Results: Pro Wrestling in Algeria and Tunisia (1932-1939)

 A collection of pro wrestling results from Algiers and Tunis in the 1930s.

Some random results that I found. Both Algeria and Tunisia were under French rule at the time so naturally the first pro wrestling (catch) shows there were with wrestlers coming from France. There may have been additional shows that I'm not aware of. All quotes describing the attendance are from the local press.

In September 1932 there were a pair of pro wrestling shows in Paris billed as pancrace-pugilat or just pancrace (pankration) for short. These were shows by Jeff Dickson (an American boxing promoter based in Paris) who was basically introducing his own version of the British all-in wrestling that was starting to take off in the UK. For reasons we won't get into here (but you can read about them here), despite initially attracting good interest, pancrace did not last long in France.

16 November 1932
Algiers, Algeria
Stade Municipal (Municipal Stadium)
1. Ben Sherman def. Mark Passmann (41:24)
2. Manuel Fullaondo def. Paul Favre (14:15)
3. Gulio Travaglini def. Rudolf Grüneisen (13)
4. Fritz Kley def. Francois Berthod (24:30)
= This show was a pancrace-pugilat show. The promoter was someone called Champault and this was said to be the first event of its kind in Algeria. The hype for the show was along the lines of "come and watch a style of wrestling that has been a sensation in the United States and England, and was recently seen in Paris too".
= At different points Jack Pye and Jan Krumin were also scheduled for the show, but they didn't work the event.
= One report that I found was rather negative on the show, saying the action was obviously fake.

The wrestlers arriving in Algiers

Photos from the pancrace show in Algiers

Raoul Paoli promoted his first pro wrestling show in Paris in September 1933 and his version of pro wrestling (catch) became very popular in France right away. Paoli soon started sending his wrestlers to other countries as well (Algeria included). All shows below were with Paoli wrestlers.

15 June 1935
Algiers, Algeria
Stade Municipal
"big crowd"
1. Stan Karolyi def. Rene van Coppenolle (23:40)
2. French Middleweight Title: Emile Pouveroux (c) def. Jean Bianconi to retain his title (22:19 Pouveroux, 11:40, 8:03)
3. Bonnie Muir def. Louis Loew (21:50)
4. Kola Kwariani drew Rene Michot (60:00)
= Billed as a catch-as-catch-can show.

9 July 1938
Algiers, Algeria
Stade Municipal
"large crowd"
1. Arabian wrestling: Ben Lackal def. ?
2. Arabian wrestling: Djemali def. ?
3. Emile Pouveroux def. Louis Loew (21:12)
4. Manuel Fullaondo def. George Krassavine (22:10)
5. Stan Karolyi def. Dick Perron
6. Henri Deglane def. Joe Nawrocki (26:15, 15:48)
= The losers of the first two matches, which were amateur, weren't mentioned. Djemali was also listed as Djenati in some articles. Not sure which of two names is the correct one.
= It's not mentioned who the promoter was, but a Mr. Chapus does come up a lot. He was the director of the stadium and seems to have had a hand in putting the event together.

16 July 1938
Algiers, Algeria
Stade Municipal
"great success"
1. Arabian wrestling: Ben Lackal def. Djemali
2. Louis Loew def. Dick Perron
3. Manuel Fullaondo def. Joe Nawrocki
4. European Light Heavyweight Title: Stan Karolyi (c) def. Emile Pouveroux (2:1 falls)
5. Henri Deglane def. Kola Kwariani (2:1 falls)

26 November 1938
Algiers, Algeria
Automobile Hall (Hall de la Foire)
1. Arabian wrestling bouts
2. Amateur: Gaby Grosso vs. Robert Klein
3. Rene van Coppenolle vs. Rene Junqua
4. Charles Rigoulot vs. Sandor Vary
= Scheduled, but did not take place. It was cancelled on 21 November. The official reason given was some sort of issue with Rigoulot's opponent getting there for the show. It was said the show was being rescheduled for January, but that never happened either.

6 May 1939
Algiers, Algeria
Automobile Hall
"large audience"
1. Rene Junqua def. Louis Loew
2. Gaby Grosso def. Robert Klein
3. Mark Passmann drew George Krassavine (30:00)
4. Michele Leone def. Emile Pouveroux
5. Henri Deglane def. Bonnie Muir (2:0 falls)
= Again, Mr. Chapus was involved in putting this together. Back in March he had gone to Paris to arrange it.
= Junqua and Grosso were Algerian amateurs. This was their pro debut. Junqua was one of the top Algerian weightlifters too. Originally he was scheduled to make his pro debut on the cancelled November 26 show. Eventually, he went to wrestle in Paris for a bit.

12 May 1939
Algieres, Algeria
Theatre Municipal
Not a full-on show, but rather a catch-as-catch-can demonstration with Henri Deglane and Emile Pouveroux. All the other wrestlers were in attendance as well and were presented to the crowd. This exhibition was promoted by the football/soccer club "Blidéen".

13 May 1939
Algiers, Algeria
Automobile Hall
"big crowd"
1. Michele Leone def. George Krassavine
2. Manuel Fullaondo def. Mark Passmann
3. Bonnie Muir def. Louis Loew on points
4. Emile Pouveroux def. Rene Junqua (20)
5. French Heavyweight Title: Henri Deglane (c) drew Felix Miquet and retained his title

20 May 1939
Tunis, Tunisia
Stade Municipal
1. Louis Loew def. Mark Passmann (24:30)
2. Bonnie Muir def. George Krassavine (22)
3. Felix Miquet def. Manuel Fullaondo (19)
4. Henri Deglane def. Michele Leone (2:0 falls, 29 & 12)
= Reportedly, the first ever catch show in Tunisia.