Episode 15 – Lewis’ Last Contests

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4tm282/Episode_15bmu6s.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate We have a guest in the studio this week. My cousin, Dan Zimmerman, joins us to talk about attending live wrestling cards in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Dan recounts how I almost got us both killed during a WWF wrestling card at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis during 1986. Main Topic

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Edwin Bibby Defies Old Adage

edwin-bibby

One of the oldest adages in combat sports is “a good big man always beats a good little man”.  It is the reason that we have weight divisions in boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts.  On Tuesday, November 2, 1881, 160-pound Edwin Bibby proved there are exceptions to this rule. While small, Edwin Bibby was particularly strong for his size. 

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Episode 14 – Cora Livingston

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ysgcxd/Episode_1488754.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I begin the episode by discussing the need to alternate between co-hosted and solo episodes for the foreseeable future. Main Content I discuss the early career of the first recognized Women’s World Wrestling Champion, Cora Livingston. In 1908, Livingston claimed the American Women’s Wrestling Champion after Livingston defeated Hazel Parker. Cora Livingston gained

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Jenkins Makes Himself Top Contender

tom-jenkins

(This excerpt is from my newest book on the history of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.) Jenkins proved himself the top contender as soon as McLeod won the title. On Wednesday, November 17, 1897, Tom Jenkins wrestled former title holder Martin “Farmer” Burns in Indianapolis, Indiana. The men wrestled a best two-out-of-three-falls match according to catch-as-catch-can wrestling rules. Jenkins stood

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Episode 13 – A Dangerous Match

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/agrffg/Episode_139hxwd.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, we discuss a dangerous decision Tom Jenkins made on Christmas Night 1902. Update I added a discussion about a MMA video containing pro wrestling history. Martin asked me a question about the video that I was supposed to discuss but missed in our intro for this episode. The regular episode played

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Mellie Zimmerman’s Wash Day Accident

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My great grandfather Parker L. Zimmerman married three times. After a couple of months marriage to Victoria Harris during 1897 in Franklin County, Missouri, Parker moved to Bollinger County, Missouri to be closer to his family. His parents, Samuel and Sarah Zimmerman, lived in Dongola, Bollinger, Missouri. On March 31, 1902, 27-year-old Parker married his second wife, 22-year-old Mellie Bollinger.

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Lewis Shoots With Steele

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On Monday, December 6, 1932, 41-year-old Ed “Strangler” Lewis wrestled one of his last legitimate contests to settle a promotional dispute in New York. After initially being allies in promotion, Jim Londos broke away from Jack Curley’s group in New York. To restore peace, the parties decided on a legitimate contest or “shoot” to settle the dispute. Joseph “Toots” Mondt

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Episode 12 – “Little Demon”

joe-acton

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j6x3j4/Episode_127k6rj.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I finished Shooting or Working? The History of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship earlier than expected. It is available on Amazon during this soft launch period. Main Content “Little Demon” Joe Acton arrived in the United States in 1882 to challenge Edwin Bibby for the catch-as-catch-can wrestling championship, which developed into the American

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McLeod Wrestles Wittmer

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On Tuesday, March 28, 1899, current American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Dan S. McLeod wrestled Charles Wittmer in a two-out-of-three-falls mixed styles match. Since the champion only defended the title in catch-as-catch-can matches, McLeod wrestled Wittmer in a non-title match. Wittmer, a Greco-Roman wrestling specialist, demanded he and McLeod wrestle at least one fall under Greco-Roman rules. The St. Paul Athletic

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