UK Pro Wrestling Results (1880-1900)
A collection of pro wrestling results from the United Kingdom (1880-1900).
Here I will shared a bunch UK wrestling results from the 1880-1900 period that I've gathered. I started this research with the idea to cover all the important UK matches from those years, but below I've also included matches of lesser importance, which however did have notable names in them. This is by no means a complete list. There was a lot of wrestling going on in the UK back then and I've only covered a fraction of it, but I think the most important fraction. Over 200 results in total.I've chosen 1900 as the cut off year because I feel that after 1900 is when the UK pro wrestling industry changed and evolved into something else. Up to that point it was mostly built around the concept of “prize fights” if you will, i.e. hyped up standalone matches that would be for a certain side bet/stake or championship, and those matches were typically held outdoors, most often on Saturdays, and presented as a legitimate sporting competition (and some of them were probably legitimate matches indeed). In late 1900, and especially the following two years, is when the UK pro wrestling industry moved into the music halls and music halls became the cornerstone of the business. There were still some big matches every once in a while (both indoors and outdoors), but the money was now in a star wrestler or two appearing nightly at a music hall or theatre along with a troupe of wrestlers and having short exhibition matches every night. It's not that music hall wrestling didn't exist previously in the UK, it definitely did, but in 1900-1902 is when it became really prevalent. No one exemplified this new “music hall era” more than George Hackenschmidt, who arrived in the UK in 1902, but that is a story for another day.
The unique thing about the United Kingdom (which in those years consisted of England, Scotland, Wales and the whole of Ireland) is that back then there were a lot of different local wrestling styles within the kingdom - Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmoreland, Scotch, collar-and-elbow, Cornish and Devon to name a few. These styles were amateur/folk in their roots, but had a professional element to them as well, some more than others. And just as a sidenote, for the purpose of keeping the results below consistent, I will be referring to the Lancashire style as catch-as-catch-can. Initially they were calling the style Lancashire style, then it became known as both until finally catch-as-catch-can became the common term. On a similar note, below I will only be mentioning the term Greco-Roman. In reality for the first few years of the 1880-1900 period the style was still known as French style in the UK and then the term changed to Greco-Roman (or Graeco-Roman to be more precise). And speaking of styles, as you will see below, there used to be quite a few mixed styles matches back then.
Another important aspect of the 1880-1900 UK scene was betting. Most of the matches I've listed below had bets places on them by the spectators and often the newspaper articles would talk about the betting odds and how they evolved during the course of the match. Bets were a big part of the business back then.
And who were the important pro names of the 1880-1900 period? In terms of the Cumberland and Westmoreland style without question the top two names were George Steadman and George Lowden (sometimes spelled Louden). However, what you have to remember about that style is that typically Steadman and Lowden stuck to the traditional one-day Cumberland and Westmoreland tournaments that also featured a lot of amateurs. They didn't mix it up often with wrestlers from other styles, especially Lowden. For Greco-Roman the top name was definitely Tom Cannon. And then we have the catch-as-catch-can style, which was probably the most prevalent pro style back then and therefore there were a lot of notable wrestlers from that style - Joe Acton (Joseph Acton), Ike Smith (Isaac Smith), Sam Moores, William Mollineux (sometimes spelled Mullineux), William Winstanley, Charles Green, Tom Connors (Tom Connor), Joe Carroll, “Bulldog” Tom Clayton, Tom McInerney, Jack Carkeek, etc. And then there were guys like Captain Duncan C. Ross and George M. Ross (G. M. Ross) who made their reputation primarily as mixed-style wrestlers.
A number of notable foreign stars wrestled in the UK during 1880-1900 period too - Evan "Strangler" Lewis, John McMahon, Tom Jenkins, Antonio Pierri, Paul Pons, Felix Bernard, Auguste Robinet, Nicolai Petroff, Kara Ahmet, Adali Halil, Simon Antonitch, and others.
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| - First row (left to right): Tom Cannon, Jack Carkeek, Antonio Pierri, Tom Connors, Tom Clayton - Second row: George Steadman, George Lowden, Joe Carroll, Tom McInerney, Sam Moores |
The attendance numbers and quotes below are from the British press. Take them for what they're worth. if you see more than one number or quote for a match that means they come from different newspapers.
And on a final note, before I post the results, you will see a lot of matches below listed as being for a championship. Don't take those too seriously. It's just how the matches were advertised, but these were by no means official championships. Some guys had more of a claim than others, but overall I wouldn't consider most of the championships below as being an official lineage. You could make a case for Tom Cannon as the World Greco-Roman champion (UK version) and later on for Jack Carkeek as the World Catch-as-catch-can champion (UK version), but even those claims are not that straightforward.
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24 July 1880
Oldham, England
Higginshaw Grounds
12,000 fans
James Chessworth def. George Stansfield (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £30 side bet. Chessworth won the falls in 19:15 and 1:15.
1 May 1880
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
600 fans
Ike Smith def. James Faulkner
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Smith won the first fall in 30:30 minutes, Faulkner won the second in 6 minutes, and Smith won the third in 15 minutes.
I didn't find any other noteworthy matches in 1880, but I did find an interesting story from December 1880 where a couple of guys ended up suing each other over promoting a predetermined wrestling match with the plan to split the profits from the bets.
15 January 1881
London, England
Lambeth Baths Gymnasium
300 fans
1. Tom Cannon def. John Wannop (37 minutes)
2. Tom Cannon drew J. Smith (56 minutes)
= Greco-Roman style competition for a £13 prize, which organized by by W. Taylor. Cannon and Smith had wrestled for nearly an hour and as it was getting near to 11 p.m. they agreed to finish their match the following week.
22 January 1881
London, England
Lambeth Baths Gymnasium
400 fans
Tom Cannon def. J. Smith (54 minutes)
= The final of W. Taylor's Greco-Roman competition. There were others sports on the card, in addition to the wrestling match.
12 March 1881
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
3,000 fans
Joe Acton vs. Ike Smith did not take place
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £120 side bet. Acton was a catch vet, who was active as early as 1867. The wrestlers had agreed on a weight limit for the match. They were weighed at noon and everything seemed to be fine, but then later in the day Smith demanded another weigh-in. Acton, who had just dined, refused to weigh in again. On account of that both wrestlers refused to enter the ring and the match was canceled.
16 April 1881
London, England
Lambeth Baths Gymnasium
“attendance fell far short of what might have been expected given the attraction offered”
Tom Cannon drew John Wannop (2:2 falls)
= Mixed styles match for £20. Promoted by W. Taylor. Cannon won the first fall (Greco-Roman) in 9:40, Cannon won the second (Greco-Roman) in 16:30, Wannop won the third (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in about 4 minutes, Wannop won the fourth (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in 8:45, and the fifth (Devon and Cornwall style) went 45 minutes. It was decided to continue the match the following week.
23 April 1881
London, England
Lambeth Baths Gymnasium
John Wannop def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= Continuation of the match above. Devon and Cornwall style. Cannon won the first fall in 14 minutes, Wannop won the second in 7 minutes, and Wannop won the third.
30 April 1881
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
6,000 fans
Ike Smith def. Joe Acton (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £170 side bet. Acton won the first fall in 6 minutes, Smith took the second in 8 minutes, and Smith won the third in 2 and a half minutes. Acton was one of the best known wrestlers in the UK at this point while the 23 year old Smith had been around for a few years so this was the victory that really put Smith on the map.
