Evan Lewis (wrestler)
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| Evan Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Evan Lewis, "the Strangler" |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Billed weight | 180 lb (82 kg/13 st) |
| Born | May 24, 1860 Ridgeway, Wisconsin, United States |
| Died | November 3, 1919 (aged 59) Dodgeville, Wisconsin |
| Debut | May 1882 |
| Retired | 1899 |
- For other people named, or using the name, Evan Lewis, see Evan Lewis.
Evan Lewis (May 24, 1860 – November 3, 1919[1]), was an American professional wrestler who was the first recognized American Heavyweight Champion and is credited with perfecting the "stranglehold" or "neck yoke" more commonly known today as the rear naked choke. He is sometimes confused with Ed "Strangler" Lewis, a later 4-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion also credited with first using the hold, whose monkier is attributed to Lewis's after a reporter noted a resemblance between the two.[2]
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[edit] Early career
Born in Ridgeway, Wisconsin, Lewis began wrestling professionally winning a 64-man tournament in Montana in May 1882. He returned to Wisconsin and defeated Ben Knight for the Wisconsin Heavyweight Championship in a Mineral Point match on March 20, 1883. Moving to Madison in 1885, he later went on to defeat several international wrestlers including Andre Christol, Tom Cannon and Matsada Sorakichi.
Defeating Joe Action in Chicago, Illinois for the World Catch-as-Catch-can Championship on March 14, 1887, he later unified the World Catch-as-Catch-can and American Graeco-Roman Championship in a best-of-five match against Ernest Roeber in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 3, 1893 (he also had defeated him for the "collar and elbow championship" on May 18, 1890[3]). After defending the title for over two years, Lewis lost the American Heavyweight Championship to Martin Burns, whom he had previously defeated in his debut match in 1886.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- World Catch-as-Catch-can Championship (1 time)[4]
- American Graeco-Roman Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[5]
- American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
- British World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
In 2007, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
[edit] References
- ^ Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers - A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past. Gary Will's Pro Wrestling History (2003). Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
- ^ Pearson, Ray C. (1913-11-30). Neck Yoke Strangler Lewis In The Bid For Honors. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
- ^ The Line of Acension. The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 15-2001 (2001). Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
- ^ World Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Title (19th Century). Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
- ^ American Greco-Roman Heavyweight Title (19th Century). Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
- ^ American Heavyweight Title (19th Century). Puroresu Dojo (2003). Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
