Ken Zimmerman Jr.

On St. Patrick’s Day 1908, Martin “Mkulima” Burns alikutana na Fred Beell mdogo lakini mwenye nguvu. Huku wapambanaji wote wawili wakiwa na uzito 165 paundi, “Mkulima” Burns ilisimama 5'11” kwa Beell 5’04”. Beell mwenye umri wa miaka 32 alikuwa na faida kubwa ya umri zaidi ya Burns mwenye umri wa miaka 47 ingawa. Burns ilianza kuingia 1879, wakati Beell alikuwa na umri wa miaka 3. Wanaume hao walipangwa kwa mechi huko Omaha, Nebraska, moja

Na “Strangler” Lewis enjoyed one of the most successful careers in professional wrestling. Although Lewis wrestled in mostly staged exhibitions, he possessed legitimate wrestling skills. Future protege Lou Thesz said many times Lewis could beat any wrestler at any time, kwa hivyo alikuwa bingwa bora wa ulimwengu katika enzi ya kisasa ya mechi zilizopangwa mapema. Hata hivyo, early in his career, Lewis

Mwishoni mwa Desemba 1916, tukio la ajabu lilitokea. John F. Olin, mpiga mieleka wa Massachusetts, alishinda mechi na Bingwa wa Dunia wa sasa Joe Stecher. Mwamuzi alimtangaza Olin kuwa mshindi baada ya Stecher kuondoka kwenye mechi. Kabla ya Muungano wa Kitaifa wa Mieleka (NWA) ilifanya mabadiliko ya sheria katika miaka ya 1950, michuano iliyopita mikono kwa njia ya kutofuzu au

John “Tigerman” Mchanga alishindana kadhaa “shoot” mechi wakati wa “worked” enzi ya miaka ya 1920. By this time, Wacheza mieleka wa Kimarekani walishirikiana na kila mmoja kuweka mechi za kusisimua kwa mashabiki. Matokeo yaliamuliwa mapema na wakuzaji na wasimamizi. Mashindano halali au “shoots” zilikuwa nadra. Zilipotokea, ilikuwa kawaida kusuluhisha mzozo kati ya waendelezaji au a

At the end of 1905, Fred Beell was traveling America hyping up a match with former American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Tom Jenkins. Beell was a former American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion having defeated Frank Gotch in a “worked” match in New Orleans during December 1903. He lost the title back to Gotch a few weeks later. Capable wrestlers, Jenkins and Beell

Joe Stecher and John “Tiger Man” Pesek were legitimate wrestlers in a primarily “worked” era, where matches were predetermined unless someone decided to double-cross the other wrestler or promoter by turning the match into a legitimate contest. Double-crosses only worked, if the wrestler could legitimately win the match. John Pesek didn’t like the worked nature of wrestling and often turned

As the wrestler jumped off the mat, he grabbed the referee by the lapel with his good arm. “Why didn’t you stop it?” As Referee Siler tried to pull free, Duncan Ross’ seconds grabbed him and pulled him away. The men told Ross, “He can’t stop it. You have to submit.” Ross screamed, “I’m out of here.” As Ross walked

In 1922, New York promoter Jack Curley ran afoul of the Gold Dust Trio, manager Billy Sandow, Bingwa wa Dunia wa Mieleka ya Uzito Mzito Ed “Strangler” Lewis and wrestler/promotional genius Joseph “Toots” Mondt. The Trio controlled the world championship and froze Curley out of booking the champion. To get even with the Trio, Curley began aggressively promoting Olympic wrestling silver medalist and collegiate

Stanislaus Zbyszko traveled to the United States in 1909 seeking a match with recognized World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch. To get in shape for this challenge and build anticipation for the title match, Zbyskzo toured most of the major cities in the United States. During May 1910, Zbyszko arrived in St. Louis for his match with capable wrestler Charles