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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"

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Spotlight in History

  • 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Dory Funk for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Bobby Star) def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 2015 Charlie Haas def. Jerome Daniels for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2021 Killbane def. The Canadian Red Devil for the NCWO Oklahoma Champion

Week of Sun 05-12 to Sat: 05-18

  • 05-12 2002 Rocco Valentino became the OCW Oklahoma Television Champion
  • 05-12 2012 The New Era [2nd] (Richie Adams & Goldeneye) def. The Dramatic Athletes (Jake McCoy & X-Cal) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-12 2012 Venus became the IZW Queens Champion
  • 05-12 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Bobby Starr for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-12 2013 Impact, Inc. (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Shawn Sanders & Tyson Jaymes for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Garrett Murphy became the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Big Smooth def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Brayden def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Gavin Dixon def. Mikey [2nd] for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2023 Ronnie Morton def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-13 1979 Wahoo McDaniel def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 1984 Magnum T. A. def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2006 Justin Lee def. Gary Gram for the NWA-U X Division Champion
  • 05-13 2012 Les Mayne became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-13 2016 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-13 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 05-13 2017 Garrett Murphy def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Lunchador def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Rush Freeman became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 05-14 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 1975 Danny Miller def. Skandor Akbar for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Butch Dalton def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Devon Monroe def. Mitch Carter for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2005 John O'Malley became the IZW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-14 2005 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Dory Funk for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2010 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Bobby Star) def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2015 Charlie Haas def. Jerome Daniels for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2021 Killbane def. The Canadian Red Devil for the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-16 1963 Bull Curry became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-16 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Akbar Army (Jerry Brown & Ron McFarlane) for the TSW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2009 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Team Bull (Aaron Neil & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 Clint Cassidy def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Brett Stopp def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brett Stopp for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 1965 Bull Curry def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-17 1986 Bruiser Brody def. Rick Rude for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-17 1987 The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) def. Rick Steiner & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 1996 The Bad Boyz (Krull Danzig & Brett Knight) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) for the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 2008 El Super Colibri def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York def. Brett Taylor for the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Title Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-17 2009 Kevin Morgan became the AWFUL Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2014 The Sexy Camachos (Angel Camacho & Roberto Camacho & Vinnie Camacho) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 05-18 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 05-18 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Champion
05-15
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  • Mike Pappas May 17th
  • Kyle Hawk May 17th
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  • Akuma Jones May 18th
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  • Gajo May 18th
  • Luna Nightshade May 18th
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