IS WALKER LEAVING?

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 3

IS WALKER LEAVING?

WRESTLERS AND PERFORMANCES.

HAWERA AND STRATFORD BOUTS.

(By

“Hammerlock.”)

The announcement that this is probably to be George Walker’s last wrestling season in New Zealand, which is still unofficial, comes as no surprise. His phenomenal success over the last five years has indicated that he would do well in the United States, where big money can be made. Not that financially Walker has done so badly in the Dominion. His income, clear of all expenses, must be a considerable four-figure sum, and this year, with extended aeroplane tours all over both islands to help, it should just about reach the five-figure mark. Even in these days of depression Walker’s cut of the purse has been as high as £4OO, and all on a percentage basis. , Incidentally this aspect of Walkers success proves the absolute fairness of giving wrestlers a percentage and not a fixed amount. If a wrestler can draw he gets the money. If he can’t then the association is not crippled by his appearance. The wrestlers divide 80 per cent, of the net house in the proportion 60/40. If the report of Walkers departure from New Zealand is true his appearance at Hawera to-morrow will probably be his last in Taranaki. He has all the engagements he can handle up till nearly the end of September. Stratford has been lucky in securing a really good bout. Pereira is the hardest working wrestler seen in these parts, while Oswald has wrestled with distinction since his arrival. It looked like a contest for one of the cities, so Stratford has been favoured indeed. _ There has been some complaint m other centres about referees in amateur bouts allowing submission falls. There is a lot to commend this New Zealand rule, which saves the amateurs from injury, though it may often work unfairly to the man securing the hold. There was an instance of this this season when one amateur took the bout with the only fall while his opponent did most of the work and at one stage secured a body scissors and was trying to press the shoulders down when the eventual winner cried enough, and had to be released. Walker introduced the back-loop slam to New Zealand some year.; ago, but this season has seen the champion using

it to greatest effect. Briefly Walker lifts his opponent from in front of him, somersaults him over his head and then falls backward on him. It is usually a decisive blow and is now being copied by other wrestlers in New Zealand. Hawera would like to see it. Walker is also exploiting Kara Pasha’s favourite, the Boston crab, with success this year. With his ability to get out of holds (he claims that he could break Tom Alley’s crucifix) Walker does not need a wide repertoire, and it is noticeable that he does not bother about the fancy stuff but always angles for something that will be worth while. Most of the' recognised holds have been demonstrated somewhere or somehow in New Zealand, but the public of the Dominion have yet to see what is possibly the best of all, the spinning scissors, the hold that made Jim Browning world champion. One of its chief beauties is that it can be applied when the opponent is on his hands and knees refusing to wrestle. Browning quickly applies the scissors on the body, throws himself over and spins on his shoulders, then crashes his legs to the mat for an unusual slam. Not many opponents wrestle after that. A recent victim was Stanley Pinto, who wrestled in New Zealand last year.

George Kotsonoros, who will be remembered as a visitor to New Zealand some years ago, was recently killed in a motor smash. He was very popular in Auckland. Abe Coleman, who butted Tom Ray into submission at Stratford a few years ago and did the same thing to Kara Pasha at Wellington a little later, is moving in elevated circles nowadays. A recent encounter was with Jim Londos, New York world champion. A proposal is now on foot for Australia and New Zealand to work in together in promoting bouts. The idea has much to commend it, and will obviate the need for some of the serials that are in progress. A much bigger variety of matches could be staged. The one and only Strangler Lewis has been wrestling for 21 years and has had 3500 matches, an average of one every two days. Amateur wrestling is still thriving in Taranaki. It seems strange that more of the boys who appear at the amateur tourneys do not get a preliminary matching. Hawera has had the best preliminaries this season, and New Plymouth has yet to see Beasley at his best. This season has seen record activity in Taranaki. Each association has so far arranged three bouts, and others are likely.