Paul Berlenbach
Held amateur and world titles in both boxing and wrestling in his heyday...
Farmer Burns
...the granddaddy of the sport...
Frank Gotch
Born in Iowa in 1876, Gotch was a protege of the legendary Farmer Burns. He made his wrestling debut in Humboldt, Iowa in 1899 with a victory over Marshall Green. On April 3, 1904 Gotch defeated Tom Jenkins for the American Championship title. He defended the title for years, though his sight remained fixed on the world heavyweight crown.
In April 1908, Gotch defeated "The Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt for the World Heavyweight Championship at the Dexter Park Pavilion in Chicago. The match lasted over 2 1/2 hours, and afterwards there was a huge controversy over Gotch's tactics in winnng the belt. In the rematch at Commisky Park on Labor Day in 1911, the crowd paid a record-breaking $87,000 at the gate to see Gotch successfully defend the belt.
As wrestling fell from prominence during the Depression, Gotch went on tour, remaining the most popular wrestler of his time. In carnival exhibitions, he challenged all comers in 15-minute time limit bouts, a $100 prize to the challenger for going the limit. It became the staple attraction for the traveling shows which managed to keep the sport alive during the lean years.
Gotch, comparatively small for a heavyweight, had great tendon strength and enormous wrestling skill. His signature lock, the toe hold, was inescapable when locked in tight. Gotch retired as the World Champ,
with 132 victories in 140 bouts. His matches with Hackenschmidt, Jenkins and Stanislaus Zbyszko are considered mat classics.
Gotch died an untimely death on December 16, 1917 at the age of 41. It ended an era of respectability in pro wrestling that has yet to be reclaimed.
George Hackenschmidt
...king of European wrestling...biggest draw in sports entertainment before the Depression...
Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Richard H. Friedrich, aka Ed "Strangler" Lewis, was a stocky, powerful man with great overall athletic ability, personality and intellect. He attended the University of Kentucky as a young man before going on to a short stint as a pro baseball player. His intrigue with the world of pro wrestling enticed him into signing on with a local promotion, and a star was born soon thereafter. His big move was the headlock, which he applied with such force that opponents were known to pass out from the pressure. It was this move that earned him the name "Strangler". Fame and fortune brought him to NYC, where he was formally recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission as the World Wrestling Champion. He held the title four times throughout the '30's and the early '40's under the auspices of the National Wrestling Alliance. His series of matches with his rival, Joe Stecher, are consaidered to be among the all-time classics. Upon retirement, he held the position of NWA commissioner for years afterwards. He died in Oklahoma in 1966.
Jim Londos
...the Golden Greek...one of the best-conditioned athletes in history...
Joe Stecher
...the Scissor King...could burst open a grain sack with his incredible thigh strength from the scissor position...
Stanislaus Zbyszko
...another paragon of peak conditioning and classic skill...