2 July 1881
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
8,000 fans
Joe Acton vs. Ike Smith ended without a winner (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £200 side bet. After 1 hour 13 minutes of wrestling the match ended when the referee awarded a fall to Smith by mistake, and then changed his mind. A rematch was announced for July 16, but that fell through.
20 August 1881
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
800 fans
William Winstanley vs. William Mollineux ended without a winner
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. The two had met twice previously in the late 1870s and Winstanley had won on both occasions. In the second match Mollineux had actually won the first fall, but broke his arm and had to forfeit the match. In this match here Mollineux won the first fall in 40 minutes, and then after 1 hour 55 minutes of wrestling without another fall in was decided to continue the match two days later.
22 August 1881
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
William Winstanley drew William Mollineux (no falls)
= Continuation of the match above. They wrestled 1 hour 5 minutes without a fall and then Winstanley gave Mollineux £6 to withdraw from the match and call it a draw.
8 October 1881
Farnworth, England
Parkhill Grounds
400 fans
Charles Green drew John Connor (1:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Joe Acton was the referee. Connor won the first fall in 19 minutes, Green won the second in 25 minutes, and then they wrestled for another 30 until they finally agreed to end the match and call it a draw.
19 November 1881
Chadderton, England
Moston Park Grounds
8,000 fans / 7,000 fans
Joe Acton drew Ike Smith (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £200 side bet. The third and final match in the Acton/Smith series. After 1 hour 48 minutes of wrestling the wrestlers mutually agreed to end the match and call it a draw.
5 December 1881
London, England
Lillie Bridge Gymnasium
Joe Acton def. Tom Cannon (2:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £200 side bet. William Jameson (a famous Cumberland style wrestler) was the referee. Acton threw Cannon so hard for the final fall that Cannon was legitimately injured, taken to a hospital after the match and was out of action for the next couple of months.
10 December 1882
Salford, England
Recreation Grounds
400 fans
Sam Moores vs. Sam Burton ended without a winner
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Moores won the first fall in 13 minutes, but Burton's friends disputed the decision and ultimately it was decided to continue the match two days later.
12 December 1882
Salford, England
Recreation Grounds
200 fans
Sam Burton def. Sam Moores
= They continued their dispute from two days prior until finally Burton offered Moores to give him £30 to call the match a draw. Moores accepted. They then decided to have a one-fall match, winner gets all the gate money, which Burton won in 3 minutes.
11 February 1882
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
4,000 fans
Joe Acton def. Charles Green - cnc
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £100 side bet. Green broke his thumb and had to forfeit the match.
11 March 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
2,000 fans
William Mollineux def. Abraham Travis (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £100 side bet. The two had wrestled a few years earlier and then Mollineux had won. Travis won the first fall in 6 minutes, Mollineux won the second in 21 minutes, and Mollineux won the third in 4 minutes.
15 April 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
Tom Connors def. William Winstanley (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £20 side bet. Connors won the falls in 1 hour 4 minutes and 26 minutes.
10 June 1882
Oldham, England
Higginshaw Grounds
1,300 fans
James Barker def. Daff Diggins (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. The 40-year-old Diggins was a veteran of 20 years' experience and this was his return to wrestling after a 2-year absence. Barker won the first in 27 minutes and the second in 25.
8 July 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
6,000 fans
Tom Connors vs. Ike Smith was stopped due to rain (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £100 side bet. A pre-match article stated that the 21 year old Tom Connors had started his career as a wrestler about a year ago and had been defeated only once since then. After 1 hour 6 minutes the match was stopped due to rain and was to be continued two days later.
10 July 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
2,400 fans
Tom Connors def. Ike Smith (2:0 falls)
= Continuation of the match above. Connors won the first fall in 8:30 minutes, and the second in 10:45 minutes. Since Smith was a significantly bigger name than Connors at that point, you could say this was Connors' first important victory in his career.
16 September 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
3,517 fans
Sam Moores def. Joe Massey (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Moores won the falls in 15 and 5:15 minutes.
30 September 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
3,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Connors vs. Ike Smith was stopped due to a thunderstorm (no falls)
= £100 side bet. There was a thunderstorm during the match. The wrestlers wrestled for about 24 minutes, without any falls, and ultimately decided to end the bout.
28 October 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
500 fans
William Winstanley drew William Mollineux (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Sam Moores was the referee. The fourth match in the Winstanley/Mollineux series. They wrestled for 38 minutes and agreed to call the match a draw.
11 November 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
2,000 fans
Sam Moores def. Daff Diggins (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Ike Smith was the referee. Moores won the falls in 57 and 5 minutes.
9 December 1882
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
1,500 fans (there was bad weather)
Sam Moores drew James Barker (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled for 56 minutes, without a fall, and then they agreed to call the match a draw.
3 March 1883
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
6,000 fans (out of which 4,017 were paid)
Sam Moores drew James Barker (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled for 1 hour 12 minutes, without a fall, and then they agreed to call the match a draw.
10 March 1883
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
1,400 fans
William Winstanley def. Ike Smith (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £40 side bet. Winstanley won the falls in 24:15 and 30 minutes.
21 April 1883
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
1,000 fans
Joe Massey drew Sam Burton (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled for about 33 minutes, without any falls, and agreed to call the match a draw.
5 May 1883
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
1,200 fans
Charles Green drew William Mollineux
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Mollineux won the first fall in 10 minutes. The second fall was a long one and ultimately Green's backers decided to give Mollineux £15 and half the bets to retire from the match and so the match was declared a draw.
2 June 1883
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
“a large number of people”
Sam Moores vs. Sam Burton was stopped
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £40 side bet. Moores won the first fall in 14:15 minutes, and while the wrestlers were on their mandatory rest between the falls rumors started circulating that Moores had actually not been weighed before the match and may have not made the weight limit, which angered the crowd. As the second fall was starting the crowd rushed in and interrupted the match. Ultimately the referee announced that Burton would be rewarded half of his opponent's stake (so £10 in this case) and the bets would be distributed accordingly, but the crowd wasn't satisfied with this and started throwing stuff. Then the promoter John Farrow stepped in and declared that all bets were off.
25 August 1883
London, England
Sayes Court
John Wannop vs. Thomas Kennedy ended without a winner
= Mixed styles match - Cumberland and Westmoreland, Devon and Catch-as-catch-can. £200 side bet. Kennedy won the coin toss and chose Cumberland style for the first fall. After 1 hour 10 minutes the referee ruled that Wannop had won the fall, Kennedy protested, the two sides argued, Kennedy then walked away and the the match ended unfinished.
3 November 1883
Oldham, England
Higginshaw Grounds
800 fans
Sam Moores drew George Wrench (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled 1 hour 24 minutes, without a fall, and as it was getting dark and Moores had asked to withdraw, Wrench accepted £5 from Moores and the match was called a draw.
3 November 1883
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
1,100 fans
Joe Massey def. Ambrose Addison (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £30 side bet. Massey won the falls in 18:30 and 41 minutes.
