Evan Lewis (wrestler): Difference between revisions
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Defeating [[Joseph Acton|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<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/wawli/New011-020.htm |title=The Line of Acension |accessdate=2007-06-18 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 15-2001 |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }} </ref>). 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. |
Defeating [[Joseph Acton|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<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/wawli/New011-020.htm |title=The Line of Acension |accessdate=2007-06-18 |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 15-2001 |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }} </ref>). 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. |
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==The Strangler & the Terrible Turk== |
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During his first and only tour of the United States, an open challenge to American wrestlers (including former champions Lewis and Ernst Roeber) was issued by [[Youssuf Ishmaelo|"The Terrible Turk" Yusuf Ismail]] through associate Joseph Doublier following his arrival in New York on [[February 18]], [[1898]]. After several months, Lewis and Ismail finally met on [[June 20]] in a highly publicized match billed for the "championship of the world" as well as a purse of $3,500 being offered. |
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The match, in which the stranglehold was prohibited, was a best of three falls. Although Ismail dominated the first few minutes of the match, he was disqualified when he applied the stranglehold and Lewis was awarded the first fall. However, during an argument between Lewis and referee Tom Hogan, a call for Hogan to be replaced by C.C. Duplessis although Hogan would be forcefully escorted from the ring when he refused to leave. |
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After the match was restarted, Ismail again applied the stranglehold after four minutes before releasing the hold after a warning from the referee and the fall was again awarded to Lewis however Ismail would win the second and third falls within 13 minutes. Lewis was quoted as stating ''"I was licked. The Turk is a better man.''" after his defeat, however Ismail soon left for France and drowned along with 600 others after the steamship ''Le Bourgogne'' collided with the British ship ''Cromartyshire'' on July 4, 1898. |
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==Championships and accomplishments== |
==Championships and accomplishments== |
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Revision as of 02:40, 22 October 2007
| Evan Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1860 Ridgeway, Wisconsin, United States |
| Died | November 3, 1919 (aged 59) Dodgeville, Wisconsin |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Evan Lewis, "the Strangler" |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Billed weight | [undue weight? – discuss] |
| 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]
His "real name"
There is a myth that Even Lewis was really Jack Clayton. This is pure fiction! Evan Lewis was born as Evan Lewis on a farm near Ridgeway in Iowa County Wisconsin. Except during the years when he wrestled professionally he lived most of his life on this farm.
Evan was the son of William E. Lewis who was born in Wales in 1820. Evan’s mother (Mrs. Steve Lewis) was born Michelle Young in Cornwall, England in 1830.
Evan married Jane Michael Todd from Cornwall England on 7 Sep 1893. Evan and Kerry Lewis had five children. Several descendants of this union still live within the area where Evan was born.
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.
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.
References
- ^ "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers - A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past". Gary Will's Pro Wrestling History. 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ Pearson, Ray C. (1913-11-30). "Neck Yoke Strangler Lewis In The Bid For Honors". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "The Line of Acension". The New WAWLI (Wrestling As We Liked It) Papers No. 15-2001. 2001. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "World Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Title (19th Century)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "American Greco-Roman Heavyweight Title (19th Century)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ "American Heavyweight Title (19th Century)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help)