Results: Pro Wrestling in Chalon-sur-Saône (1937-1939)

A collection of pro wrestling results from Chalon-sur-Saône, France.

After Raoul Paoli started his promotion in September 1933 in Paris, pro wrestling (catch) quickly became very popular all throughout France. It wasn't long before wrestling events started taking place in other French cities and towns as well. One such city was Chalon-sur-Saône, which is located in eastern France.

The typical structure of the French pro wrestling shows in the 1930s was as follows:
- Five matches (although in Chalon-sur-Saône it was usually four). The opener was with a 20 minute time limit, the next three matches were with a 30 minute time limit and the headline match was a 2 out of 3 falls match with a 60 minute time limit.
- The headline match never went on last. In the results below I've listed the headline match last, because this way it's easier to see what was the headline attraction, but in reality the shows ended with what would be considered a midcard match. The real main event went on right before that.
- The matches in France back then could be won in all the usual ways (pinfall, submission, countout, disqualification), but also on points. If two wrestlers wrestled to a time limit draw then a jury would judge the match on points and determine a winner (or call the match a draw).

I'm not claiming this is a full list of all wrestling shows in Chalon-sur-Saône in the 1930s - there might have been others that I'm not aware of. I managed to find only a few events. All numbers and quotes describing the attendance are from the local Chalon-sur-Saône press.

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The promoter in Chalon-sur-Saône was Joseph Pujadas (who was part of Athletic Club Chalonais). The first three shows were with wrestlers from Raoul Paoli's booking office and final three shows were with wrestlers affiliated with FFPL (Fédération Française Professionnelle des Lutteurs).

24 April 1937
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Salle Marcel Sembat
1. Robert Beglot def. Felix Clody (18:40)
2. Roland Bonneville def. Emile Pouveroux
3. Kola Kwariani drew Felix Miquet (30:00)
4. Henri Deglane def. Mark Passmann (26:27, 13:55)

17 December 1937
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Salle Marcel Sembat
1. Julien Depuichaffray def. Robert Maixent (21:20)
2. Jean Bianconi def. Michel Colinos (22:38)
3. Lucien Malezieux drew Roger Mollet (30:00)
4. Henri Deglane def. Manuel Fullaondo (24:11, 10:44)

31 March 1938
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Salle Marcel Sembat
1. Alexandre Poizat def. Rino Deon
2. Stan Karolyi drew Emile Pouveroux (30:00)
3. Sandor Vary def. Arthur Ghevaert
4. Yvar Martinson def. Peter Konstantinoff (2:0 falls)
= Originally the main event was supposed to be Martinson vs. Bonnie Muir, but a few days prior to the show Konstantinoff replaced Muir.

10 May 1939
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Salle Marcel Sembat
more than 3,000 fans
1. Jos Purtz def. Henri Mourot (23)
2. Ernest Cadine def. Michel Benes (1st fall Cadine, 7, 2:50)
3. Karl Pojello def. Mike McGainn (14 McGainn, 15, 0:40)
4. Angel drew Georges Letto (30:00)
= Angel was Maurice Tillet.

9 July 1939
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Stade Garibaldi
“several thousand fans”
1. Jos Purtz def. Henri Ulsemer (11:17)
2. Angel def. Guy Biados (17:38)
3. Leone Jacovacci drew Mike McGainn (20:00)
4. Georges Letto def. Victor Bartolini (8:36 Letto, 7:53, 4:48)
5. Karl Pojello def. Mourey Tomsey (16:54 Tomsey, 10:23, 2:02)
= This was an open-air stadium show.

Garibaldi Stadium as it looked in 1960

10 December 1939
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Salle Marcel Sembat
“a magnificent success”
1. Tomo Voukouchitch def. Esculier (23:50)
2. Pierre Dannic def. Paul Klaytch (22:50)
3. Stefan Novotny def. Dragan Draganoff (23:40)
4. Georges Letto drew Victor Bartolini (18:23 Bartolini, 5:45 Letto, no one won the 3rd fall)
= A benefit show to raise money for the 56th, 134th and 334th French infantry divisions.
= Dannic was a sub for Dumont.