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Karl Gotch

Karl Gotch

Nickname: The God of Pro Wrestling

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 245 lbs.

From: Antwerp, Belgium

Birthday: Aug 3rd

Pro Debut: 1956

Aliases: Karel Istaz, Karl Krauser, Karol Krauser, Pierre LaMarin, Pierre Le Marin, Pierre Le Marine

Feds Worked For: TSW, AWA, NWA, WWWF, Al Haft Sports (IL/OH), All Star Wrestling (Canada), American Wrestling Alliance (OH), Atlantic Athletic Commission (MA), Big Time Wrestling (Canada), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Capitol Wretling Corporation, Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Fred Kohler Enterprises (IL), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Grand Prix Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Enterprise (Canada), Internationale Berufsringkämpfer Verband (Germany), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Kola Kwariani Booking Office (NY), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), Mike London Sports (AZ/CO/NM), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Chicago (IL), NWA Detroit (MI), NWA Hollywood (CA), Pacific Coast Athletic Club (CA), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), World Championship Wrestling (Australia), World Wrestling Alliance (CA)

Finisher: German Suplex

Signature Moves: Gotch Piledriver (Cradle piledriver), Bow & Arrow Backbreaker, Cross Armbar, Cross Kneelock, Crossface Chickenwing, Gotch Special (Chickenwing with Headscissors), Underhook Suplex, Atomic Suplex

 

Career Highlights: -AWA (Indiana/Ohio) World Champion
-Eastern States Champion
-IWA Champion
-NJPW Real World Champion (2x)
-NWA Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
-Ohio Champion
-WWA Tag Team Champion (w/ Mike DiBiase)
-WWWF World Tag Team Champion (w/ Rene Goulet)

Affiliates: Mike DiBiase, Rene Goulet

Notable Feuds: Buddy Rogers, Michiaki Yoshimura, Roy Heffernan, Otto Von Krupp/Great Malenko/Boris Malenko

Other Facts: -Real name was Karl Charles Istaz
-Father-in-law of pro wrestler Masami Soranaka, who he trained for pro wrestling
-The German suplex is named for him.
-Credited with inventing the Cradle Piledriver as well as the Kneeling Belly-to-Belly Piledriver (Commonly referred to today as a Tombstone Piledriver)
-Was a Holocaust survivor
-Billed from Germany, but was actually born in Antwerp, Belgium
-Only had 4 fingers on one hand as the result of an accident when he was young.
-Competed in in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1948 Olympics for Belgium under the name "Charles Istaz". He finished 7th and 8th respectively.
-Trained in Pehlwahni martial arts.
-Took the last name of Gotch in honor of Frank Gotch
-For a brief time, Joe Malenko used the name Karl Gotch, Jr.
-Had a notorious behind-the-scenes feud with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, starting when Gotch asked for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Rogers wanted to avoid getting into the ring with a wrestler he feared would shoot on him and legitimately "steal" his championship. This led to a locker room fist fight between the two, ending when Gotch broke Rogers' hand; incapacitating Rogers for several weeks. These events only served to alienate Gotch from the American promoters, who already felt there was no place for his style in the world of American pro wrestling.
-Wrestled in the main event of the very first New Japan Pro Wrestling event, defeating Antonio Inoki.
-Trained Hiro Matsuda, Killer Khan, Kim Duk, Seiji Sakaguchi, Tatsumi Fujinami, and Barry Darsow for pro wrestling, among others.
-Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Passed away July 28, 2007
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007
-Posthumously inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009
-Was featured in the 2007 book "Say Uncle!: Catch-As-Catch Can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling & Modern Grappling"

