Tag: MSG History

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The Zbyszko brothers at MSG

Posted on by Karl Stern

I continue my series looking at the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

At this point, we are up to the 1910s where both Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko are having a run. Both were world champion wrestlers in the early 1900s and even have a eventual wrestling connection through Harley Race. (Larry Zbyszko, though not related, took his name from them.)

Also on this episode, I talk about Mort Henderson, who made quite a sensation as the Masked Marvel and his match with Joe Stecher.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: MSG’s first Italian pro wrestling superstar

Posted on by Karl Stern

We continue our roll through the early 1900s in my deep dive look into the history of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden.

From 1910 to around 1912, MSG found its first Italian superstar which drew heavily from the large Italian fanbase in the New York area: a phenomena that would greatly benefit Bruno Sammartino and others in the future.

Meet Giovanni Raicevich. Never heard of him? Few have, but in the 1910s he was the big draw at MSG until Stanislaus Zbyszko finally shut him down.

Also, I have more on Frank Gotch and his final match at MSG, an arena he never won a match in.

If you’ve missed any of the past shows, check them out in the archives.

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