Episode 97 – Earliest Working Group?
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In this episode, I discuss a possible circuit of working collar-and-elbow wrestlers in the 1860s and 1870s.
Intro
Hulk Hogan has received a lot of glowing tributes upon his passing. We always tend to look a little more fondly and generously on someone after they have died. The only exception I take is to those calling Hogan a great wrestler.
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Hogan was a huge superstar. Hogan knew what he should be doing and should not be doing which continued to build his stardom. However, Hogan was not a great wrestler in the ring. John Cena was the biggest superstar of the 2010s, but I don’t think anyone would call Cena the best wrestler.
Main Content
I have been looking into the career of Homer Lane and there may have been a “working” circuit of collar-and-elbow wrestlers in the 1860s comprising Homer Lane, John McMahon, and J.H. McLaughlin.
Big Four of collar-and-elbow wrestling: Henry Moses Dufur, John McMahon, J.H. McLaughlin, and Homer Lane.
I’ve written about J.H. McLaughlin wrestling Henry Moses Dufur in the past.
I wrote about John McMahon and William Muldoon because Muldoon refused to wrestle a mixed bout with McMahon with a fall in collar-and-elbow wrestling.
I did not know about Homer Lane until a month or so ago.
Why I do not intend to research professional wrestling prior to 1866 – 1866 to 1929 may be the most neglected area of American history. My real interest is catch-as-catch-can wrestling, which becomes the dominant style in the 1890s.
Recommendations and Update
The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler (affiliate link) by David I. Kertzer
Who Killed Sarah? on Netflix
Mad Bull (1977) on YouTube.
Divided Championship is now available on Amazon in e-book, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.
Website is back to normal after a couple of months.
I have started on the second edition of St. Louis’ Civil War: The Streetcar Strike of 1900.
Podcast announcement for the remainder of 2025 and 2026
Review
Summerslam 2025
Randy “Macho Man” Savage versus Jerry Lawler from 1985 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
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