Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
On Tuesday, January 29, 1884, approximately two thousand fans crowded into the Detroit Opera House to watch the first of a two-match series between Colonel James H. McLaughlin and Henry Moses Dufur. The crowd had to delight the organizers and wrestlers. Matches drawing crowds in the thousands were rare during the 19th Century. Organizers claimed McLaughlin was defending the American
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
When thinking about African American history month, I thought about the first great Black wrestler that I saw personally. When I started watching wrestling in St. Louis during 1979, “Sailor” Art Thomas wrestled regularly on Wrestling at the Chase, our local weekly wrestling show. Wrestling at the Chase aired every Sunday at 11 a.m. on KPLR Channel 11. Although Thomas
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