Browning Campaigns in Kansas
In 1922, future World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Jim Browning began his career in Kansas. Browning moved from his hometown of Verona, Missouri in 1921 to train for a professional wrestling career. Tom Law, the Wichita, Kansas promoter, oversaw Browning’s training.
By May 1923, Browning was already in the main event at smaller shows. On an Augusta, Kansas card, Browning wrestled Jack Roller in a best 2-out-of-3-falls match. Roller actually won the first fall in 36 minutes with an armbar.
Browning took over the match after the first fall. He won the next two falls with the leg scissors. It took him 10 minutes to win the second fall. Roller was a little harder to defeat in the third fall. It took Browning 14 minutes to apply the leg scissors for the third fall.
Photo of Jim Browning from 1923 (Public Domain)
Browning used a number of different holds and didn’t really specialize in one finishing hold. However, his successful use of the leg scissors drew comparisons to past and future World Champion Joe Stecher. Fans and reporters started referring to Browning as “Young Stecher”. The nickname stuck for several years.
Browning was bigger than Stecher and was a large heavyweight for the day. He stood 6’03” and weighed 215 pounds. Browning was a lean, muscular young wrestler the fans could get behind.
It wasn’t all success for the young prospect though. On June 22, 1923, Browning wrestled “Sailor” Jack Lewis. Browning had previously defeated Lewis in March 1923. This rematch was the undercard of a Dick Daviscourt-Taro Miyaki main event in Wichita. It was a tough match for Browning.
In what may have been an accident, Lewis kicked Browning under the chin near the ropes. Browning fell through the ropes. Ringside spectators said Browning’s head struck the floor.
Whether it was a bad fall from a worked spot or a stiff kick, Browning appeared legitimately injured. The referee stopped the match. Browning was reportedly semi-conscious for 30 minutes after the fall.
Five days later on June 27th, Browning recovered enough to wrestle Charles Jenkins of Emporia, Kansas for the chance to meet Kansas Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Alan Eustace. Law scheduled the match for Eureka, Kansas.
Jenkins won the first fall in 58 minutes. Browning took the second fall in 26 minutes. Neither man was able to win the third fall before the 2-hour time limit expired. Law was disappointed with the small crowd, not an uncommon occurrence in the summer months.
It was obvious by his early wins and wrestling in the main event on smaller cards that Tom Law had big plans for Jim Browning. It is doubtful at this time, if either man knew how big a star Browning would become one day.
You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page or Twitter profile.
Sources: The Augusta Daily Gazette (Augusta, Kansas), May 8, 1923 edition, p. 1, Herrington Times (Herrington, Kansas), March 22, 1923 edition, p. 3, Wichita Daily Eagle, June 23, 1923 edition, p. 3 and The Eureka Herald (Eureka, Kansas), June 28, 1923 edition, p. 1
