By: “DragonKingKarl” Karl Stern (Patreon)

Professional Wrestling Historian: Author of DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus

10-04-1870: The Detroit Free Press announces that a state championship wrestling tournament would be held in November at Young Men’s Hall, the site of the earlier International Tournament won by Col. James H. McLaughlin. A championship belt would again be awarded to the champion in square hold but there would also be back-hold and Catch-as-Catch-Can matches. James Defoe who had been in the March International tournament was on the committee of arrangements. The rules stated that all people in the tournament must live in Michigan.

10-04-1879:  New York City, NY: Madison Square Garden (formerly Gilmore’s Garden): Attendance: 1,500:  John McMahon battled Prof. William Miller to a draw in a mixed style match. Each man had one fall when the midnight curfew arrived.

10-04-1885: The St. Paul Globe reports that Clarence Whistler has won his first match in Australia, defeating the “Champion of Melbourne” Thomas  in three straight falls of Catch-as-Catch-Can.

DragonKingKarl Note: The death of Clarence Whistler has been misreported many times over the years. 

Fiction: Clarence Whistler died following the first ever pro wrestling match in Australia. 

Fact: Organized pro wrestling in Australia had been going on for several years mostly under the direction of Prof. William Miller. Donald Dinnie also wrestled quite a bit in Australia including a match where Miller suffered a badly broken leg. Whistler also wrestled multiple matches in Australia prior to his death including one before this one which was reported as his “first match” against Prof. William Miller.

10-04-1888: Rochester, NY: Dennis Gallagher defeated Lucien Marc Christol 3 out of 5 falls in Greco-Roman.

Taken from the pages of Karl Stern’s DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus book available from Amazon.

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