Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/25sh5a/Episode_418ooth.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss a new discover about
George Tragos gained fame as the trainer of Lou Thesz, the dominant National Wrestling Alliance
On November 19, 1935, professional wrestler Ray Steele met professional boxer Kingfish Levinsky in a
Who is the greatest legitimate professional wrestler to wrestle in the United States? How do
On January 30, 1930, Gus Sonnenberg defended his AWA World Title, based in the Boston promotion of Paul Bowser, in Boston Arena against former world champion Joe Stecher. Two minutes of film survived from the hour-long match. Gus Sonnenberg traded on his celebrity as a professional football player to become a wrestling star. Sonnenberg helped the Providence Steam Roller win
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yrvcvp86fj5ja5zg/Episode_72_agae9.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I am giving away Wayfarer in a Foreign Land: Sorakichi Matsuda Wrestles in America between Monday, December 30, 2024 to Friday, January 3, 2025. Dan and I will release the next episode on Monday, January 13, 2025. Main Content I discuss the October 1916 mixed styles match between Taro Miyake and Ad Santel.
On Saturday, December 30, 1916, Taro Miyake fought Ben de Mello, a professional boxer, in a mixed styles six round challenge bout. 1,000 spectators filed into the Hilo Armory to watch a rare legitimate contest between a boxer and jiu jitsu expert. Referee H.S. Prager started the bout between the 35-year-old Miyake and the younger boxer. Miyake warily circled de
On April 24, 1889, the Missouri Gymnasium hosted its annual event to highlight the athletic accomplishments of its members. Members showed off gymnastic skills and other athletic ability while an orchestra or the Ideal Banjo Club played music in the background. The gymnasium managers booked a main attraction for the evening. George Baptiste, a St. Louis middleweight wrestler who specialized
On Memorial Day, May 30, 1925, Joe Stecher defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko in a worked match to reclaim the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship that Stecher had lost in December 1920. Stecher was part of a conspiracy that paid Stanislaus Zbyszko to double-cross Wayne “Big” Munn in April 1925. Zbyszko defeated Munn legitimately in one of professional wrestling’s most famous double-crosses. As
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/rci48jixwdp7t79h/Episode_718mqij.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss why the Divided Championship Era lasted for three years from 1925 to 1928. I also review the original Survivor Series 1987. Update Dan recently moved to a new facility but will return to the show soon. I review one of the AEW buy-in matches from Full Gear 2024. Main
On Thursday, July 9, 1925, Ed “Strangler” Lewis made one of the early defenses of his version of the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lewis wrestled Howard Cantonwine in front of 5,000 fans at McNulty Park. After Stanislaus Zbyszko double-crossed Sandow’s and Lewis’ promotional group by defeating Wayne “Big” Munn legitimately, both Joe Stecher and Ed “Strangler” Lewis
On Thursday, March 31, 1881, 200 fans filtered into New York’s Turnverein Hall to watch Clarence Whistler wrestle Henry Moses Dufur in a three-out-of-five-falls catch-as-catch-can wrestling match with both wrestlers wearing jackets. The promoters used the rules and jackets to even the chances of each wrestler to win. Clarence Whistler specialized in Greco-Roman wrestling. Whistler took World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
When the great Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns for the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship, the boxing establishment started searching for a “white hope” to defeat Johnson. In desperation to find someone to defeat Johnson, promoters and sports writers started lobbying former World Heavyweight Champion James J. Jeffries to end his retirement to fight Johnson. Jeffries retired undefeated in 1905. After
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/gwes2cubjemajn78/Episode_708px2e.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss the recently discovered film of the 1908 match between George Hackenschmidt and Joe Rogers. Update I give a health update on Dan and talk about the upcoming podcast schedule. Main Content A film company recently restored a 1908 wrestling film between George Hackenschmidt and Joe Rogers, Part 1 and