P: George Pencheff
Wrestling Heritage A - Z
Remembered by Graeme Cameron
By the time George Pencheff made his first UK appearance in 1937, he had already established himself in Australia as one of the top three wrestlers of that decade and toured California and Quebec. Emigrating from Bulgaria as a boy, he made his pro wrestling debut in 1929 and quickly established himself as one of the top wrestlers in Australia
Six thousand fans filled the Empress Stadium in London to watch George wrestle Jim Londos in a match advertised as “modernised Catch as Catch Can” style. George returned to Britain post war in 1950 and 1953.
During the
Thirties he had numerous battles with Fred Atkins and Australian
heavyweight champion Tom Lurich, the latter often for the title. After
six years of trying, he finally garnered the title from Lurich in 1939
in Sydney. He retained this title for an amazing 17 years, finally
losing it to Baron Von Heczey in 1957 in Adelaide. It would be fair to
say he defended the title infrequently, in part because of the war and
later, his penchant for globe trotting.
He
continued to headline through the Forties against the likes of Atkins,
Chief Little Wolf and Olympian Eddie Scarf. In 1950, the travel bug bit
and Pencheff became something of a globe trotter appearing in UK,
France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore and all over the
USA and Canada. He featured in main events in many places, often as the
foil for a bigger name but sometime in his own right. He and Heritage
member Panteleon Manlalapig, were twice the main event in Honolulu
He
was known for his fast-paced style featuring rapid-fire dropkicks. The
original Jack Claybourne named Pencheff as a favourite opponent with
whom he engaged in dropkick contests. Legend Jim Londos was another
frequent opponent and he worked many big names included Whipper Billy
Watson , Dara Singh, Canada's Earl McCready and Danny McShain to name a
few.
His 35 year career ended in 1964 when he suffered a serious injury
against Tarlock Singh in India. He made some appearances as a referee after
that but perhaps his most enduring legacy is that he had a hand in
founding Police Boys Clubs in Australia. Generations of amateur and pro
wrestlers have got their start in these clubs and still do so today.
What could be a greater influence than that?
George Pencheff died on November 29, 1986.
A true legend of Australian pro wrestling