1936 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promoters/promotions These promoters and promotions held notable shows in 1936. Promoter/Promotion NameAbbreviationEd BurkeBurkeEMLLFédération Française de Catch ProfessionnelFFCPGeorge TraceyTraceyJack GansonGanonLou DaroDaroPaul BowserBowser
Calendar of notable shows Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main eventJanuary 22DaroVincent López vs. Gino GaribaldiLos Angeles, CaliforniaVincent López (c) defeated Gino Garibaldi in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship January 27FFCPEuropean Heavyweight Championship TournamentParis, FranceHenri Deglane defeated Kola Kwariani in a tournament final to become the inaugural European Heavyweight Champion January 29DaroVincent López vs. Gino GaribaldiLos Angeles, CaliforniaVincent López (c) defeated Gino Garibaldi in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship January 31BowserDanno O'Mahoney vs. Count Casimir PolowskiBoston, MassachusettsDanno O'Mahony (c) defeated Count Casimir Polowski by disqualification in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship February 10FFCPDan Koloff vs. Kola KwarianiParis, FranceDan Koloff defeated Kola Kwariani February 19 DaroVincent López vs. George CalzaLos Angeles, CaliforniaVincent López (c) defeated George Calza for the World Heavyweight Championship February 28BowserDanno O'Mahoney vs. Yvon RobertBoston, MassachusettsDanno O'Mahoney (c) defeated Yvon Robert in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship April 1DaroVincent López vs. Man Mountain DeanLos Angeles, CaliforniaVincent López (c) defeated Man Mountain Dean for the World Heavyweight Championship April 17BowserDanno O'Mahoney vs. Yvon RobertBoston, MassachusettsDanno O'Mahoney (c) vs. Yvon Robert in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship ended in a time limit draw June 23BowserDanno O'Mahoney vs. Yvon RobertBoston, MassachusettsDanno O'Mahoney (c) defeated Yvon Robert in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship July 16GansonDanno O'Mahoney vs. Yvon RobertMontreal, QuebecYvon Robert defeated Danno O'Mahoney (c) in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship August 19DaroVincent López vs. Dave LevinLos Angeles, CaliforniaDave Levin defeated Vincent López (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship September 27EMLLEMLL 3rd Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoZimba Parka defeated Tuffy Klein in a singles matchSeptember 30DaroDave Levin vs. Vincent LópezLos Angeles, CaliforniaVincent López defeated Dave Levin (c) for the World Heavyweight Championship September 30GansonYvon Robert vs. Cy Williams Montreal, QuebecYvon Robert (c) defeated Cy Williams by disqualification in a Best 2-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship December 15Burke-TraceyGeorge Zaharias vs. Eddie Newman St. Louis, MissouriGeorge Zaharias defeated Eddie Newman (c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes European Heavyweight Championship Tournament Ludwig Dose N/A Berlin Tournament Herbert Audersch February Hamburg Tournament Hans Schwarz Jr. March 31 Madrid Tournament Mike Brendel April 4 Bilbao Tournament Mike Brendel April 26 Bremen Tournament Hans Kämpfer April 29 Konigsberg Tournament (Summer) Bruno Mosig May Hanover Tournament Ludwig Dose June 14 Barcelona World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Władek Zbyszko? July Gold Belt of Madrid Championship Tournament Tarzan Vasco (Pablo Gardiazabal) July Swiss Free-style Tournament Herbert Audersch September 15 Konigsberg Tournament (Winter) Ludwig Dose November Munich Tournament Willi Müller December 10 Swiss Tournament Willi Muller December 12 World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship Tournament Hans Schwarz Jr. December 21
Championship changes AFW No title changes
AWA DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 16Yvon RobertLive event
CSAC DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)August 19Dave LevinLive eventSeptember 30Vincent LopezLive eventOctober 10Dave LevinLive event
DWU No title changes
No title changes
EMLL No title changes
No title changes
No title changes
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)UncertainVacatedN/AVacated for undocumented reasonsMarch 11Tarzán LópezEMLL show
GAC DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 10Daniel Boone SavageLive eventAwarded championship by the Texas State Athletic Commission after NWA World Heavyweight Champion Danno O'Mahoney fails to appear for a scheduled title defence against Juan Humberto in Galveston, Texas in February 1936.
MWA
No title changes
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 1Great MephistoLive eventJanuary 27George DussetteLive eventJuly 6Billy WeidnerN/A
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 25Frank SextonLive eventJune 24George McCloudLive event
NWA DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)N/AVacatedN/AVacated when the AWA ceased to recognize O'Mahoney as world champion.October 8Dean DettonN/ADetton is declared the new world champion following victories over title claimants Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Ali Baba and Dave Levin earlier that year.
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 20Albion BrittNWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship TournamentDefeated Ted Christy to become the inaugural champion. Ralph Hammonds, however, continues to be recognized as champion in Texas and Tennessee as late as April 1937.December 21Dude Chick
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)December 14Bobby Chick
No title changes
No title changes
No title changes
NYSAC DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 2Dick ShikatLive eventThe match was originally for the unified NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Due to the controversial finish, however, the AWA withdrew its support and continued to recognize O'Mahoney as its world champion.April 24Ali BabaLive eventJune 12Dave LevinLive eventWon by disqualification; recognized by The Ring magazine as the "true world champion". Ali Baba continues to claim the title but loses to Everette Marshall on June 26, 1936 in Columbus, Ohio Levin also wins Los Angeles version, defeating Vincent Lopez on August 19, 1936 in Los Angeles.September 28Dean DettonLive eventRecognized by The Ring magazine as the "true world champion". Detton also defeated Ed "Strangler" Lewis in a title tournament final earlier in the year in Philadelphia.
SFBO DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)November 3Billy HansonPacific Heavyweight Championship TournamentDefeated Nick Lutze to become the inaugural champion.
No title changes
SPWA
No title changes
Stadiums Limited
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 30Tom LurichLive event
No title changes
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 30Sammy RodgersLive event
WAC
no title changes
Unknown World championships No title changes
No title changes
Regional championships DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 18Bob CummingsLive event
Arts and entertainment June 5 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer publishes an advertisement for White Owl Cigar featuring Gus Sonnenberg, Yvon Robert, Chief Little Wolf, and Ernie Dusek.
Debuts Debut date uncertain: Whipper Billy Watson
Births Date of birth uncertain: Eddie Morrow January 3 Eddie Einhorn (died in 2016) January 13 Buddy Colt (died in 2021) February 4 Eddie Sharkey February 16 Murray Weideman (died in 2021) March 1 Ricky Hunter (died in 2022) March 11 Pat Barrett (died in 2021) March 21 Beverly Shade (died in 2023) April 13 Dr. Wagner(died in 2004) April 26 Escorpion 1 April 29 Beauregard (died in 2024) June 8 Kathy Starr June 18 Larry Hennig(died in 2018) June 25 Halcón Suriano(died in 1993) June 28 Cowboy Bob Kelly (died in 2014) July 5 Wayne Bridges (died in 2020) August 20 Irma González September 20 Pepper Martin (died in 2022) October 5 Black Gordman October 20 Emile Dupre(died in 2023) November 2 Archie Gouldie(died in 2016) November 10 Paul LeDuc (died in 2026) December 18 Malcolm Kirk(died in 1987)
Deaths January 1 Cowboy Russell (40) June Steve Znoski (28) June 19 Jim Browning (wrestler) (33) June 25 Mike Romano (40)
References General
Specific