8 December 1883
Oldham, England
Higginshaw Grounds
1,200 fans
Tom Connors vs. William Winstanley ended without a winner (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled for 1 hour 25 minutes, without any falls, and the referee decided to end the match because it was getting late.
31 May 1884
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
800 fans
Tom Connors def. William Mollineux (2:1)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Connors won the first fall in 23 minutes, Mollineux won the second in 5, and Connors won the third in 4 minutes.
28 June 1884
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
1,500 fans
George Wrench def. Sam Moores (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. One report stated that neither man had wrestled any matches since their previous match in November 1883. Moores won the first fall in 18:30, Wrench won the second in 2:30, and Wrench won the third in 16 minutes.
2 August 1884
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
400 fans
William Mollineux def. Tom Connors (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Mollineux won the first fall in 31:15 and the second in 3:30.
25 October 1884
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
1,000 fans
Robert Winstanley vs. Sam Moores was stopped (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Ike Smith was the referee. The wrestlers wrestled for about 57 minutes, without any falls, when Tom Connors (Winstanley's second) “interfered slightly” (is how the report puts it) with Moores. Moores' second got involved as well, fans did too, and it became a big scene. The match was stopped and it was announced it would be continued two days later.
27 October 1884
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
600 fans
Robert Winstanley drew Sam Moores
= A continuation of the match above. Moores won the first fall in 18 minutes, and in the second fall they wrestled for about 28 minutes when Winstanley offered to give Moores £12 and 10 shilling out of the stake to end the match, which Moores accepted. The match was called a draw.
9 February 1885
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
1,000 fans
Tom Connors def. Abram Travis (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £30 side bet. Connors won the falls in 12 and 6 minutes.
4 April 1885
Failsworth, England
Moorfield Grounds
2,000 fans
Ike Smith vs. Joe Newton was stopped
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. After about 2 hours of wrestling the referee gave Smith the fall, the crowd disagreed and stormed the ring so the match came to an end.
8 August 1885
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
1,000 fans
Sam Burton def. Joe Massey (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Burton won the falls in 9:30 and 11:30 minutes.
6 February 1886
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
1,200 fans
Tom Clayton def. T. Farrimond (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Ike Smith was the referee. Clayton won the falls in 38 and 2:15 minutes.
19 July 1886
Aberdeen, Scotland
Recreation Grounds
3,000 fans
George Steadman vs. George Davidson ended without a winner
= This was to be a mixed styles match. The headliner of a Highland Games athletics event. Steadman was billed as the champion wrestler of England and Davidson as the champion wrestler of Scotland. Davidson won the first fall (Greco-Roman) in about 5 minutes and then the match was stopped because it was getting too late/dark (the match was supposed to be at 7 p.m. but Steadman missed his train from Carlisle so ultimately the match didn't start until 11 p.m.). It was decided to continue the match two days later.
21 July 1886
Aberdeen, Scotland
Recreation Grounds
“a large number of spectators” / “a good audience”
George Steadman drew George Davidson (2:2 falls)
= A continuation of the match above. Steadman won the first two falls (Cumberland and Westmoreland), Davidson won the third and fourth fall (Greco-Roman), and ultimately the match was called a draw.
25 September 1886
Aberdeen, Scotland
Bon-Accord Recreation Hall
“a large attendance”
Championship of Great Britain: George Davidson def. George Steadman (4:3 falls)
= A mixed styles match. £20 side bet. Steadman was billed as the champion wrestler of England (Cumberland and Westmoreland style) and Davidson as the champion wrestler of Scotland (Scotch style). Steadman won the first three falls (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and Davidson won the next three falls (Scotch) in 15:05, 10:03 and 9 minutes. Then Davidson won the coin toss and picked Scotch style for the final fall, which he won in 13:07.
4 July 1887
Redruth, England
Redruth Recreation Ground
5,000 fans / 3,000 fans
World Cornish Championship: Jack Carkeek def. John Pearce
= Cornish style. £200 side bet. Carkeek was billed as the American champion and Pearce as the champion of England (Carkeek was originally born in the UK, but his family had moved to the States when he was still young). The match lasted a total of three hours. At the end of it there was some dispute as Pearce was claiming four falls to Carkeek's three, but the referee would only recognize one fall for Pearce so Pearce refused to continue wrestling and the match was awarded to Carkeek.
23 July 1887
Failsworth, England
Moorfield Grounds
800 fans
Ike Smith def. William Winstanley (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Smith won the falls in 25:30 and 29 minutes.
17 September 1887
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
1,500 fans
Sam Moores def. Joe Newton
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £40 side bet. Moores won the falls in 25 and 17 minutes.
8 October 1887
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
300 fans
W. Sharples def. Joe Carroll (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Carroll had trained with Sam Moores for this match. Sharples won the falls in 4 and 9 minutes.
11 February 1888
Failsworth, England
Moorfield Grounds
400 fans
William Winstanley def. Ike Smith (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Winstanley won the first fall in 21 minutes, Smith won the second in 7:45 minutes, and Winstanley won the third in 10 minutes.
12 March 1888
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
1,200 fans
English Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Ike Smith drew William Winstanley (no falls)
= £30 side bet. The wrestlers had wrestled for about 45 minutes when Winstanley's second alleged Smith had acted unfairly toward Winstanley. The crowd broke into the arena and police had to intervene. The referee had to choice but to stop the match and called it a draw.
4 June 1888
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
1,200 fans / 1,110 fans
Ike Smith drew Robert Winstanley (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. The wrestlers wrestled for 1 hour 39 minutes, without any falls, when Winstanley felt tired and offered to give Smith £5 to end the match as a draw and Smith agreed.
12 June 1888
London, England
New Cross Hall
George Steadman def. George Brown (2:0 falls)
= Mixed styles match. £50 side bet. Steadman chose the style of the first fall (Cumberland and Westmoreland) and won it. Brown chose catch-hold for the second fall and Steadman won that fall too.
18 August 1888
Failsworth, England
Recreation Ground
2,400 fans / 2,000 fans
Tom Connors def. Ike Smith (1:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Connors won the fall in 1 hour 59 minutes, but Smith said he had won it on a foul and refused to continue. The referee declared Connors the winner and awarded him the stake.
27 August 1888
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
4,000 fans
Charles Green def. John Connor (1:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £200 side bet. Billed as Englishman vs. Australian (even though Connor was an Englishman). This was a rematch of their 1881 match in Farnworth that ended in a draw. Here Green won the first fall in 23:50 minutes, Connor walked out and never returned afterward so the match was awarded to Green.
12 January 1889
Whitworth, England
Whitworth Football and Cricket Club Grounds
1,200 fans
Thomas Gibbons def. Abraham Travis (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £30 side bet. Gibbons, who was a local wrestler, won the falls in 6:45 and 5:55.
