Written and Produced by Tony Richards
December 27th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Pete Managoff 1914
Tommy Phelps 1926
Helen Hild 1928
Irish Jackie 1930
Gran Markus 1938
Jerry Tuite\The Wall 1966
Joanie Laurer\Chyna 1969
Happy Birthday:
Bill Eadie\Masked Superstar\Ax (78)
Bunny Love (66)
Bart Gunn (60)
Bill Goldberg (59)
Claudio Castagnoli (45)
Zelina Vega (35)
Yuka Zakazaki (33)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Motoshi (Mr.) Okuma 12-27-1992 at the age of 51
60 Year Flashback
12-25-1965: Wilbur Snyder & Moose Cholak defeated The Assassins (Guy Mitchell & Joe Tomasso) (ch) for the WWA World Tag Team Titles at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana
The World Wrestling Association, based in Indianapolis, was established in 1964 as a breakaway from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), focusing on the Midwest region including Indiana, Illinois, and parts of other states. Founded by Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder himself, the promotion emphasized hard-hitting, no-nonsense wrestling that appealed to blue-collar audiences. Its World Tag Team Championship, introduced in April 1964, quickly became a cornerstone title, often contested in best-two-out-of-three-falls matches that tested endurance and strategy. By 1965, the belt had changed hands several times, reflecting the competitive landscape where alliances formed and dissolved amid fierce feuds.
Wilbur Snyder, one half of the victorious duo, was a technical maestro whose career embodied the transition from amateur athletics to pro wrestling stardom. Born on September 15, 1929, in Santa Monica, California, Snyder excelled in football and gymnastics during his high school and college years at the University of Utah. Trained by legends like Warren Bockwinkel and Sandor Szabo, he debuted in 1955, earning nicknames such as the “World’s Most Scientific Wrestler” and “California Comet” for his innovative moves, including the Abdominal Stretch—which he invented—and the Cobra Twist. Standing at 6’2” and 235 pounds, Snyder was a multi-time champion across promotions, holding the NWA United States Heavyweight Title four times in Detroit and amassing numerous tag team reigns in the WWA with partners like Dick the Bruiser and Luis Martinez. His involvement in the WWA extended beyond the ring; as a co-founder, he helped shape the promotion’s identity.
Teaming with Snyder was Edward “Moose” Cholak, a hulking figure whose presence alone intimidated opponents. Born on March 17, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, Cholak was a standout amateur wrestler at Chicago Vocational High School, where he won all-city and AAU championships. After serving in the Navy—where he became the wrestling and boxing champion—he entered the pro ranks in the mid-1950s, adopting the “Yukon Moose” persona that played on his massive 6’4”, 400-pound frame. Over a career spanning from 1953 to 1987, Cholak competed in over 8,000 matches, becoming a beloved Chicago legend while also working as an engineer outside the ring. His partnership with Snyder was a natural fit: Snyder’s technical finesse complemented Cholak’s raw power, making them a formidable babyface team against villainous foes.
Pictured: Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomosso as The Assassins
Opposing them were The Assassins, a masked tag team duo of Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomasso, who epitomized the heel tactics of the era. Mitchell, whose real name was John Hill, had wrestled under various guises before teaming with Tomasso in the WWA in 1965. Tomasso, known as “Tiger Joe,” found his greatest success in this partnership, where they donned masks and capes to embody mysterious, ruthless assassins—a gimmick popularized in wrestling to hide identities and build intrigue. Managed early on by a young Bobby Heenan, they captured the WWA Tag Titles on July 17, 1965, by defeating Nicoli and Boris Volkoff, holding the belts for 161 days leading into the Christmas clash. Their reign was marked by underhanded maneuvers, cementing a rivalry with Snyder, who had previously lost the titles to them in other configurations.
