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Post by turkeysandwich on Oct 9, 2011 20:01:29 GMT -5
I found an interesting article from 1921 covering a World title match held at MSG between Stanislaus Zbyszko and Ed "Strangler" Lewis. It's interesting how the more things change the more they stay the same. The title belt sounds a lot like the current WWE title, "glittering diamond-studded." Also the fans nearly rioted after the second fall was won by a roll-up, not much different than the IWC after every Kelly Kelly victory these days. Anyway, it's still interesting to hear a play by play account of a match from 90 years ago, and yes apparently this match was a work. query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9501E1D7113CE533A2575AC2A9679D946095D6CFApparently footage exists out there as here is a still frame of film from the match.  |
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Dean-o
Grimlock
Haha we're having fun Maggle!
Posts: 13,865 
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Post by Dean-o on Oct 9, 2011 20:19:03 GMT -5
I like how the article pointed out that the top seats of MSG were filled yet many of the ground level seats were empty.
Also, pin went by "toss" back in those days, and pinned went by "threw". I never knew that.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2011 20:21:19 GMT -5
If I had a time machine I'd totally waste a trip to watch one of those old time wrestling matches before everyone knew it was fake. I bet those crowds were rambunctious when shenanigans transpired.
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vm88
Samurai Cop
Posts: 2,252
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Post by vm88 on Oct 9, 2011 20:24:06 GMT -5
"Neck and CROTCH HOLD???" Wow, I don't really know what to say...
Anyways, nice to see how wrestling was covered in the papers back in the 1920s.
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Post by Some Guy on Oct 9, 2011 20:27:11 GMT -5
I like how they called it a "comparatively restricted" length at 53 minutes. Just imagine their reaction to a modern 2 minute squash.
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Dean-o
Grimlock
Haha we're having fun Maggle!
Posts: 13,865
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Post by Dean-o on Oct 9, 2011 20:47:53 GMT -5
If I had a time machine I'd totally waste a trip to watch one of those old time wrestling matches before everyone knew it was fake. I bet those crowds were rambunctious when shenanigans transpired. It was probably a lot more realistic then it is now. A bodyslam would probably be considered a high risk move. It was mostly rest holds and submissions, right? |
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Post by molson5 on Oct 9, 2011 20:53:38 GMT -5
Fun read, thanks for posting.
I vaguely remember the sports section of the Boston Herald printing wrestling results in the 80s (just who beat who at the Garden show, no detail). But to see the NYTimes print an article like this kind of blows me away. I mean, how is this different than the game show rigging of the 50s? It was passed off as a competitive sport, and the mainstream media completely bought it - and there was no "scandal" at any time when the "fix" was ever revealed?
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Post by molson5 on Oct 9, 2011 20:54:51 GMT -5
If I had a time machine I'd totally waste a trip to watch one of those old time wrestling matches before everyone knew it was fake. I bet those crowds were rambunctious when shenanigans transpired. It was probably a lot more realistic then it is now. A bodyslam would probably be considered a high risk move. It was mostly rest holds and submissions, right? Ya, and their "submission" holds were what we would call rest holds today (head locks, etc.) There's actually quite a bit of footage on youtube - just searching for Ed Strangler Lewis brings up a lot. |
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 27,986
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Post by chazraps on Oct 9, 2011 21:45:53 GMT -5
Great find! This is fun.
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Post by Red Impact on Oct 9, 2011 22:23:12 GMT -5
Fun read, thanks for posting. I vaguely remember the sports section of the Boston Herald printing wrestling results in the 80s (just who beat who at the Garden show, no detail). But to see the NYTimes print an article like this kind of blows me away. I mean, how is this different than the game show rigging of the 50s? It was passed off as a competitive sport, and the mainstream media completely bought it - and there was no "scandal" at any time when the "fix" was ever revealed? I don't think there was any specific incident, but there was a general period in the 20's or so, I believe, that popularity began to decline as more people were questioning it's popularity. |
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Post by noleafclover1980 on Oct 12, 2011 5:13:03 GMT -5
Old timey wrestling is brutal in how boring it is. I gave it a shot, but when the most bad ass move guys are doing is scoop slams it's like watching a Big Zeke match over and over.
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Post by carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) on Oct 12, 2011 12:13:54 GMT -5
"After two minutes more of work Zbyszko glided behind his rival and, encircling Lewis in his massive arms, applied the pressure of a body hold. Lewis squirmed free after bounding off the floor twice clasped in Zibby's arms."
This isn't a newspaper article. It's the first wrestling fanfic!
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Post by repomanfan on Oct 12, 2011 12:37:44 GMT -5
Old timey wrestling is brutal in how boring it is. I gave it a show, but when the most bad ass move guys are doing is scoop slams it's like watching a Big Zeke match over and over. Because it's one of those things you had to be there to experience. The passion and realism was 10 times more than what it is now. |
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Dave at the Movies
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
VINTAGE D-DAY DAVE! Always cranking dat thing.
Posts: 18,224
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Post by Dave at the Movies on Oct 12, 2011 12:43:19 GMT -5
Old timey wrestling is brutal in how boring it is. I gave it a show, but when the most bad ass move guys are doing is scoop slams it's like watching a Big Zeke match over and over. Big Zeke would have dominated back in the 20s ;D |
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Post by repomanfan on Oct 12, 2011 12:54:32 GMT -5
Old timey wrestling is brutal in how boring it is. I gave it a show, but when the most bad ass move guys are doing is scoop slams it's like watching a Big Zeke match over and over. Big Zeke would have dominated back in the 20s ;D No way, most of those guys were hardcore "shooters". They actually knew real wrestling holds. |
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Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Oct 12, 2011 13:09:13 GMT -5
"Strangler" Lewis was no one to mess with. Lou Thesz looked at him as a hero.
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Post by noleafclover1980 on Oct 12, 2011 13:21:23 GMT -5
Old timey wrestling is brutal in how boring it is. I gave it a show, but when the most bad ass move guys are doing is scoop slams it's like watching a Big Zeke match over and over. Big Zeke would have dominated back in the 20s ;D Did they let black guys wrestle back then? Every time I see wrestling from back then it's two white dudes. |
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Post by repomanfan on Oct 12, 2011 13:45:18 GMT -5
Big Zeke would have dominated back in the 20s ;D Did they let black guys wrestle back then? Every time I see wrestling from back then it's two white dudes. What does that have to do with Big Zeke? |
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Post by rapidfire187 on Oct 12, 2011 14:27:12 GMT -5
Wrestling sounds like it was really boring back then. Two overweight dudes trading "devastating headlocks" for almost an hour. No thanks.
Don't get me wrong, I know the old time shooters were some bad mo-fos but they were still boring as dirt. Then again, I guess it wasn't so boring back then considering the fans had never really been exposed to anything more exciting.
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Post by Paul E. Funk on Oct 12, 2011 19:21:43 GMT -5
Did they let black guys wrestle back then? Every time I see wrestling from back then it's two white dudes. What does that have to do with Big Zeke? Zeke is black, no? |
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