Bios
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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Spotlight in History
- 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
- 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
- 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
- 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
- 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
Week of Sun 06-02 to Sat: 06-08
- 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
- 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Champion
- 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Champion
- 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Champion
- 06-02 2012 Brandon Walker became the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-02 2017 Cody Burns def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
- 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2019 Brock Landers def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Champion
- 06-02 2019 Erica became the ASP Women's Champion
- 06-02 2024 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. Mr. Nasty & Eddie LeVaughn for the WFC Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2024 Thrash def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 06-03 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 06-03 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 06-04 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
- 06-04 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
- 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
- 06-04 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
- 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
- 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
- 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
- 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-06 1972 Tom Jones & Ivan Putski def. The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 06-06 1981 Jake Roberts def. The Grappler for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
- 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
- 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
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