Results: Pro Wrestling in Dijon (1937-1939)

A collection of pro wrestling results from Dijon, 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 Dijon, which is located in eastern France.

The typical structure of the French pro wrestling shows in the 1930s was as follows:
- Five matches. 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 Dijon in the 1930s - there might have been others that I'm not aware of. I managed to find only a few events. All quotes describing the attendance are from the local Dijon press.

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Despite there being only a handful of shows in Dijon, the three most prominent French booking offices sent their wrestlers to Dijon. Dijon is also notable for hosting Dan Koloff's final pro wrestling match.

16 March 1937
Dijon, France
Theatre de l'Olympia
1. Pierre Dannic drew Bœuf (20:00)
2. Richard Bukovac def. Esculier (17)
3. Rene Bukovac def. Ilia Kiroff (14, 2:30)
4. Raymond Bukovac drew Roland Bonneville (9:44 Bonneville, 4:59, no third fall within the time limit)
= Alexandre Lageat vs. Robert Maixent was advertised, but is not listed in the results.

28 April 1937
Dijon, France
Grande Taverne
"great success"
1. Albert Ben Chemoul drew Emile Rochez (30:00)
2. Rudolphe Binacchi def. Dimitri Karayanoff (21:28)
3. Mark Passmann def. Fred Ebert (16:20)
4. Henri Deglane def. Manuel Fullaondo (28:29, 9:25)
= The wrestlers on this show were from Raoul Paoli's booking office.
= Ebert was a sub for Oscar Nygren.

20 October 1937
Dijon, France
Theatre de l'Olympia
"very large audience"
1. Georges Freymond def. Paul Marton (17:35)
2. Maurice Charf def. Nemeth Sandor (19)
3. Vilo Bur def. Gabriel Martinville (9:07)
4. Regis Siki drew Stan Karolyi (30:00)
5. Paul Shikat def. Sandor Vary (16:14, 6)
= The wrestlers on this show were from the Société Redco booking office.
= Martinville was a sub for Battling Nelson.

26 October 1937
Dijon, France
Grande Taverne
1. Otto Muller def. Marcel Nonest (21:07)
2. Emile Pouveroux drew Louis Loew (30:00)
3. Robert Beglot def. Roger Mollet (27)
4. Charles Rigoulot def. Mark Passmann (22, 7:04)
= The wrestlers on this show were from Raoul Paoli's booking office.

8 November 1937
Dijon, France
Olympia Theatre
1. Maurice Charf def. Paul Marton (14:03)
2. Stan Karolyi def. Roland Bonneville (21:49)
3. Fred Unwin drew Georges Freymond (30:00)
4. Paul Shikat def. Regis Siki (19:53 Siki, 10:38, 6:35)
= The wrestlers on this show were from the Société Redco booking office.
= Oscar Nygren vs. Sandor Vary was advertised, but is not listed in the results.

19 January 1938
Dijon, France
Grande Taverne
"many fans in attendance"
1. Joe Campbell vs. Rudolphe Binacchi
2. Louis Loew def. Dick Perron on points
3. Roger Mollet def. Otto Muller on points
4. Dan Koloff def. Sandor Vary (27, 6:30)
= This ended up being Dan Koloff's final match. He had a couple more scheduled, but pulled out due to health issues. At the time of his retirement, he was the reigning European Heavyweight champion.
= The Campbell/Binacchi result wasn't mentioned in the report.

Newspaper advert for Dan Koloff's final wrestling match

5 October 1938
Dijon, France
Theatre de l'Olympia
“large audience”
1. Henri Mourot def. Henry Saanen (21:54)
2. Henri Ulsemer drew Roland Bonneville (30:00)
3. The Angel def. Michel Benes (17:35)
4. Karl Pojello def. Yvan Ludovic (26, 2:10)
5. Mud Wrestling Match: Jos Purtz def. Dick the Dormouse (22:24)
= The wrestlers on this show were affiliated with FFPL (Fédération Française Professionnelle des Lutteurs).
= The Angel was Maurice Tillet.

9 May 1939
Dijon, France
Theatre de l'Olympia
“good attendance”
1. Henri Mourot drew H. Wirtz
2. Mike McGainn def. Michel Benes (14:40)
3. Angel drew Karl Pojello (30:00)
4. Georges Letto def. Victor Bartolini (9:05 Letto, 4:13, 8:56)
5. Ernest Cadine def. Jos Purtz (11:25 Cadine, 6:57, 14:06)
= The wrestlers on this show were affiliated with FFPL (Fédération Française Professionnelle des Lutteurs).
= Angel (Maurice Tillet) was a sub for Akcel Wodurisola.