A Pro Wrestling Show at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris in 1947

The only wrestling show ever held at Stade Roland-Garros (one of the most famous tennis stadiums in the world).

Alex Goldstein was one of the most successful and influential promoters in the history of French pro wrestling (catch). He promoted his first wrestling show in Paris in 1946 at the Cirque d'Hiver arena. He promoted at that arena for many years, and later at other arenas too. In 1947 the young promoter made an interesting move when he promoted a show at Stade Roland-Garros. A big step up from his regular venue.

Stade Roland-Garros is one of the most famous tennis stadiums in the world and to me it's pretty cool to know there was a wrestling show there. Goldstein's show there in 1947 was the only wrestling show ever held there, as far as I know. He never ran the stadium again, nor do I know of anyone else running it either. It was not specified which one of the courts was used for the show, but the main court had a seating capacity for 13,000 or maybe even 14,000 fans. 

Heading into the show the big storyline for it was the European Middleweight Title unification match. At the time the Frenchman Albert Arnaud was the European Middleweight champion in France. He was recognized as such by Fédération Française de Lutte (the official governing body for pro wrestling in France, as authorized by the French state). Then the Brit Jack Dale came to France with a claim that he was the European Middleweight champion, recognized in the United Kingdom. And so a big title unification match was booked to determine who the real champion was.

Another notable name to work the show was the Italian Lino Ventura. He was an up-and-coming pro wrestler at the time, but years later, after an in-ring injury ended his career, he became a major movie star in France.

The results from the show:

29 June 1947
Paris, France
Stade Roland-Garros
1. Roger Mollet def. Lino Ventura (11:50)
2. Vic Hessle def. Lou Rudelle (9:10)
3. Georges Freymond def. Charlie Fisher (21:20)
4. Al Cabrol def. Mario Matassa via disqualification (12:25, 14:30)
5. European Middleweight Title Unification: Albert Arnaud (c) def. Jack Dale (c) (26:40 minutes)

Regrettably, attendance information is not available.

Newspaper advert for the Roland-Garros wrestling show

Jack Dale (left) and Albert Arnaud (right)