Mike Romano sterf in die ring

Professionele stoeiers wat in die ring sterf is skaars, maar gebeur soms. In 1936, 5,000 stoei-aanhangers in Washington, D.C. het 'n dooie man per ongeluk uitgejou aan die einde van die Mike Romano vs. “Ierse” Jack Donovan-wedstryd Donderdag by Griffith-stadion, Junie 25, 1936.

Die 40-jarige Romano was besig om Donovan in 'n gewerkte wedstryd oor te sit. Newspapers inaccurately reported Romano as 46-years-old. Romano was born Mike Malulich in Italy during 1896.

Romano and Donovan wrestled evenly for the short five-minute match. Romano suddenly arched his back in an unusual manner when Donovan applied a head scissors. Romano tried to balance himself with his feet, but his legs were unnaturally ridged.

A woman at ringside yelled, “That man is really hurt! Look at his face!” Romano’s face was distorted as his eyes bulged. Romano suddenly went limp.

Donovan released the hold. Referee Cyclone Burns quickly raised Donovan’s hand as officials piled into the ring.

The fans outside of ringside did not realize what happened. The fans cheered Burns and started booing Romano. The fans did not know they were booing a dead man.

While officials carried Romano from the ring on a stretcher, the police arrested “Irish” Jack Donovan and Cyclone Burns. Promoters did not smarten police up to worked nature of professional wrestling. It was not unusual for police to arrest wrestlers for assault based on action in the ring. Prosecutors quickly dropped the charges when the “aggrieved wrestler” decline to prosecute his opponent.

In this case, the coroner told the prosecutor to drop the charges. The coroner found that Romano had advanced coronary disease. It was only a matter of time before Romano experienced a heart attack.

Romano’s death turned out to be unwelcome news for Joseph “Toots” Mondt. Mondt, a dangerous shooter and hooker, spent most of his time after the 1920s involved with booking and promoting wrestling.

Romano owned a championship belt which Romano let Mondt use for one of his current wrestling champions. When Romano died, his wife asked for the belt back or for Mondt to buy it from her. Romano and his wife had two daughters. Romano’s widow worried about taking care of the family.

Mondt, who was not to be moved by the plight of the widow, refused to return the belt. Romano’s wife sued Mondt, who put up a feeble defense for why he wanted to keep the belt without paying for it. I wrote about Mondt’s career in Dubbelkruis die Gold Dust Trio.

Wrestlers dying young outside the ring is an epidemic. Gelukkig, deaths inside the ring remain rare.

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Sources: The Washington Herald (Washington, D.C.) Junie 26, 1936, p. 21

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