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
Spotlight in History
- 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Champion
- 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
Week of Sun 10-27 to Sat: 11-02
- 10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
- 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Champion
- 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
- 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champion
- 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Champion
- 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
- 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
- 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
- 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
- 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Champion
- 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
- 11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
- 11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Champion
- 11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Champion
- 11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Champion
- 11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
- 11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
- 11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
- 11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
- 11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
- 11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
- 11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
- 11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
- 11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Champion
- 11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Champion
- 11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Champion
- 11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
- Jayson Boss Oct 31st Today!
- Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
- Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
- Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
- Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
- Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
- Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
- Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
- Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
- Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
- Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
- Assassin 1 Nov 4th
- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
- Jules Strongbow Nov 5th
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
- Bill Decker Nov 5th
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
- Jean-Claude Nov 9th
- Lance Osburn Nov 9th
- Nick Patrick Nov 9th
- Joyce Grable Nov 9th
- Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
- Gil Knutson Nov 9th
- Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
- Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
- Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
- Danny Savich Nov 10th
- Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
- Alex Perez Nov 11th
- Green Dragon Nov 11th
- Little Cloud Nov 11th
- Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
- Austin Tacious Nov 12th
- Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
- Ty Thunder Nov 12th
- Brett Taylor Nov 12th
- Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
- Varik Vayne Nov 12th
- Thud Powell Nov 12th
- Gary Tool Nov 12th
- Big Smooth Nov 13th
- L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Current Champions
New Class Wrestling Organization
Women's Champion
Olivier Vegos
- Heavyweight Champion: The Gatekeeper
- Tag Team Champions: The Stage Dive Mafia
- Choctaw Nation Champion: Malik Mayfield
- Oklahoma Champion: Tino Valentino
- United States Champion: Cam the CODA
