John “The Nebraska Tigerman” Pesek started wrestling professionally in 1915, but Pesek was more suited to the 1885 professional wrestling ring. By 1915, wrestlers worked their matches. Skilled lightweight wrestler Clarence Ecklund trained Pesek in catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Pesek developed into a skilled hooker or submission wrestler. Pesek never liked working and wrestled contests in his early career. Eventually, Pesek did […]
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In this episode, we discuss 1925-1928, when both Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Joe Stecher claimed the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. Update Caleb, Trey and I discuss Dan’s suggestion that we go to a weekly podcast. Shooter in a Worked World: John Pesek and the 1920s Promotional Wars is available on Amazon. I also recommend UFC Chronicles: The Baddest Dude on […]
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When Frank Gotch retired as World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion after beating Georg Lurich in his last match, promoters scrambled to find a successor. Samuel Rachmann tried to put forth his own champion by hosting the 1915 International Wrestling Tournament in New York City. Rachmann wanted his challenger Aberg to win the tournament and be recognized by the public as the […]
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In this episode, we look at Taro Miyake’s challenge matches in England and review one of the few double-crosses after the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance. Update I will release the John Pesek book in early to mid-September 2024. I hope to complete the next book by December 2024. I recommended the FightLore series on YouTube about early UFC […]
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During March 1910, the United States Attorney General in Council Bluffs, Iowa charged John C. Mabray (a version of his actual name, Mabry) and a dozen defendants with using the mail to commit gambling fraud in professional boxing, professional wrestling, and professional horse racing. Mabry, a livestock dealer living in Kansas City, Missouri, employed insiders in boxing, wrestling, and horse […]
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In this episode, I am joined by my cousin Dan as we discuss the controversial 1887 match between Evan “Strangler” Lewis and English catch wrestler Tom Connors. Update I finished the edits of the John Pesek book this week. After proofreading and editing, it should be out the first week in September 2024. The passing of Kevin Sullivan The state […]
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In the early morning hours of August 5, 1933, four safe burglars broke a window at the Marshfield Brewing Company in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The burglars knocked a dial off the safe and removed $1,550.00 in federal stamps. In 2024 dollars, the burglars stole over $37,000.00. The same burglars successfully took another $1,000 in federal stamps from the Wausau Brewing Company […]
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Early in his career, Fred Beell wrestled Gus “Americus” Schoenlein in 1904 and 1905. During the 1904 match, Beell won the only fall and match. Schoenlein wanted to avenge this defeat. In May 1905, Schoenlein’s manager secured a rematch in Schoenlein’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Schoenlein stood five feet, ten inches tall and weighed 210 pounds. Beell usually faced a […]
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In this episode, I discuss the development of the St. Louis wrestling promotion under Tom Packs and Sam Muchnick. Update We will issue two episodes next month on August 12, 2024, and August 26, 2024. I will not publish the John “The Nebraska Tigerman” Pesek book until the end of August or middle of September 2024. Main Content I cover […]
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D. A. McMillan served as a competent journeyman wrestler during the last two decades of the 19th Century. McMillan wrestled American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Martin “Farmer” Burns in a worked gambling scheme that a newspaper reporter exposed. While McMillan never won the American title, McMillan beat lesser competition before the better wrestlers like Burns defeated him. On December 22, 1888, […]
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