Don Arnold

Don Arnold started wrestling in 1950 shortly after his military career ended. In the time that followed, he obtained a phd as well and worked by day as a high school teacher.

Though he was a fan favorite in most places he wrestled, Arnold tended to be a rule breaker in Arizona. He was booked in Phoenix and Tucson often, as it was a short drive from his long-term San Diego home base.

The list of people Arnold faced on the Arizona circuit is a log one as it spanned from the 1950s into the early 1970s. Among the notables were Ramon Torres, Brute Bemis, Gorgeous George, Les Thatcher, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Luis Martinez, Tito Montez, Gory Guerrero, Dick Hutton, Phil Melby, Armon Hussein, Vic Christy, Frankie Cain, Ray Gordon, Pepe Romero, Enrique Torres, Rick Waldo, Bruce Kirk, Georgie Drake, Phil Melby, Tito Copa, Bill Melby, Eddie Lopez, Mike Mazurki, Ted Christy, Nelson Royal, Frank Zomar, Charro Azteca, Chief Golden Hawk, Foldaway Venus, Oni Wiki Wiki, Charlie Kalani (Professor Tanaka), John Tolos, Leo Garibaldi, Johnny Demchuck, Lord Blears, Lord Leslie Carlton, Jim Wright, Kangaroo Bob Karson, Tarzan Tyler, Juan Humberto, Jesse James, Juan Sebastian, Howard Cantonwine, Blas Corona, Toni Hernandez,   Nano Ortega, Jerry Usher, Ian Campbell, Ripper Leone, Pancho Pico and Jesse James.

Arnold was part of the tag team match at the Phoenix Madison Square Garden where Jim Wright died in the ring in the early 1960s. After tagging out from a double-teaming, the ill-fated wretsler slumped on the turnbuckle and fell off the ring apron, clutching his chest. He was the victim of a sudden and fatal heart attack. . 

Aside from his high-profile wrestling, Arnold's private life was and still is full of oddities. He spent much of his life living in nudist colonizes and was even married in  a naked ceremony. He wrote small books including one on the naturist lifestyle titled Basic Nudism. As a militant atheist, even at the age of 80, he was taking part in atheist protests clamoring for the separation of church and state. He is still alive as of this writing and staying with his daughter in Hawaii, though a series of strokes over the past few years have left him in poor health.

For a more conclusive look at this talented and enduring wrestler, one might try and find a huge back issue of the sheet, Wrestling Then & Now, that covers his entire career at length, with photos. Back issues might still be available by contacting Evan_Ginzburg@yahoo.com for information.

Arnold also appears giving interviews in a DVD produced by Indy cinema icon Dwayne Walker.  There is also some old action footage circulating on vhs of him wrestling Goon Henry, Tarzan Tyler and a few others. Stuff also crops up on U Tube.

Sadly, there does not appear to be any surviving TV footage from any of his Arizona matches.

Before he left Arizona, Don helped introduce a ":nephew" using the name of Jody Arnold, who was actually no  relation, to the Pheonix circuit. This boost alone, by the mere adaption of the Arnold name, aided the newcomer in becoming an instant hit.

That, however, is another story.