Post by Joe Neglia on Jun 14, 2017 2:43:01 GMT -5
For those of today's fans who have even heard of Jack Pfefer mostly know him as the old-time promoter that used a lot of rip-off names on his shows to confuse ticket-buyers (Hobo Brazil, Bruno Sanmartino, etc). Dude had a hell of a legacy in pro wrestling, though, some good and some really bad.
- One of the first, if not the first, promoters who started the "evil foreigner" gimmick. While plenty of foreign wrestlers had competed in the US, they had mostly been treated as just guys from some far off place. Pfefer actively promoted them as superior-acting a-holes who wanted to prove their superiority over the local champ.
- After the break-up of the Gold Dust Trio, he was part of the Trust, which ruled the business for a time. When he found himself on the outs with them and essentially blackballed, he went outlaw. In revenge, he went to papers and exposed - in 1933 - and exposed the entire business as a work. Afterward, many newspapers stopped covering wrestling and business in New York cratered.
- He wasn't done there. He paid contender Dick Shikat to shoot on NYSAC (what would become the original NWA/Nat.Wrestling Assoc.) champ Dan O'Malley and steal the belt, which Shikat did, and Shikat then dropped the belt to Ali Baba, who worked for Pfefer's partner Al Haft. Pfefer then royally screwed everybody over by having HIS guy Dave Levin shoot on Ali Baba, leaving the Trust's belt in Pfefer's hands. Pfefer then sold Levin's contract to the Trust and demanded to be brought back into the circle. A number of members objected to his return and withdrew from the organization, killing the Trust once and for all.
- Seriously, that is hardcore.
- After the infamous interview, he began presenting his shows as more of a theatrical experience, almost a circus, and featured attractions such as the "freakshow" wrestlers like the various Angels (French Angel, Swedish Angel, etc) and others who had bizarre physical appearances
- He was also one of the innovators of tag team wrestling and midget wrestling, as well as one of early proponents of women's wrestling.
- Helped kickstart the careers of Buddy Rogers and promoter Sam Muchnick
- Pretty much Russo-ed the famous Kohler promotion in Chicago when he was brought in to book the shows, and used his notorious "soundalike" wrestlers to fill the roster and trick fans.
- One of the first, if not the first, promoters who started the "evil foreigner" gimmick. While plenty of foreign wrestlers had competed in the US, they had mostly been treated as just guys from some far off place. Pfefer actively promoted them as superior-acting a-holes who wanted to prove their superiority over the local champ.
- After the break-up of the Gold Dust Trio, he was part of the Trust, which ruled the business for a time. When he found himself on the outs with them and essentially blackballed, he went outlaw. In revenge, he went to papers and exposed - in 1933 - and exposed the entire business as a work. Afterward, many newspapers stopped covering wrestling and business in New York cratered.
- He wasn't done there. He paid contender Dick Shikat to shoot on NYSAC (what would become the original NWA/Nat.Wrestling Assoc.) champ Dan O'Malley and steal the belt, which Shikat did, and Shikat then dropped the belt to Ali Baba, who worked for Pfefer's partner Al Haft. Pfefer then royally screwed everybody over by having HIS guy Dave Levin shoot on Ali Baba, leaving the Trust's belt in Pfefer's hands. Pfefer then sold Levin's contract to the Trust and demanded to be brought back into the circle. A number of members objected to his return and withdrew from the organization, killing the Trust once and for all.
- Seriously, that is hardcore.
- After the infamous interview, he began presenting his shows as more of a theatrical experience, almost a circus, and featured attractions such as the "freakshow" wrestlers like the various Angels (French Angel, Swedish Angel, etc) and others who had bizarre physical appearances
- He was also one of the innovators of tag team wrestling and midget wrestling, as well as one of early proponents of women's wrestling.
- Helped kickstart the careers of Buddy Rogers and promoter Sam Muchnick
- Pretty much Russo-ed the famous Kohler promotion in Chicago when he was brought in to book the shows, and used his notorious "soundalike" wrestlers to fill the roster and trick fans.
