California State Heavyweight title defeating Vic Christy (June 8, 1932);
California State Heavyweight title defeating Jim McMillen (March 29, 1933);
MWA (Ohio) World Heavyweight title Awarded (February 5, 1937);
NWA (National Wrestling Association) World Heavyweight title defeating Bronko Nagurski (March 7, 1940);
NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) World Heavyweight title Awarded (November 3, 1943);
NWA World Junior Heavyweight title defeating Marshall Estep (March 24, 1947);
Career Highlights (courtesy of wikipedia.com)
Peter Sauer known by the ring name Ray Steele.
Steele was born and raised in Norka, a German colony in Russia, in 1900 before immigrating to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1906.
Steele worked a catch wrestling style in his early career.
Steele gained some notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in a mixed match, which Steele won in 35 seconds.
Steele’s biggest accomplishment in the sport was winning the National Wrestling Association’s World Heavyweight Championship from Bronko Nagurski in St. Louis, Missouri on March 7, 1940.
Steele would hold the belt for over a year before losing it back to Bronko Nagurski on March 11, 1941 in Houston, Texas.
Sauer served as a mentor to many young stars, including Lou Thesz before his death of a heart attack in September 1949.
