Joe Pazandak
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1914–1982)}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Joe Pazandak
|image = Joe Pazandak 1951.jpg
|image_size = 160px
|caption = Pazandak, circa 1951
|birth_name = Joseph Eugene Pazandak
|birth_date = {{birth date|1914|10|23|mf=y}}{{cite book|author=Tim Hornbaker|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT72|date=2017|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|isbn=978-1-61321-875-4|pages=145}}
|birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Steve|title=Celebrating Hall of Famer Joe Pazandak|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2016/05/20/celebrating-hall-of-famer-joe-pazandak/|work=Slam Wrestling|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121140054/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2016/05/20/celebrating-hall-of-famer-joe-pazandak/|url-status=live}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1982|12|2|1914|10|23|mf=y}}
|death_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
|death_cause =
|children =
|names = Joe Pazandak
The Dark Secret
|height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
|weight = {{convert|230|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|billed =
|trainer =
}}
Joseph Eugene Pazandak (October 23, 1914 – December 2, 1982) was an American amateur wrestler and a professional wrestler, best known for his ring name Joe Pazandak. Pazandak received the nickname "The Champ" as he ruled the “Beat the Champ” segment on televised wrestling from Los Angeles.
Professional wrestling career
Pazandak made his professional wrestling debut in his hometown in Minneapolis at the age of 22, where he faced Al Loset which ended in a 20-minute time limit draw. As an amateur heavyweight, he won two AAU championships in the Northwest and went on to wrestle at the University of Minnesota before turning professional. Within a year, Pazandak was traveling around the country from Massachusetts to North Carolina to Maryland, mostly as a semi-main event performer. Pazandak served in the United States Army as a sergeant in Africa and Italy during World War II. Pazandak returned to the United States in 1944, after seeing 624 days of active combat. His first match since returning from the war took place in October 1945, where he defeated the highly skilled Ray Steele.
Pazandak's popularity rose in the beginning of June 1951 in Los Angeles. As the inaugural NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship, Pazandak defended the title for nine months against top challengers. Press-Telegram once named Pazandak "the most feared man in the wrestling ranks", in reference to his undefeated record on the West Coast.
With Pazandak's amateur wrestling background, in 1948, he was hired to coach amateur wrestlers in New Zealand, which saw him working alongside Karl Pojello. Pazandak also trained Verne Gagne.
Death
Championships and accomplishments
= Amateur wrestling =
- Amateur Athletic Union
- Northwest AAU Championship (1935–1936)
= Professional wrestling =
- NWA Los Angeles
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (1 time)
- NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Lord James Blears{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/nwa/int-tv-t.html |title=International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles) |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202073234/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/nwa/int-tv-t.html |url-status=live }}
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=10930|wrestlingdata=6175}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pazandak, Joe}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:Professional wrestlers from Minneapolis
Category:American professional wrestling trainers
Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II