Man, it would've been real cool to see a match by Frank Gotch in person. Dude looks like a real star who deserves way more appreciation by us since he was one of the true Pioneers in the sport of Professional Wrestling.

Dude, please keep this going and don't ever give up. What you are doing is a real service to the preservation, awareness and history of the sport. Beautifully done, friend! Thank you for your work.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing this. Wrestling has such an amazing story & history behind it. There’s literally no other sport or form of entertainment like it! It’s amazing to go back and see what wrestling was like in different generations. Almost 100 years ago, this book captures a moment in time! 🙌

This book should be a required reading for everyone in WWE’s NXT developmental program at the performance center!

I'm pleased to see you people recognize the greatness of Loo Thez.

This is amazing. Thank you so much! :)

Even in 1932, a wrestling coach and author projected Gotch, who only weighed 204#, would have a tough time against the bigger, stronger grapplers of that decade.

Thank you so much!

England had many regional styles, and our American style is basically derived from the Lancashire style of many years back... I am a former wrestler, coach, trainer, and author of a book on wrestling, not my roommate Barbara, lol. Rich Freeman

Frank Gotch lost a few matches at first, then eventually won the American Championship, and in turn, the World Championship by defeating George Hackenschmidt, a tremendous physical specimen and strongman. "The Russian Lion" only lost two matches as a pro, both to Frank Gotch who was too skilled and knew all the tricks of the emerging catch as catch can style. Hack was an old Greco Roman specialist who was slower than Gotch. However, Gotch died suddenly in 1917, but Hackenschmidt lived to age 89, dying in 1968. After Hackenschmidt s reign as champ ended, catch as catch can became the dominant style in the United States. Our collegiate style developed from many sources, including that which professionals practiced in the early 20th Century.

Catch as catch can wrestling began in England.

@14:49 just to put that into perspective, $10,000 in the early 1900s was equal to well over $300,000 in today’s money! Not bad for 1 match…Brock Lesnar would be jealous

England had many regional styles, and our American style is basically derived from the Lancashire style of many years back.

I'm reading the squared circle by david shoemaker

The lack of affectation makes all the difference

Bro do some on grapplers of the uk like ted Bentley billy robinson

I prefer the wrestling styles of ancient Africa.

7:22 Wouldn’t it pinch the 💩 out of ones arm ? Or chest ? Once it closed up

Wow he predicted the future, eventually handicap matches will hurt the sport !

No disrespect to Gotch, but I don't think he'd stand a chance against some of the toughest pro wrestlers of our time, like Haku or Harley Race. Gotch would've been quickly overwhelmed and beaten by either of them in a shoot match. Gotch is considered the Hulk Hogan of his era, but I don't think he'd be big and strong enough to face either Harley Race or Haku. Even the 7'4" 550 lb Andre the Giant had no desire to mess with either of them.

Even in 1932, a wrestling coach and author projected Gotch, who only weighed 204#, would have a tough time against the bigger, stronger grapplers of that decade.