I wrote the story below on George Gordienko when I was only young, and I can tell you he turned into one of the sports "All Time Greats." He was highly regarded in Germany and Britain as well as all over Europe and Canada.
His matches in New Zealand with Big John DaSilva are legendary and produced some of the finest wrestling Kiwi fans have ever had the privilege of watching.
I am sad to report George passed away in Canada a couple of years back. He was a poet, artist and champion wrestler.
He once had an art exhibition in Rome, and spent many years living in Italy before returning home to Canada. He was of Canadian–Russian parents, and I have always rated him in my top ten All time greats. One of his frequent opponents was John DaSilva, who I have also rated as one of New Zealand's best ever professional wrestlers, along with Pat O'Connor and Lofty Blomfield.
Gordienko: A Coming Champion
YEARS ago an American wrestler named Tony Stecher wrestled in New Zealand. It was long before the wrestling game in New Zealand grew streamlined; it was even before that strange year when we had a 'League of Nations' team. But that wrestler was such a fine type of fellow that his name . . . and that of his brother . . . has not been forgotten by those who knew a good wrestler when they saw one. I give you Tony Stecher, who is nowadays promoting in Minneapolis.
Tony mixes boxing and wrestling promoting, and it says much for the reputation lie enjoys that his Minneapolis Auditorium is one of the few arenas where boxing was promoted at a profit in America in 1947.
Now Tony Stecher, himself a good wrestler, knows a wrestler when he sees one, and when he goes on record that a certain up-and-comer is worth keeping in mind, I'm prepared to let you in one the secret, too. Just keep this name in your mind:- George Gordienko – for I have an idea that you'll be hearing more about him.
George Gordienko is only 19 years old and is in his second year as a professional. Yet lie has been meeting the best they have been able to get at Minneapolis – and they get the trumps tip there.
Gordienko has beaten, among others, Angelo Cestoldi, Andy Moen, an old friend of ours, Abe Kashey, Gino Vagnone, Flash Gordon, and has drawn with Ray Steele, Fred Atkins and Juan Humberto.
A football star, a weight lifter, and an amateur wrestler in high school, Gordienko had many a juicy offer to play football at college. But he wanted to wrestle. At 16 he wrote to Tony Stecher and asked for a chance to show what lie could do.
Tony Stecher replied: "You're too young, son Wait a year, then try again "
A year later, Gordienko walked into Tony Stecher s office. Tony took one look at George's weight-lifter shoulders, picked up the phone and asked Joe Pazandak to come on downtown. Pazandak, a great wrestler – as you will see this season – worked out once with Gordienko.
Said Stecher: "Well?” . . . Said Pazandak: "Yes, SIR!"
George Gordienko worked out with Pazandak for several weeks, learning to fit his tremendous power into wrestling manoeuvres. When Pazandak pronounced him ready, Tony Stecher put Gordienko into an opening preliminary. In just a few minutes, the other fellow was flat on his back for the required three seconds.
The fans perked up. Here was a magnificent physical specimen, a breathtaking torso – and a modest, likeable young fellow who, in a few short weeks, had learned enough wrestling to flatten an older, wiser and far more experienced foe.
After a few wins, Gordienko went to California and immediately was tabbed by wise wrestling heads like Ad Santel and Joe Malciewicz, former mat greats, as a coming champion.
Somehow I think we might see George Gordienko over this way in a season or two. In twelve months he had not met with defeat in Minneapolis, and that's a great town for wrestling.
George Gordienko, like Earl McCready, is a Canadian.. Here is a cutting from one San Francisco paper about him:
"Ad Santei, one of the all-time greats of the grappling game, predicts a brilliant future for George Gordienko, Canadian Wonder Boy. George who tups the beam at 218lbs (15.4) has one of the most powerful physiques in the game today. His build and general make up remind old timers of the great George Hackenschmidt, famed Russian Lion.
"George's favourite hold is the headlock, and he applies it with all the skill and crunching power of an Ed Lewis, supreme master of all head-lockers. Pazandak sums Gordienko's headlocking up this way: 'He has terrific squeeze.'"
George Gordienko and John DaSilva in Auckland match
