Emile Czaja

Emile Czaja
Born (1909-07-15)July 15, 1909
Hungary Hungary
Died May 16, 1970(1970-05-16) (aged 60)
Singapore Singapore
Cause of death Car accident
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) King Kong
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight 444lb (201kg)
Billed from Australia Australia
Debut 1937
Retired died unretired

Emile Czaja (July 15, 1909 – 16 May 1970), better known by his ring name King Kong, was an Australian-Indian professional wrestler and actor born in Hungary in 1909. He was active from 1929 until 1970. He was a simple friendly character. His very presence filled any hall or stadium. For he was the favorite of Far East from 1937 till his death in 1970. He wrestled mostly in Japan, Singapore, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. In professional wrestling his arch rivals were Aslam Pahalwan,[1]Hamida Pahalwan, Sheik Ali and Dara Singh.[2][3]

Early life

The Hungarian born Emile Czaja started wrestling in Europe. At the age of 18 he was participating in important matches all over Europe. He excelled himself in all styles of wrestling and soon become a formidable opponent for all the top contenders.

Professional wrestling career

Czaja started his professional career in India in 1937.[2] He was given the name "King Kong" after playing the part of King Kong in an Indian movie.[2] In 1945, he wrestled Hamida Pehelwan in front of approximately 200,000 spectators in Lahore, India.[4] He frequently wrestled for over 100,000 fans.[4]

In 1937, he arrived in Bombay India, where many western wrestlers had gathered to trade grips with the East Indian greats. Some of the celebrities were Jeji Goldstein of Palestine, Edmond Von Kramer of Germany, Tony Lamaro of Italy, Emil Koroshenko of Hungary, George Zbisco of Poland, George Constantine of Romania, Arty Counsel of Australia, and later joined by five times world champion, Ed "Strangler" Lewis and Ted Thye. These assailants often dare Great Gama, but to their dismay gama had retired and the fleet of Imam Bux, Hamida, Goonga, yankapa Boolar, Young Gama among others were the stalwarts willing to face the challengers. Kong wrestled quite a few of them and after drawing with Goonga, earned a shot at Hamida Pahalwan. These were the two defeats that Kong had suffered before the war and this by no means belittled his ratings as one of the world’s top ranking wrestlers.

Then in 1947, after the war another sub-continent was created- Pakistan. Wrestling immediately took a strong hold there. In 1952, Emile Czaja came back to Bombay from Singapore and approached a well-known businessman Mr. Goostad D. Irani, ‘the mat Mogul of India’, and a tournament was arranged in Bombay. It was a tremendous success for all. Wrestling had its next lease of life by the hard work of Emile czaja-Goostad D. Irani friendship. Up until the late 1960s the wrestling flourished in all parts of India under Iranis promotion.

On 16 November 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association (JWA), King Kong and Tiger Joginder Singh defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan and Harold Sakata in a two out of three falls tournament final to crown the inaugural All Asia Tag Team Champions.[5] They later vacated the title after the tag team split up.[5] On 22 November of that year, however, Rikidōzan defeated King Kong to become the inaugural All Asia Heavyweight Champion.[6] His matches against Hamida, Goonga, Aslam Pahalwan, Seelie Samara, and Tor Johnson, Tiger Joginder Singh are still talked about.

After marrying in 1956, he continued his pro-wrestling career using Sydney as his headquarters. He broke gate records in Australia and wrestled Rikidozan of Japan for 3½ hours before losing the bout by a lone fall. He has met and beaten some of the best in the world. Some of the well-known names that have been beaten by this man mountain are Tiger Holden, Harban Singh, Syed Saif Shah, George Pencheff, Big Bill Verna, George Zbisco and many others. He wrestled Lou Thesz for the world title in Singapore in 1958. He wrestled in the East, Europe and United Kingdom throughout the mid-1960s and fans saw the Mighty King Kong in action again.

Bouts with Dara Singh

Dara Singh mounted punches to King Kong at JWA 1955

Of all his fights, the ones that caught imagination of the public in South Asia were his bouts with Dara Singh. Dara Singh's act of flooring King Kong remains embedded in Indian legend.[7][8][9]

Personal life

He settled down in Australia after he married Ellie in 1956. He died in Singapore in a car crash in 1970 on his way to a wrestling match; he was 60 years old.[2]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1953PonniHimselfTamil film
1962King KongKing KongHindi films
Hong Kong
1963Patal Nagri
King of Carnival
FauladSlave master
1964Khufia MahalWrestler
Samson
HerculesWrestler
Aaya ToofanWrestler
1965Tarzan and King KongTarzan's opponent
Sangram
Hum Sab Ustad HainKing Kong Wrestler
1968Mujrim Kaun?
1972Mele Mitran DePunjabi film

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "Secret of sports". The Uncrowned King News. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Vijayakar, Pradeep (12 June 2009). "There are no shortcuts to success, says Kane". The Times of India. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  3. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=9047&gimmick=Emile+Czaja
  4. 1 2 Schramm, Chris (7 May 1999). "A history of crowds". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  5. 1 2 3 "AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship official title history" (in Japanese). All-Japan.co.jp. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  6. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ↑ name=|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/When-he-floored-King-Kong/articleshow/14859233.cms%7Ctitle=When he floored King Kong|publisher=The Times of India|date=13 July 2021|author=Deepender Deswal|accessdate=2012-07-13
  8. ↑ name=|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120713/jsp/calcutta/story_15722424.jsp%7C title=My 100% Indian superhero|author=Victor Banerjee|accessdate=2012-7-13
  9. ↑ url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/dara-singhs-fight-against-king-kong-will-always-be-remembered/1021768.html%7C
  10. ↑ "'Rustum-e-Hind' Dara Singh: The end of the 'strongman' saga". Zee News. 12 July 2012.
  11. ↑ http://www.australianwrestling.org/index.php/title-histories/50-australian-junior-heavyweight-championship02
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