World Championship Wrestling holds. (South Melbourne : Fostad Pty. Ltd., [196-?])

Wrestling in the “Cumberland or Westmoreland fashion” or “Cornish-style”, has long been practised in Australia. Matches are recorded among convicts and soldiers and on the gold-fields. From the 1880s we find evidence of professional wrestling in Australia, many of the bouts being conducted “Greaco-Roman style”.

However, the growth in public interest in the sport is the result of promoters bringing troupes of wrestlers from America. This trend was started by Jack Munro of Stadiums Ltd. in the 1920s and has continued ever since, with a pause during World War II.

During the 1930s wrestling bouts were broadcast. The cover of Voigt’s book shows the 2KY commentator ringside while Leon Labriola applies a reverse headlock on his opponent.

The golden era came during the late 1960s and early 1970s when the “World Championship Wrestling” bouts were televised every week. The major names were cult heroes such as Mario Milano, Killer Kowalski and Skull Murphy. The two wrestlers featured on the cover of Wrestling holds are Red Bastien (left) and Mario Milano (right)

Also on display are copies of the World Championship Wrestling magazine, Wrestling News.

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