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Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1844

The following is taken from Author and Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Historian Karl Stern’s book DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus.

1844:

03-17-1844: The New York Daily Herald newspaper reports that the Chatham Circus is promoting a prize fight between two wrestlers: Yankee Sullivan verses Westchester Hubbell with bets of $300 a side. The paper speculates that betting could go as high as $10,000.

03-18-1844: In one of the earliest examples I can find of skepticism in America about the legitimacy of wrestling, an ad is taken out in the Baltimore Sun newspaper stating that the “Grand Wrestling Combat” promoted by the Ellsler brothers is real. The ad states: “Grand Wrestling Combat by the Ellsler brothers announce to the public that all of their exercises are REAL!”

03-21-1844: The Chatham Circus wrestling match between Yankee Sullivan and Westchester Hubbell is won by Hubble who is said to have thrown Sullivan easily. The match ended with a heated fight between the two which had to be broken up by bystanders but ultimately the two shook hands. The Baltimore Sun called it a “disgraceful exhibition”. The match took place in New York City, NY though the exact location of the circus is not mentioned.

06-08-1844:  Col. James Hiram McLaughlin is born. Col. McLaughlin, along with William Muldoon and John McMahon are the top three biggest stars of the early to middle pioneer era.

08-10-1844:  At the Garden of the Otto Cottage in Hoboken, NJ, the Elssler brothers give a presentation of “Grecian Wrestling” as part of a sporting exhibition. The advertisement for the event gives us more details on who the Elssler brothers are, stating they are from Paris, France. They are reported to be “Professors of Gymnastics”.