Episode 111 – Homer Works Us

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In this episode, I discuss a collar-and-elbow match with Homer Lane in 1875. I also compare Tom Packs’ and Sam Muchnick’s St. Louis wrestling cards in April 1946.

Update

I will finish the second edition of St. Louis’ Civil War in early December. After completing this highly violent episode of St. Louis history, it will be nice to get back to the good family fun of guys just trying to stretch each other instead of bashing in someone’s head with a brick.

Main Content

I was researching the alleged ring of collar-and-elbow wrestlers in the late 1860s and 1870s. Yes, I have found evidence that there was at least a loose ring of collar-and-elbow wrestlers consisting for sure of Homer Lane, Col. J.H. McLaughlin, and John McMahon.

In 1875, Lane and John McMahon are touring the United States and wrestling each other for the World Collar-and-Elbow Championship as well as wrestling other wrestlers. They stopped in St. Louis during 1875 but didn’t wrestle each other.

While researching, a Homer Lane match from San Francisco caught my eye.

Recommendations

Ilia Dragunov vs. Aleister Black on October 24, 2025 Smackdown

Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine Dog Collar Match from Starrcade 1983

Review

Comparing Tom Packs’ and Sam Muchnick’s wrestling cards from April 1946. It was Sam’s sixth wrestling card in St. Louis.

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