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{{Short description|Lithuanian professional wrestler and promoter (1893 – 1954)}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Karl Pojello
| name = Karl Pojello
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| weight = {{convert|190|lb|0|abbr=on}} <ref>{{cite web | url=http://ejmas.com/jalt/2005jalt/jcsart_Svinth2_1205.html | title=Professional Wrestling: Karl Pojello | accessdate=2013-06-24}}</ref>
| weight = {{convert|190|lb|0|abbr=on}} <ref>{{cite web | url=http://ejmas.com/jalt/2005jalt/jcsart_Svinth2_1205.html | title=Professional Wrestling: Karl Pojello | accessdate=2013-06-24}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|2|13}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|2|13}}
| birth_place = Steigviliai, [[Šiauliai County]], [[Lithuania]]
| birth_place = Steigviliai, [[Šiauliai County]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Lithuania]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|1954|9|4|1893|2|13}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1954|9|4|1893|2|13}}
| death_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]
| death_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]
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| retired =
| retired =
}}
}}
'''Karolis Požėla''' (February 13, 1893 – September 4, 1954) was a Lithuanian and later American [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and promoter.
'''Karl Pojello''' (born '''Karolis Požėla''', February 13, 1893 – September 4, 1954) was a Lithuanian and later American [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and promoter.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Pojello was born in [[Steigviliai]], [[Russian Empire]] in 1893.<ref>deathmaskofmauricetillet-theangel.blogspot.lt/p/karl-pojella.html</ref> In 1906, he moved to [[St. Petersburg]], [[Russia]], to work in a pharmacy owned by his brothers Antanas and Motiejus. During [[World War I]] he fought on the side of the Russian army.<br /> [[File:Car Pojello birthplace.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Birthplace of Carl Pojello in Steigviliai]]
Pojello was born in [[Steigviliai]], [[Russian Empire]] in 1893.<ref>deathmaskofmauricetillet-theangel.blogspot.lt/p/karl-pojella.html</ref> In 1906, he moved to [[St. Petersburg]], [[Russia]], to work in a pharmacy owned by his brothers Antanas and Motiejus. During [[World War I]] he fought on the side of the Russian army.<br /> [[File:Car Pojello birthplace.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Birthplace of Karl Pojello in Steigviliai]]


== Wrestling career ==
== Wrestling career ==
At the age of 18 he was thought to be one of the best amateur wrestlers in [[Russian Empire|Russia]]. In 1913 Požėla won an international wrestling tournament in [[Breslav]].
At the age of 18 he was thought to be one of the best amateur wrestlers in [[Russian Empire|Russia]]. In 1913 Požėla won an international wrestling tournament in [[Breslav]].


