Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
In this episode, I will be talking about an Illinois select committee’s investigation into professional boxing and wrestling in Chicago, Illinois. In part two, we discuss the revelations that made Sandow and Lewis look bad. Update I tapped out on Heels but highly recommend La Cage. The voice of my childhood was not Jim Ross. It was Larry Matysik at
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vpwseg5xt5s9swey/Episode_827hd3h.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I will be talking about an Illinois select committee’s investigation into professional boxing and wrestling in Chicago, Illinois. In part one, we discuss the revelations that made Joe Stecher look bad. Introduction and Update The Starz series Heels and my early thoughts The Divided Championship will be available in June 2025
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/sws5bmrdrdb867td/Episode_81aufuu.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I will be talking a wrestler who need “liquid courage” to climb in the ring with Evan “The Strangler” Lewis. Update Tragic Storms on Friday, March 14, 2025 Main Content Evan Lewis Defeats a Drunken Wrestler In 1887, Evan “The Strangler” Lewis signed to wrestled Englishman Jack Wannock, the Cornish Wrestling
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/a77q3j4bp23crd8x/Episode_807a480.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss how the Divided Championship Era began to expose the worked nature of professional wrestling. Update BBC recently made a decision about the BBC Sounds app that is truly irritating. I will be giving a St. Louis history presentation at Eugene Field House on April 5, 2025. The Divided Championship
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/3jrikmpxikbjmkp5/Episode_799nh51.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss William Muldoon wrestling a contest that was not much of a contest. Between falls, Muldoon demonstrated his system of physical training. WWE put on their first disappointing card of the Paul Levesque era with Elimination Chamber 2025. The last ride of the Over the Hill Gang ruined an underwhelming
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/bgiyc9p9ddr8pmhj/Episode_7881qcq.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, Dan and I discuss two notable omissions from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. I discuss Chris Jericho’s disappointing run in AEW. In the main content, I discuss two glaring omissions, Paul Bowser and Cora Livingston from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Paul Bowser developed into a solid
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/sis8sp3iwczcpy4v/Episode_77bs1hb.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss Bernarr MacFadden’s professional wrestling career in St. Louis, Missouri. Update I discuss a recent email and provide an update on the Divided Championship project. Main Content For years, I could not find any account of Bernarr MacFadden’s exploits as a professional wrestler in St. Louis. While research the beginnings
On Wednesday, April 27, 1910, reigning World Middleweight Boxing Champion Stanley Ketchel fought a six-round, non-title match with African American boxer Sam Langford. Langford is one of the greatest boxers of all-time. However, Langford found himself frozen out of world title fights by promoters and boxers adhering to the “color line.” Promoters and boxers used the “color line” to prevent
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/r5y6br9bc4e3dbqf/Episode_766doid.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeating the Masked Marvel during the 1915 New York International Wrestling Tournament. Update After years of looking for Bernarr MacFadden’s wrestling matches in St. Louis, I stumbled across a reporter’s recollections of the best wrestling matches he covered during his twenty year career. MacFadden wrestled as
On Sunday, November 9, 1913, African American boxer Sam McVea, or McVey, battled Professor Stevenson, a Jujitsu practitioner, in a mixed styles bout in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. McVea and Stevenson fought ten, five-minute rounds, with three-minute intermission between rounds. McVea and Stevenson fought for $100 a side. In grappler vs. boxer matches, the grappler usually won, but McVea
