Danno O'Mahony

He married Julia Esther Burke (1908-1965) in 1935.

Danno O'Mahony (9 September 1912 – 3 November 1950) was an Irish professional wrestler who enjoyed a brief but meteoric rise to massive popularity in the mid-1930s following a successful introduction to the Boston regional wrestling scene.

His surname was usually spelt "O'Mahoney" during his wrestling career.

His signature move was the Irish Whip, which acquired its name due to its association with O'Mahony.

O'Mahony would find success as a wrestler becoming the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Champion.

Professional Wrestling journalist and historian Dave Meltzer has referred to O'Mahony as "the first true ethnic super-draw" in American professional wrestling.

The son of Daniel O'Mahony (1869–?), and Susan O'Mahony (1878–1928), née Driscoll, Daniel Michael O'Mahony was born in Ballydehob, County Cork, Ireland, on September 9, 1912.

In 1933, while serving in the Irish Defence Forces, O'Mahony distinguished himself as an athlete, setting military records for the hammer throw and the 56-lb.

After several years of professional conflict, Bowser and the other major rival promoters were working together by late 1933, with most of the territories agreeing to support Londos as their main world champion.

As wrestling's leading attraction, Londos had an enviable deal with the promotional cadre that included a $50,000 payoff were he to lose the championship.

Despite their working arrangement, each promoter was grooming his own preferred heir to Londos' throne.

Besides O'Mahony, various wrestlers including Chief Little Wolf, Orville Brown, Lou Thesz, Bronko Nagurski, Daniel Boone Savage and Everett Marshall were all waiting to get the call.

After facing a string of top names, such as Man Mountain Dean, Gus Sonnenberg and Henri Deglane, the long-expected O'Mahony-Londos match was announced.

Londos was not eager to lose, but a reported $20,000 bonus on top of his contractual payoff was too big a sum to refuse.

O'Mahony was brought to America in 1934 by Boston promoter Paul Bowser.

O'Mahony's first professional match was in December 1934, against the famed Ed "Strangler" Lewis, but after losing the first fall of a 2-of-3 match in just five minutes, O'Mahony did not return to the ring.

Nevertheless, Bowser was satisfied and brought O'Mahony to America.

He signed O'Mahony to a $100,000 contract, and promoted him as the strongest man in the world, and the Irish champion who was looking for international competition.

His first American match, against the villainous Ernie Dusek, degenerated into a two-on-one brawl against Ernie and his brother Rudy.

When O'Mahony knocked both men down, along with the referee, the crowd cheered.

Bowser had O'Mahony win 49 consecutive matches, all the while building to a title shot against Jim Londos.

O'Mahony's most painful win was an April 1935 match against Dick Shikat.

Shikat, who had been having professional conflicts with the promoters, ignored the script and roughed up the rookie, breaking two ribs.

Because of Shikat's tactics, O'Mahony's planned win became a win by disqualification.

On 27 June 1935, at Boston's Fenway Park, Danno beat Londos to win the New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship, which was also recognized by the National Wrestling Association.

Londos, who hadn't lost an official match in six years, was quoted as saying, "I knew after the first five minutes I would have to be lucky to win. The kid is green, but with his strength, I believe he can beat any man in the world. And when I took the bout, the New York people told me I had nothing to fear! I wish I knew as much before I signed... and this bout would have never taken place."

His first title defence was against Chief Little Wolf at Yankee Stadium, New York, on 8 July 1935.

O'Mahoney eventually won the match, by a pinfall, after 28 minutes and 23 seconds.

He went on to win the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Ed Don George at Boston's Braves Field on 30 July 1935.

The win unified the three major titles at that time, but the result was controversial.

O'Mahony had been knocked out of the ring, but the inexperienced referee (boxer James Braddock) failed to make the count.

They had one son, Daniel, born c.1939.

A rematch in September became O'Mahony's 70th straight win since arriving in America.

weight throw which were not broken until the 1990s.

He also boxed and wrestled, with his repertoire relying heavily on standup grappling and throws.

Bowser was hoping to create a new Irish star for the ethnic marketplace in New York and New England, in the tradition of 19th-century champion William Muldoon.

While searching for the appropriate candidate, Bowser was less interested in their wrestling skills as their looks and physique.

An offer to two-time Olympic champion Patrick O'Callaghan was rejected, but the Irishman recommended O'Mahony.

Using his Boston connections, Bowser obtained O'Mahony's release from army service.

A crash course in wrestling training followed.