1880s and 1890s

by Mark Long

Cool Timeline

1880
American Greco-Roman Champion William Muldoon Defeats Thiebaus Bauer
William Muldoon - historyofwrestling.com

American Greco-Roman champion William Muldoon defeats Thiebaus Bauer in New York City. This victory, plus a subsequent win over Englishman Edwin Bibby, allows Muldoon to make a successful claim to an "unofficial" early version of the World Wrestling championship. Bauer had made a claim to being the champion of the…
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William Muldoon Battles Professor William Miller to a Draw
William Muldoon - historyofwrestling.com

[caption id="attachment_5998" align="alignleft" width="193"] William Muldoon[/caption] The "Solid Man" William Muldoon battled Professor William Miller to a draw for the American Greco-Roman Title in front of 3,000 fans at Madison Square Garden. While the fans were given an eight hour match, it was a long and dull affair. The bored…
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1886
Evan “Strangler” Lewis Breaks Opponents Leg in Match
Evan "Strangler" Lewis - historyofwrestling.com

[caption id="attachment_8352" align="alignleft" width="200"] Matsuda Sorakichi[/caption] Two weeks after Evan "Strangler" Lewis defeated Matsuda Sorakichi with his patented stranglehold, the two met in Chicago for a rematch. After the prior match left him spitting out blood, Matsuda warned Lewis not to choke him again, promising "If you choke me I…
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1887
Tom Connors Best Evan “Strangler” Lewis Amidst Multiple Fouls
Tom Connors - historyofwrestling.com

In front of a crowd of 3,000 fans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tom Connors defeated Evan "Strangler" Lewis in match marred by multiples fouls. Connors was awarded the matched after the first three falls ended because of fouls and a war of words broke out between the two corners, almost causing…
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1893
Evan “Strangler” Lewis Captures the American Heavyweight Title
Evan "Strangler" Lewis - historyofwrestling.com

Evan “Strangler” Lewis defeated Ernest Roeber to unify the American Greco-Roman title and the Catch-As-Catch-Can titles into the American heavyweight title. The best of five falls match took place in New Orleans, Louisiana and the unification is thereafter considered one of American pro wrestling’s first true major championship.

1895
Martin “Farmer” Burns Wins the American Title from Evan “Strangler” Lewis
Farmer Burns - historyofwrestling.com

Martin "Farmer" Burns defeated Evan "Strangler" Lewis to capture the American title. After Lewis won the first fall, Burns battled back to win two straight in  front of an angry crowd in Chicago, Illinois. The crowd turned angry believing that the match may have been fixed as Lewis controlled the…
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1898
The Terrible Turk Dies in the Sinking of La Bourgogne Ocean Liner
The Terrible Turk - historyofwrestling.com

After defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in a match in Chicago, Illinois, Yusuf İsmail (better known as the Terrible Turk) quickly headed back to Europe aboard the SS La Bourgogne ocean liner. He was returning to his native village of Shumen, Bulgaria where he hoped to open a coffee shop. Off…
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1899
Farmer Burns Defeats Frank Gotch in 11 Minutes
Frank Gotch - Farmer Burns - historyofwrestling.com

Farmer Burns defeated Frank Gotch in in just 11 minutes in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Despite the ease of his win, Burns is impressed by the young Gotch and offers to train him. Gotch, with only a 4-2 record agrees and Burns begin molding him, launching him to a career which…
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