Wayne Munn
Munn in 1925
Born(1896-02-19)February 19, 1896
Colby, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 9, 1931(1931-01-09) (aged 34)[1]
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathBright's disease
Alma materUniversity of Nebraska
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Wayne Munn
Billed height6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Billed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Trained byMike Gibbons
Debut1924
Retired1926
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
RankFirst lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War I

Wayne Munn (February 19, 1896 – January 9, 1931) was an American professional wrestler and collegiate football player from the University of Nebraska. As a wrestler, Munn was a World Heavyweight Champion. His world title win is historic as it was the first time that a pure performer (as opposed to a legitimately skilled wrestler) had won a world championship in professional wrestling.[2]

Professional wrestling career

Munn's 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 shoot fighting ability.[1] This backfired on Lewis and his camp, as Munn subsequently lost the title to Stanislaus Zbyszko in a famous double-cross, 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.[3]

Munn had also served as an infantry first lieutenant during World War I.[4]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
    • Class of 2022

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. ↑ Kenyon, Lou Thesz with Kit Bauman ; edited by J. Michael (2011). Hooker (3rd ed.). Gallatin, Tenn.: Crowbar Press. ISBN 978-0-9844090-4-4. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "Wayne Munn, Former Mat Champ, dies; Beat Lewis in 1925; Lost to Zbyszko". The Milwaukee Sentinel. January 9, 1931.
  4. ↑ "Wayne Munn, Ex Champion Wrestler of World, Is Dead". Classic Wrestling Articles. 8 September 2014.

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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