Pro Wrestling History Nerds

Tom Jenkins took the American championship with him to West Point, where he coached wrestling and boxing. The sporting world and his top challengers were outraged! What would it take to get Tom Jenkins back in the ring, and against whom? Listen up and find out!   Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American and British Newspapers.

The aftermath of Tom Jenkins vs Fred Beell, another visit to England, an Advertisement for "medicinal" whiskey, and a job offer from President Theodore Roosevelt Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American and British Newspapers.

George Hackenschimdt comes to America, Frank Gotch talks trash to the press, Fred Beell calls out Tom Jenkins, and so much more! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Tom Jenkins returns to the US with a loss to Hackenschmidt and without the pay to make it worth while. How will he return to the American spotlight, and will he be able to regain the title from Frank Gotch? Listen up and find out!   Thanks to Lydia, Mark, and Kyle for reseach donations! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

How do you wrestle a boxer? How do you protect the title when facing a man who only wrestles for real? How can everything go wrong on a trip to England? Listen up and find out in part four of our look at Tom Jenkins' career!   Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Jenkins begins his title reign by... asking for a boxing match? What's with all the handicapped match? Did he nearly lose a leg? Who was the "Klondike Champion" he took on? Listen and learn about this, and so much more.   Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

From a snooze-fest with yet another Turkish giant, to a title shot against Dan McLeod in Cleveland; Nick rambles about the years 1900 & 1901 in the life of Tom Jenkins! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

From a horrifying childhood accident to the rigors and risks of pre-OSHA industrial work to the wrestling stage against an onslaught of Terrible Turks: it's the story of Tom Jenkins! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert   Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

It was the first attempt at a sustainable alternative to the UFC in the United States. It was the home of breakout stars, the earliest high level competitive fights in the sport, and had a strong corporate backer to make it happen. So what could possibly go wrong? Join Nick and Chango as they discuss Battlecade Extreme Fighting! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Source...

Join Nick and Chango for a tale of bitterness, vengeance, snitching to the press, and... cannibalism? Things get wild as our look at Clarence Whistler's life continues! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Sources: -Cited newspaper articles -William Muldoon: The Solid Man Conquers Wrestling and Physical Culture, by Ken Zimmerman Jr -Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professio...

It's a story of raw strength, strong booze, weird lies, carnival tours, and the usual insanity you subscribed for! Today Nick and Chango discuss "The Kansas Cyclone" Clarence Whistler! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Sources: -Cited newspaper articles -William Muldoon: The Solid Man Conquers Wrestling and Physical Culture, by Ken Zimmerman Jr -Shooters: The Toughest...

In the final episode of our series on "Parson" Davies, Nick and Chango talk about violent after parties, accidental poisonings, the weird spiral of John L Sullivan after retirement, the title matches of Evan "The Strangler" Lewis, and why you should never pee off the back of a moving train. Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Sources: -Chicago's Greatest Sportsman- Charl...

Listen up, nerds! John L Sullivan vs Jake Kilrain proved that boxing can indeed be pro wrestling. A young Dan McLeod challenges Evan Lewis. Jack Wannop gets worked over in Chicago... but Sarah Cox from Grapplingwithhistory.com has another opinion. Chango talks about breaking arms, and Nick talks about sitting in jail after a fight. All this, and plenty more madness! Venmo research donations accept...

Chango makes his triumphant return for a tale of violence, politics, bar brawls, a well armed stenographer, a blasting-cap suicide, big money matches, in ring brutality, and much more. Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Sources: -Chicago's Greatest Sportsman- Charles E "Parson" Davies, by Mark T Dunn -Evan "The Strangler" Lewis: The Most Feared Wrestler of the 19th Cent...

It's a tale of immigration, presidential assassination plots, Footraces, murder, labor riots, and even some pro wrestling. Get ready for a wild one, as Nick talks about wrestling promoter Charles "Parson" Davies! Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert Primary Sources: -Chicago's Greatest Sportsman- Charles E "Parson" Davies, by Mark T Dunn -Evan "The Strangler" Lewis: The Most Fear...

The "Turkish Invasion" of the Parisian wrestling world crossed the Atlantic to challenge the greatest American wrestlers of the day. How would the US greats like Roeber, Jenkins, and the original "Strangler" Lewis contend against the Ottoman Giant? Find out when we explore the US tour of Yusuf Ismail, The Terrible Turk!   PRIMARY SOURCES- -Cited newspaper articles -Evan "The Strangler" Lewis: The...

Nick is rambling solo this week; spinning tales of WWF Superstars in the arcade, MUSCLE creatures, Japanese wrestling Manga, Slender King, Mat Mania, and how some poor bastard had to explain to Vince McMahon what a video game is.   Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

In 1994 wrestler turned promoter Satoru Sayama launched the Vale Tudo Japan. What were the pro wrestling roots? Why did it have a Brazilian Portuguese title? Why was Rickson Gracie booked? How did it create the Pro-Wrestling vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rivalry in the early years of PRIDE FC? Venmo research donations to @nicholas-gossert

Last year I interviewed Victorian Wrestling Historian Sarah Cox, from grapplingwithhistory.com The inverview was distorted from a bad internet connection, so it took quite a while to get it recovered and fixed. I think you'll agree that it was worth the wait! Open your ears, turn on your brain, and learn all about Victorian Era wrestling and boxing, the life of Jack Wannop, the excitement of resea...

The title was unified, wrestling was hot, but the champion was seen as past his prime and a star of yesterday. What came next would shape the wrestling business for years to come. Hear how it unfolds in our latest episode! Venmo research donations to @nicholas-gossert   Sources: -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek -Fall Guys:...

After years of bitterness, brutality, schemes, double crosses, screw jobs, and financial politicking, it finally happened: Ed Lewis vs Joe Stecher in a title unification match. Listen to Nick and Chango discuss the intrigue, the build up, and the initial fall out of the biggest match of 1928! -Research donations to @nicholas-gossert on venmo   Sources: -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe...

 Did Ad Santel really beat the best of Japan in 1921? Did Ed Lewis really mentor Frank Gotch Jr? Did John Pesek really think it was a good idea to double cross Joe Stecher? Learn the answers to these burning questions, and so much more when Nick and Chango discuss the year 1926 in pro wrestling! -Research donations to @nicholas-gossert on venmo   Sources: -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Y...

Holy crap, it's our 50th episode! In 1925 Billy Sandow attempted the most ambitious move in the history of Wrestling championships, only to be betrayed by the least likely man on the roster. Why did it happen? Who was behind it? Find out when Nick and Chango tell a tale of trust, conspiracy, betrayal, revenge, and maybe even a little wrestling.   Research donations accepted at Venmo @nicholas-goss...

Why was Ed "Strangler" Lewis' title reign growing stale? How many people can he punch without going to jail? Could William Muldoon be hated even more than last year? Did Stanislaus Zbyszko hit rock bottom? Would wrestling catch on in LA? Find out when you listen to Nick and Chango discuss the year 1924 in American Pro-Wrestling! Research donations accepted at Venmo @nicholas-gossert -Ed Lewis: Fac...

An Olympic Silver Medalist gets lured into a trap, Lewis kills the reputation of his policeman, the return of Joe Stecher, and more madness as Nick & Chango talk about the year 1923 in wrestling! Venmo research donations to @nicholas-gossert -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek -Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce...