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Greco Roman and Catch as Catch Can, epic battles and Carny scams. Why were there two Strangler Lewises? What’s a Hippodrome? Find out when you listen, learn, and party with Nick and Heidi Howitzer: The Pro Wrestling History Nerds!
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
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 Most Feared Wrestler of the 19th Century, by Ken ZImmerman Jr
--Shooters: The Toughest Men in Profession Wrestling, by Jonathan Snowden
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
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
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
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
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
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 researching obscure figures in sports history, and the mystery of a giant women wrestler who disappeared from the record.
Check out Sarah Cox's work at grapplingwithhistory.com
and follow her on twitter at @wrestling1880s
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
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: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
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
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
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 Yohe
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
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-gossert
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, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
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: Facts Within A Myth, by Steve Yohe
-The Nebraska Tigerman- The John Pesek Story", by Geoff Pesek
-Fall Guys: The Barnums of Bounce, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
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, by Marcus Griffin
-Double-Crossing The Gold Dust Trio: Stanislaus Zbyszko's Last Hurrah, By Ken Zimmerman Jr.