Posts and podcasts about professional wrestling in the 19th Century
In this episode, I will be talking a wrestler who need “liquid courage” to climb in the ring with Evan “The Strangler” Lewis. Update Tragic Storms on Friday, March 14, 2025 Main Content Evan Lewis Defeats a Drunken Wrestler In 1887, Evan “The Strangler” Lewis signed to wrestled Englishman Jack Wannock, the Cornish Wrestling Champion, Chicago Mayor Roche issued a […]
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In this episode, I discuss William Muldoon wrestling a contest that was not much of a contest. Between falls, Muldoon demonstrated his system of physical training. WWE put on their first disappointing card of the Paul Levesque era with Elimination Chamber 2025. The last ride of the Over the Hill Gang ruined an underwhelming card. In the history segment, I […]
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In this episode, we discuss Bernarr MacFadden’s professional wrestling career in St. Louis, Missouri. Update I discuss a recent email and provide an update on the Divided Championship project. Main Content For years, I could not find any account of Bernarr MacFadden’s exploits as a professional wrestler in St. Louis. While research the beginnings of what would become Tom Packs’ […]
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On April 24, 1889, the Missouri Gymnasium hosted its annual event to highlight the athletic accomplishments of its members. Members showed off gymnastic skills and other athletic ability while an orchestra or the Ideal Banjo Club played music in the background. The gymnasium managers booked a main attraction for the evening. George Baptiste, a St. Louis middleweight wrestler who specialized […]
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In this episode, I discuss why the Divided Championship Era lasted for three years from 1925 to 1928. I also review the original Survivor Series 1987. Update Dan recently moved to a new facility but will return to the show soon. I review one of the AEW buy-in matches from Full Gear 2024. Main Content After the world title was […]
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In this episode, I discuss the professional wrestling and refereeing career of St. Louis’ first professional wrestler, George Baptiste. Update With this episode, we will now be a weekly podcast. We may do review episodes occasionally. Dan will also be returning to the show in two weeks. Shooter in a Worked World: John Pesek and the 1920s Promotional Wars is […]
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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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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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On Thursday, October 7, 1884, Colonel James Hiram McLaughlin wrestled Henry Moses Dufur for what both men claimed would be the last time. The 40-year-olds specialized in collar-and-elbow wrestling. The men wrestled in Detroit, Michigan, the home territory of McLaughlin. The match took place at the Detroit Opera House in front of a small crowd. Professional wrestling had not developed […]
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In this episode, I discuss the upcoming podcast schedule and revisions to kenzimmermanjr.com. Update I removed many of the Legacy posts around genealogy, family life, and film. I discuss why in this episode about why I started blogging and how the website has changed over that time. You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any […]
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