Jamie Greer

#OnThisDay in 1929: Gus Sonnenberg faced a significant career setback when the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission suspended him for "wrestling unworthy opponents and refusing to meet logical contenders." This disciplinary action came just four months into Sonnenberg's worlds heavyweight title reign. Born on 6th March 1889 in Green Garden, Michigan, Sonnenberg had an unconventional path to wrestling stardom. Unlike most wrestlers of his era who came from amateur wrestling backgrounds, Sonnenberg transitioned from American football, having played for Dartmouth College and professionally with teams including the Green Bay Packers. Standing just 5'7" and weighing approximately 200 pounds, he revolutionised professional wrestling with his explosive, action-packed style centred around his signature "Flying Tackle." His dynamic approach represented a shift from traditional, defensive grappling techniques to a more entertainment-focused spectacle. Sonnenberg captured the worlds heavyweight title on 4th January 1929 by defeating the legendary Ed "Strangler" Lewis at the Boston Garden before 20,000 fans. His victory marked more than just a title change, it signalled a transformation in professional wrestling's presentation. However, his reign quickly encountered resistance from athletic commissions, primarily due to conflicts with his promoter Paul Bowser, who insisted Sonnenberg face only wrestlers from his own stable. The Pennsylvania suspension escalated on 7th August 1929 when the commission took the more drastic step of stripping Sonnenberg of his worlds title for "not meeting worthy contenders and not agreeing to meet the winner of a Jim Londos/Dick Shikat match." This action extended beyond Pennsylvania when New York aligned with Pennsylvania's decision, representing a significant challenge to Bowser's promotional power and illustrating the fractured nature of professional wrestling in the late 1920s. Despite these regulatory obstacles, Sonnenberg remained a significant draw, continuing to defend his title in territories that recognised him. This included a high-profile defence against Ed Lewis at Fenway Park on 9th July 1929, which drew 25,000 fans and a gate of $90,000. Sonnenberg eventually lost his championship to Olympic wrestler Ed Don George on 10th December 1930, well after the Pennsylvania commission had stripped him of recognition.

More details on the Sportsnet deal. “TNA, not AEW, has the Sportsnet 360 deal in Canada w/WWE leaving . TNA will be airing Impact & other shows on a Thursday night starting on Jan. 2. Since Sportsnet is bigger than TSN, TNA has the strongest TV exposure in CA.” @davemeltzerWON