As a successful amateur wrestler, he joined a group of professional wrestlers traveling from city to city. With them he traveled to and wrestled in [[China]], [[Japan]], and in 1924 he came to [[Chicago]]. His career took a drastic turn, when in 1927, he met a Lithuanian wrestling promoter A. Tamašiūnas. There he beat Canadian wrestling champion [[Carl van Wurden]] in under 3 minutes. But it wasn't until he beat [[Johnny Mayers]], another Lithuanian wrestler, considered to be middleweight champion of the world, when he came to fame and recognition. At the time he was one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the United States. Pojello came back to Europe and wrestled there until [[World War II]], when he and his friend [[Maurice Tillet]] were forced to come back to U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/databases/il/ChicagoLith/pdf/591251.pdf | title=Lithuania Genealogy | accessdate=2013-06-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221181542/http://www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/databases/il/ChicagoLith/pdf/591251.pdf | archive-date=2014-02-21 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
As a successful amateur wrestler, he joined a group of professional wrestlers traveling from city to city. With them he traveled to and wrestled in [[China]], [[Japan]], and in 1924 he came to [[Chicago]]. His career took a drastic turn, when in 1927, he met a Lithuanian wrestling promoter A. Tamašiūnas. There he beat Canadian wrestling champion [[Carl van Wurden]] in under 3 minutes. But it wasn't until he beat [[Johnny Mayers]], another Lithuanian wrestler, considered to be middleweight champion of the world, when he came to fame and recognition. At the time he was one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the United States.
Pojello met [[Maurice Tillet]] in Singapore in February 1937, and convinced him to become a professional wrestler. Pojello went back to Europe with Tillet and wrestled there until the start of [[World War II]], when he and his friend were forced to return to the US.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/databases/il/ChicagoLith/pdf/591251.pdf | title=Lithuania Genealogy | accessdate=2013-06-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221181542/http://www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/databases/il/ChicagoLith/pdf/591251.pdf | archive-date=2014-02-21 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Death ==
== Death ==
Karolis Požėla died on September 4, 1954 from lung cancer. Upon hearing of the death of Karl, [[Maurice Tillet]] had a heart attack. He was taken to [[Cook County Hospital]] where he died on the same day. They are buried together at the [[Lithuanian National Cemetery]]. Pojello's friend and promoter Tamašiūnas built them a gravestone. Text on the gravestone reads: "Friends Whom Even Death Couldn't Part".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59182698 | title=Karolis Pozela | publisher=Find a Grave | accessdate=2013-06-24}}</ref>
Karolis Požėla died on September 4, 1954, from lung cancer. Upon hearing of the death of Karl, [[Maurice Tillet]] had a heart attack. He was taken to [[Cook County Hospital]] where he died on the same day. They are buried together at the [[Lithuanian National Cemetery]]. Pojello's friend and promoter Tamašiūnas built them a gravestone. Text on the gravestone reads: "Friends Whom Even Death Couldn't Part".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59182698 | title=Karolis Pozela | publisher=Find a Grave | accessdate=2013-06-24}}</ref>


== Championships and accomplishments ==
== Championships and accomplishments ==
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[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Illinois]]
[[Category:Russian male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Illinois]]

Revision as of 01:47, 17 March 2024

Karl Pojello
Birth nameKarolis Požėla
Born(1893-02-13)February 13, 1893
Steigviliai, Šiauliai County, Russian Empire (now Lithuania)
DiedSeptember 4, 1954(1954-09-04) (aged 61)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Karl Pojello
Billed weight190 lb (86 kg) [1]

Karl Pojello (born Karolis Požėla, February 13, 1893 – September 4, 1954) was a Lithuanian and later American professional wrestler and promoter.

Early life

Pojello was born in Steigviliai, Russian Empire in 1893.[2] In 1906, he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, to work in a pharmacy owned by his brothers Antanas and Motiejus. During World War I he fought on the side of the Russian army.

Birthplace of Karl Pojello in Steigviliai

Wrestling career

At the age of 18 he was thought to be one of the best amateur wrestlers in Russia. In 1913 Požėla won an international wrestling tournament in Breslav.

As a successful amateur wrestler, he joined a group of professional wrestlers traveling from city to city. With them he traveled to and wrestled in China, Japan, and in 1924 he came to Chicago. His career took a drastic turn, when in 1927, he met a Lithuanian wrestling promoter A. Tamašiūnas. There he beat Canadian wrestling champion Carl van Wurden in under 3 minutes. But it wasn't until he beat Johnny Mayers, another Lithuanian wrestler, considered to be middleweight champion of the world, when he came to fame and recognition. At the time he was one of the most popular professional wrestlers in the United States.

Pojello met Maurice Tillet in Singapore in February 1937, and convinced him to become a professional wrestler. Pojello went back to Europe with Tillet and wrestled there until the start of World War II, when he and his friend were forced to return to the US.[3]

Death

Karolis Požėla died on September 4, 1954, from lung cancer. Upon hearing of the death of Karl, Maurice Tillet had a heart attack. He was taken to Cook County Hospital where he died on the same day. They are buried together at the Lithuanian National Cemetery. Pojello's friend and promoter Tamašiūnas built them a gravestone. Text on the gravestone reads: "Friends Whom Even Death Couldn't Part".[4]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ "Professional Wrestling: Karl Pojello". Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  2. ^ deathmaskofmauricetillet-theangel.blogspot.lt/p/karl-pojella.html
  3. ^ "Lithuania Genealogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  4. ^ "Karolis Pozela". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
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