Steve Casey

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Steve Casey
Statistics
Ring name(s) Steve "Crusher" Casey
Billed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight 238 lb (108 kg)
Born 1909
Sneem, Ireland
Died January 10, 1987 (aged 78)
Trained by Mike Casey
Debut March 3, 1936
Retired 1947

Steve Casey (1909 - January 10, 1987) was an Irish sport rower and professional wrestler who was best known for his time with National Wrestling Association and American Wrestling Association (Boston). He was born to Mike Casey, a renowned bare-knuckle boxer and was the eldest of the seven sons of Mike Casey. He was the second Irish wrestler, after Danno O'Mahonney, to become a world champion.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Rowing career

Steve Casey was a legendary Irish professional wrestler. He debuted in 1923 at the age of 15. He rowed in the Sneem senior crew with his father and the O'Connor Brothers. The Sneem/Casey Team won the Tug-O-War Munster Championship in 1932. Casey went on to win the Salter Challenge Cup with his brothers during 1930 to 1933.

In 1935, Steve and his brother Paddy Casey joined the British Amateur Wrestling Team. In 1936, he became the All-England Rowing Champion with his brothers Paddy, Tom and Mick. In the same year, the Caseys qualified for the Olympics in rowing but were disqualified for Steve and Paddy being professional wrestlers because Steve had wrestled two professional wrestling matches before Olympics.

[edit] Professional wrestling

[edit] 1936-1937

Steve Casey debuted as a professional wrestler on March 3, 1936 by beating the Irish Canadian Heavyweight Champion Paul Duveen in a non-title match. He defeated Rex Steele on March 17. His match with Steele was billed as 2 submissions, 2 pinfalls and 2 knockouts. In October 1936, promoter Paul Bowser brought Casey to America.

On December 14, he defeated Mike Mazurki in New York City in front of 3,500 fans. On July 26, 1937, he wrestled Marvin Westernberg at Municipal Stadium in Syracuse, New York.

[edit] 1938

In early 1938, Casey started wrestling for American Wrestling Association Boston and National Wrestling Association, a subsidiary of National Boxing Association. On February 11, 1938, he received the biggest victory of his career when he defeated Lou Thesz to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship. On August 26, he wrestled Danno O'Mahony to a draw after ten 5 minute rounds in the European style.

In September 1938, Casey was stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship due to his being out of the country (Some claim that he held this title until his retirement in 1947 but that's untrue). On September 18, he beat Danno O' Mahony in Munster in a finish match in 18 rounds and 97 minutes. It was a thrilling match which turned in Casey's favor when Danno O' Mahony fell to the ground.

[edit] 1939

On March 2, 1939, old rival Marvin Westernberg beat him to win the AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship in Boston, Massachusetts. On March 29, Casey beat Gus Sonnenberg to win his second AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title to Ed Don George on April 18 in Albany, New York.

He beat John Katon on May 18 as a record of (2-1) in Toronto, Ontario in front of 3,500 fans. On October 19, he wrestled Everett Marshall to a 60 minute draw in Toronto in front of 4,500 fans. On November 23, he defeated Wild Bill Longson (2-1) in Toronto in front of 4,000 fans. He defeated Ed Don George to win his third AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship on November 29.

[edit] 1940-1941

On May 13, 1940, Steve Casey lost his AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship to The French Angel. In the same year, he beat Richard Codman for the Governor's Cup in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He defeated the U.S. Boxing Champion Tiger Warrenton and challenged Joe Louis for a fight. Louis refused the fight. Casey became a popular wrestling star in the United States. On November 12, 1941, he challenged Earl McCready for the British Empire Heavyweight Championship but the match was fought to no contest.

[edit] Retirement

On January 20, 1942, he wrestled McCready in a non-title match to a draw. On May 1, he lost to McCready in a match held in Buffalo, New York. On May 14, Casey challenged McCready to a rematch which was fought to draw. On the same day, he beat French Angel for his fourth AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship. They feuded with each other over the Boston title and exchanged the title until 1944. On June 6, 1945, he defeated Frank Sexton to win his fifth AWA Boston World Heavyweight Championship. Finally, in 1947, he announced of his retirement at age 38. He opened a liquor store near Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts.

[edit] Final days

In 1982, Casey was awarded the Irish Hall of Fame award by 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist Ronnie Delaney. In 1983, the Casey family organized a family reunion in Sneem, Ireland. On January 10, 1987, he died at age 78.

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • Sport rowing
    • 1932 Tug O' War Munster Championship
    • 1936 All-England Rowing Championship
  • Other Titles
    • 1940 Governor's Cup

[edit] External links