PWN -- The First Superstar

[Wikipeteia]

MERCURY RISING TO THE TOP

HELSINKI, FINLAND (AP) -- Twelve year veteran of professional wrestling, "Mercury" Mark Mercurio defeated Dr. Von Hradek for his first PWN World Championship. Throngs of jubilant fans filled the streets from Cleveland to New York, celebrating the first US born PWN World Champion since 1936 when Crusher Majors lost to Spaniard Esteban Cortez y Zapata.

"The title's coming back to Pittsburgh," Mercurio, 31, said after his victory, a submission at the 36:22:92 mark. "And it's staying in the good ol' USA for a while!"

The match was made six months ago when Mercurio defeated former #1 challenger A Lee of Korea in Adelaide, Australia for the Queen's Cup. Hradek, 36, had been champion for seventeen months, ending the remarkable six year reign of Sir Walter Charles Ginsborough. "I fight hard," Hradek said in broken English afterward, being attended to after taking a back suplex for the pinfall. "But, Mercury will make good champion. I will be back, I promise."

Reaction around the world, however, is mixed as many fans feel that despite the Queen's Cup victory, Mercurio was not the right man for the match, sentiment pointing toward the Mexican powerhouse Ignacio "Mucho Fuerza" Delgado's sixteen month winning streak, and Mercurio's lax schedule as two crucial elements. Mercurio was unabashed in his criticism of Delgado.

"Hey, the Mexican's good. Don't get me wrong. But, he's wrestling sixteen months against disposable wrestlers. When he beats someone with a real name, it'll be the first time."

A rematch has been set for September 3rd in Mexico City, venue to be decided. A victory parade will be held in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

In other action, Cro-Magnon Man defeated Africa's "Speedy" Bobo Dijijia via submission, when Cro-Magnon bearhugged the smaller African for six minutes. Dijijia was carried from the arena in an ambulance, and taken for medical observation.

The team of Thomas Connors and Joe Ramsey defended their Tag Team Championship for the ninth time, defeating The White Russians after an airplane spin took Comrade Sidorov outside the ring. Connors and Ramsey will also defend their titles on September 3rd.

originally published June 12, 1952