From 25 November 1889 onward Antonio Pierri was appearing nightly at the Canterbury Music Hall in London as the headline attraction. He was wrestling in the Greco-Roman style and had an open challenge - £25 to anyone who could beat him. This was Pierri's UK debut. He would go on to have a run as a top wrestler in the UK and later on he was an influential manager and promoter as well. Right before coming to the UK he had wrestled in Paris (during the Exposition Universelle world fair) and before that he was in the United States. In both places he wrestled the Englishman Tom Cannon. In addition to Pierri, also wrestling at the Canterbury Theatre at that time were the Frenchman Creste and the top two Cumberland style wrestlers George Steadman and George Lowden. On the same day Pierri began wrestling at Canterbury Music Hall another London venue added wrestling to its nightly program as a troupe of French wrestlers began appearing at the Royal Aquarium. Part of this troupe were Apollon (Louis Uni), Felix Bernard, Pietro Dalmasso, Emile Limousin, Eugene Bazin and Andre Lacaisse. There were some UK guys too. It's also interesting to point out that right before these two troupes started wrestling in London another London venue had wrestling on its bill - the Washington Music Hall - where some lesser-known names were performing, the biggest one probably being Dennis Gallagher, who would go on to have a career in both the U.S. and the UK.
25 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“the immense building was crammed”
1. George Steadman def. George Lowden (2:1 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Creste (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the second one was Greco-Roman. Pierri won in about 10 minutes.
26 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
1. George Lowden def. George Steadman (2:1 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri failed to beat Creste
= Greco-Roman style. The match ended when Pierri claimed to have pinned Creste, but the referee ruled that only one of Creste's shoulders had touched the mat and therefore he wasn't defeated.
27 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“crowded”
1. George Lowden def. Creste (1:0 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Henry Mortimer (1:0 falls)
3. George Steadman def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
= The first two match were Greco-Roman style, and the third one Cumberland and Westmoreland. The stipulation for Pierri/Mortimer was that if Mortimer lasted 14 minutes with Pierri he would get £5 and if he managed to beat him within that time he would get £25.
28 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
1. George Steadman def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
2. Creste def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
3. George Lowden def. George Steadman (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style, the second was Greco-Roman, and the third was Scotch.
29 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
1. George Steadman def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Professor Breunnar (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the second was Greco-Roman
30 November 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“large audience”
1. George Lowden def. George Steadman (1:0 falls)
2. George Steadman def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
3. Antonio Pierri def. Creste (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style, the second was Scotch style, and the third was Greco-Roman.
2 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
Tom Cannon def. Eugene Bazin
= Greco-Roman style. £400 side bet. The story here was that Cannon was back from an international tour (USA, France) and was now claiming to be the World champion. He was a well-known name in the UK previously, but from this point onward Cannon became one of the top stars. Upon his return from the States he challenged Bazin, who he said he considered to be the best wrestler from the troupe appearing at the Royal Aquarium. The two had wrestled previously in Paris as well where Cannon was the big wrestling headliner during the world fair that year.
3 December 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
1. George Lowden def. George Steadman (2:1 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Creste (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the second one was Greco-Roman. Pierri won his match in 7 minutes.
4 December 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
1. George Steadman def. Creste (1:0 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Vincent (1:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. The first match lasted 9 minutes and the second one 7 minutes.
5 December 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“crowded house”
1. Antonio Pierri def. Harry Mortimer (1:0 falls)
2. George Steadman def. George Lowden (1:0 falls)
3. Tug of War: Antonio Pierri def. Harry Mortimer (5 minutes)
= The first match was Greco-Roman style and the second Cumberland and Westmoreland. The first one lasted about 10 minutes and the second 4:30.
6 December 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“well-patronised”
1. George Lowden def. George Steadman (2:1 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Creste (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the second one was Greco-Roman. Pierri won his match in 9 minutes.
7 December 1889
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“a vast company had assembled”
1. George Steadman def. George Lowden (2:1 falls)
2. Antonio Pierri def. Creste (1:0 falls)
= The first match was Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the second one was Greco-Roman. Pierri won his match in 7 minutes. Pierri vs. Steadman (Greco-Roman) had been advertised, but did not take place.
9 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
1. Felix Bernard def. Hexham Clark (7 minutes)
2. Emile Limousin drew J. Robinson (10 minutes)
3. Eugene Bazin def. George Lowden
4. George Steadman drew Apollon (10 minutes)
= This was the start of an international tournament promoted by the newly-established International Wrestling Association out of London. The tournament featured two styles: Greco-Roman and Cumberland and Westmoreland. All the Greco-Roman matches were one-fall matches with a 10 minute time limit while the Cumberland ones were two of out three falls. Tom Cannon, Felix Bernard and Jack Wannop were advertised for the tournament, but weren't part of it. All the matches on this particular evening were Greco-Roman style.
10 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
“a large gate”
1. J. Robinson def. Emile Limousin
2. Hexham Clark def. Andre Lacaisse
3. George Lowden def. Eugene Bazin
4. George Steadman def. Apollon
5. Hexham Clark def. Emile Limousin via disqualification
6. J. Robinson def. Eugene Bazin
= The first four matches were in Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the last two were Greco-Roman. Limousin was disqualified for strangling. At the end of the evening Tom Cannon tried to rush the stage, but was stopped.
= Sidenote: Later that evening the veteran Andre Lacaise (who is identified in the press as the manager of the troupe appearing at the Royal Aquarium) had a disagreement with Felix Bernard, who shook his fist in Lacaisse's face which lead to Lacaisse pushing him and then punching him. Lacaisse got away without any charges, because it was ruled that he acted in self defense. That accident probably explains why Bernard did not participate in the tournament, even though he was advertised for it.
11 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
“crowded”
1. Sarafin def. Hexham Clark
2. Apollon def. George Lowden
3. George Steadman def. Eugene Bazin
4. Hexham Clark def. J. Robinson
5. Emile Limousin def. Sarafin
= Match 4 was Cumberland and Westmoreland, while the rest of the matches were Greco-Roman.
12 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
1. J. Robinson def. Eugene Bazin
2. Hexham Clark def. Emile Limousin
3. George Lowden def. Apollon
4. George Steadman def. Sarafin
5. Eugene Bazin def. Hexham Clark
= The first three matches were Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the last two were Greco-Roman.
13 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
1. Apollon def. Sarafin
2. Emile Limousin def. Eugene Bazin
3. J. Robinson def. Hexham Clark
4. George Steadman def. George Lowden
= The first three matches were Greco-Roman style and the last one was Cumberland and Westmoreland.
14 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
“larger attendance than any of the previous nights”
1. Emile Limousin drew J. Robinson
2. Eugene Bazin def. Hexham Clark
3. George Steadman drew Emile Limousin
4. Hexham Clark def. Eugene Bazin
5. George Lowden def. Apollon
6. J. Robinson def. Sarafin
= The finals of the international tournament. The first three matches were Greco-Roman style and the other three were Cumberland and Westmoreland. There was also supposed to be a one-fall Cumberland and Westmoreland bout between Steadman and Limousin, but Limousin refused to wrestle in that style. The tournament ended with Steadman in first place and Robinson second.
16 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
1. Emile Limousin def. Michelle
2. World Championship Series: Tom Cannon def. George Steadman (2:1)
= Mixed styles match. Steadman had just won the big international tournament at the Royal Aquarium - a tournament, which Cannon was supposed to be in, but wasn't for some reason. So now the two were booked to wrestle each other six times, in three different style each night, to determine who the World champion is. Cannon won the coin toss and chose Greco-Roman for the first fall. Cannon won the fall in 5 minutes. Steadman chose Cumberland for the second and won in 2 minutes. The third fall was under catch-as-catch-can rules and Cannon won. Antonio Pierri was the referee.
