Russian-American professional wrestler (1900–1949)
Peter Sauer (February 2, 1900 – September 11, 1949), was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Ray Steele. He was born and raised in Norka, a German colony in Russia, in 1900 before immigrating to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1906. A highly skilled and dangerous catch wrestler, Steele was known for his extensive knowledge of submission holds.
After a successful amateur wrestling career, Steele then started wrestling in the carnivals, where he honed his catch wrestling skills. Upon turning pro, he relocated to California and became a regular workout partner of fellow catch wrestler Ad Santel. On 16 May 1934, he wrestled Orville Brown to a 30-minute draw. He gained some notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in what is considered an early mixed martial arts (MMA) contest, 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 and coach to many young stars, including Lou Thesz before his death of a heart attack in September 1949. Thesz considered Sauer to be one of the finest wrestlers he ever knew. A British wrestler would later re-use the ring name "Ray Steele" in the late 20th century, holding the British Heavyweight Championship.
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