On the latest DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I return with another installment of my 1000 Hours subseries which focuses exclusively on the pioneer era of pro wrestling or the era before Frank Gotch.
I am looking back today at 1875 and 1876 which was dominated by the American heavyweight champion Col. James H. McLaughlin, pro wrestling’s first major star.
McLaughlin won pro wrestling’s first big championship tournament in 1870 in Detroit and had dominated until, out of nowhere, a relative unknown Michigan wrestler named Jacob H. Martin showed up and took McLaughlin to a draw not once but twice! One of those bouts lasted almost eight hours.
Is there more to the story? I discuss it on this episode.
Click Here to Listen (sub needed)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:23 — 39.7MB)
thetagger