17 December 1889
London, England
Royal Aquarium
World Championship Series: George Steadman def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= Antonio Pierri was the referee. Cannon won the first fall (Greco-Roman), Steadman won the second (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and Steadman won the third (Catch-as-catch-can). There was a lot of criticism in the press about how these weren't legitimate World Championship matches since there were no articles drawn up for it and there wasn't a stakeholder appointed either. Ultimately Steadman ended up saying the same thing – that it wasn't a World Championship, but rather just exhibition matches. The “World Championship” series was then canceled.
7 February 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
1,000 fans
Antonio Pierri def. George M. Ross (2:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £100 side bet and winner gets all the gate receipts. Pierri won the falls in 3:10 and 8:45 minutes.
28 February 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
1,500 fans
Antonio Pierri def. George M. Ross (3:1 falls)
= Mixed styles match. £100 side bet. Ross won the first (collar-and-elbow) in 4 minutes, Pierri won the second (catch-as-catch-can) in 3:30 minutes, Pierri won the third (collar-and-elbow) in 4 minutes, and Pierri won the fourth (catch) in 6 minutes. Pierri was awarded a silver belt valued at £50.
14 April 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
3,000 fans
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Antonio Pierri def. George Steadman (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. Steadman won the first (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in about a minute, Pierri won the second (Greco-Roman) in 10:11 minutes, and Pierri won the third (catch-as-catch-can) in 11:30 minutes. It's not too clear, but I think the idea here was that Pierri was the World Greco-Roman champion claimant while Steadman was the World Cumberland champion claimant so this match was to determine who the overall World champion was. Pierri (30) was said to be 13 years younger than Steadman (43). After the match Steadman asked for a rematch in a few weeks.
26 April 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
2,000 fans
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: George Steadman def. Antonio Pierri (c) (3:2 falls)
= Four styles, three out of five falls. £200 side bet. Pierri won the first (Greco-Roman), Pierri won the second (catch-as-catch-can), Steadman won the third (collar-and-elbow), Steadman won the fourth (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and then Steadman won the coin toss, chose Cumberland to be the style for the final fall and won the fall.
23 June 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
2,000 fans
Tom Cannon def. Antonio Pierri (2:1 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £200 side bet. The two had wrestled each other previously in other countries, but I believe this was their first match in the UK and essentially the start of their UK rivalry, which lasted through the early 1900s and I consider it one of the top UK rivalries of the 1890s. Pierri won the first fall in 9:55 minutes, Cannon won the second in 9:47 and the third in 16:19. Pierri wasn't happy with the result and asked for a rematch. He offered to put his championship belt, valued at £100, up for grabs in the rematch. Cannon accepted.
2 July 1890
Carlisle, England
Antonio Pierri def. George Steadman (2:1 falls)
= Mixed styles match. Pierri won the first (catch-as-catch-can), Steadman won the second (collar-and-elbow), and Pierri won the third (Greco-Roman).
4 July 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
4,000 fans
World Greco-Roman Championship: Antonio Pierri (c) def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= Pierri's championship belt, valued at £100, was on the line as was £75 put up by Cannon. Pierri won the first in 12:30 minutes, Cannon won the second in 9 minutes, and Pierri won the third in 8:32. Cannon argued that he had not been defeated and that the final fall was a flying fall so ultimately a rematch was booked.
18 July 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
"a very poor audience"
Jack Carkeek def. George M. Ross (2:1 falls)
= Mixed styles match. £50 side bet. Carkeek won the first (catch-as-catch-can), Ross won the second (collar-and-elbow), and Carkeek won the third (Greco-Roman).
25 July 1890
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
"large attendance"
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Antonio Pierri (c) (2:1 falls)
= For Pierri's championship belt and a £200 side bet. Cannon won the first in 11 minutes, Pierri won the second in 12:53, and Cannon won the third in 14 minutes.
2 August 1890
Bridge of Allan, Scotland
Public Park
12,000 fans / 10,000 fans
Antonio Pierri drew George Steadman (2:2 falls)
= Mixed styles match. Part of a Strathallan Games athletics event. The Pierri/Steadman match was the headline attraction in the program, which had 42 different events in total. Steadman won the catch-as-catch-can and Cumberland falls, while Pierri won two Greco-Roman falls.
9 August 1890
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ulster Club Ground
Antonio Pierri drew George Steadman (2:2 falls)
= Mixed styles match. Part of a Highland Games athletics event by the Belfast Scottish Association. Pierri/Steadman was the headline attraction. Pierri won the first (Greco-Roman), Steadman won the second (Scotch), Steadman won the third (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and Pierri won the fourth (catch-as-catch-can).
16 August 1890
Alexandria, Scotland
Millburn Park
"a large crowd of spectators"
Antonio Pierri def. James Currie (2:1 falls)
=Mixed styles match. Part of a Highland Games athletics event. Currie won the Cumberland and Westmoreland fall, while Pierri won the Greco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can falls. As was always the case with these events, there were also one-day tournaments in various wrestling styles. Pierri won the Scotch style tournament, with a victory over George Lowden in the final. Earlier in the day Lowden had won the Cumberland style tournament with a victory over Currie in the final.
21 August 1890
Grasmere, England
Pavement End
5,000 to 6,000 fans (despite the heavy rain)
Antonio Pierri drew George Steadman (2:2 falls)
= Mixed styles match. Part of a Grasmere Sports event, which featured various tournaments. Pierri won the first fall (Greco-Roman), Steadman won the second (Scotch), Pierri won the third (catch-as-catch-can), and Steadman won the fourth (Scotch). Also that day, Steadman won the Cumberland wrestling tournament with a victory over George Lowden in the final.
2 February 1891
Glasgow, Scotland
Waterloo Rooms
World Greco-Roman Championship: Antonio Pierri (c) drew Tom Cannon (1:1 falls)
= For Pierri's championship belt and a £200 side bet. Cannon won the first in 26:40 minutes, Pierri won the second in 21:30, and then Cannon asked for the match to be continued on another day because he was tired due to his recent journey from the U.S. Pierri demanded that the match be finished. It was agreed that they would wrestle for another 10 minutes and if there was no winner then the match would be resumed on another night, and that's what happened.
16 February 1891
Glasgow, Scotland
Waterloo Rooms
"a large audience"
World Greco-Roman Championship: Antonio Pierri (c) def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= For Pierri's championship belt and a £300 side bet. Cannon won the first in 10 minutes, Pierri won the second in 6 minutes, and Pierri won the third in 24:13. Pierri pinned Cannon toward the edge of the platform (Cannon's legs were hanging outside the platform). Cannon protested and said this wasn't a fair fall, but the referee said he had warned them to get back to the centre of the platform, the wrestlers hadn't listened and therefore he had no choice but to award the fall to Pierri.
9 March 1891
Glasgow, Scotland
National Halls
1,000 fans / "well-filled house"
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Antonio Pierri (c) (2:1 falls)
= For Pierri's championship belt and a £200 side bet. Pierri won the first in 8:12, Cannon won the second in 8:47, and Cannon won the third in 16:52.
8 June 1891
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
2,000 fans / "a good attendance"
Tom Connors def. Ike Smith (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Smith won the first in 33:15, Connors won the second in 24 minutes and the third in 9:30.
