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The Von Steigers

The Von Steigers

Posted: May 14th 2026 By: Portland Wrestling

Feeding off of the resentment still harbored by Americans toward Germans in the decades following World War II, the Canadian-born Lorne Corlett and Arnold Pastrick transformed themselves into the notorious brothers Karl & Kurt Von Steiger in 1967. Despite his Polish parents having survived a concentration camp during WW2, Arnold Pastrick embraced the money-making opportunities that would come his way by using the German moniker.

The Von Steiger brothers' first championship reign would come in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling that same year, when they defeated the Christy Brothers for the International Tag Team Titles. It was merely the opening act of one of the most successful tag teams of their generation...

Arriving in Portland Wrestling the following year, the Von Steigers dominated the Pacific Northwest tag team rankings during the late 1960s and early 70s, even defeating the two most accomplished teams of that time—Tony Borne & Lonnie Mayne and Shag Thomas & Luther Lindsay—to become Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champions. They would also take the titles from other memorable teams like Mayne & Beauregard and Billy White Wolf & Johnny War Eagle. In total, the Von Steigers collected an astounding eight Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championships, a feat only exceeded by the iconic duo of Borne & Mayne.

Relinquishing their stranglehold on Don Owen's territory after five years, the Von Steigers spread out to other promotions. The team would go on to become 2-time Hawaii Tag Team Champions, 3-time IWA Tag Team Champs in Australia, and 4-time Southeastern Tag Champs in the Alabama/Tennessee region before concluding their partnership by becoming 2-time NWA World Tag Team Champions in Roy Shire's San Francisco promotion.

Karl Von Steiger, the older of the two, also held many tag team championships outside of those he collected with Kurt, including two NWA Southern Tag Team Titles and four NWA Western States Tag Titles. In singles action, Karl became an Amarillo Brass Knuckles Champion, a Western States Heavyweight Champion, Hawaii Heavyweight Champion, and a 2-time Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Champ while feuding with Ricky Romero (father of fellow Portland Wrestling icon Jay Youngblood).

When not partnering with his wrestling brother, Kurt Von Steiger became a Pacific Northwest Tag Champion with "Killer" Karl Krupp (later, Matty Suzuki when Krupp and Von Steiger split) and a 2-time NWA World Tag Team Champion with "Masked Invader #1" Rocky Montero. As a singles competitor, Kurt was also an Arizona Heavyweight Champ and a 3-time Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion (with victories over Lonnie Mayne and "Crusher" Stan Stasiak).

At eighty years old, Karl Von Steiger passed away on November 8th, 2022, after spending his retirement happily residing with his wife in Woodland, Washington. Decades prior, he had changed his name to Karl Von Steiger, which was the name listed on his death notice in the local newspaper.

While still an active wrestler, Kurt Von Steiger took up promoting in the wild card state of Arizona, where there was no National Wrestling Alliance affiliate. He even became a fan favorite for a time, during which he partnered with Arizona icon Tito Montez to defeat Ron Dupree & Chris Colt for the Western States Tag Team Titles. He would retire from full-time wrestling in 1979, having only a handful of matches in 1980, with his final bout being against "Tough" Tony Borne in Portland Wrestling in 1981, though he would return in 1986 for a tour of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He is still living, and it is my understanding that he may have returned home to Manitoba, living out his life in quiet peace.

 

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  • 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2003 Tyler Bateman def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 Kevin Morgan became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2014 Spike became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Antonio Vega for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2019 Murder Squirrel became the BPW 365 Champion
  • 2019 Karnage def. Murder Squirrel for the BPW 365 Title
  • 2024 Brandon Groom became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 2025 Drake Gallows def. Billie the Kiid for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 2025 C. M. Burnham def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 2025 Brixton Barricade def. C. M. Burnham for the ASP All Time Title

Week of Sun 07-26 to Sat: 08-01

  • 07-26 1968 Fritz Von Erich became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-26 2020 Thorne the Hunter def. Dexter Hardaway for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 07-26 2024 Will Chambers def. Colton Kinnamon for the UWO Dojo Division Title
  • 07-26 2025 Clover Botello def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 07-26 2026 Bang Bang Bennett def. Vincent Cross for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-26 2026 Vincent Cross def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 07-27 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 07-27 2003 Tyler Bateman def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 07-27 2008 Kevin Morgan became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-27 2014 Spike became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 07-27 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Antonio Vega for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 07-27 2019 Murder Squirrel became the BPW 365 Champion
  • 07-27 2019 Karnage def. Murder Squirrel for the BPW 365 Title
  • 07-27 2024 Brandon Groom became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 07-27 2025 Drake Gallows def. Billie the Kiid for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 07-27 2025 C. M. Burnham def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-27 2025 Brixton Barricade def. C. M. Burnham for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-28 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 07-28 2007 Shane Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 07-28 2007 Montego Seeka def. Eric Rose for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 07-28 2007 D Money def. Al Farat for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
  • 07-28 2017 Dean Lambert def. Father Padge for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 07-28 2017 Gemini [2nd] def. Korvin Sage for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 07-28 2017 Phoebe def. Killista for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 07-28 2017 C. J. Ward def. Prince Mahalli for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 07-28 2024 Brandon Barricade def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-28 2024 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-28 2024 C. M. Burnham def. Brixton Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-28 2024 Brixton Barricade def. C. M. Burnham for the ASP All Time Title
  • 07-29 1974 Arman Hussein def. Bull Ramos for the TSW North American Title
  • 07-29 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW North American Champion
  • 07-29 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-29 1985 Brian Adias def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 07-29 2000 Northern Threat (Luc Lapointe & Jean Paul) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 07-29 2003 Payton Scott & Ty Magnus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 07-29 2003 Angel Williams & Brandon Bishop def. Payton Scott & Ty Magnus for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-29 2005 Chiquita Suzuki def. Leather for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 07-29 2005 Anthony Jackson became the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-29 2005 Romero Contreras became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-29 2017 Erica def. Robyn Reid for the IZW Womens Title
  • 07-29 2017 Legion (Rob Cabella & Shawn Shields) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 07-29 2017 Brandon Groom became the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 07-30 2016 The Initiative (Clint Cassidy & Abel) def. Jon Cross for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 07-30 2022 N'Zane def. Tego for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 07-31 1959 Mickey Sharpe & The Black Panther def. Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 07-31 1964 Karl Kox def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-31 1987 Tony Atlas def. Abdullah the Butcher for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-31 1999 The Millenium Warriors (Red Eagle & Thunderwolf) def. The Casualties of War (AWOL & Shrapnel) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 07-31 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 07-31 2011 3rd Rail became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-31 2015 Brock Landers became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 07-31 2021 Rob Cabella became the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 07-31 2021 Brawler Morrison became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 07-31 2021 Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 07-31 2021 Sam Stackhouse def. Cody Burns for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 08-01 1979 Angelo Mosca def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 08-01 1980 Kerry Von Erich & Sweet Brown Sugar def. Stan Stasiak & Tim Brooks for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 08-01 1980 El Halcon def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 08-01 2009 Running Wolf became the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 08-01 2009 Blue Thunder & The Unknown became the 412PE Tag Team Champions
  • 08-01 2009 Drake Gallows def. Chris Chaos for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
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