Pro Wrestling History Nerds

In 1922 an effort was make to put Jack Dempsey in the ring with Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Was it a money making scheme or a legitimate attempt at mixed style competition? Listen to Nick and Chango sort it out as they explore the year 1922 in pro wrestling! *CONTENT WARNING* If discussions of sexual abuse is upsetting, skip 19:10-24:41.   -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -...

The year 1921 was a wild one. Crowds rioted as Ed "Strangler" Lewis picked up wins, Stanislaus Zbyszko continued to dominate, and Billy Sandow makes a deal with "The Nebraska Tiger Man" John Pesek to keep outside talent in line. It's a tale of violence, vendettas, riots, and even a little pro wrestling.   -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -The Nebraska Tigerman- The Jo...

Zbyszko is coming, Hurray! Hurroo! What happens when Stanislaus Zbyszko returns from War Torn Europe? How did the Infamous Black Socks scandal affect pro wrestling? Why can't Marin Plestina get a booking? Listen to Nick and Chango discuss the year 1920 in pro wrestling!   -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek -F...

The outbreak of The Great War puts the wrestling world into chaos, as Champion Earl Caddock enlists, and contenders Ed "Strangler Lewis", Joe Stecher, and Wladek Zbyszko are drafted! What happens when deals are made, alliances are formed, and Jack Curley takes over wrestling? Listen to our latest episode and find out!   -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -Fall Guys: The...

Nick and Chango are back to talk about the intersection of Ed Lewis and Joe Stecher's careers, the power of talking shit, swindling money marks, and even a little wrestling! It's part two of our look at the career of Ed "Strangler" Lewis.   Primary Sources- -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin -Masked Marvel to the Rescue, by Ken Zimmer...

How did Bob Fredrick wrestle Ed Lewis? Why did the sinking of the Titanic lead to violence over a movie reel? Why did yet another riot nearly break out after a match? Find out when Nick and Chango discuss the early life and career of Ed "Strangler" Lewis!   -Primary Sources -Ed Lewis: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe -Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin -Showman, by William Brady...

Today Nick and Chango talk about why Elbows aren't cool, but wearing overalls to the circus definitely is! It's a tales of shoots, works, shooting on workers, working with shooters, and how the Spanish Flu saved John Pesek from the front line of The Great War. Hit play, damnit!   Primary Sources: -The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek -Selected articles from Library of Congr...

Childhood trauma! Midwestern tragedy! Showbiz Razzle Dazzle! Corrupt referees! And maybe even a little wrestling! Nick and Chango discuss the early life and career of "The Nebraska Tiger Man" John Pesek!   Primary Sources: -The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek -Selected articles from Library of Congress newspaper archives.  

Joe Stecher was the king of Catch Wrestling, with the title firmly around his waist. But what happens when the competition starts catching up, and the personal demons start dragging him down? Listen to Nick and Chango discuss submission wrestling, the continued influence of Frank Gotch, Bipolar disorder, and humanity's incapacity to process history without turning it into storytelling. Party!   Pr...

He was the hottest young star in the post Gotch vs Hackenschmidt era. He was the master of the scissor hold. He was a technical prodigy. So why couldn't he escape the shadow of Frank Gotch? Join Nick and Chango for a discussion of farm life, long limbs, technical strategies, and pro wrestling madness. It's the story of Joe Stecher!   -Sources -Noted Archive articles. -Masked Marvel to the Rescue,...

He was a brilliant scholar and a relentless competitor in wrestling. Today Nick and Chango talk about the life and career of Stanislaus Zbyszko!   Primary Sources: -On The Rings of the World, Stanislaus Zbyszko -Secrets of the Showman, Charles B. Cochran - Stanislaus Zbyszko, by Stephen Von Slagle. https://historyofwrestling.com/stanislaus-zbyszko/ -Cagematch.net -Newspaperarchive.com -Library of...

How did one man's vision of a legitimate Greco Roman championship go very wrong...and how did it accidentally became absolutely amazing? Listen to Nick and Chango discuss the hubris, the action, and the weirdness of the 1915 International Tournament!   Primary Sources: -New York Times, 05/20/1915, 05/26/1915, 05/27/1915,  05/29/1915, 05/30/1915, 06/03/1915, 06/08/1915, 06/11/1915 06/12/1915, 06/13...

