Matsuda Wins First Match

Sorakichi Matsuda originally trained in sumo wrestling. When Matsuda decided to become a catch-as-catch-can wrestler, he was forced to travel to the United States. Professional wrestling would not become popular in Japan until the middle of the Twentieth Century.

Upon arriving in the United States in 1883, it took Matsuda a few months to secure a match. He finally secured a match with skilled English wrestler Edwin Bibby in January 1884. Bibby defeated the strong but novice wrestler. Matsuda would later get his revenge but since both men took part in prearranged matches, it is difficult to tell if the match was a legitimate contest or not.

However, Matsuda won his first competitive match in March 1884, when he met the much larger but not as skilled Captain James Daly, “the Irish Wrestling Champion”. Captain Daly was Irish but the champion part is probably hyperbole.

The wrestlingdata.com site lists four matches for Daly over six years. Daly lost three matches and drew one. The title “Captain” also seems to indicate some other form of primary employment.

Daly did possess was a tremendous physique. Standing 6’01” and weighing 220 pounds, Daly presented a physical challenge for anyone. Matsuda was up for the challenge.

Sorakichi Matsuda was powerful but short for a heavyweight. Standing only 5’06”, Matsuda weighed a powerful 185 pounds. Matsuda was not necessarily at a strength disadvantage but his lack of height probably prevented him becoming World Champion. Matsuda made credible challenges to both William Muldoon and Martin “Farmer” Burns.

På Mars 24, 1890, Matsuda met Daly in New York City’s Clarendon Hall. The bout was to be contested in two catch-as-catch can falls, two Japanese style falls and if the bout was still not decided, a coin would be flipped for the fifth and final fall.

Wrestling veteran “Pop” Whittaker was master of ceremonies and the referee, which would be controversial before the end of the bout. Sorakichi Matsuda was seconded by a fellow Japanese man, who could speak both English and Japanese. Whittaker threw a coin and Daly won the toss. The bout started in “catch-as-catch-can” stil.

Matsuda and Daly attacked each other off Whittaker’s call of “time”. Daly grabbed Matsuda’s neck, back and arms but Matsuda shrugged off every attempt. Matsuda grabbed a single leg takedown and with a powerful twist of his torso dropped Daly onto his back. Matsuda pushed Daly’s shoulders to the mat constituting the first fall.

Matsuda did not understand the rules or that the match was over, so he continued pushing Daly’s shoulders to the mat. The crowd became agitated over what they viewed as poor sportsmanship but it was Matsuda’s inability to understand English. His interpreter continued to try and get his attention before New York Police Captain McCullough drug Matsuda off Daly. Matsuda took the fall in 56 and a half seconds.

The crowd, who strongly supported Daly throughout the match, was in near riot mode, when referee “Pops” Whittaker stood on a chair. “This is a bona fide, up-and-up, honorable match. I am the referee and I will decide justly if it takes my other arm. Matsada Sorakichi wins the fall. Both shoulders down constitutes a fall.”

It was pretty clear Daly was overmatched. To start the next fall, Matsuda grabbed Daly but Daly grabbed Matsuda’s head and tried to throw him with a twisting neck hold. Matsuda broke free, grabbed Daly by the waist and threw him on his back and shoulders for the second fall. In Japanese style, any part of the body touching the mat constituted a fall. Matsuda took the fall in 16 sekunder.

When the men landed, Daly reversed on top of Matsuda, who already scored the fall. The fans unfamiliar with the rules again yelled “foul”. Matsuda was confused by all the commotion.

When Daly’s handler William Barry refused to have Daly come out for the third fall unless a new referee was named. “Pops” Whittaker probably saw the ruse for what it was and refused. Barry was determined to get Daly out of the match before he was further embarrassed. Whittaker named Sorakichi Matsuda the winner after Barry did refused to let Daly come back out.

Sorakichi Matsuda would develop into one of the most skilled professional wrestlers of the legitimate era. He was absolutely fearless and took on anyone regardless of how much size he was giving away. Tragisk, Matsuda died in 1891 på 32 år.

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Source: Omaha Daily Bee, March 28, 1884, p. 4

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