1940s and 1950s

by Mark Long

Cool Timeline

1945
Vincent Kennedy McMahon Born
Vince McMahon, Jr. - historyofwrestling.com

The most successful promoter in the history of professional wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment C.E.O. Vincent Kennedy McMahon, was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina on this day in 1945. The son of renowned Northeastern promoter Vincent James McMahon and Vicky Askew, McMahon would eventually purchase his father's multi-state territory in 1982…
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1948
The National Wrestling Alliance Is Formed
Pinkie George - historyofwrestling.com

[caption id="attachment_5617" align="alignleft" width="190"] Pinkie George[/caption] The National Wrestling Alliance, which for decades was the largest and most powerful governing body in the professional wrestling industry, is officially formed after founder Paul "Pinkie" George assembles a collection of Midwestern promoters in Waterloo, Iowa. The concept of the NWA, to unite…
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Lou Thesz Is Awarded the National Wrestling Alliance Title
Orville Brown - historyofwrestling.com

Following a career-ending auto accident involving inaugural NWA World Heavyweight champion Orville Brown, reigning National Wrestling Association champion Lou Thesz is awarded the National Wrestling Alliance title, thus unifying the two World championships just weeks prior to the planned Brown/Thesz unification bout (which Thesz was scheduled to win) in St.…
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1949
Verne Gagne Defeats Dick Hutton in NCAA Tournament
Verne Gagne - historyofwrestling.com

In a legendary battle between two amateurs who would soon rule the world of professional wrestling, future NWA World Heavyweight champion Dick Hutton loses in overtime to future AWA World Heavyweight champion Verne Gagne. The bout, which remains one of the most famous and historic collegiate matches in history, took…
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Verne Gagne Makes His Professional Wrestling Debut
Verne Gagne - historyofwrestling.com

Renowned NCAA and Olympic wrestler Verne Gagne makes his professional wrestling debut in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gagne, who was also a highly accomplished football player, was among the most famous amateur grapplers of the day and his entry into the ranks of pro wrestling made newspaper headlines across the country. Minnesota…
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The Dumont Network Airs Wrestling From Marigold
Wrestling at the Marigold - historyofwrestling.com

The Dumont Network, which was the first television network to establish national broadcasts in America, airs the debut episode of, arguably, the most important TV program in professional wrestling history, "Wrestling from Marigold." The catalyst for the unprecedented boom in the sport's popularity during the "Golden Age" of the 1950s,…
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1952
Lou Thesz Defeats Baron Michelle Leone In Title Unification
Lou Thesz - Baron Leone - historyofwrestling.com

In a much-anticipated battle of World champions, Lou Thesz defeats Baron Michelle Leone, unifying his NWA title with Leone's Los Angeles version of the World championship. Interest was so great in the match that local television stations broadcast the daily workouts of both grapplers in the week leading up to…
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1953
Chicago Promoter Fred Kohler Awards Verne Gagne The NWA United States Championship
Verne Gagne - historyofwrestling.com

Chicago promoter Fred Kohler defiantly awards his top star, Verne Gagne, the newly-created NWA United States championship. Gagne was seen coast-to-coast on Kohler's powerful Dumont Network television program, "Wrestling from Marigold," and was, arguably, the most popular wrestler in the country. At the time, many of Kohler's fellow NWA promoters…
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1957
Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez Defeat Jackie and Don Fargo at MSG
Antonino Rocca - Miguel Perez - historyofwrestling.com

The team of Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez, the biggest box office attraction in the northeast at the time, defeat Jackie & Don Fargo at Madison Square Garden in New York City to capture that region's version of the World Tag Team championship. Rocca & Perez would end up being…
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Danny Hodge Featured on the Cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine
Danny Hodge - historyofwrestling.com

Legendary NCAA and Golden Gloves champion, and future NWA World Junior Heavyweight titleholder, Danny Hodge becomes the first wrestler in history to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. Still an amateur at the time, Hodge would turn pro less than two years later. Meanwhile, nearly three decades…
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1959
New Zealander Pat O’Connor Defeats Dick Hutton For the NWA Title
Pat O'Connor - historyofwrestling.com

New Zealander Pat O'Connor defeats Dick Hutton for the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight title in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the sport's more popular babyfaces of the era, O'Connor would go on to hold the NWA World championship for two and a half years before being defeated by "Nature…
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