Wayne Munn

Wayne Munn
Born (1896-02-19)February 19, 1896
Colby, Kansas, United States
Died January 9, 1931(1931-01-09) (aged 34)[1]
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Wayne Munn
Billed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Billed weight 230 lb (100 kg)
Trained by Mike Gibbons
Debut 1924
Retired 1926

Wayne Munn (February 19, 1896 – January 9, 1931) was an American professional wrestler, World Heavyweight Champion and collegiate football player from the University of Nebraska.

Wrestling career

His fame from playing football attracted the attention of wrestling star, Ed Lewis and promoters Toots Mondt and Billy Sandow, who prematurely pushed Munn as the next big star in the sport. Munn won the World title from Lewis in 1925, despite his limited wrestling and shooting ability.[1] This backfired on Lewis and his camp, as Munn subsequently lost the Title to Stanislaus Zbyszko in a famous double-cross (shoot), as Zbyszko legitimately pinned Munn, despite agreeing to lose to him prior to the match. Munn, unable to defend himself against Zbyszko's holds, was beaten decisively. Munn held the title for a little over three months.

Munn went into retirement shortly afterwards, and spent some years in the oil business, before his death from kidney problems at the Fort Sam Houston base hospital in San Antonio, Texas on January 9, 1931. He was survived by his wife and a daughter, Mary Ann Munn.[2]

Munn had also served as an infantry first lieutenant during World War I.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 Kristian Pope & Ray Whebbe Jr. (2003). The Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling: 100 Years of History, Headlines & Hitmakers (Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling). Krause Publications. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-87349-625-4.
  2. ↑ "Wayne Munn, Former Mat Champ, dies; Beat Lewis in 1925; Lost to Zbyszko". The Milwaukee Sentinel. January 9, 1931.
  3. ↑ "Wayne Munn, Ex Champion Wrestler of World, Is Dead". Classic Wrestling Articles.

Further reading

  • Beekman, Scott. Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98401-X
  • Greenberg, Keith Elliot. Pro Wrestling: From Carnivals to Cable TV. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2000. ISBN 0-8225-3332-4
  • Hornbaker, Tim. National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press, 2007. ISBN 1-55022-741-6
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