Evan “Würger” Lewis Zeigt Mean Streak

Evan “Würger” Lewis, auch als Evan Lewis “der Würger”, war ein Profi-Wrestler aus 1882 to 1899. Lewis was the first American Heavyweight Catch-as-Catch Can Wrestling Champion. He was also the first wrestler to perfect the “stranglehold” oder “hang hold”, was moderne MMA-Fans als Guillotine-Choke kennen.

Lewis made his professional debut by winning a 64 man tournament in May 1882. Lewis won the American title in 1887 and held it until 1895. Lewis lost the belt to Martin “Bauer” Verbrennungen, who Lewis beat in Burns’ professional debut in 1886.

Also in 1886, Lewis hat zwei Spiele, was seinen Ruf als der brutalste Wrestler seiner Zeit begründete. Lewis rang mit Matsada Sorakichi, einer der ersten japanischen Profi-Wrestler. Sorakichi came to the United States because professional wrestling was not popular in Japan at the time. Sorakichi was smaller than most wrestlers but he was about the equal of Lewis in strength. As events would show, Sorakichi was not as skilled in wrestling.

Im Januar 1886, “Der Würger” choked out Sorakichi in Chicago, Illinois. Fans am Ring sagten, Sorakichis Gesicht sei durch den Blutverlust grau geworden. A rematch was scheduled for February 15, 1886 in which Evan Lewis could not use his stranglehold.

Lewis musste sich oft mit örtlichen Behörden oder sogar den Veranstaltern auseinandersetzen, die ihm die Unterbringung seines Haustiers verbot, an dem er oft festhielt, nachdem die Person das Bewusstsein verloren hatte.

Wann immer sein Halt verboten wurde, Lewis flog vor Wut. Druck “Matte” Sorakichi würde die volle Kraft von Lewis spüren’ Wut Was er versuchte, Sorakichi anzutun, würde zwei Monate später immer noch besprochen werden. The April 6, 1886 Ausgabe der Abbeville Messenger of Abbeville, South Carolina carried an account of the match.

According to the account in the paper, Lewis almost strangled Sorakichi “to death” in January 1886. In this case, obwohl die lokalen Behörden ihre Besorgnis darüber zum Ausdruck brachten “stranglehold”, Es war der Veranstalter, der das verboten hat “stranglehold”. The stranglehold was not Evan Lewis’ only submission hold though.

Parson Davies war der Veranstalter, Wer wählte H. C. Palmer wird der Schiedsrichter für den Rückkampf sein. Both men entered the ring at 9 p.m. Evan “Würger” Lewis stood 5’09” und gewogen 180 Pfund, normal for a heavyweight of this era. Matsada Sorakichi was a couple of inches shorter at 5’06” but weighed 165 Pfund.

Sorakichi rushed Lewis in a match that lasted only a minute or so. When Sorakichi was unable to take Lewis down, he dropped to the floor in an attempt to roll to a hold. Lewis realized what Sorakichi was doing and grabbed a leg lock.

Leg locks are some of the most dangerous holds in grappling because by the time you feel pain and begin to tap, the damage has already been done to the limb. It does not appear Lewis intended to let Sorakichi tap. He put Sorakichi in a version of a kneebar with the intent of breaking his leg. Lewis only stopped due to catcalls from the fans.

Anfänglich, Lewis was smiling after releasing the hold but his expression changed due to the reaction of the fans. Sorakichi had to be helped out of the ring. Eine ärztliche Untersuchung ergab, dass das Glied nicht gebrochen war, die Bänder an Knie und Knöchel jedoch überlastet und beschädigt waren. Lewis offered no apology for what he had done.

Der 25-jährige Evan Lewis wurde im Mai geboren 24, 1860 in Ridgeway, Wisconsin. He would have a long and distinguished wrestling career. Lewis zog sich nach Wisconsin zurück, wo er im November starb 3, 1919 im Alter von 59. According to newspaper accounts, Lewis had been ill for two years.

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