Episode 145 – Lewis v. Londos

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In this episode, I discuss Ed “Strangler” Lewis defending his world title against Jim Londos in St. Louis during 1924.

News and Updates

Conor McGregor lost his last fight due to a devastating leg injury. Father Time doesn’t do the job for anyone.

Vince McMahon’s and Janelle Grant’s legal teams agreed to submit their dispute to binding arbitration. We will never know the truth of what happened.

I have been invited to present in front of the St. Louis World’s Fair Society.

Main Event

On Tuesday, April 1, 1924, Ed “Strangler” Lewis defended his World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship against Jim Londos at the St. Louis’ Coliseum. Londos, St. Louis’ most popular wrestler, gave Lewis a good match.

Tom Packs took over the St. Louis promotion a year earlier and continued his uncle, John Contos’, booking of Londos as the biggest fan favorite in Saint Louis. This strategy paid off as 5,200 fans paid $35,000 to watch this match. Packs gave away another 800 tickets for a crowd of 6,000 fans. The $35,000 gate was the second biggest gate in the two plus years of the St. Louis promotion. In 2026 dollars, it would be $686,000.

Lewis played the heal in the match by constantly escaping Londos’ holds by stepping into the ropes forcing a rope break. Lewis and Londos also threw each other out of the ring fourteen times between the two wrestlers. One of the throws proved errant and caused Londos trouble for a couple of weeks.

Lewis used the headlock extensively showing the men worked the match. Lewis also only used the headlock once to throw Londos. Through out the match, Lewis applied a standing headlock to Londos not forcing Londos to the mat. Lewis threw Londos for the first fall at one hour, two minutes with the headlock throw.

Londos evened up the match in twenty-two minutes, thirty-five seconds with a toe hold. After an intermission, Londos tried for another toe hold. Just when it looked liked Londos would win the title, Lewis jumped on Londos and pinned him in fifteen mintues for the title.

Recommendations and Reviews

Bruiser Brody: Wreslting’s Last Rebel on YouTube – Will review the documentary on the next episode.

St. Louis wrestling card on April 1, 1924

Main Event – Lewis versus Londos

Co-Main Event – Joseph “Toots” Mondt versus Renato Gardini

Wrestled to a one-hour draw. Nearly crashed into the press row when Gardini threw Mondt out of the ring onto the press table.

Opener – Hans Steinke defeated Luis Rolazon

German-born Steinke defeated Rolazon, born in Argentina, in eighteen minutes, ten seconds with body scissors.

What in the Wide Wide World of Sports is going on in AEW? Why does Tony Khan or anyone else think Will Osprey versus Kenny Omega will be better than Will Osprey versus MJF?

CM Punk wins the Undisputed Title setting up a big money program with Cody Rhodes. Not a fan of how Sami’s title reign was booked. AEW did a better job with the short-term title reign of Darby Allen.

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