Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Over the past twenty years, preservationists have found several wrestling films from the 1920s through the 1950s that were assumed lost. Fans can watch most of the newly discovered films on YouTube. One of the surviving films is eighteen minutes of an hour, twenty minutes match from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1930. Jim Londos wrestled Dick Shikat (video link) for a
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/92vbd9/Episode_288mjnr.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, my cousin Dan and I review the April 28, 1986 edition of WWF’s Prime Time Wrestling. Update Starting with the first episode in August, I should be joined in the studio by my son Caleb and my cousin Dan. We will return to the normal format of an update, main content
On Thursday, April 10, 1884, America’s first full-time professional wrestler, J.H. McLaughlin wrestled all-around Scottish athlete and wrestler Duncan C. Ross at Detroit’s Opera House. The men wrestled a three-out-of-five falls mixed styles match. McLaughlin specialized in collar-and-elbow wrestling. The men wrestled two falls under collar-and-elbow rules. Ross favored side hold rules. The men wrestled two falls by securing side
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/djsp9h/Episode_27bqc2z.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss what I learned completing my book on the first Japanese pro wrestler Sorakichi Matsuda, who wrestled in America from 1884 to 1891. Update I gave an update on my upcoming schedule. Wayfarer in a Foreign Land should be available at the end of July or August 2023 depending
On Saturday, September 10, 1910, Stanislaus Zbyszko, fresh off his first tour of the United States, wrestled the Great Gama at Shepherd’s Bush Stadium in London, England. 7,000 spectators crowded into the stadium to watch the match. A few weeks earlier, Mr. Benjamin brought a group of Pehlwani wrestlers from India to wrestle in England. Fans consider the Great Gama
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/q2bpuf/Episode_266py6d.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I discuss the 1917 and 1920 World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship matches between Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock. Update A special thank you to listener Shannon Bertrand, who let me know that I loaded the wrong episode for Episode 25. I have corrected the episode and it should be available on all
When World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion William Muldoon retired in 1889, he hoped his protege Ernest Roeber would be recognized as the new champion. However, Muldoon won his title in Greco-Roman wrestling, which was the German-born Roeber’s expertise. Unfortunately, the exploits of Martin “Farmer” Burns and Evan “The Strangler” Lewis catapulted catch-as-catch-can wrestling into the dominant style. Roeber did have a
In March 1893, newspapers across the country carried the story of a proposed match between current world light heavyweight boxing champion Jack McAuliffe and Saint Louis boxing instructor Mike Mooney. Although the match would seem odd because Mooney was such a lightly regarded challenger, the lure of $2500 a side is probably what brought the champion to the table. Adjusted
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/axyw2v/Episode_258ridr.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss an 1884 mixed styles match between J.H. McLaughlin and Duncan C. Ross. Update Shut Up and Wrestle Interview with Mike Chapman – Why I normally don’t read other historians of the time frame that I study. Based on the interview, I am going to research two matches I viewed
Ed “Strangler” Lewis is one of the top two American professional wrestlers of all-time. While Lewis was a legitimate submission wrestler, who could beat anyone in a wrestling contest, he worked almost exclusively in prearranged exhibition matches. In 1929, he took part in a match with professional football player turned wrestler, Gus Sonnenberg. Sonnenberg was on the Providence Steam Roller,