EVE OF BIG SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 22

EVE OF BIG SEASON

FIRST OF UNION'S WRESTLERS

HIGH-CLASS MEN TO START ACTIVITIES

(By "Aeneqs.") .'

Monday night will see the 1937 professional wrestling season sent under way both in this city, where Tommy Mead and Dr. Gordon McKenzie will be the principals, and at Auckland, where "Lofty" Blomfield, (recently back from a successful visit to Australia) and Don Mclntyre will try conclusions." Wrestling has ■ swung so much inlo popular favour that the annual seasons have been considerably extended at both ends until they now occupy a full eight mtnths of the year. Not only has the lime been extended, but also the number of men imported each season has been increased in sympathy, while the strong public patronage has ennblcd men of increasingly high quality to be. induced to make the long journey from the States.

Last season, In respect to the period of activity and the number and quality of the men, seemed to set a levo] which would be difficult to maintain. The Dominion Union,' however, n> garded it only as a milestone to be passed in the natural course of events, and the plans which have been made for this year provide for 1936 being surpassed wherever possible. The date of opening this year is a little later than last season, but- the .union intends to have a. ; supply of wrestlers on hand within the next week or so which will enable any resultant deficiency in matches to be quickly made up. Furthermore, the initial importations in 1936 were among j the least successful of the season's visitors, but it is not likely that the*-! same position will obtain this year. ADVANCE GUARD OF THREE. | The initial trio to arrive, in fact, give ! the impression that they would be an acquisition to any band of matmun working ond:>r one body.- McKenzio and Mead are two particularly fine types. Very similar in size and build, they carry 'just the u-ight/amount of weight, and, while they have been long enough in the game to obtain all the

necessary experience, they retain .the vigouf of youth.

McKenzie was born in Edinburgh twenty-seven years ago, but was taken when he was very young to Chicago, where he studied medicine at the State University. Mead was born and bred in Los Angeles and nnished off his education with a law course. They are both a little under 6ft in height and, weigh in the vicinity of 15£ stone.

:'■■ The other arrival this week-was Don Mclntyre; from Kansas Gity, Missouri, a particularly well «et-up matman; who is somewhat-similar in build to Blomfield. Like the other two, he has an cx--1 cellent record and is certain to do well in this country. : - STEIN AND RUMBERG. The next detachment will arrive at Auckland by the Monterey next Satur-' day, and comprises the Jewish champion, Sammy Stein, and Hal Rumbcrg, a giant who left a splendid impression when he first visited this country some years ago. Ray Richards, from Ohio, will also be: oh board, and other passengers will be Chief Thunderbird, Vie. Christie, and Matros Kirilinko, who will have a series of matches in Australia before coming to New Zealand.

Other additions will be made at regular intervals until the season's big attraction, Dean Detton, arrives. Detton has gone far in the game since he paid his second visit to' New Zealand, and is now the recognised world champion. A huge guarantee was necessary before it became possible to secure his services for the Dominion.

To sum up, everything points to this season being a most successful one from every point of view.