EXCELLENT DISPLAY

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 24

EXCELLENT DISPLAY

MEHRINGER IN ACTION

"Dunedin's first match of the 1936 wrestling season last Saturday between Pete Mehringer (15st 51b) and Glenn Wade (15st 101b) was one of the best displays of straight wrestling seen at the southern centre for some considerable time (comments the "Evening Star"). Although the accommodation was not taxed to capacity, the attendance was a good one, and in his first appearance in New Zealand Mehringer impressed as a wrestler who is likely to prove a big attraction, especially when up against an aggressive man of his own type. •'.. .■ . ' ■.' ■ . .

"In Glenn Wade, he was meeting one of the best defensive wrestlers that has ever visited the Dominion, and Wade's exhibition 'of- countering was "brilliant at times, his well-varied moves disconcerting the younger man in the earlier stages. Mehringer was more at home when working over his man, and frequently when under his opponent the • advantage quickly passed from him to Wade.

"The newcomer, however, showed himself to be a master of the short flying tackle, with which he paved the way for the first fall of the match in the fourth round, Wade gaining the equalising fall in the seventh round from a dump, following a number of yoke holds. Mehringer is one of the prettiest movers to visit here. He is very nippy on his feet for a big man, and, like some of the other famous American footballers who have developed into wrestling stars, he by no means relies on his flying tackle alone as an attacking asset. .

"In the use of the head lock he is very effective; he has a number of good scissor holds, and his arm stretch: is particularly well done. His splits in the first round was one of the best seen here for some time, and Wade could no doubt testify as to its efficacy. BRILLIANT COUNTERING. "Both men used the toe hold skilfully, but Wade showed more ringcraft than his opponent, and often when he appeared in serious danger he took an attacking position -by his brilliant use of counters. In the application of reverse wrist locks he was always, most workmanlike, and, while perhaps not so punishing with the head lock as his opponent, he used this hold well, and on one occasion also showed he knew something about applying, a splits.

"Wade does not labour his own favourite holds too much, and for that reason his application of the yoke hold proved ■ more disconcerting to his opponent, leading to a fall following a dump in the seventh round. . Wade wrestles very smoothly all the time, and is an adept in use of the ropes for defensive purposes, and against Mehringer he performed to a set plan which he followed faithfully. While it had the possible effect of slowing the contest up over the first three rounds, nevertheless the spectators were afforded the opportunity of both men executing a pleasing variety of holds, and in this respect the contest was interesting throughout.

Humours are current that promoting organisations other than the Dominion Wrestling Union expect to be in operation this season. Men who are alleged to be coming include Jim Londos, Ray Steele (for more than one body), George Zaharias, and Steve Savage.