Mwandishi: Ken Zimmerman Jr.

John “Tigerman” Mchanga alishindana kadhaa “shoot” mechi wakati wa “worked” enzi ya miaka ya 1920. By this time, Wacheza mieleka wa Kimarekani walishirikiana na kila mmoja kuweka mechi za kusisimua kwa mashabiki. Matokeo yaliamuliwa mapema na wakuzaji na wasimamizi. Mashindano halali au “shoots” zilikuwa nadra. Zilipotokea, ilikuwa kawaida kusuluhisha mzozo kati ya waendelezaji au 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

In 1922, New York promoter Jack Curley ran afoul of the Gold Dust Trio, manager Billy Sandow, Bingwa wa Dunia wa Mieleka ya Uzito Mzito 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 traveled to the United States in 1909 seeking a match with recognized World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch. To get in shape for this challenge and build anticipation for the title match, Zbyskzo toured most of the major cities in the United States. During May 1910, Zbyszko arrived in St. Louis for his match with capable wrestler Charles

Desemba 14, 1922, umati wa 10,000 mashabiki walijaa St. Louis Coliseum kutazama pambano la marudiano kati ya Bingwa wa sasa wa Mieleka ya Uzito wa Juu Ed “Strangler” Lewis na bingwa wa zamani Stanislaus Zbyszko. Lewis “kushindwa” Zbyszko kwa jina la Wichita, Kansas mwezi Machi 1922. Haijulikani kwa mashabiki hawa, the plan was for Zbyszko to lose the match to Lewis but

Katika Januari 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” na 210 paundi, “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. Pili,