Jim Browning Campaigns in Tennessee
In 1933, about 10 years into his wrestling career, Jim Browning would win the world title. Starting his career in Kansas and his home state of Missouri, Browning would have to leave these familiar grounds, if he intended to reach the highest pinnacle in professional wrestling.
Because World Champions had to tour nationally, and often internationally, the world title was seldom given to a homesteader. Homesteaders stayed in their home territories to be closer to home. They may become local champions and the biggest star of their promotion but almost never won a world title.
A young, married man, Browning homesteaded for the first 3 years of his career. However, in 1926, Browning left his home state and moved to Tennessee, where he wrestled for most of 1926. Browning wanted to establish himself in other territories and meet other promoter to set the groundwork for the possibility of bigger things.
Photo of Jim Browning in a wrestling pose from the Library of Congress (Public Domain)
On April 12, 1926, Browning was in the main event with George Hills on a Nashville, Tennessee card at the Page Garage Arena. Browning had previously defeated Hills, a competent Wisconsin wrestler. Hills demanded a rematch, which took place in front of a “big crowd of spectators”.
Jim Browning stood 6’03” and weighed 220 pounds. Hills was a couple inches shorter but weighed 230 pounds. They were the largest, most muscular wrestlers on the card.
Hills won the first fall in only 15 minutes with a series of headlocks. Hills threw Browning to the mat several times with headlock takedowns. A woozy Browning was pinned after three such throws.
The second fall may have been the most exciting. Hills continued with his headlock attack, which had Browning on the defensive. Hills also applied the body scissors, a pet hold of Browning.
When Browning looked particularly vulnerable, he suddenly caught Hills in his own body scissors. Browning was known as “Young Stecher” for his skill with the body scissors.
Hills struggled mightily but could not escape Browning’s body scissors. In one last desperate attempt to escape, Hills stood to his feet but crashed back to the mat. Hills appeared to knock himself out, when his head struck the mat. Browning took the second fall in 34 minutes.
Browning won the third fall in quick fashion against the groggy Hills. Browning attacked with a body scissors and armlock combination as soon as the third fall started.
The crowd cheered the thrilling match, which would help draw big crowds in the future. Browning and Hills proved they deserved to be the main event match with this result.
Browning was several years from a world title win but his actions in 1926 helped lay the foundation for his future success. Browning would make a big mark in his short career.
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Sources: Nashville Banner (Nashville, Tennessee), April 13, 1926 edition, p. 19 and wrestlingdata.com
