Tag: pioneer era

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The first Japanese pro wrestler

Posted on by Karl Stern

Matsuda Sorakichi was the first Japanese star in America. He faced all the top names of his era including Evan “Strangler” Lewis, Duncan C. Ross, Edwin Bibby, Tom Cannon, and others. 

Though on the small side, he gave the top wrestlers of the day all they could handle and was highly respected by the best champions of the pioneer era. Yet, he died destitute in the streets of New York at age 32. What went wrong? 

On this week’s DragonKing Dark, learn the real story of the first Japanese pro wrestling star Matsuda Sorakichi.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Jack Carkeek goes to prison

Posted on by Karl Stern

It’s time for another entry into the 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling.

Jack Carkeek was a well-known top level wrestler during the pioneer era who later got into the promoting end of things. As we have discussed often in our series so far, gambling was a big component of wrestling becoming worked and Carkeek was very much a shyster.

So much so, Carkeek ended up being indicted with a major crime syndicate in one of the first federal cases of using the U.S. Mail for criminal purposes by fixing wrestling matches and serving time in prison as a result.

This is the story of Jack Carkeek, pro wrestling criminal.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pioneer era wrestler John McMahon

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKing Karl Classic Wrestling Show, I introduce my 1000 Hours series which looks at the pioneer era which describes wrestling prior to the Frank Gotch era around the year 1900. This series looks to uncover the lost origins and evolution of modern entertainment style of pro wrestling.

Famous names among the pioneer era include Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Famers William Muldoon, Evan “Strangler” Lewis, and Col. James H. McLaughlin, as well as pioneers of the sport like John McMahon, Jack Carkeek, H.M. Dufur, and more.

On this week’s show, we focus on the life and career of the aforementioned John McMahon. Was he related to the later McMahons? How did he compare to contemporaries like Muldoon and McLaughlin?

Also, as an added segment, I talk about the recent death of Adrian Street.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Pro wrestling longform history, pt. 9

Posted on by Karl Stern

Host Karl Stern wraps up the 1800s in the latest of his ongoing longform series of the history of early professional wrestling wth some really interesting stories involving one of the most colorful characters of the pioneer era: the Terrible Turk.

Also on the show:

  • The end of the 1800s and the rise of/early careers of Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt
  • The match that exposed wrestling as being “fake” between Farmer Burns and Strangler Evan Lewis
  • Farmer Burns “discovers” Frank Gotch
  • The Terrible Turk takes America by storm, debuts a finishing move that is still used in WWE, and then dies
  • More on Tom Jenkins

Subscribers can click below to listen.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A Longform History of Wrestling Part 8

Posted on by Karl Stern

We are up to the 1880s through the 1890s and in this episode, we take a look at the prime era of Evan Strangler Lewis and his battles with other top names of the era.  He is also, apparently, a horrible promo with a great newspaper promo from him.

Also, we see one of our first giants in wrestling as well as the origins of women’s wresting.

Talking points:

  • Evan “Strangler” Lewis rises to fame and takes on all comers, plus a terrible newspaper promo
  • Who is the Michigan Giant?
  • The origins of women’s wrestling in America
  • The earliest tours of pro wrestling in Japan
  • The winding down of the career of William Muldoon

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 7

Posted on by Karl Stern

Host Karl Stern continues his series on the chronological history of pro wrestling in the pioneer era on today’s show.. On this episode we see the rise of the original Strangler Lewis, Evan Lewis plus the careers of William Muldoon and Col. McLaughlin wind down and we look at some interesting trivia and notes about each of them.

Topics discussed include:

  • Evan “Strangler” Lewis and his battles with Japanese star Sorikichi Matsuda including an incredible threat
  • Joe Acton proclaims himself the real top star in wrestling and puts up money to prove it
  • The career of William Muldoon takes a turn
  • The later days of Col. McLaughlin’s prime
  • Many notes and trivia on Muldoon and McLaughlin

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 6

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image courtesy of OnMilwaukee.com

Host Karl Stern continues his detailed examination of the history of pro wrestling, continuing in the 1880’s where we continue to see the domination of Col. McLaughlin, the rise of William Muldoon, the death of Clarence Whistler, the rise of Evan Strangler Lewis, and the first Japanese star to tour the United States.

Specifics:

  • Col. James H. McLaughlin continues to win large sums of money and rack up championships across the United States.
  • William Muldoon continues his rise to becoming one of the most popular wrestlers of the era and one of the most recognizable names of the pioneer era of wrestling.
  • The original Strangler Lewis (Evan Lewis) comes on the scene and becomes a top name.
  • The death of Muldoon’s cheif rivial Clarence Whistler.
  • The first major Japanese star begins touring the United States.

Subscribers can click below to listen or right click to download:


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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 5

Posted on by Karl Stern

Karl Stern’s history of pro wrestling series continues into the 1880s and this show gets into some really interesting characters like William Muldoon, Viro Small, and Clarence “The Kansas Demon” Whistler. Wait until you find out about Whistler. Your modern heels know nothing.

Topics covered on this episode:

  • The mailbag is dead for now so Karl jumps straight into the longform history of pro wrestling series with part five.
  • Viro Small was one of the first national African American wrestlers at a high level. Small also did some boxing and new details about Small’s life are talked about.
  • The rise of “The Solid Man of Sport” William Muldoon is discussed.
  • Richard K. Fox buys the National Police Gazette.
  • Muldoon makes himself a career rival in Clarence “The Kansas Demon” Whistler.
  • A lot of new information about one of the most interesting figures in wrestling history — Clarence Whistler. He was an original heel and maybe one of the greatest heels ever. He also may or may not have eaten a champagne bottle one time.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A longform history of pro wrestling, pt. 4

Posted on by Karl Stern

Your host Karl Stern (also of When It Was Cool) presents the fourth part in a long series covering the chronological history of pro wrestling.

Still in the Pioneer Era, we meet Richard K. Fox, a hugely important figure in wrestling history, and Col. James H. McLaughlin kills another man. Additionally, we get thoughts on newly found 1981 Southeastern wrestling footage and the forgotten greatness of Randy Rose.

On this episode:

  • Karl takes us through 1981 NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling footage which turned up on YouTube including the dominace of Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose before they were known as the Midnight Express.  Karl discusses how Rose is really overlooked for his part in the history of that team.
  • The great Kurt Brown supplies an article outing wrestling as fake back in 1844.
  • Then, we get into the longform history looking at Fox and the National Police Gazette, the birth of Frank Gotch, and the aforementioned McLaughlin continuing his streak of terror and dominace until he runs into James Owens.
  • The history of pro wrestling’s first major national singles championship: the American heavyweight title.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling: Marathon leftovers, Q&A

Posted on by Karl Stern

Karl Stern returns to the regular format of questions and answers and begins catching up on questions generated during the July marathon.

Questions, corrections, and conversations include:

  • When Tommy Rogers isn’t Tommy Rogers
  • The wonderfully horrible job Sports Illustrated did with their ranking of wrestlers
  • Marathon follow-ups on Canek, Marty Jannetty, and Sgt. Slaughter
  • An incredible article from 1902 that shows the wrestling business then was very similar to the wrestling business now
  • A look at the origins of pro wrestling in America
  • Listener thoughts and comments on Sgt. Slaughter and contemporaries like Ken Patera

Get all that and much more on the latest Dragon King Karl audio show here on F4WOnline.com!

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