Episode 52 – Rickard vs. Curley

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In this episode, I discuss the possible reasons for the falling out between Tex Rickard and Jack Curley. I also review the first night of Wrestlemania XL.

Update

I have released The Sherlock Holmes of Saint Louis: Saint Louis Chief of Detectives William Desmond on Friday, April 5, 2024. It is available in ebook, paperback and hardcover. The audio book will be available in a week or two.

Main Content

When John “The Nebraska Tigerman” Pesek wrestled Marin Plestina to settle a promotional war between Tex Rickard and Jack Curley, observers believed that Rickard and Curley had a disagreement over a joint boxing promotion. However, that may not be the case.

Tex Rickard did promote the Jess Willard-Jack Dempsey fight, which did disappoint promoters financially. However, the fight still proved profitable for Rickard and his partners.

In April 1921, Jack Johnson alleged that he threw the 1915 fight with Jess Willard allowing Jess Willard to win the title. Johnson tried to negotiate with the federal government to drop the felony case against him.

Part of what Johnson offered was to lose the World Championship as many powerful and influential people hated that a black man held the world title. Johnson said that Jack Curley arranged for Johnson to throw the fight as part of a gambling scheme that netted Curley over $30,000.

This allegation could have strained Rickard’s and Curley’s relationship as well because the New York Athletic Commission would ban Curley and possibly Rickard, if they were partners in boxing promotion.

I intend to find the causes of the friction between the two powerful promoters in my new book project.

Review

I take an in-depth lok at the first night of Wrestlemania XL. Paul “HHH” Levesque has greatly improved the WWE program since he has taken charge of creative.

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