Browning Crushes Daviscourt

On Friday, June 12, 1925, Jim Browning, a Missouri wrestler plying his trade in Tennessee, wrestled the more experienced Dick Daviscourt. The 22-year-old Browning had been a professional for two years. 37-year-old Daviscourt made his professional wrestling debut in 1914.

Browning and Daviscourt were familiar with each other as they ran into each other in a Wichita gymnasium Whether the pair were wrestling a legitimate contest in a training match or just did not like each other, Browning and Daviscourt pummeled each other in a fist fight.

Wichita Police had to break up the melee, which setup a high-profile feud between the two men. Nashville promoters jumped on the opportunity to book the match at the Page Garage on Friday, June 12, 1925.

Browning wrestled Daviscourt in a wrestling ring instead of mats or carpet on a stage. The ring came into play after Daviscourt fell and appeared to injure his hand. Daviscourt hooked his arm around the top rope trying to recover from the fall. Neither Browning nor the referee Henry Graham could pry Daviscourt from the ropes. Daviscourt only released the ropes after Graham threatened to disqualify him.

Browning stayed on the offensive with Daviscourt only being able to apply a handful of headlocks. Browning nearly submitted Daviscourt with a double-arm wristlock.

After one of Daviscourt’s headlock attempts, Browning pulled his head out and slipped to Daviscourt’s back. Browning squeezed Daviscourt and forced Daviscourt to give up to painful hold for the first fall in thirty-six minutes.

Dr. J.W. Bauman, the ringside physician for the Nashville city commission, examined Daviscourt and diagnosed bruised or broken ribs. Dr. Bauman said Daviscourt could not continue. The referee awarded Browning the match on Daviscourt’s withdrawal.

Browning went on to be a big star in Tennessee before moving to Boston to wrestle for Paul Bowser in the late 1920s. Browning was a legitimate shooter and hooker, who Joseph “Toots” Mondt respected enough to put the world title on Browning during the era of rampant double-crosses. Mondt would not trust Browning with the title unless Browning could take care of himself.

You could look at this match and believe it was a shoot. However, it was a well-orchestrated work. Whether Browning and Daviscourt legitimately got into a fistfight or worked the incident to build up future paydays, they turned the incident into a big money feud.

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Sources: The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) June 12, 1925, p.11