From NYC to the Russian Civil War, Nick and Chango delve deep into the bizarre rumors and outright lies about the final fate of Lurich and Aberg.   Primary Sources: -Cited newspaper articles -The Phenomenon of An Athlete. Georg Lurich from a Historical Figure to The Hero of of Folk Tales, by Kalle Voolaid https://lepo.it.da.ut.ee/~lehti/Oralhistory/3.2.Kalle.htm

He was an icon of the Estonian people, a legendary Greco Roman Wrestler, a con man and a liar, which is everything Nick and Chango love in a wrestler! It's the story of Georg Lurich!   Sources: -Cagematch.net -Gotch vs Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made and Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling, by Ken Zimmerman jr and Tamara L Zimmerman. - Cited articles from newspapers.    

We all know a guy who talks tough but can't back it up. But what happens when that person is the biggest star on wrestling television? Nick and Chango tell a tale of booze, drugs, running your mouth, and lying to the cops. It's the story of Shawn Michaels in Syracuse, NY!   Sources: -Titan Sinking The Decline of the WWF In 1995, by James Dixon -Syracuse Post Standard, 12/21/1995 - Syracuse Post St...

In 1993 Davey Smith walked into a Calgary bar, not knowing his life was about to change forever. Experience the regrettable confrontation, the weird turns of events, and crazy court intrigues when Nick and Chango discuss THE TRIAL OF THE BRITISH BULLDOG!   Sources: -Titan Shattered, by James Dixon -Lethbridge Herald30 Jan 1996, Lethbridge, Alberta -Brandon Sun01 Feb 1996, Brandon, Manitoba -Lethbr...

We're celebrating one full year of PWHN with a look at the man who was the foundation American Wrestling was built upon: Martin "Farmer" Burns! Join Nick, Chango, and guest Jake Shannon as they explore the matches, the strategies, the legacy, and the.... hangings? Listen up to find out what the heck we're talking about!   -All sources from sited newspaper articles.

Black Butcher Johnson and Johnny Kwango blazed a trail for Black wrestlers in England, from the chaos of pre-WWII London to the heights of World of Sport Television. Nick, Chango, and guest Asis tell a tale you have to hear!   Sources -https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2021/02/02/black-butcher-johnson-johnny-kwango-uk/ - https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/johnny-kwango

There's only one thing a man needs to do that is so stupid, so dangerous, that his name will live in legend forever for doing it: WRESTLING A GODDAMN BEAR! Nick and Chango look back on the men who lived the dream and wrestled bears! SOURCES- -October 25th, 1976 Sports Illustrated. Bear Wrestling Took Hold 200 Years Ago, But Lost with Lena's Revenge, by George Gipe - Cited Articles from Newspaper A...

Today we cover Matsuda's feud with Evan "Strangler" Lewis, his travels across the west, his meeting with Farmer Burns, and the end of his dream of bringing wrestling to Japan. Source Material. -Japanese Professional Wrestling Pioneer: Sorakichi Matsuda, by Joseph R Svinth. https://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Svinth1_1100.htm -The Pioneers: Sorakichi Matsuda, by Jamie Greer -The Pioneers of Professional...

He was a stranger in a strange land.  A sumo wrestler with dreams of bringing American Pro Wrestling back to Japan. What could possibly go wrong? Join Nick and Chango as they explore the adventures of the first Japanese Pro Wrestler: Sorakichi Matsuda! This episode has been re-uploaded with better sound quality. Source Materials: -Japanese Professional Wrestling Pioneer: Sorakichi Matsuda, by Jose...

Illegal fights! Bar Brawls! Death and disability! And... a pair of wooden clogs? Join Nick and Chango as they explore Catch wrestling's evil bastard cousin, Up and Down Wrestling!   Primary Source: The Story of Catch: The Story of Lancashire Catch as Catch Can Wrestling: First Fifty Years 1820-1870, by Ruslan C Pashayev   Purring and Parring: The Mysterious History of Clog Fighting. by Helen Carte...

There are bad ideas, there are terrible ideas, and then there's the Brawl For All. How did a behind the scenes grudge turn into a tv trainwreck that left careers, mystique, bodies, and the entire illusion of pro wrestling wrecked beyond repair. What went wrong? Could anything have gone right? Nick and Chango dive in head first to find out!    

The plan was in place, the card stacked according to the promoter's plan. Things were about to get wild in ways that would change combat sports forever. Today, Nick and Chango talk about the VHS tape they never forgot: The First UFC!   Sources: -"Promoter Issues Invitation". Black Belt Magazine November 1994. -Shamrock: The World's Most Dangerous Man, by Jonathan Snowden -Zane Frazier: Why I was I...

How was the first UFC a carny trick with the intent of working the marks? Who were the people behind the scenes, planning a martial arts bonanza that accidentally birthed the hottest fighting sport in the world? How are the roots of pro wrestling and MMA pretty much identical? Listen to Nick and Chango tell the tale, and find out!   Sources: -"Promoter Issues Invitation". Black Belt Magazine Novem...