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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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Complete Calendar

Spotlight in History

1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Champion
2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Champion
2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion

Week of Sun 11-10 to Sat: 11-16

11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Champion
11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Champion
11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
11-10 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
11-10 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
11-10 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
11-10 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
11-10 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-11 1985 Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare def. Wendell Cooley & Al Perez for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
11-11 2006 Mustafa Sharmoot def. Glen Steel for the AACW Heavyweight Champion
11-11 2017 Running Wolf def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
11-11 2022 Koko def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Champion
11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
11-12 2022 Andrew Fenix def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
11-12 2022 Elijah Sparks def. San La Muerte for the WAH Spotlight Champion
11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 1964 Angelo Savoldi def. Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 1965 Mike Clancy became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
11-13 2021 Rebel Hearts (Christian Temple & Justin Gray) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Champion
11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
11-15 1963 Bull Curry def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
11-15 2003 Northern Threat (Luc Lapointe & Dexter Hardaway) def. X-Cal for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-15 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
11-15 2014 Double D & Jermaine Johnson def. The Old School Studs (Randy Price & Gary Tool) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
11-16 1942 Fred Nelson became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-16 1965 Jack Brisco def. Don Kent for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
11-16 2013 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
11-16 2013 Kevin James Sanchez def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
11-16 2019 Karnage def. Naomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Champion
11-16 2019 Sam Stackhouse def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion

11-10

Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th Today!
Kinzer Keel Nov 10th Today!
Danny Savich Nov 10th Today!
Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th Today!
Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
Little Cloud Nov 11th
Green Dragon Nov 11th
Alex Perez Nov 11th
Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
Gary Tool Nov 12th
Varik Vayne Nov 12th
Thud Powell Nov 12th
Ty Thunder Nov 12th
Austin Tacious Nov 12th
Brett Taylor Nov 12th
Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
Big Smooth Nov 13th
L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
Kirk Castle Nov 14th
Tiny Bell Nov 14th
Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
Shane Sanders Nov 14th
Sean Pearl Nov 15th
Super Beast Nov 15th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
Josh Hogan Nov 17th
Kenny K Nov 17th
Drake Gallows Nov 17th
Snowman Nov 17th
Chase Bristow Nov 17th
Brent Wall Nov 17th
Johnny Graves Nov 17th
Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
Kikutaro Nov 17th
Reaper Nov 18th
Chris Russo Nov 18th
Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
Turnbuckle Tim Nov 19th
Ricky Gibson Nov 19th
S. L. U. G. G. Nov 20th
Red Berry Nov 20th
Casey Platinum Nov 20th
El Matador Uno Nov 20th
Afa Nov 21st
Johnny Rich Nov 21st
Shane Douglas Nov 21st
Ed Ferrara Nov 22nd
Kooter Daniels Nov 22nd
Crazy Horse Nov 22nd
Farmer Jones Nov 23rd
Sgt. Hartman Nov 23rd
Kyle King Nov 23rd
Selena Nov 23rd
Skruffy Nov 23rd

1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Champion
2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Champion
2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion

More Look Back In History