Evan Lewis Strangles Tom Cannon

January 1, 2018 Ken Zimmerman Jr. Professional Wrestling

On August 26, 1886, Evan “Strangler” Lewis met the British Wrestling Champion Tom Cannon in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the legitimate wrestling era, other wrestlers feared the powerful Lewis because of his stranglehold.

Evan “Strangler” Lewis from the Public Domain

Lewis employed a carotid arterial strangle known as the rear naked choke in Judo. At least that was what I originally thought and most historians have quoted. Modern professional wrestlers use a hold that looks similar, but is not legitimate, called the sleeper hold. The arm around the neck is too loose to choke and the hand rests on top of the head not behind the head for proper choking.

Actually, Lewis used a guillotine choke similar to a front face lock but with the arms strangling the carotid artery. I discovered Lewis used a guillotine, when I found an illustration in a newspaper demonstrating his feared hold.

Some wrestlers, like Sorakichi Matsuda, refused to wrestle Lewis unless the stranglehold was banned. Lewis was a skilled “hooker”, a professional wrestler specializing in submission holds. Matsuda nearly had his leg broken by Lewis, who was enraged by the banning of his pet hold.

William Muldoon wrestled Lewis a couple of times but after a legitimate draw avoided a rematch with Lewis. The men met in Muldoon’s final match as a professional wrestler. This last match seemed prearranged.

When Lewis met Tom Cannon, Lewis was not in the mood to cooperate. The legitimate contest ended after only two falls even though it was scheduled as a best three out of five falls match.

Cannon would claim the World Title in 1901 and battled George Hackenschmidt in his prime. Cannon was a capable wrestler and actually beat Lewis for the first fall.

Cannon kept pushing Lewis away every time that Lewis tried to secure his stranglehold. During a moment of frustration, Lewis lost concentration. Cannon threw Lewis for a flying fall at 4 minutes and 30 seconds. The men rested for 15 minutes which continued to roil Lewis. “The Strangler” would not be denied in the second fall.

British Wrestler Tom Cannon from the Public Domain

The men tied up again with Cannon constantly on the defensive against the continuing attempts of Lewis to grab a stranglehold. At 9 minutes into the second fall, Lewis finally secured the stranglehold.

The rear naked choke can bring unconsciousness in seconds but a guillotine choke usually takes longer unless it is really tight. It took Lewis 30 seconds to fell Cannon. Cannon fell to the floor with Lewis on his back but the referee was slow to call the fall in Lewis’ favor. Lewis held onto the hold until the referee declared him the winner.

The stranglehold is only dangerous if it is held on for a while after the opponent has lost consciousness. The referee’s slow decision caused Lewis to apply the hold longer than he needed to. Cannon was still dizzy and unable to continue the match.

Lewis was awarded the match by forfeit. Cannon’s second Jimmy Faulkner offered to wrestle Lewis, if Lewis would not use the stranglehold. Lewis laughed at Faulkner and said he didn’t beat people up for free, so Faulkner should raise the proper side purse to face Lewis.

Lewis took the $200 side purse and prepared for his next bout. Cannon was spitting up blood and remained faint for about an hour after the bout. Lucky for Cannon he did not make “The Strangler” mad or it could have been worse.