Starting in the 1930s and spanning through the 1960s, Hans Schnabel terrorized professional wrestling with his devastating blockbuster hold. He competed in a number of organizations across the world but enjoyed the most success in various National Wrestling Alliance promotions. Schnabel wrestled as a heel and won individual titles as well as tag team championships, with Lou Thesz, Bobby Managoff and Baron Michele Leone among his many legendary rivals.
New Jersey
On June 12, 1936, a 28-year-old Schnabel had his first brush with wrestling greatness, just missing a chance to claim the world heavyweight title, which at the time was a recognition passed along without any support from a governing body. Schnabel was scheduled to face the nefarious Ali Baba, who had defeated Dick Shikat to stake his claim as the world champ. The two men were set to meet in Newark, New Jersey. Unfortunately, Schnabel fell ill before the match, opening the door for Dave Levin to step in and challenge Ali Baba. Levin pulled off the upset and claimed the title that could have been Schnabel's.
NWA Texas
Schnabel had another shot at a heavyweight title in 1944, battling Lou Thesz for the crown in Houston, Texas. By this time, wrestling had fractured into a number of organizations, with each naming its own champion. Yet Schnabel failed in his championship pursuit, as Thesz won his first of three NWA Texas Heavyweight Championships.
NWA Midwest
In the 1940s, Walter Palmer held the NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship, which at the time also was known as the Illinois Midwest Heavyweight Championship. However, a broken leg forced Palmer to vacate the title. Schnabel stepped in to accept the championship and defended it with great success, eventually being recognized as the champion of Illinois.
NWA Hawaii
Schnabel became a prominent name in Hawaii during the late 1940s, defeating Dean Detton to capture his first of two NWA Hawaii Heavyweight titles in December 1949. Schnabel managed to hold the belt for nearly two months before dropping it to Sandor Szabo. Schnabel regained the title in June 1953 with a win over Bobby Bruns and held the belt for a little more than a month before losing it to Bobby Managoff.
Tag Titles
Even though he fell from the heavyweight title picture, Schnabel still found a way to wear the gold, teaming with Lou Newman to beat Bruns and John Paul Henning for the NWA Hawaii tag team titles in 1954. In 1958, Schnabel joined forces with Frank Jares to win the NWA Southern tag team belts. Schnabel reunited with Newman in 1959 to claim the Ohio tag team titles, this time wrestling as the Iron Russians. Schnabel and Newman dropped the Russian gimmick and returned to Hawaii in 1960, beating Nick Kozak and Jerry Gordet for a second reign as Hawaiian tag champs.
Member Comments