Bios
Ed Lewis
Nickname: Strangler
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 265 lbs
From: Nekoosa, WI
Birthday: Jun 30th
Pro Debut: 1904
Aliases: Bob Friedrich, Robert Friedrich
Feds Worked For: TSW, AWA, Al Haft Sports (IL/OH), All Star Wrestling (NE), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Eastern Sports Enterprises (CT/NJ/NY/PA), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), International Wrestling (Canada), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (Hawaii), Midwest Wrestling Association (OH), Mississippi Valley Sports Club (MO), New York State Athletic Commission (NY), NWA Hollywood (CA), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR), San Francisco (CA),Southwest Sports (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Upstate Athletic Club (NY)
Finisher: Sleeper Hold
Signature Moves: Headlock
Career Highlights: -AWA (Boston) World Champion (2x)
-American Champion
-MWA Champion (2x)
-NWA Florida Champion
-NYSAC Champion
-World Champion (6x)
Affiliates: Lou Thesz, Billy Sandow
Notable Feuds: Stanislaus Zbysko, Orville Brown, Joe Stecher, Jim Londos, Dick Shikat, Freddie Beel, Jack Leon
Other Facts: -Real name was Robert Herman Julius Friedrich
-Was a sports star at the University of Kentucky until he quit school to play professional baseball
-Began wrestling at the age of 14 using Ed "Strangler" Lewis instead of his real name of Robert Frederich in tribute of 1890s star Evan "Strangler" Lewis, and because his parents did not approve of him wrestling.
-Won his debut match in Madison, WI against Fred Beel.
-July 4, 1916: Lewis was involved in the longest pro wrestling match on record; a 5 hour match against Joe Stecher that resulted in a time-limit draw.
-Was in a famous verbal war with boxing champion Jack Dempsey, but the two never fought; Dempsey later admitted he never did fight Lewis because he knew he couldn't beat him.
-Credited with inventing the sleeper hold.
-With Toots Mondt and Billy Sandow, they formed the “Gold Dust Trio”, who are credited with creating much of the “Worked” aspects of modern professional wrestling, including the idea of the “Screw-job finish” and the “programme”.
-Went into semi-retirement in 1935, but came out in 1942, despite being legally blind from trachoma..
-Lived in Tulsa after retiring from wrestling in 1947 until his death in 1966
-Named goodwill ambassador for the NWA in 1949.
-Served as a referee for Sam Avey in Oklahoma City during the 1940s.
-Helped to train Bob Ellis, Danny Hodge, Dick Hutton, Gene LeBell, Gus Sonnenberg, Lou Thesz, and Vince Lopez for pro wrestling
-According to Lewis' own notes, he appeared in over 6,200 matches (with only 33 losses) in his 44 year career and earned over $3 million.
-During his retirement, he was a restaurant operator, rancher, and director of a health club. He also acted in such movies as "Stranglehold" and "That Nazty Nuisance"
-Passed away on August 7, 1966 in Muskogee at the age of 76 of natural causes. He was blind at the time of his death.
-Buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA
-Posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 1996
-Posthumously inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999
-Posthumously inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame in 1999
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2002
-Posthumously inducted into the Legacy Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016
-A Wisconsin state historical marker commemorates his achievements in his hometown of Nekoosa.
-Featured in the books "Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling" in 2012 and "Ed 'Strangler' Lewis: Facts Within A Myth" in 2015
-Posthumously inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 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 Titles
- 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31
- 10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
- 10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
- 10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
- 10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 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 Titles
- 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 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 Title
- 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
- 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 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 Title
- 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 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 Title
- 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 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 Title
- 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
- 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
- 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
- 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 Title
- 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
- AWOL Oct 27th Today!
- Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th Today!
- Miss Linda Oct 27th Today!
- Chris Smith Oct 28th
- MVP Oct 28th
- Jake Boulder Oct 28th
- Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
- D. J. Hall Oct 29th
- Mischief Oct 29th
- Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
- George Wells Oct 30th
- Debbie Combs Oct 30th
- Danny McShain Oct 30th
- Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
- Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
- Jayson Boss Oct 31st
- Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
- Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
- Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
- Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
- Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
- Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
- Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
- Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
- Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
- Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
- Max Leon Nov 4th
- Assassin 1 Nov 4th
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
- Bill Decker Nov 5th
- Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
- Darin Matthews Nov 6th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
- Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
- Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
- Nick Patrick Nov 9th
- Kolossus Nov 9th
- Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
- Gil Knutson Nov 9th
- Joyce Grable Nov 9th
- Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Oklafan Quiz
Tim Rockwell is a former Tag Team Champion in the Kansas based Global Wrestling Federation.
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