The December 25 event was a stacked card, befitting a holiday extravaganza. Opening matches set the tone: The Jamaica Kid pinned Fuzzy Cupid in 14 minutes, Ray Gordon bested The Masked Hercules in 12 minutes, and Angelo Poffo overcame Sweet Daddy Long in 20 minutes. A best-two-out-of-three-falls encounter saw Johnny Valentine defeat Bobo Brazil via disqualification, adding international flair with Brazil’s pioneering status as one of wrestling’s first Black stars. The semi-main event featured the tag title bout, where Cholak and Snyder challenged The Assassins in a grueling best-two-out-of-three-falls match that lasted 25 minutes. Though specific fall details are lost to time, the heroes prevailed, with Snyder’s scientific holds and Cholak’s powerhouse slams overwhelming the masked villains’ sneaky tactics. This victory held Cholak and Snyder’s reign for 68 days, until The Assassins reclaimed the titles on March 3, 1966, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
12-25-1965: Dick The Bruiser defeated Gene Kiniski (ch) for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana
Dick the Bruiser and Gene Kiniski. This main event match was no ordinary bout—it was for the World Wrestling Association (WWA) World Heavyweight Championship, a prestigious title in the regional promotion based out of Indianapolis. In an 18-minute war that captivated the audience of approximately 5,200, Dick the Bruiser emerged victorious, defeating Kiniski to reclaim the championship he had lost just months earlier. This victory not only marked Bruiser’s third reign with the belt but also solidified his status as a hometown hero and one of wrestling’s most dominant figures and the loss cleared the way for Kiniski to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title from Lou Thesz just a couple weeks later in January 1966.
Pictured: Dick The Bruiser
Dick the Bruiser, born William Fritz Afflis on June 27, 1929, in Delphi, Indiana, was a true product of the Hoosier State. Raised in Indianapolis, Afflis excelled in football during his high school years and later at Purdue University, where he played on the varsity team. His athletic prowess earned him a spot with the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, but injuries cut his football career short. Transitioning to professional wrestling in 1955, Afflis adopted the moniker “Dick the Bruiser,” a name that perfectly encapsulated his rough, no-nonsense style. Known for his brawling tactics, immense strength, and a persona as “The World’s Most Dangerous Wrestler,” Bruiser became a star in territories like Detroit before returning to Indianapolis. There, he co-founded the WWA in 1964, turning it into a powerhouse regional promotion that drew massive crowds with its hardcore, action-packed cards. By 1965, Bruiser had already held the WWA World Heavyweight Title twice, establishing himself as the promotion’s cornerstone.
Pictured: Gene Kiniski WWA World Champion
His opponent, Gene Kiniski, was equally formidable. Born Eugene Nicholas Kiniski on November 23, 1928, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Kiniski was dubbed “Canada’s Greatest Athlete” for his multifaceted sports background. He played professional football for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League before entering wrestling in the early 1950s. Kiniski’s career was marked by technical skill, athleticism, and a heel persona that made him a despised villain in the eyes of fans. By the mid-1960s, he had already captured major titles, including the American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Heavyweight Championship in 1961 by defeating Verne Gagne. Kiniski’s aggressive style and charisma propelled him to stardom across North America, and in August 1965, he dethroned Dick the Bruiser in Indianapolis to win the WWA title—his first and only reign with the belt, lasting 126 days. This set the stage for their rematch on Christmas Day, a bout fueled by personal rivalry and territorial pride.
The WWA itself was a vibrant promotion operating primarily in Indiana and surrounding areas, known for its blend of athleticism, brawls, and star power. Founded by Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder in 1964 after a split from other wrestling alliances, it featured a world heavyweight title that was recognized in its circuit. The championship had been introduced on April 22, 1964, with Bruiser as its inaugural holder after defeating Freddie Blassie. The title’s lineage was tumultuous, with vacancies and unifications reflecting the chaotic nature of 1960s wrestling territories. Kiniski’s victory over Bruiser in August had been a shocking upset, adding heat to their feud. Leading up to the December 25 event, promotional hype likely emphasized Bruiser’s quest for redemption on home soil, drawing fans eager to see if the local legend could reclaim his throne on a holiday night.
While detailed blow-by-blow accounts of the Bruiser-Kiniski match are scarce in historical records, the bout’s outcome speaks volumes about its intensity. Lasting 18 minutes, it was a hard-hitting affair typical of the era’s wrestling style—combining Kiniski’s technical prowess with Bruiser’s raw power and street-fighting tactics. Bruiser, leveraging his familiarity with the Indianapolis crowd, ultimately pinned Kiniski to secure the victory and the title. This win extended Bruiser’s reign for another 287 days, during which he defended the belt vigorously before a unification loss to AWA champion Mad Dog Vachon in March 1966—though the WWA continued to recognize its own lineage in its territories.
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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