Supplemental Information

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Upcoming Events

Complete Calendar

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion

Week of Sun 03-24 to Sat: 03-30

  • 03-24 1978 Dale Valentine def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 1978 Steven Little Bear & Ray Candy became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 1979 Charlie Cook def. Ron Bass for the TSW Arkansas Champion
  • 03-24 1986 Lance Von Erich def. Buddy Roberts for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-24 1999 Tarantula def. Grunt for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 2001 Miss Venom def. Heather Savage for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 03-24 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Samedi) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 2019 The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-24 2023 Stormi Renee def. Erica for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Johnny Kove became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 1983 Terry Gordy def. The Great Kabuki for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-25 1988 King Parsons def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Bull Schmitt def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Ichiban [2nd] def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Korvin Sage for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) def. The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Nikki Knight became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Fuego del Sol became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 03-25 2018 Adam Patrick def. Brock Landers for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 2023 Pyro def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 03-26 1956 Bull Curry def. Don Evans for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-26 1977 The Medics (Medic 1 & Medic 2) def. Bob Sweetan & Tony Rocco for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-26 1980 Bull Ramos def. Mike Sharpe, Jr. for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 03-26 1995 Wild Maverick became the PZWA Junior Heavyweight Title Champion
  • 03-26 2010 Dutch Hagen def. Shane Morbid for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 03-26 2011 The Saints of Twilight (Ignition & Reckless) def. Cold Blooded Chris & Max McGuirk for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 03-26 2011 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-26 2011 Ryan Styles def. David Kyzer for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-26 2023 Wolf of War became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-26 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Tank Bryson) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 1939 John Swenski def. Bob Kenaston for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1952 Marshall Estep became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 2010 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-27 2021 Spike became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Maui Mike def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Chosen Influence (Luke Richmond & Malik Mayfield) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 2022 Mr. Nasty became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 03-28 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-28 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-28 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-29 1968 Spoiler #1 def. Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 1976 Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-29 1982 Bugsy McGraw def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Anthony Jackson def. The Canadian Red Devil for the FCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 La M (Jesus Rodriguez & El Choppo) def. The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) for the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-29 2008 Al Farat def. Thug Nasty for the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Carnage def. Slash for the GPCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Xavior def. Jeff Knight for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Bud Barnes def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-29 2014 David Kyzer def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Bob Sweetan def. Mike George for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-30 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 03-30 2013 Bobby Burns & Psycho Sawyer def. The Golden Alliance (Jake O'Brien & C. M. Chunk) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
03-28
  • Caine Carter Mar 28th Today!
  • Maddox Jones Mar 28th Today!
  • Sheeva Mar 28th Today!
  • Michael Hayes Mar 29th
  • Keith Knight Mar 29th
  • Riley Grinn Mar 30th
  • Ron Garvin Mar 30th
  • Spur the Clown Mar 30th
  • Mace [1st] Mar 31st
  • Glenn Wade Apr 1st
  • Richard Sharpe Apr 1st
  • K-Rob Apr 1st
  • Oni Wiki Wiki Apr 1st
  • Mighty Atlas Apr 1st
  • Clover Botello Apr 2nd
  • Humongous Apr 3rd
  • Erica Torres Apr 3rd
  • Izzy High Apr 3rd
  • Billy Wicks Apr 4th
  • Johnny Kove Apr 4th
  • Sika Apr 5th
  • Great Bolo [2nd] Apr 5th
  • Standing Bear Apr 5th
  • Ivan the Terrible Apr 6th
  • Frank Lynn Apr 6th
  • Bobby Dalton Apr 6th
  • Lady Leather Apr 6th
  • Bruce Swayze Apr 7th
  • Demarco Tate Apr 7th
  • Ciclon Negro Apr 7th
  • Ryan Lee Apr 7th
  • Garrisaon Creed Apr 8th
  • R. G. Right Apr 9th
  • Les Thornton Apr 9th
  • Paul Bearer Apr 10th
  • Ryan Davidson Apr 10th

More Look Back In History

Current Champions

Empire Pro Wrestling

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Internet Television Champion
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  • Heavyweight Champion: Tego/Montego Seeka
  • Tag Team Champions: Saints of Pro Wrestling
  • All-American Champion: Rick Russo
  • International Champion: Tank Bryson