Pro Wrestling History Nerds

Is it karate, or is it kayfabe? Are they fighters, or are they frauds? The 70s and 80s were filled with martial arts "masters" selling BS from Kung Fu movies to the public. But what happens when we look back upon those days with the magic of internet fact checking? Nick and Chango look back on when martial arts were pro wrestling!   Sources: -Ninja: Hero or fake master? LA Times, 05/01/1989 -Frank...

Match fixing! Working the marks! Carny scams! Nick and Chango go through press clippings that exposed the wrestling business as a work, going back to the 1880s. What makes us gamble on fixed games? Why are athletic commissions important? Would Nick and Chango be old time carnies if they had a time machine? Listen and find out!   -All articles sourced from the Library of Congress digital archive.

He was a six foot six war hero and football star, who was poised to take pro wrestling into a new era of box office success. There was just one problem: he couldn't wrestle for real. He's the most important wrestler that you've never heard of, it's Big Wayne Munn!   Printed Sources: -Library of Congress digital newspaper archive -Hooker, by Lou Thesz -Shooters: The Toughest Men in Profession Wrest...

He was a wrestler, he was a con artist, he was a tackler of bears, he was a drunken crime baron, and possibly...a murderer? This is the "Are you kidding me? This can't be real!" story of a man who pushed the credulity of wrestling to the breaking point, until the press was forced to out wrestling as a predetermined scam. It's the story of Thiebaud Bauer!   Sources:  -Library of Congress digital ne...

Brutal combat to honor the gods, the search for sponsors and money, and being handsome and tough enough to put butts in seats! Ever try to cheat with a magic spell? Ever wonder if the amateur status of the modern Olympic games was intended as class warfare against the working class? Well, strap in and put on your learning helmets, because Nick and Chango have some crazy stories for you!   Printed...

Viro Small was born into Slavery in South Carolina, and ended up a marquee name in the NYC wrestling scene. Frank Crozier was born in Jamaica, and went on to win the most prestigious wrestling tournament in England; and got in the ring with the greatest boxer of his lifetime. What do these man have in common? They were the first two black wrestling champions! Join Nick, Chango, and guest Bruce Way...

It was the biggest match the sport had ever seen! It was a true clash of titans! It was also... the match that killed legitimate professional wrestling? Join Nick and Chango as they take a hard look at the wrestling business, and the crazy tale of Frank Gotch vs George Hackenschmidt!   Primary sources- The Life and Legacy of Frank Gotch: King of the Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestlers, by Mike Chapman Th...

He could throw any man alive, he could lift a horse off the ground, he served in the Czar's personal guard, he drank a disturbing amount of milk, all while being the greatest Greco Roman wrestler of his day! Join Nick and Chango as they explore the raw talent and insane drive that made George Hackenschmidt a legend!   Primary sources- The Way To Live, by George Hackenschmidt Complete Science of Wr...

What made Frank Gotch the greatest wrestler in American History? What happened when he went to the Klondike under a fake name? Nick and Chango discuss what kind of a person keeps fighting after having their faces punched in (hint, it's them). Listen, Learn, and Party!   Sources: -Frank Gotch Made a Fortune. Daily Leader, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday, March 19, 1902 -Legacyofwrestling.com article by...

Nick, Chango, and guest Heidi Howitzer continue their discussion about the life of Mildred Burke. Part two covers her legal fights against Billy Wolfe and the NWA, her legitimate shoot wrestling match against June Byers, and Mildred leading the first all women wrestling tour in Japan! Listen, Learn, and Party with the Pro Wrestling History Nerds!   Source Material: -Sisterhood of the Squared Circl...

Nick and former NWA tag team champion Royce Isaacs discuss Bloodsport, Amateur wrestling, and why they love old Japanese MMA fights.

Nick and Chango are joined by guest Heidi Howitzer to discuss the life and career of Mildred Burke!   Source Material: -Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling by Pat Laprade and Dan Murphy -Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the making of an American Legend by Jeff Leen  

Who was the first maker of lucha masks? What are the origins of CMLL? What does Chango know about fight fixing in Mexico? Does Nick admit to robbing tourists? All this, and a lunatic who unleashed a bag of live bats into the crowd, on Pro Wrestling History Nerds Lucha Libre part 2!     Much of the information comes from Dan Madigan's fantastic book Mondo Lucha a Go Go.

It's a special interview episode with Chris Bournea, the director of Lady Wrestler: The Amazing Untold True Story of African American Women In the Ring.

What does the French army, a Habsburg Archduke, and a pair of Italian Strongmen have to do with the history of Lucha Libre? Download, listen, and find out!   Much of the information comes from Dan Madigan's fantastic book Mondo Lucha a Go Go. A Brief history of Mexican Wrestling, by Lauren Cocking, and published by The Culture Trip.  

The circus comes to town! How did pro wrestling begin in traveling carnivals? What did Frank Gotch do in Alaska? What does the carnie tradition have to do with the birth of Brazilian Jiu jitsu? Who bit off Mister Wrestling's finger? Listen and find out!

A correction on a wrestler's name, and a short tale of picking fights you can't win, mid match arson, fun excuses for losing, and a man wrestling a donkey. Enjoy!   *information was sent to us from a listener from London claiming it was from "Old newspapers", but was originally published on grapplingwithhistory.com and https://www.ladywell-live.org/2020/07/06/how-carpenter-boxer-and-champion-wrest...

We continue a tale of wrestling, violence, brutality, and...a sex scandal? It's part two of our look at the life of Evan "Strangler" Lewis!     In addition to source info on Lewis from old newspaper articles, much info came from Ken Zimmerman Jr's biography.

The terror of the late 1800s grappling world, Evan "Strangler" Lewis left a trail of broken limbs and broken dreams behind him, as he tore through opponent after opponent with his submission wrestling skills. From small town farm life to nearly causing a riot in Buffalo, join us as we go in depth on the Strangler's career!     In addition to source info on Lewis from old newspaper articles, much i...

In part two, we follow "The Solid Man" as he continues to defend his title, helps train a boxing legend, and builds his fitness empire!

From the Civil War to broadway, from the NYPD to Madison Square Garden; join Nick and Chango as they explore the life and times of Greco Roman wrestling champion "The Solid Man" William Muldoon!

Join Nick and Chango as they take deep dives into the rich, crazy history of professional wrestling!