Autor: Ken Zimmerman Jr.

Ioan “Tigerman” Pesek wrestled several “shoot” matches during the “worked” era of the 1920s. Prin acest timp, American professional wrestlers cooperated with each other to put on exciting matches for the fans. Results were predetermined by promoters and managers. Legitimate contests or “shoots” were rare. When they did occur, it was normally to settle a dispute among promoters or a

At the end of 1905, Fred Beell was traveling America hyping up a match with former American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Tom Jenkins. Beell was a former American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion having defeated Frank Gotch in a “worked” match in New Orleans during December 1903. He lost the title back to Gotch a few weeks later. Capable wrestlers, Jenkins and Beell

Joe Stecher and John “Tiger Man” Pesek were legitimate wrestlers in a primarily “worked” era, where matches were predetermined unless someone decided to double-cross the other wrestler or promoter by turning the match into a legitimate contest. Double-crosses only worked, if the wrestler could legitimately win the match. John Pesek didn’t like the worked nature of wrestling and often turned

As the wrestler jumped off the mat, he grabbed the referee by the lapel with his good arm. “Why didn’t you stop it?” As Referee Siler tried to pull free, Duncan Ross’ seconds grabbed him and pulled him away. The men told Ross, “He can’t stop it. You have to submit.” Ross screamed, “I’m out of here.” As Ross walked

În 1922, New York promoter Jack Curley ran afoul of the Gold Dust Trio, manager Billy Sandow, Campionul mondial la lupte grele Ed “Strangler” Lewis and wrestler/promotional genius Joseph “Toots” Mondt. The Trio controlled the world championship and froze Curley out of booking the champion. To get even with the Trio, Curley began aggressively promoting Olympic wrestling silver medalist and collegiate

Stanislaus Zbyszko a călătorit în Statele Unite în 1909 caută un meci cu campionul mondial de lupte grele recunoscut Frank Gotch. Pentru a fi în formă pentru această provocare și a crea anticiparea pentru meciul pentru titlu, Zbyskzo a făcut un turneu în majoritatea orașelor mari din Statele Unite. During May 1910, Zbyszko a ajuns în St. Louis pentru meciul său cu un luptător capabil Charles

Decembrie 14, 1922, o multime de 10,000 fanii au umplut St. Louis Coliseum pentru a urmări revanșa dintre actualul campion mondial la lupte grele Ed “Strangler” Lewis și fostul campion Stanislaus Zbyszko. Lewis “învins” Zbyszko pentru titlul la Wichita, Kansas în martie 1922. Necunoscut acestor fani, planul era ca Zbyszko să piardă meciul în fața lui Lewis dar

In January 1905, well-regarded wrestler Gus Schoenlein, also known as Americus, agreed to meet Fred Beell in Schoenlein’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Schoenlein expected to beat Beell easily. At 5’10” și 210 de lire sterline, “Americus” towered over the 5’04”, 170 pound Beell. While Beell was powerfully built, Schoenlein’s 40 pounds was a mountainous advantage. Both men were skilled wrestlers though. În al doilea rând,