More Beating Than Shoot
I’ve written in the past that Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce by Marcus Griffin is a problematic source. While Griffin has insider knowledge due to his time in the Buffalo promotional office in the 1930s, he wrote the book for the purpose of revenge against the promoters who fired him.
The book contains factual information mixed in with interesting tales and pointed, but biased, criticism. I believe it is a better source to point you in the right direction for research than a source to rely on for completely accurate information.
Photo of “Strangler” Lewis and Joe Stecher prior to their 1928 match in St. Louis (Public Domain)
One of the stories in the book concerns Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Man Mountain Dean from 1935. Dean was seen as an up-and-coming wrestler, while 44-year-old Lewis was nearing the end of his career.
Lewis put Dean over in a St. Louis match, which Dean subsequently bragged about. Dean supposedly made it worse by telling Lewis, who held a door open for him, that Dean used to follow Lewis but now Lewis followed him.
The insult supposedly led to Lewis shooting on Dean and hurting him legitimately. However, the actual facts look a little different.
Dean was considered the winner over Lewis in a St. Louis match on November 7, 1935. Lewis was supposedly so confident of a victory that he told Tom Packs, if he couldn’t beat Dean within the 20-minute time limit, Dean would be considered the winner.
The match ended in a 20-minute draw. Due to Lewis’ statements, Dean was declared the winner. The fans didn’t like the match, which allowed Lewis to put Dean over without actually losing to him.
The lone “highlight” occurred when 250 pound Lewis rolled 317 pound Man Mountain Dean onto the poor referee, who was checking the mens’ shoulders. Referee Fred Voepel feebly pounded the mat but couldn’t free himself from the 567 pound pile of wrestler on top of him. After a minute or so, Lewis finally let Dean up. Voepel said after the match that he felt like a bus parked on him.
Lewis arranged for a rematch in December 1935. Griffin definitely got one thing right. By the time of the match on December 19, 1935, Ed “Strangler” Lewis was very angry. The match didn’t turn into a contest though. It was a flat out beating.
When Lewis shot on someone, he wrestled the other man with the intention of legitimately winning a contest. Lewis didn’t seem to care whether he won this match or not.
Dean was the same height as Lewis, 5’11”, but was much heavier as we discussed earlier. Despite the size disadvantage, Lewis shoved Dean around the ring. Lewis also added in the odd palm strike to Dean’s head. Lewis never attempted to tie-up and wrestle Dean.
After about 5 minutes of the rough treatment, Dean attempted to pick Lewis up and throw him over the top rope. Lewis simply held on and hooked the top rope causing both men to fall over the top rope and onto the floor.
Lewis reentered the ring as referee Fred Voepel began counting Dean out. Dean started to reenter the ring at the count of ten but Lewis punched him in the nose. Dean fell back out of the ring with a bloody nose.
Dean finally got back in the ring but Lewis shoved him from behind. When Dean turned around, Lewis again punched Dean knocking him to the mat. When referee Voepel tried to stop Lewis, Lewis pushed him out of the way.
Voepel jumped out to the floor and asked the ringside doctor to check on Dean. He then disqualified Lewis for his flagrant violation of the rules. The small crowd, only 4,637 fans paid $3,751.25 to see this rematch, erupted at this decision calling for Voepel’s head despite the clear rule violations.
Missouri State Athletic Commissioner Ernest Oakley spoke with Voepel about his decision. After a short conference, Oakley reversed the decision and named Lewis the winner. Oakley felt Voepel was too quick to disqualify Lewis. It was only the second time in 10 years that a commissioner reversed a referee’s decision in St. Louis.
This mess of match obviously wasn’t planned, so Voepel may have been trying to preserve Dean’s record in St. Louis. However, it was not uncommon for a wrestler to be disqualified for punching an opponent as matches were supposed to be athletic events contested by rules during this era.
Whether Griffin’s account is partially true or not, Man Mountain Dean did anger Lewis and paid the price for it. If Lewis ever held a door for him again, Dean probably said, “Thank you, Ed.”
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Sources: St. Louis Star and Times, November 8, 1935 edition, p. 24, December 20, 1935 edition, p. 26 and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 20, 1935 edition, p.26.