13 June 1891
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
6,000 fans
Tom Clayton def. Tom Connors (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £175 side bet. The first match in the Clayton/Connors series of matches, which spanned a number of years and was one of the most important rivalries of the decade. Connors won the first fall in about an hour, Clayton won the second in 31 minutes, and Clayton won the third in 2:30 minutes.
15 August 1891
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
1,200 fans
Tom Connors failed to beat Joe Newton twice
= Catch-as-catch-can style. Connors had to beat his opponent twice in an hour or forfeit £80. Connors won the first in 18:45 minutes, but couldn't beat Newton a second time before the time limit was up.
5 September 1891
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
2,000 fans
Tom Connors drew Joe Carroll (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. They wrestled for 2 hours 10 minutes, without any falls, and since it was getting dark they agreed to call the match a draw.
5 September 1891
London, England
Royal Aquarium
Greek George def. Jack Brady (2:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. For a cup valued at £20. Greek George (John Theodore Hatzopulos) was a well-known Greco-Roman wrestler. The story was that George was to wrestle an unknown opponent chosen by C. A. Sampson and the opponent turned out to be the Irishman Brady. George won the first in 9 minutes and the second in 7:53.
26 December 1891
Oldham, England
Borough Grounds
900 fans
Tom Connors def. Emanuel Simpson (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £100 side bet. Connors won the falls in 11:30 and 9 minutes.
8 January 1892
Bradford, England
Jollity Theatre
“packed from floor to ceiling”
Tom Connors def. George M. Ross (1:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £200 side bet. Ross was billed as the champion mixed wrestler of the world and Connors was billed as the champion catch-as-catch-can wrestler of England. Ross had been appearing at the theatre and he had an open challenge - £10 to any man he could not beat in 10 minutes (Greco-Roman style). A week prior Connors had lasted the 10 minutes and this was the rematch, minus the 10 minute limit. Connors won the fall in 27:30 minutes.
= Sidenote: A pre-match article mentioned that wrestling's popularity had increased greatly in the past year or two and matches with Pierri, Cannon and Steadman were cited as an example of this. It's also mentioned that the rules of wrestling had been revised – several dangerous grips and holds had been prohibited. The wrestling bouts now had less of the brutality attached to prize fights and were more about strength and science.
11 February 1892
Bradford, England
Jollity Theatre
“crowded to its utmost capacity”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: George Steadman def. George M. Ross
= Mixed styles match. £200 side bet. The match came to be because Ross has been claiming to be the World mixed wrestling champion and Steadman disputed that, claiming to be the champion himself. Ross was billed as the champion mixed wrestler of America and Steadman as the champion mixed wrestler of England. Tom Connors was the referee. Ross won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 10:21 minutes, Steadman won the second (collar-and-elbow) in 1:58, Ross won the third (Greco-Roman) in 41 minutes, Steadman won the fourth (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in 1:45, and Steadman won the fifth (Scotch) in 2:50.
23 February 1892
London, England
Washington Music Hall
“crowded in every part”
Greek George def. J. Crighton (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. Neither wrestler was very familiar with the style. Crighton was billed as the champion of South America. George won the fall in 7:55 and 5:55 minutes.
8 October 1892
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
2,000 fans (there was rain so this likely affected the attendance)
Tom Connors vs. Joe Carroll ended without a winner (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Tom Clayton was the referee. They wrestled for about 80 minutes, without a fall, and ultimately there was a mutual decision to continue the match in two days' time.
10 October 1892
Wigan, England
Ince Recreation Grounds
small crowd (due to there being rain)
Tom Connors def. Joe Carroll (1:0 falls) – cnc
= A continuation of the match from two days prior. Connors won the first fall in 20:30 minutes, and then Carroll claimed to be injured and gave Connors the victory.
4 November 1892
Dundee, Scotland
Kinnaird Hall
¾ full
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: George M. Ross def. Tom Connors (3:2 falls)
= £100 side bet. Neither man was billed as the champion heading in. Connors won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 13:30, Ross won the second (Greco-Roman) in 14:04, Ross won the third (collar-and-elbow) in 8:40, Connors won the fourth (catch-as-catch-can) in 10:53, and Ross won the fifth (Greco-Roman).
11 November 1892
Dundee, Scotland
Thistle Hall
“a fair attendance”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Connors def. George M. Ross (c) (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. Connors was billed as the champion catch-as-catch-can wrestler of the world, while Ross was billed as the all-around (mixed wrestling) world champion. Connors won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 12 minutes, Ross won the second (Greco-Roman) in 49 minutes, Connors won the third (catch) in 20 minutes, and the fourth fall (Greco-Roman) lasted only about 10 minutes when the time limit (2 hours) was reached. The referee declared Connors the winner. There were people in the crowd who were unhappy with this decision, feeling that the resting periods shouldn't have been counted toward the 2 hours, but they were.
21 November 1892
Glasgow, Scotland
Grand National Halls
2,000 fans
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Cannon def. Captain Duncan C. Ross (2:1 falls)
= £300 side bet. Ross won the first fall (Scotch), Cannon won the second (Greco-Roman), and Cannon won the third (catch-as-catch-can). Ross was claiming that according to the agreement for the match you had to win three falls to be the winner, but the referee sided with Cannon and declared him the winner based on him winning two falls.
12 December 1892
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
3,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Connors def. Tom Clayton (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. According to one article that I saw this match was for the English Championship (not the World one), but most articles had it as a World Championship. Connors won the first fall in about an hour and the second in 19:30 minutes.
26 December 1892
Blackburn, England
Cartland's Circus
“moderate attendance”
Tom Connors drew Joe Carroll (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. The match lasted 20 minutes.
27 December 1892
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
Antonio Pierri def. Auguste Robinet (2:1 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £80 side bet. Robinet won the first fall in 55 minutes, Pierri won the second in 45 minutes, and Pierri won the third.
30 December 1892
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
1. Lightweights: A. Bolton def. Jack Barker
2. Lightweights: J. Corrigan def. Dick Massey
3. Middleweights: Joe Carroll def. Tom Jones
4. Middleweights: Joe Newton def. Jack Hesketh
5. Heavyweights: Ike Smith def. J. Mellor
6. Heavyweights: Tom Connors def. J. Houghton
= This was the second night of a three-day English Catch-as-catch-can Championship tournament. Unfortunately, I don't have the results from the first night (December 29).
31 December 1892
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
1. Lightweights final: A. Bolton def. J. Corrigan (38 minutes)
2. Middleweights final: Joe Carroll def. Joe Newton (16:30 minutes)
3. Heavyweights final: Tom Connors def. Ike Smith (22 minutes)
= The finals of the English Catch-as-catch-can Championship tournament.
23 January 1893
Liverpool, England
Assembly Rooms
“large crowd”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Cannon def. Captain Duncan C. Ross (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won the first fall (Scotch) in 12 minutes, Ross won the second (catch-as-catch-can) in 14 minutes, and Cannon won the third (Greco-Roman) in 25 minutes.
3 March 1893
Bradford, England
Jollity Theatre
“the doubled ticket prices had a damaging effect on the house” / “well-filled house”
Tom Cannon def. George M. Ross (2:1 falls)
= Cannon was billed as the champion Greco-Roman wrestler of the world and Ross was billed as the champion mixed wrestler of America. Ross won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 4 minutes, Cannon won the second (Greco-Roman) in 7 minutes, and Cannon won the third (Greco-Roman) in 10 minutes.
