Wladek Zbyszko Loses Unexpectedly

wladek-zbyszko

Wladek Zbyszko’s legacy is often overshadowed by his brother Stanislaus Zbyszko.  Stanislaus, who was 12 years older, posed the last real threat to Frank Gotch’s World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. Wladek Zbyszko was a skilled wrestler in his own right.  Unfortunately, he didn’t arrive in the United States until 1914, when most wrestling matches were prearranged.  Wladek had proved his bona

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Charley Olson Kills Wrestler

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I’ve frequently found the biggest challenge in researching early professional wrestling is separating fact from fiction.  Even when the wrestlers competed in legitimate matches, they often inflated outcomes, built up apocryphal folklore around their victories and made up fanciful tales to explain away their losses.  Professional wrestling sprang from the carnivals and retained the promotional instincts of this art. St.

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Stanislaus Zbyszko Defeats Former Boxer

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On January 10, 1910, recently arrived Polish wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko took on Charlie “The Kid” Cutler in a best two-out-of-three falls match.  Cutler had been a boxer in a troupe run by John L. Sullivan before transitioning to wrestling.  While Cutler was extremely tough, Stanislaus Zbyszko had been wrestling since his youth.  Zbyszko would use these skills to overcome Cutler

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The One Opponent Gotch Could Not Beat

frank-gotch

On December 16, 1917, Frank Alvin Gotch lost a three week battle with uremic poisoning.  Doctors attempted to keep his kidneys going through an operation in Chicago but it provided only temporary relief.  Gotch intended to travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas to try and restore his health.  The operation ended this hope.  Gotch spent the last couple weeks only able

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John L. Sullivan Arrested

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On Tuesday, November 18, 1884, World Heavyweight Bare-Knuckle Prizefighting Champion John L. Sullivan fought Al Greenfield at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sullivan needed to overcome more than just his opponent in this bout. The men originally agreed to fight on Monday, November 17, 1884, but New York City authorities threatened the men with arrest. The wrangling with

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Lewis’ and Acton’s Hippodrome

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On Monday, February 7, 1887, Evan “Strangler” Lewis and “Little Demon” Joe Acton met at Battery D in Chicago, Illinois.  It would be the first of several exhibition bouts between the men.  They performed these exhibitions in the larger Midwestern cities in early 1887.  Like the St. Paul match I covered in an earlier post, Lewis and Acton agreed to

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Evan Lewis’ Stranglehold

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This post was formally a podcast broadcast in 2015.  In this episode, I discuss what Evan “The Strangler” Lewis’ hold would be called today. Main Content – When I first heard of the stranglehold or “hang hold” of Evan “The Strangler” Lewis, it sounded like a guillotine choke.  However, several sources I checked described it as a rear naked choke. Lewis

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Kilrain Battles Godfrey in Brutal Fight

george-godfrey

On Friday, March 13, 1891, Jake Kilrain fought George Godfrey at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco, California. The men fought for a trophy and $5,000. The men entered the ring at 9:52 p.m. William Muldoon, former World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, seconded Kilrain, who Muldoon trained for this fight. Muldoon trained Kilrain’s opponent, John L. Sullivan, for their 1889

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