Sam Muchnick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Muchnick
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|---|---|
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| Born |
Jeshua Muchnick
August 22, 1905 |
| Died | December 30, 1998 (aged 93) |
| Occupation | Professional wrestling promoter |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Wildefong
(m. 1947; died 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Samuel Muchnick (born Jeshua Muchnick, August 22, 1905 – December 30, 1998) was an American professional wrestling promoter. A promoter is someone who organizes and manages wrestling events. He was from St. Louis, Missouri. Many people see him as a very important figure in wrestling history.
Sam Muchnick helped create the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1948. This group became the most important organization in professional wrestling. Muchnick was the NWA's president for many years. He led the group from 1950 to 1960 and again from 1963 to 1975. He also ran the St. Louis Wrestling Club, which was a main part of the NWA.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Sam Muchnick was born in Ukraine on August 22, 1905. His family was Jewish. He moved to the United States in 1911. He grew up in St. Louis. His first name was changed to Samuel because his father thought Jeshua was not a good name for a Jewish child.
While he was still in school, Sam worked different jobs to help his family. He earned his high school degree, but he missed his graduation. He went to a live wrestling event instead! In 1924, he started working for the U.S. Post Office. In 1926, he joined the sports team at the St. Louis Times newspaper. He wrote about the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He also met many important people during this time.
Muchnick also wrote about professional wrestling. He became friends with Tom Packs, who was a top sports promoter in the Midwest. In 1932, the St. Louis Times newspaper merged with another paper. Sam Muchnick then left the newspaper. He started working for Tom Packs as his publicist. He handled public relations, money, and even helped plan wrestling matches.
Becoming a Wrestling Promoter
Starting His Own Company
For nine years, Sam Muchnick worked closely with Tom Packs. He learned a lot about promoting from one of the best in the country. However, Muchnick felt he was not treated fairly after a very successful boxing match in 1941. He decided to leave Tom Packs.
A famous wrestler named Jim Londos encouraged Sam to start his own wrestling company. It was hard for Muchnick at first because Tom Packs had a lot of power. But Sam promoted his first shows in May 1942. Soon after, he joined the Air Force during World War II.
When he returned from the war, Muchnick still faced challenges from Tom Packs. But he worked hard to promote his first big show at the famous Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. This show happened on December 5, 1945. With help from another promoter, Jack Pfefer, Muchnick brought in 3,771 fans. Famous wrestlers like Ed Lewis were part of the show.
Creating the National Wrestling Alliance
For a few years, Muchnick often had to use older wrestlers. This was because Tom Packs had most of the top talent, including the World Champion Lou Thesz. Then, in 1948, Muchnick was approached by two other promoters, Pinky George and Tony Stecher. They wanted to create a new wrestling group.
Before this, wrestling rules came from a group of athletic commissions. The new idea was to form a group of promoters. This group would share top wrestlers and the World Champion. They would also share the money from ticket sales.
So, on July 19, 1948, Sam Muchnick met with other promoters in Waterloo, Iowa. They formed the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Pinky George became the first president. Orville Brown was recognized as the first NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
After the NWA was formed, Muchnick could get top wrestlers from other areas that joined the NWA. He was able to bring in a new, exciting wrestler named "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Rogers was very popular and helped Muchnick's company grow. Eventually, Muchnick's group and Tom Packs' group in St. Louis joined together. Muchnick kept control of the wrestling business in St. Louis.
Leading the NWA
In 1950, Sam Muchnick became the new president of the NWA. He was re-elected every year for the next nine years. This showed how much trust other promoters had in him. With Muchnick as president, the NWA became the most powerful group in professional wrestling. Almost every major wrestling area in the country joined the NWA. This gave them access to the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, who was the biggest star in wrestling.
Under Muchnick's leadership, the NWA also gave a lot of money to help the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team. In the late 1950s, Sam Muchnick started the St. Louis Wrestling Club. He also created a new television show called Wrestling at the Chase on KPLR-TV. The show ran from May 23, 1959, to September 10, 1983. About 1,100 episodes were made. This show became very popular in St. Louis. It helped make professional wrestling popular across the country. It brought NWA stars right into people's homes.
In 1960, Sam Muchnick stepped down as NWA president. He wanted the organization to get new ideas. He worked as an executive secretary for a few years. Then, in 1963, he was asked to be NWA president again. He held this job until 1975. This means he spent a total of 25 years as one of the most important promoters in wrestling.
During his second time as president, Muchnick kept the NWA as the top power in wrestling. He was also very good at finding new wrestling talent. His St. Louis area helped train future champions like Johnny Valentine, Gene Kiniski, Harley Race, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, and Ric Flair. He also made the NWA bigger around the world. He made deals with wrestling areas in Mexico, the Far East, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Retirement
Sam Muchnick promoted his last wrestling show on January 1, 1982. The mayor of St. Louis declared that day "Sam Muchnick Day." Soon after, the St. Louis Wrestling Club was bought by other people.
In 1990, Sam Muchnick spoke at the beginning of WCW’s Starrcade event. In 1997, during the World Wrestling Federation’s Badd Blood: In Your House pay-per-view, he was honored as a St. Louis legend.
Death
Sam Muchnick passed away on December 30, 1998, in St. Louis. He was 93 years old.
Championships and Accomplishments
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- (Class of 2007)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
See also
- Roger Deem, photographer and author of St. Louis Snapshots: The Last Years of the Sam Muchnick Era
- Sam Muchnick Memorial Tournament a tribute tournament held in 1986.
