Sándor Szabó (wrestler)
Hungarian-American professional wrestler (1906–1966)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sándor Szabó (January 4, 1906 – October 16, 1966) was a Hungarian-born professional wrestler who emigrated to America.[1]
 Szabó in 1933 Photo by Carl Van Vechten | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1906 |
| Died | October 16, 1966 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Debut | 1930 |
| Retired | 1963 |
At first, due to his large size, he was promoted by Jack Pfefer and Jack Curley of New York City as a "freak talent", one of a number of foreign and extraordinary wrestlers booked to attract the curious.[2] In the early 1940s, Szabo held three world championships. In the 1950s, he was quite popular in Southern California, where he was assistant booker to Jules Strongbow,[3] and held tag team championships in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He also recorded a song in 1953 for Hammerlock Records entitled "Take Me in Your Arms".[4] He wrestled his last match in 1963. In 2000, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. He died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
Championships and accomplishments
- 50th State Big Time Wrestling
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- California State Athletic Commission
- Montreal Athletic Commission
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (8 times)
- WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (7 times) - with Wilbur Snyder (2), Bobo Brazil (1), Gene Stanlee (1), Billy Darnell (1) and Edouard Carpentier (2)[6]
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time) - with Billy Darnell
- NWA San Francisco
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (2 times) - with Primo Carnera (1) and Ron Etchison (1)
- National Wrestling Association
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2013[7]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
