Episode 91 – Exposes

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In this episode, I discuss the limited damage exposes have done to the worked nature of professional wrestling. Main Content I started thinking about this week’s topic while watching Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950). The movie starts out with Bud Abbott as a wrestling promoter/booker talking with two pro wrestlers about “the script.” The wrestlers are portrayed […]

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Episode 90 – Managoff, Sr. & Jr.

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In this episode, I discuss the first father-son professional wrestlers, Bob Managoff and Bobby Managoff, Jr. Update I have tentatively scheduled The Divided Championship for June 22, 2025. Main Content Robert M. Manoogian was born in Armenia on April 15, 1883. Manoogian wrestled as Bob Managoff and Bob “Turtle” Fredericks. He was not known as Bob Managoff, Sr. until he […]

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Jenkins Schools Roeber

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Wrestling fans know Tom Jenkins as Frank Gotch’s toughest opponent and a multiple time American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. In 1899, Jenkins was campaigning for a match with current American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Dan McLeod. To further boost his chances of securing a match with McLeod, Jenkins wrestled Ernst Roeber at the League Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, July 4, […]

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Episode 89 – Strangler Wins

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In this episode, I discuss finding the deciding contest between Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Joe Stecher. I also discuss why the myth about Joe Stecher’s 1925-1928 World Title reign persist. Update I found the contest between Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Joe Stecher where Lewis finally defeated Stecher. I will be slowly rebuilding the website over the next two to three […]

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Episode 88 – Memorial Day

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In this episode, I discuss why promoters liked to schedule big cards for holidays. Update The reach of the podcast continues to amaze me. Besides the United States, listeners have downloaded episodes in the Netherlands, Seychelles, Turkey, Canada, Germany, Finland, United Kingdom, Japan, Austria, Estonia, France, Ireland, and Poland. I will try to release more episodes going forward. Main Content […]

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Slattery Exposes Wrestling

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During June 1927, the Illinois state legislature rocked the professional boxing and professional wrestling worlds when a subcommittee started investigating the state athletic commission. The legislature believed that promoters were putting on “fake” contests in both sports. Before the committee concluded its work, it suspended the boxing and wrestling licenses of 130 athletes. These revelations further disillusioned wrestling fans aggravated […]

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Episode 86 – R.I.P. Dan

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In this episode, I discuss the recent passing of my co-host and cousin Dan Zimmerman. I discuss a mixed styles bout between Ray Steel and Kingfish Levinsky in St. Louis during November 1935. Update On Saturday, April 26, 2025, my cousin Dan Zimmerman passed away at the age of 53. Dan was my sometimes co-host and the closest I have […]

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Bernarr MacFadden in Saint Louis

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Bernarr MacFadden, born Bernard Adolphus McFadden in Mill Spring, Missouri, on August 16, 1868, founded a publishing company in 1899 that still operates today. MacFadden, an early proponent of physical culture, authored books and published magazine about physical culture, early bodybuilding training. MacFadden moved into pulp magazines like True Detective in the 1920s. Before MacFadden made his fortune as a publisher […]

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