George Tragos, an Crippler Bunaidh

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George Tragos gained fame as the trainer of Lou Thesz, the dominant National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion of the 1950s and early 1960s. Tragos, a 1920 Olympian for his native Greece, possessed an impeccable resume in legitimate wrestling. Born March 14, 1901, in Messinia, Greece, Tragos won national wrestling titles before representing Greece at the 1920 Olympics at only

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Colscaradh Wladek Zbyszko

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At the end of 1932, 22-year-old Vila Milli sued her husband, professional wrestler Wladek Zbyszko, for divorce alleging physical cruelty and adultery. Milli charged the 41-year-old Zbyszko with physical cruelty for “hugging her too hard.” Justice Dunne of the Brooklyn Supreme Court heard the divorce case. He expressed doubt that Zbyszko abused his wife. Mar sin féin, he did not dismiss the

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Evan Lewis Launches Pro Career

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While researching the history of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (1881 – 1922), I discovered Evan “Strangler” Lewis’ early matches in Montana. Prior to researching this topic, I thought Lewis started his career by winning a 64-man wrestling tournament in Montana during 1882. Mar sin féin, Lewis did not win the tournament. In May 1882, Lewis wrestled in a Cornish wrestling tournament

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Gotch vs. Zbyszko Now Available

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Frank Gotch dominated American wrestling from 1905 to his retirement in 1913. Gotch, the current American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, won the biggest match of his career on April 3, 1908. Gotch defeated current World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Georg Hackenschmidt in Chicago, Illinois. Gotch proved as dominant a World Champion as he had been as the American Champion. Gotch agreed to

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Gotch Wrestles Handicap Match

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Ar Déardaoin, Aibreán 29, 1909, Frank Gotch traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to wrestle highly regarded light heavyweight wrestler Charles Hackenschmidt. Hackenschmidt won the World Light Heavyweight Wrestling Championship under his real name, John Berg. Although fans thought well of Berg, they did not see him as a threat to defeat Frank Gotch in a straight match. To increase fan interest

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Stecher Busts a Trust Buster

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Joe Stecher wrestled during a transitional time in American professional wrestling. Prior to 1900, wrestlers engaged primarily in legitimate contests although wrestlers did work matches occasionally. After 1915, all wrestlers worked their matches. Wrestlers wrestled legitimate contests only to settle promotional dispute or to pull off a double-cross. From 1900 to 1915, wrestlers engaged in a mixture of worked matches

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Englishmen Wrestle for American Title

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Ar Lúnasa 7, 1882, American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Edwin Bibby defended his title against English Champion Joe Acton at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The men wrestled a “catch-as-catch-can” match for the world championship. Mar sin féin, the public did not recognize the winner of the bout as the world champion. The public recognized the winner as the American Heavyweight

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Phós Frank Gotch

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(Sliocht as mo leabhar nua é an postáil seo, Gotch vs. Zbyszko: An Rompu Fuascailte, foilsithe ar Feabhra 2, 2022.) Tharla an imeacht is tábhachtaí a chuir isteach ar thodhchaí ghairm bheatha Frank Gotch i mí Eanáir 11, 1911. Phós Gotch an t-iar Gladys Oestrich ag teach a tuismitheora i Humboldt, Iowa. Bean. Gotch preferred that Frank retire from the ring which

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John Lemm Gets a Second Chance

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Ar Eanáir 2, 1911, Swiss wrestler John Lemm found himself the laughingstock of professional wrestling fans and reporters. The incident occurred when Lemm wrestled Stanislaus Zbyszko in Buffalo, Nua-Eabhrac. Fans considered Zbyszko the top contender for Frank Gotch’s world title. Zbyszko was a world class wrestler although more skilled in Greco-Roman wrestling than catch wrestling. Lemm was a skilled

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Miyake vs. Santel Mixed Bout

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Ar Deireadh Fómhair 20, 1920, Ad Santel, a noted “hooker” or skilled submission wrestler, met Taro Miyake, a Judo and Jujitsu black belt, in a mixed wrestling vs. jujitsu contest. After about 20 soicind, Santel secured a half-Nelson on Miyake, lifted him off the mat and slammed Miyake to the floor. The impact knocked Miyake senseless. Miyake’s seconds assisted him back

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