Wayne Munn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wayne Munn |
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Munn in 1925
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| Born | February 19, 1896 Colby, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | January 9, 1931 (aged 34) Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Bright's disease |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Wayne Munn |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Trained by | Mike Gibbons |
| Debut | 1924 |
| Retired | 1926 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Wayne Munn was an American athlete. He was born on February 19, 1896, and passed away on January 9, 1931. He was known as a professional wrestler and a college football player. He played football for the University of Nebraska.
As a wrestler, Wayne Munn became a World Heavyweight Champion. This means he was considered one of the best wrestlers in the world! His championship win was very important. It was the first time a wrestler who was more of a "performer" or "showman" won such a big title. Before him, champions were usually known for their real fighting skills.
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Wayne Munn's Wrestling Career
Wayne Munn was very popular from playing football. This caught the eye of a famous wrestler named Ed Lewis. Two wrestling promoters, Toots Mondt and Billy Sandow, also noticed him. They thought Munn could be the next big star in wrestling.
Becoming a Champion
Munn won the World title from Ed Lewis in 1925. This happened even though Munn did not have a lot of real wrestling or fighting experience. The plan was for Munn to win, but it did not work out well for Lewis and his team.
Losing the Title
Munn later lost his title to Stanislaus Zbyszko. This was a famous "double-cross" match. A double-cross means one person secretly changes the plan during the match. Zbyszko was supposed to lose to Munn. Instead, Zbyszko really pinned Munn. Munn could not defend himself against Zbyszko's wrestling moves. He was clearly beaten. Wayne Munn held the World title for a little over three months.
Retirement and Later Life
After losing the title, Munn retired from wrestling. He then worked in the oil business for some years. He passed away from kidney problems on January 9, 1931. He died at the Fort Sam Houston base hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was survived by his wife and his daughter, Mary Ann Munn.
Wayne Munn also served in the military. He was an infantry first lieutenant during World War I.
Achievements and Awards
Wayne Munn achieved some important things in his career:
- National Wrestling Association
- He won the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship one time.
- Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
- He was added to the Hall of Fame in 2022.
