Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
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
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vshx3gjgwm4rj5rz/Episode_8580dxm.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss a controversial referee’s decision in the 1905 match between Fred Beell and Gus “Americus” Schoenlein. Recommendation – Triple H’s Hall of Fame Speech Pin It
Jim Londos developed a national reputation as one of the top professional wrestlers during the 1910s. However, Londos’ career took a major step forward when Londos started wrestling for the fledgling St. Louis promotion in the early 1920s. Londos headlined the first card in late 1921. Londos wrestled on the second card on Thursday, January 26, 1922, as well. Current
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nd78b7jmtzvbix6w/Episode_84aukfm.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I review a closed door match between Tom Jenkins and Fred Beell. I also review The Iron Claw (2023). Update I gave a presentation What are Yeggmen? The intersection of Building History and True Crime at the Eugene Field House and Toy Museum on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Last week, A
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