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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 May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
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 Wayans as they discuss their lives, careers, and crazy adventures!
Source Material-
-Black Sam’s statue- documentary by Elliot Marquis
-Jack Johnson in Spain, Pablo Merida
-Frank Crozier: A Jamacian Wrestling CHampion in Spain, by Carlos Garcia, on playingpasts.co.uk
-The First black wrestling world champion, catch wrestling U youtube channel
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
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
The Way To Live, by George Hackenschmidt
Complete Science of Wrestling, by George Hackenschmidt
Gotch vs Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made And Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling, by Ken Zimmerman and Tamara Zimmerman
-Library of Congress digitized magazine collection
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
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 Wrestling, by George Hackenschmidt
Gotch vs Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made And Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling, by Ken Zimmerman and Tamara Zimmerman
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
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 Tim Hornbaker
-Biography of Frank Gotch, by Jimmy Wheeler.
-Gotch vs Hackenschmidt: The Matches that Made and Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling, by Ken Zimmerman Jr and Tamara Zimmerman.
-Shooters: The Toughest Men In Professional Wrestling, by Jonathan Snowden
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
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 Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling
by Pat Laprade and Dan Murphy
Monday Mar 22, 2021
Monday Mar 22, 2021
Nick and former NWA tag team champion Royce Isaacs discuss Bloodsport, Amateur wrestling, and why they love old Japanese MMA fights.
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
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
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
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.
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
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.
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
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.