Inoki vs. Gotch

Posted on Sunday, April 8th, 2018 by John Wood
You know you’ve made it once you get your own action figure. This set came out in 2002 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch’s famous match. This match, which took place through the New Japan promotion on March 6, 1972 at Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan is thought of as the birth of the “Strong” Style of Japanese Pro-Wrestling. Inoki fought valiantly but Gotch won with his signature move, the German Suplex.
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Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt

Posted on Wednesday, January 25th, 2017 by John Wood

The greatest pro wrestling match ever held is undoubtedly on April 3rd, 1908 when the Frank Gotch and George “The Russian Lion” Hackenschmidt stepped in the ring to face each other after years of build-up. The undefeated Hackenschmidt was favored to win but after two hours of grappling, he finally submitted to an ankle lock by the American Champion Gotch. The match took place at Chicago’s Dexter Park Pavilion. The referee (middle, above) was Ed Smith.

Gotch and Hackenschmidt would face each other once again on September 4, 1911, this time at Comiskey Park stadium in front of 30,000 fans. Gotch won the rematch in two straight falls and would go on to hold the heavyweight title until he retired in 1913.