lord Carlton… Gene Stanlee battled Primo Carnera to a draw… Don Eagle defeated Frankie Talaber… Ernie Dusek defeated Sammy Berg… Yvon Robert defeated Angelo Savoldi… Mike Mazurki defeated Kola Kwariani… Golden Superman battled Jim Lewis to a draw.

06-21-1950:  A disappointing crowd of 7,638 attend a Fred Kohler card at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL to see Lou Thesz defeat Buddy Rogers to retain the NWA World title. In other matches: Chief Lone Eagle beat The Great Jo Jo… Al Williams & Rudy Kay battled Hans & Fritz Schnabel to a no contest… Verne Gagne drew Billy Goelz… Cyclone Anaya beat Benito Gardini…. Great Moto drew Ruffy Silverstein.

07-12-1950:  At Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY: Attendance: 11,328. Benefit for the Hearst Milk Fund: Antonino Rocca battled Don Eagle to a draw… Gene Stanlee defeated Sammy Berg… Primo Carnera defeated Emil Dusek… Frank Sexton defeated Lord Carlton… Ernie Dusek defeated Tarzan Hewitt… Yvon Robert battled Johnny Barend to a draw… Tony Galento defeated Kola Kwariani… Cyclone Anaya defeated Mahmoud Youssef II.

08-04-1950:  Buffalo, NY: Memorial Auditorium: Attendance 10,935: Johnny Barend defeats Joe Marsh… Joe Savoldi wrestled Kay Bell to a Draw… Farmer Don Marlin defeats Howard Cantonwine… Chief Suni War Cloud defeats Bull Montana… Gorgeous George defeats The French Angel (Maurice Tillet).

09-07-1950:  Sam Muchnick is elected President of the NWA for the first time in Dallas, TX at the annual NWA meeting at the Baker Hotel. As of the 1950 meeting, there were 24 total NWA members.

07-06-1951:  A show at Memorial Auditorium draws 5,435 in Buffalo, NY: Great Togo defeated Ron Etchison… Nanjo Singh defeated Dick Trout… Johnny Barend defeated Tony Verdi… Don Beitelman defeated Zorra… Sandor Kovacs defeated Benito Gardini.

07-13-1951: A show at Memorial Auditorium draws 11,661 in Buffalo, NY: Great Togo defeated Nanjo Singh... Lord Blears defeated Donn Lewin... Ron Etchison went to a draw with Sandor Kovacs... Johnny Barend defeated Sheik Emir Badui... Jim Wright went to a draw with Dick Trout.

07-20-1951:  Buffalo, NY: Memorial Auditorium: Attendance: 9,024: Lord James Blears defeated Great Togo via reversed decision… Ronnie Etchison defeated Chester Hayes… Benito Gardini defeated Tony Verdi… Don Beitelman defeated Steve Kloc… Joe Muscato battled Jim Wright to a draw… Henry Steele battled George Butler to a draw.

09-07-1951:  The annual NWA meeting is held at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, OK. The total NWA membership is up to 36 promotions at this point.

11-16-1951: Buffalo, NY at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium the 13th Annual Parade of Champions show takes place. The show was a sellout. It should also be noted that while called the “Parade of Champions” it appears there were no actual champions or title matches on the show. 2,000 people were reported to be turned away: Vic Christy defeats Dick Trout… Len Hughes wrestled Sandor Kovacs to a Time Limit Draw… Farmer Jones defeats Danny Dusek… Danny McShain defeats Kenny Ackles… Yukon Eric defeats Strangler Ed White… Great Togo defeats Johnny Barend by Count Out.

01-06-1952: A meeting of the NWA Board of Directors takes place in St. Louis, MO to cover the topic of regional promoters recognizing only the NWA World and NWA World Junior champions. Specifically, Paul Bowser, who promoted Don Eagle as the Eastern heavyweight champion was told to push NWA World champion Lou Thesz ahead of Eagle

01-14-1952:  At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 9,000: Antonino Rocca battled Primo Carnera to a draw… NWA World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Bobby Managoff… Gene Stanlee defeated Gregory Jarque… Ilio DiPaolo defeated Adrien Baillargeon… Dick Steinborn defeated Mike Clancy… Don Leo Jonathan defeated Kola Kwariani… Ace Freeman battled Arnold Skaaland to a draw. This was the first defense of the NWA World title at Madison Square Garden even though it wasn’t specifically billed as that. Whenever Lou Thesz appeared here he was billed as “recognized by the NWA” or “St. Louis champion” or something like that but never specifically for the “NWA World title”. The New York State Athletic commission still didn’t recognize title matches at this point.

01-30-1952:  Joe “Toots” Mondt, Milo Steinborn, and Rudy Miller sell the Manhattan Booking Agency to Pedro Martinez.

02-20-1952:  Joe “Toots” Mondt resigns from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

09-24-1952:  In Washington, DC: Griffith Stadium drawing 9,260 (one of the best attendances at Griffith Stadium since the 1930s): Roland Meeker drew Ilio DiPaolo… Lu Kim pinned Jack Dillon… Steve & Gene Stanlee beat The Zebra Kid & Man Mountain Dean, Jr… Ethel Johnson beat Kathleen Wimbley… NWA World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz drew Antonino Rocca.

11-18-1952:  At Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 18,357: Antonino Rocca defeated Lu Kim (Rube Wright)… NWA World heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defeated Gene Stanlee… Lord Leslie Carlton battled Johnny Barend to a no contest… Whipper Billy Watson defeated Gregorio Jarque… Raphael Halpern defeated Lenny Montana… Pedro Escobar defeated Jim Austeri… Ilio DiPaolo battled Steve Stanlee to a draw.

12-02-1952: Buddy Rogers defeats Killer Kowalski for the former AWA World title, now billed as the AWA Eastern States title in Boston, MA.

12-18-1952:  Vince McMahon (Sr) officially buys the New York promotional office from Gabe Menendez for $60,000 and begins promoting his style wrestling in January 1953.