Professional Wrestling Scandals: It’s All Been Done Before Pt 1

This is the first of a two-part article going into Pro Wrestlings’ Scandals.

Professional wrestling has never shied away from scandals. Right now, one of the biggest wrestling scandals in history is unfolding right before our very eyes. The ongoing Vince McMahon sex trafficking news is the latest in a long history of wrestling wrongdoings – it’s truly nothing new. A look at the archives reveals some early scandals that took place before the year 1950 when wrestling was still fragmented by territories. These stories shook up the professional wrestling world, mainly within the territories where the wrestler or promoter worked. They ranged from titillating gossip carefully orchestrated for promotional purposes to deadly cover-ups and fatal mistakes. None are different from the modern news stories that are read today.

Two of the scandals featured Wrestler Gus Sonnenberg between July 1932 and July 1933. Sonnenberg was one of the earlier NFL players to give up football for a career in pro wrestling. Sonnenberg was five years into his NFL career when Boston promoter Paul Bowser offered him an opportunity to become a professional wrestler. This was despite the fact Sonnenberg never wrestled in the amateur ranks.

Sonnenberg inserted pro football moves into his wrestling matches, which gained him an immediate fanbase. He became known as the man with the “flying tackles.” He became the World’s Heavyweight Champion a couple weeks before his one-year anniversary. His first scandal would take place a few years after this.

Sonnenberg was wrestling where he currently resided in Belmont, Massachusetts. After wrestling in Haverhill on July 18th, Sonnenberg was driving home when he was in a car accident. On July 19th, 1932, the Associated Press put out a news story. It stated, “Sonnenberg, former claimant to the World’s Heavyweight Championship, was brought to Lawrence General Hospital suffering injuries from an automobile collision.” The other driver, Richard Morrissey, received a single sentence in the article. Meanwhile, the news clipping went on to detail Sonnenberg’s pending x-ray results and multiple lacerations across his body.

The crash was big news, but only because of Sonnenberg. The story ran on the front page of the Boston Globe.^[1] Over the next few weeks, the fuller and darker picture came out.

At first, news stories revolved around Sonnenberg’s recovery and the wrestling dates he would miss. The day after the accident, The Boston Globe followed up with the headline, “Sonnenberg is at his home today.” Readers received the happy news that he was discharged and resting comfortably at home.

We also learned that the other driver, Richard Morrissey, was a Lawrenceville Police Officer. The Globe writes that Morrissey “had a fair night. His name is on the danger list, and his condition appears to be more serious than at first thought, although his recovery is expected.”^[1]

Unfortunately, Morrisey passed away due to his injuries on July 22nd, 1932. Authorities arrested Sonnenberg on July 30th. He was charged with manslaughter and drunken operation of a vehicle.^[2] On August 2nd, Sonnenberg was found guilty of driving under the influence of liquor and of driving to endanger the lives and safety of the public by Judge Frederick M. Chandler. He was found not guilty of manslaughter.

The first charge brought a fine of $100, and the second charge carried a sentence of three months in prison. Sonnenberg’s attorney, George B. Silton, called no witnesses to the stand. He stated that the entire procession was “one of the most reprehensible frame-ups I have ever heard of in my entire life.”^[3]

Sonnenberg would appeal and return to wrestling a few months later. The case would go to a jury in March 1933. On March 3rd, the jury rendered a verdict that would clear Sonnenberg. His lawyer provided the astute argument that “dozens of citizens in the commonwealth operate under the influence of liquor and are never apprehended.” Indeed.

This resonated with the jury, which cleared Sonnenberg of any wrongdoing. The Boston Globe noted that Sonnenberg walked up to each juror and shook their hand after the trial.

Sonnenberg’s second scandal was thankfully not lethal unless you count the death of a marriage. This scandal also features the Ritz of Hollywood. Sonnenberg was married to actress Judith Allen in March of 1931. Allen was best known for playing Adele Martin in the Shirley Temple movie Bright Eyes. In what may have been karma for the wrestler, four months after his acquittal in the drunk driving trial, Allen left Sonnenberg.

The newspapers had a field day covering their divorce. One paper included a full-page cartoon that mentioned Allen left Sonnenberg after having one date with Gary Cooper. To be fair, though, none of us have a chance against Gary Cooper^[4]

Read the final conclusion on the second part to this piece on FightsATW.com.

Andrew Carrig

A fan since 1987, Andrew started his journey into professional wrestling in 2003, training with Rik Matrix. He has traveled across New York, Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario for more than 20 years, performing several roles in the pro wrestling industry. Andrew also received his Master’s in United States History and spends his time combining his passions of pro wrestling and history.

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