| Joe Pazandak | |
| Birth Name: | Joseph Eugene Pazandak |
| Birth Date: | October 23, 1914[1] |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[2] |
| Death Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Names: | Joe Pazandak The Dark Secret |
| Weight: | 230lb |
| Debut: | 1937 |
| Retired: | 1960 |
Joseph Eugene Pazandak (October 23, 1914 – December 2, 1982) was an American amateur wrestler and a professional wrestler, best known for his ring name Joe Pazandak.[1] [2] Pazandak received the nickname "The Champ" as he ruled the “Beat the Champ” segment on televised wrestling from Los Angeles.[2]
Pazandak made his professional wrestling debut in his hometown in Minneapolis at the age of 22, where he faced Al Loset which ended in a 20-minute time limit draw. As an amateur heavyweight, he won two AAU championships in the Northwest and went on to wrestle at the University of Minnesota before turning professional. Within a year, Pazandak was traveling around the country from Massachusetts to North Carolina to Maryland, mostly as a semi-main event performer. [2] Pazandak served in the United States Army as a sergeant in Africa and Italy during World War II.[2] Pazandak returned to the United States in 1944, after seeing 624 days of active combat.[2] His first match since returning from the war took place in October 1945, where he defeated the highly skilled Ray Steele.[2]
Pazandak's popularity rose in the beginning of June 1951 in Los Angeles.[1] As the inaugural NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship, Pazandak defended the title for nine months against top challengers.[1] [2] Press-Telegram once named Pazandak "the most feared man in the wrestling ranks", in reference to his undefeated record on the West Coast.[2]
With Pazandak's amateur wrestling background, in 1948, he was hired to coach amateur wrestlers in New Zealand, which saw him working alongside Karl Pojello.[2] Pazandak also trained Verne Gagne.
Pazandak died on December 2, 1983. He was 68 years old.[1] [2]