World-Renowned Wrestlers: Invasion of New Zealand

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 14

World-Renowned Wrestlers: Invasion of New Zealand

(By

BACK SLAM.)

K SLAM.)

ZEALAND this season is likely to see the greatest invasion of worldrenowned wrestlers who have ever landed upon these shores. Apart from the strong team the Wrestling Union has already at work in the Dominion, word has been received that Bob Kruse, of Portland, Oregon, and Sam Leathers will leave for New Zealand on May 28. and that Steele and Zah.arias will leave the States for the Dominion by the Monterey on June 20. In addition to this, the Wrestling Union hopes to have “Strangler” Lewis here iu June. If all goes well. .New Zealand will this season see in action the worlds greatest exponents of the mat game, and what thrilling tussles they should provide. “Smiling Steve.” The latest arrival to the ranks of noted mat men from the States is “Smiling Steve” Savage, who reached Wellington yesterday. Savage called in at “The Dominion” office yesterday, in company with Mr. Walter Miller, and certainly looks the part. Aged 37 years, he scales IGst. 61b.,

and is 6ft. in height, with not an ounce of superliuous flesh on his massive frame. A Pupil of Frank Goteh. Steve Savage started off on the wrestling game when he first saw Frank Goteh, the great American champion, iu action. He later took lessons from Goteh, who took a fancy to the lad, and taught him the deadly toe-holds which had made him champion of the world. Goteh, too, frequently took young Savage with him on wrestling tours throughout I the States, and in this way he gained much valuable experience. Has Beaten the Best. Steve Savage has beaten at one time or another all the mat. men who are at the top of the ladder to-day. In 1924, he defeated Zybsko iu the Chicago Coliseum in 28 minutes. The following year he beat Jim Londos at Sioux Falls. South Dakota, in 42 minutes. In 1926, Savage beat Dick Slnkat in 28 minutes; in 1933 he accounted for Dan Koloff at Seattle, Washington, securing two falls in six rounds; and in 1934 Marion I’listina called enough at Kansas City after 42 minutes in the ring. It is not surprising that these wrestlers, once they reached the top of the tree, took good care to side-step "Smiling Steve," as Savage is dubbed in the States. In 1933, Savage made a 1000-dollar offer to wrestle any mail in the world, but none of the cbampions was anxious to pick up this tidy purse. After Shikat brat OMaboncy for the world championship a few mouths Kansas City promoter offered Shikat 20.tNM.I dollars'if lie would meet Savage for the world championship, but even this huge purse would not tempt Shikat to risk his title with such a dangerous deponent. Savage made his first appearance in New Zealand at Auckland on Saturday night, when he had an easy victory, and made such a favourable impression that the Auckland Wrestling Association tried hard to get him to appear again in a match there to-night. He will appear at Auckland again next Monday night. Savage is entirely independent: ho is his own manager; and declared yesterday that lie is open to wrestle any man in the world. It should not be long before the gauntlet he bits thrown is picked up by one of the many world-renowned mat men who will be in the Dominion this season.