Nickname(s): Strangler
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 265 lbs
From: Nekoosa, WI
Birthday: Jun 30
Pro Debut: 1904
Feds worked for: AWA, New York State Athletic
Commission (NY), Wrestling Association, Midwest Wrestling Association
Finisher: Sleeper Hold
Career Highlights: -AWA (Boston) World Champion (2x)
-Florida Champion
-MWA World Champion
-NYSAC World Champion
-Undisputed World Champion (5x)
-Wrestling Association World Champion
Affiliates: Lou Thesz, Billy Sandow
Notable Feuds: Stanislaus
Zbysko, Orville Brown, Joe Stecher, Jim Londos, Dick Shikat, Freddie Beel, Jack Leon
Other Facts: -Real name was Robert Herman Julius Friedrich
-Was a sports star at the University of Kentucky until he quit to play professional baseball
-Began wrestling at the age of 14 using Ed "Strangler" Lewis instead of his real name of Robert Frederich in tribute of 1890s star Evan "Strangler" Lewis, and because his parents did not approve of him wrestling.
-Won his debut match in Madison, WI against Fred Beel.
-July 4, 1916: Lewis was involved in the longest pro wrestling match on record; a 5 hour match against Joe Stecher that resulted in a time-limit draw.
-Was in a famous verbal war with boxing champion Jack Dempsey, but the two never fought; Dempsey later admitted he never did fight Lewis because he knew he couldn't beat him.
-Credited with inventing the sleeper hold.
-Went into semi-retirement in 1935, but came out in 1942, despite being legally blind from trachoma..
-Lived in Tulsa after retiring from wrestling in 1947 until his death in 1966
-Named goodwill ambassador for the
NWA in 1949.
-Served as a referee for
Sam Avey in
Oklahoma City during the 1940s.
-Trained Lou Thesz
-During his retirement, he was a restaurant operator, rancher, and director of a health club. He also acted in such movies as "Stranglehold" and "That Nazty Nuisance"
-Passed away on August 7, 1966 in Muskogee at the age of 76 of natural causes. He was blind at the time of his death.
-Buried in Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, VA
-Posthumously inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame in 1999
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002
-According to Lewis' own notes, he appeared in over 6,200 matches (with only 33 losses) in his 44 year career and earned over $3 million.
-A Wisconsin state historical marker commemorates his achievements in his hometown of Nekoosa.
