Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
On Friday, June 10, 1910, World Middleweight Boxing Champion Stanley Ketchel fought his last fight against unheralded Jim Smith. Ketchel has cleared out the middleweight division, so boxing promoters struggled to find suitable competition for Ketchel. At only 24 years old, Ketchel lived hard and fought constantly causing an early breakdown of his body. After fighting Smith, Ketchel intended to
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/tv5pwz/Episode_49bc4u6.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this solo episode, I look at John “The Nebraska Tiger Man” Pesek settling two promotional wars in the 1920s. Update I take the rare step of complimenting Tony Khan twice in the same episode. Main Content In Lou Thesz’s autobiography Hooker (affiliate link), Thesz shares Ed “Strangler” Lewis depiction of John “The Nebraska
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ecq6xe/Episode_4871v8z.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss who is responsible for all the legends and stories around professional wrestling by looking at the Legend of Chief Two Feathers. Update We discuss some corrections to the episode on William Muldoon and Clarence Whistler. I also share my thoughts on WWE Elimination Chamber, since I was the only
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4gvdnq/Episode_477tfz4.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss the careers of Jim Londos and Primo Carnera leading into a review of the 1950 wrestling match. Update We start off with an update about our recording schedule. One of the team is on the injured reserve, so we will be recording on Skype for the next several episodes.
In mixed style bouts between wrestlers and strikers, the adage is once the wrestler gets his hands on the striker, the fight is over. In most mixed style bouts between wrestlers or grapplers and boxers, the grappler normally wins after dragging the striker to the ground. Ray Steele defeated Battling Levinsky. “Judo” Gene LeBell smashed Milo Savage. In modern
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/wcgriz/Episode_469ayhx.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss William Muldoon vs. Clarence Whistler as we try to be more positive this week. Update We only spend a few minutes talking about the Vince McMahon scandal. I make a book recommendation, Ken Patera: Weight of the World (affiliate link), and share a few stories about my dad, Ernest
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/6qx7wc/Episode_457r6gp.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss the Vince McMahon scandal, the dirty deeds of promoters in the past, and review the 2024 Royal Rumble. We end this long episode talking about wrestling on TV in St. Louis during the 1980s. Update We spend time discussing the WWE scandal involving Vince McMahon and John Laurenitius. Main
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/apvrw5/Episode_449wyfa.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I have committed to finishing the St. Louis history book in the next few months. Since I also want to finish the story of Ed “Strangler” Lewis’ career, I am going to work on both projects at the same time. I should finish both projects by late summer or early fall 2024. I
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/n9e7e9/Episode_4382qwo.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I have finished writing Origins of a Legend: The Making of Ed “Strangler” Lewis. After editing, it should be released in late January/early February 2024. We briefly discuss Vince Russo’s ideas for a women’s wrestling organization. We try to figure out the market for this material. We also suggest a therapist is probably
Jack Claybourne, one of the earliest African-American, professional wrestlers, was born Elmer Claybourn at Mexico, Missouri, on March 8, 1910. In 1910, Mexico was home to about 5,939 residents. Claybourne started his professional wrestling career in Missouri in 1931. Initially, Claybourne wrestled in nearby Moberly, Missouri. Moberly had a population of 13,722 residents compared to 8,290 residents in Mexico, Missouri