6 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
“large audience”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Captain Duncan C. Ross def. Tom Cannon (1:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. The story here was that Cannon and Ross had agreed to wrestle for 30 minutes every night, in various different styles, over the course of the week to determine who the champion was. Ross won the first fall (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and the 30 minutes were up before either wrestler scored a pin in the second fall (Greco-Roman)
7 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
“large house”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Tom Cannon def. Captain Duncan C. Ross (2:1 falls)
= Cannon won the first fall (Greco-Roman), Cannon won the second (catch-as-catch-can), and Ross won the third (Scotch). The wrestlers were now tied 2:2 falls overall.
8 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Tom Cannon drew Captain Duncan C. Ross (1:1)
= They were to wrestle Cumberland and Greco-Roman style, but I don't have the results from that evening. However, based on the later reports it appears each wrestler won a fall that night, tying them 3:3 overall.
9 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
“crowded audience”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Captain Duncan C. Ross def. Tom Cannon (2:0 falls)
= Ross won the first fall (report doesn't mention which style it was), and he also won the second (Greco-Roman). Ross was now 2 falls ahead of Cannon overall.
10 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Tom Cannon def. Captain Duncan C. Ross (2:0 falls)
= Cannon won the first (Cumberland and Westmoreland) and second (Scotch) falls. The wrestlers were now tied 5:5 falls overall.
11 March 1893
Liverpool, England
Grand Theatre
“densely packed house”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship Series: Tom Cannon def. Captain Duncan C. Ross (3:2 falls)
= Cannon won the first fall (collar-and-elbow), Ross won the second (Scotch), Cannon won the third (catch-as-catch-can), Ross won the fourth (Cumberland and Westmoreland), Cannon won the fifth (Greco-Roman) and thus became the overall winner. The report also mentioned that John McMahon had just arrived from the U.S. and had issued a challenge to the winner.
24 March 1893
Liverpool, England
St. James Hall
“packed house”
Tom Cannon def. John McMahon (3:1 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £100 side bet and winner gets all the gate money. Cannon was billed as the World Greco-Roman champion and McMahon as the champion of America. Cannon won the first fall in 5:30, Cannon won the second in 4:45, McMahon won the third in 4:50, and Cannon won the fourth in 5:10.
13 May 1893
Liverpool, England
Garston Copperworks
Captain Duncan C. Ross failed to beat Robert Marshall twice
= The stipulation was that Ross had to beat Marshall (who was billed as the amateur champion of England and was a local guy) twice in 30 minutes in two different styles. Ross couldn't win the Greco-Roman fall before the 15 minutes was up, but did win the catch-as-catch-can one in 12:33 minutes.
13 May 1893
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
7,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Connors drew Tom Clayton (no falls)
= £200 side bet. The third match between the two, each wrestler having won one match. Connors was accompanied by his trainer for the bout Joe Carroll, and Clayton was trained and accompanied by Ike Smith. After 1 hour and 50 minutes without any pins the match was called a draw.
12 September 1893
Sheffield, England
Haymarket Music Hall
Tom Cannon def. Robert Marshall – cnc
= Greco-Roman style. £200 side bet. Cannon was billed as the mixed style champion of the world. Cannon had to pin Marshall four times in 75 minutes, which included 5-minute rest periods between the falls. Cannon won the first in 30:50 minutes, and then in the second fall Marshall dislocated his shoulder and couldn't continue. Tom McInerney, who was in the crowd, challenged the winner to a catch-as-catch-can style match. This was McInerney's first appearance in England and he was presented as an American (despite being an Irishman in reality).
13 October 1893
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Cannon def. Tom McInerney (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. Cannon was billed as the mixed style champion of the world, while the Irishman McInerney was billed as the catch-as-catch-can champion of America. Robert Marshall was the referee (and at one point during the evening issued a challenge to Cannon for a rematch from their previous bout). Cannon won the first fall in 8:23 minutes, McInerney won the second in 7:15, and Cannon won the third in 15 minutes. McInerney complained and argued that both of his shoulders weren't touching the ground when the pin happened, but the decision stood. McInerney asked for a rematch, but Cannon turned him down.
29 March 1894
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. George Rasso (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. Rasso won the first fall in 12 minutes, Cannon won the second in 6:30, and Cannon won the third in 9:30 minutes.
5 July 1894
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
2,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom McInerney def. Tom Cannon (c) (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. Cannon won the first in 7:20 minutes, McInerney won the second in 5:02, and McInerney won the third in 8 minutes when he hammerlocked Cannon's leg with his knee and Cannon shouted “Hold, don't break my leg!” and yielded so the referee awarded the match to McInerney. Some people in the crowd weren't happy with this finish – pinfalls were the proper finishes back then and having someone yield like this wasn't seen as particularly satisfying.
22 August 1894
St. Helens, England
People's Palace
Tom Connors failed to beat Joe Carroll (15 minutes)
= Connors had been appearing here with an open challenge - £5 to any man he could not beat in 15 minutes. Two days prior Jack Hesketh had lasted the 15 minutes as well.
27 August 1894
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Cannon def. Tom McInerney (c) (2:1 falls)
= Cannon won the first fall (Greco-Roman) in 9:07 minutes, McInerney won the second (catch-as-catch-can) in 13:20, and Cannon won the third (Greco-Roman) in 8 minutes. Cannon was once again proclaimed as the World champion. And yes, it is kind of confusing – when McInerney beat him for the World Championship before it was a catch match and now Cannon won the World Championship back under mixed rules.
8 October 1894
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom McInerney (c) def. Charles Donaldson (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. Tom Cannon was in the crowd. Donaldson was billed as the Scottish champion. McInerney won the falls in 14:30 and in 16 minutes.
21 January 1895
Manchester, England
Palace of Varieties
Antonio Pierri def. Fournier (1:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. Pierri and Fournier (billed as the champion of France) were appearing here nightly.
25 January 1895
Manchester, England
Grand Theatre of Varieties
“large audience”
Tom Cannon failed to beat Tom Connors (15 minutes)
= Greco-Roman style. Cannon had been appearing here with an open challenge - £10 to any man who he couldn't beat in 15 minute.
4 February 1895
Bradford, England
Jollity Theatre
“good attendance”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. George M. Ross (3:2 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 12 minutes, Ross won the second (collar-and-elbow) in 5 minutes, Ross won the third (Scotch) in 17:35, Cannon won the fourth (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in 1:20, and Cannon won the fifth (Greco-Roman) in 12:35.
14 February 1895
Bradford, England
St. George Hall
2,000 fans
Tom Larkin def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon was billed as the World Greco-Roman champion. This was Larkin's debut in the UK (he was from Australia). George M. Ross refereed and then challenged the winner. Larkin won the first (catch-as-catch-can) in 11:48, Cannon won the second (Scotch) in 10:10, and Larkin won the third (Greco-Roman) in 8:50.
12 April 1895
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
4,000 fans / 3,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Connors def. Tom Clayton (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. Connors won the first fall in 46 and second in 7 minutes.
