Rusty Wescoatt, Athletics and Acting

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Born Norman Edward Wescoatt in Hawaii on August 2, 1911, “Rusty” Wescoatt played football for the University of Hawaii before making his professional wrestling debut in Hawaii during 1933. Wescoatt was also a swimming champion. Wescoatt initially made more news for his swimming than his wrestling when he traveled to the continental United States in 1935. On Easter Sunday, April

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Lewis Shoots with Wykoff

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On April 13, 1936, Ed “Strangler” Lewis wrestled his final legitimate contest with Lee Wykoff at the Hippodrome in New York City. Promoters once again called on Lewis to settle a promotional conflict. The opposing group selected Lee Wykoff, a 36-year-old shooter from Kansas. Wykoff stood six feet, one inches tall and weighed two hundred eighteen pounds. The 44-year-old Lewis

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Episode 17 – Author Lessons

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5vctyw/Episode_177wnp9.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate I will continue to release two episodes a month for the foreseeable future. The next episode will be released on Monday, January 23, 2023. I also share my thoughts on Vince McMahon forcing himself back onto the board of World Wrestling Entertainment. Main Content I speak about what I knew going into each

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Cora Livingston in 1908

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I am ashamed to say I recently discovered the career of Cora Livingston, while researching the development of the local promotor system in professional wrestling during the 1910s and 1920s. Mildred Burke was the first major woman’s wrestling champion of which I was aware. However, Cora Livingston claimed the World Championship a year before Burke was even born. Cora Livingston

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Episode 16 – Bibby vs. Ross

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https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vd4ygz/Episode_16av84t.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadUpdate To start the podcast, I make a major announcement about the podcast going forward. Main Content In this episode, I read an account of Edwin Bibby vs. Duncan C. Ross from Shooting or Working: The Story of the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. Recommendation I recommend a new series detailing stories from the territories.

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McLaughlin Wins Tournament

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On March 10, 1870, Colonel James Hiram McLaughlin competed on the last night of the International Wrestling Tournament in Detroit, Michigan. The tournament ran for almost two months before the finale on March 10th. Wrestling historians frequently credit J. H. McLaughlin as being the first professional wrestler to live only on his earnings as a professional wrestler. Most professional wrestlers

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Ned O’Baldwin Shot

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In early March 1873, bare knuckle prizefighter Ned “The Irish Giant” O’Baldwin was preparing for a potential match with Jem Mace, who claimed the World Bare Knuckle Prizefighting Championship.  However, before O’Baldwin could face Mace, he served as a second for a friend and fellow prizefighter named Hicken. Professional fighting in the 19th Century enjoyed a poor reputation outside of

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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

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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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