Episode 137 – Gust Karras

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In this episode, I discuss the early matches of longtime St. Joseph, Missouri wrestling promoter Gust Karras. I also review two of Karras’ cards.

Update

One Fighting Championship just terminated a number of executives including Rich Franklin and Mark Hume. Hopefully, it is just a restructure and not a sign that the company is going out of business. I saw two great fights on One Fight Night 42 (affiliate link). Suakim versus Kumzin and Sam-A versus El Jamari.

I am starting a new project on Ad Santel with a focus on his legitimate contests with judo and jujitsu black belts.

Main Content

I found Gust Karras’ early matches around Missouri in the 1920s before Karras became the longtime pro wrestling promoter in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Gust Karras was born in Greece on April 5, 1902. Karras traveled to the United States in 1916. Karras worked as a doorman and watchman in New York City before moving to Chicago to work in the same business.

In Chicago, Karras started training at the YMCA and took up wrestling. Karras showed promise as a wrestler winning the AAU 175-pound National Championship in 1920. After four years as an amateur, Karras turned professsional in 1923.

Karras wrestled in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri before settling in St. Joseph, Missouri. In December 1923, Karras wrestled Mervin Barackman in Maryville, Missouri, a town in northwest Missouri.

In 1925, Karras is working matches in Kirksville, Missouri, and on a winning streak. Kirksville is one of the larger towns in northeast Missouri. Karras returned to northwest Missouri and started wrestling in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Karras promoted his first card in January 1934 in St. Joseph as a promoter for the Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club, Tony Stecher’s promotion. Eventually, Karras promoted St. Joseph on his own although he affiliated with the  other promoters in Central States, Orville Brown, Pinkie George, and Bob Giegel.

Recommendations

Bret Hart’s Mixtape on WWE Vault YouTube channel

New territory footage from Championship Wrestling from Florida, also on WWE Vault

Review

Karras promoted his first card with the assistance of the Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club, Tony Stecher’s promotion, on January 24, 1934.

Harley Pierce defeated Jack Howe (8 minutes)
Frenchy LaRue defeated Al Johnson (17 minutes)
2 out of 3 Falls Match- Bruce Noland vs. Henry Graber ended without a winner as a time limit draw (45 minutes) at 1 fall each
2 out of 3 Falls Match – Jack Vincent defeated Homer Wright by 2 falls to 1

Karras promoted his last card on January 9, 1976. Karras died on the morning of January 16, 1976, but the normal Friday card went on as his team would not think of canceling the show.

Mike George vs. Tank Patton ended without a winner as a time limit draw (15 minutes)
2 on 1 Handicap Match – Akio Sato and Rick McGraw defeated Ripper Collins by disqualification
Mike George and Ray Candy defeated Tank Patton and Bob Brown (15:14 minutes)

Ron Bass and Dutch Mantell defeated Jerry Oates and Ted Oates (17:54 minutes)

Lumberjack Match – Harley Race defeated Ed Wiskoski

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