Patrons experienced an action-packed night at the National Stadium as several wrestlers showcased their talent. Lou Thesz delivered an impressive gimmick-free show, stating that he leaves the stunts to others.

Published Monday, July 8, 1963

6,000 applaud world mat stars at the Stadium

Six thousand spectators, including the Governor General Sir Clifford Campbell and Lady Campbell, Opposition Leader Mr Norman Manley and Mrs Manley, and  American Ambassador Mr William Doherty, saw big-time wrestling in Jamaica for the first time on Saturday night at the National Stadium.

Even though the touch of realism was not always evident throughout each bout, the mixture of genuine holds and theatrical gestures by some of the world’s great mat stars, including senior world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz, provided a most entertaining show.

Best event

For sheer craftsmanship, the final event between Thesz, 252, and Greece’s Mike Padousis, 254, on a five-card show promoted by Title Promotions Incorporated of Chicago was the best.

It was a one-fall, no time limit contest, and Thesz, who said “I specialise in straight wrestling and leave the stunts to the others” drew prolonged applause as he manoeuvred Padousis into disadvantageous positions where he cleverly applied the head scissors and the aerial neck scissors. Thesz moved through the air almost parallel to the well-padded ring with his eyes peering into the skies and the agility of a welterweight trapeze artist. It was from one of those movements that he pinned Padousis.

Dorrel Dixon, Jamaica’s 220 pound junior world heavyweight champion, in the semi-final against Japan’s Duke Koemuka, 235, gave a well-received display even though he tended to overdramatise his gestures when Keonmuka resorted to foul play.

Disqualified

In a best two of three falls when Keomuka was disqualified by referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, for resorting to Judo and chopping under the neck when Dixon tried to re-enter the ring after he had been catapulted on to the apron of the ring and again after he was thrown to the ground within a foot of an alarmed Lady Campbell.

For the second fall, Dixon executed three precision dropkicks, followed by a leg split and an aerial body slam to write ‘finis’ on the Jap whose showmanship in applying a Judo neck hold from behind, when Dixon was walking back to his corner in a flamboyant matador-like shirt before the start was greeted with boos from the grandstand. Actually, it was a mere gimmick to arouse the resentment of the crowd – a prominent feature of wrestling in the USA and Canada.

The opening bout between Harry Smith, 240, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Raymond Torres,218, of Mexico ended in a draw.

Showmanship

There was a great deal of showmanship in the match in which Eddie Graham, 231, of New York, defeated The Great Malinko, 230, of Moscow in a one-fall no time-limit basis.

Graham was grabbed by Malinko after the referee had awarded the bout to the American. So he cleared the ropes, blocking an oversized powder puff.

In the next bout, women shrieked and some shouted “Get the doctor!" after New York’s Ron Perry, 285, had applied “the sleeper” on Harry Smith, 240, and left him motionless, flat on his back with a dazed and faraway look in his eyes.

Brought back

But manipulation of a nerve in Smith’s neck by his near executioner brought back vigorous life to his body.

Smith figured in two bouts because Antonio Rorea, who was billed on the card, had to pull out because his wife was seriously injured in a motor car accident.

Then 245-pounder Marco Polo, who came in with the rest of the wrestling party in Lou Thesz’s private plane on Saturday, was not allowed to remain by the immigration authorities and left on the return journey to Miami by Pan American Airways soon after his arrival.

It was a very good show despite the fact that many holds were not carried through to their destructive end as the matmen eased up with the same guile that boxers use to ride punches.

Speaking for the party after the show on Saturday night, 50-year-old Thesz, who began earning $150,000 a year from 1933 and now owns a 25-unit resort lodge, the Casa Siesta, in Phoenix, Arizona, and has millions of dollars invested, said:

Coming back

“We all love your beautiful country. And the hospitality of the people is wonderful. We all were surprised at the size of the crowd as we really expected to see only a few hundred. We will certainly come again and show you fine Jamaicans much more of the finer points of wrestling.

Then as he began to walk away through the MacDonald Tunnel at the Stadium I tried one last question. ”You seem to go straight for your holds and I notice you do not wear a fancy hairdo or go in for any gimmicks. Any special reason why?

The reply was prompt and positive. “I am trying to change the image of the wrestler from that of a towering neanderthal in a T-shirt, and so I read literature and act, talk and wrestle intelligently.”

The wrestlers flew to Miami yesterday morning in Thesz’s private plane.

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