15 April 1895
Barrow-in-Furness, England
circus
George Steadman def. Tom Cannon (2:1 falls)
= £50 side bet. Three weeks prior Cannon had been appearing at the Empire Theatre and offering £10 to any man who he couldn't beat in 15 minutes, Greco-Roman style. Steadman took up the challenge and lasted the 15 minutes. This lead to the match here, where they were to wrestle in Cannon's preferred style (Greco-Roman), Steadman's style (Cumberland and Westmoreland), and a coin toss was going to decide the style for the third fall. Cannon won the first fall (Greco-Roman) in 10 minutes, Steadman won the second (Cumberland), and Steadman won the third (Cumberland) as well.
25 May 1895
Leeds, England
Moorfield Recreation Grounds
6,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Connors drew Tom Clayton (no falls)
= £300 side bet. Prior to the match Clayton trained with Ike Smith while Connors trained with Joe Carroll. The match lasted 2 hours 3 minutes without any pinfalls, and for some of it it was raining. Ultimately the wrestlers agreed to call the match a draw.
From late May until mid August 1895 a troupe of wrestlers was appearing nightly at the Alhambra Theatre in London. The matches were in the Greco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can styles. Over the course of the run the following wrestlers worked at the venue: Antonio Pierri, Nicolai Petroff, Leon Masson, Henri Alphonse, Paul le Mastoc, Boyer, George M. Ross, Charles Green, Paul Belling, George Steadman, Bernard Leitner, Tom Cannon, Joe Carroll, Trillat, Charles Donaldson, Maurice Gambier, Singer and Carola (Louis Chorella?). However, the chief attraction was Turkish wrestlers appearing in England for the first time. At first it was Jassar Ismail and Mehmet Adalli, and later on they were joined by Mehmisch. This was the second Turk trio to enter pro wrestling after two months earlier Yousouf, Nourlah and Mehmed had debuted in Paris. What's interesting is that both Turk trios were managed by the Frenchman Jean Doublier. Doublier, along with Nicolai Petroff to a lesser extent, opened the door to the “terrible Turks” in pro wrestling and the Turks became a popular attraction in both Europe and North America. A few years later Antonio Pierri took over and became the main guy managing a lot of the Turks.
31 May 1895
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“a very large gathering” / “a large audience”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. George Rasso (3:1 falls)
= Three out of five falls. £100 side bet. Tom McInerney was the referee. Cannon won the first fall in 7:20 minutes, Rasso won the second in 2:40, Cannon won the third in 3:16, and Cannon won the fourth in 4:26.
Paul Pons arrived in London on 13 June 1895 and challenged Antonio Pierri. The challenge was ultimately accepted by Jean Doublier on behalf of one of his Turks. Pons failed to deposit the stake so Doublier withdrew his stake. Eventually in July Pons appeared nightly at The Oxford and The Pavilion in London along with Felix Bernard, Eugene de Paris, Trillat, and others.
22 July 1895
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
“the audience might have been larger had it not been for the hot weather”
World Mixed Wrestling Championship: Tom Cannon def. George Steadman (3:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Steadman won the first (Cumberland and Westmoreland) in 2:55, Cannon on the second (catch-as-catch-can) in 12:07, Cannon won the third (Scotch) in 10:18, and Cannon won the fourth (Greco-Roman) in 8:18.
23 July 1895
London, England
Joe Carroll vs. Maurice Gambier ended without a winner (no falls)
= Greco-Roman style, for a trophy valued at £30. A private match in front of a select audience (which included Richard K. Fox of the Police Gazette). They wrestled for 1 hour 17 minutes and 22 second and it was decided to end the bout.
10 August 1895
Morpeth, England
10,000 fans / 15,000 fans
George Steadman def. Charles Green (3:2 falls)
= Mixed styles match. Part of a Morpeth Olympic Games athletics event. Steadman won the first (collar-and-elbow), Green won the second (catch-as-catch-can), Steadman won the third (Scotch), Green won the fourth (Greco-Roman), and Steadman won the fifth (Cumberland and Westmoreland).
22 August 1895
Douglas, Isle of Man
Falcon Cliff
3,000 fans
Tom Connors failed to beat Tom Cannon (15 minutes)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. The conditions were that Connors had to beat Cannon within 15 minutes or forfeit the stake.
In September 1895 a troupe with Memisch, Felix Bernard, Maurice Gambier, Paul Belling was wrestling in Scotland and Ireland.
In early October 1895 Paul Pons was wrestling in Cardiff, Wales.
14 November 1895
London, England
Canterbury Music Hall
“the large auditorium was fairly crowded” / “huge crowd”
World Championship: Paul Pons vs. Memisch ended without a winner (no falls)
= Mixed styles match. Pons was billed as the French and World Greco-Roman champion, while Memisch was billed the Turkish and World Catch-as-catch-can champion. Two out of three falls match (Greco-Roman, catch and then whoever had won their fall the quickest could pick the style for the third fall). They wrestled (Greco-Roman) 2 hours 35 minutes without a fall and ultimately the match was stopped as it was getting too late at night.
In late November/early December 1895 a troupe with Memisch, Joe Carroll, Paul le Mastoc, Husman (a new Turk), Henri Alphonse and others was wrestling in Bristol and then they had a run at the Paragon Theatre and the Canterbury Theatre in London.
25 January 1896
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
3,000 fans / 3,500 fans / 4,000 fans
Tom Clayton def. Kara Ahmet (2:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £200 side bet. A couple of pre-match articles referred to this as a World Championship match, but most didn't. One article claimed Clayton was sharing the World champion honors with Tom Connors. It's not 100% confirmed, but this Kara Ahmet was most likely the same Kara Ahmet who won the 1899 World Greco-Roman Championship tournament in Paris, and who was in Paris in December 1895, where he was being managed by Pierri and Cannon. Clayton won the first fall in 35 seconds and the second in 2:55 minutes.
15 February 1896
Cardiff, Wales
Colonial Hall
“a very small audience”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Antonio Pierri (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Pierri won the first fall in 14 minutes, Cannon won the second in 11 minutes, and Cannon won the third in 8 minutes.
14 April 1896
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“large crowd”
Antonio Pierri def. Tom McInerney (2:1 falls)
= Mixed styles match. £100 side bet. McInerney won the first fall (catch-as-catch-can) in 20 minutes, Pierri won the second (Greco-Roman) in 12 minutes, and Pierri won the third (Greco-Roman) in 26 minutes. With this victory Pierri proclaimed himself World Greco-Roman champion and Tom Cannon ended up disputing the claim, which lead to a new match between the two.
28 April 1896
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans / 5,000 fans / “the circus was crowded in every part”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon drew Antonio Pierri (1:1 falls)
= £50 side bet and the whole gate going to the winner. Cannon won the first in 12 minutes, Pierri won the second in 16 minutes, and in the third fall (which was 24 minutes), Pierri threw Cannon on his back, but it was a flying fall and after some arguing ultimately the referee declared the match a draw.
18 May 1896
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“the house was filled from floor to ceiling”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Antonio Pierri (2:1 falls)
= £50 side bet. Pierri won the first fall in 11 minutes, Cannon won the second in 11:23, and Cannon won the third.
29 June 1896
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“a large audience”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. Charles Green (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won the first in 9:05, Green won the second in 6:15, and Cannon won the third in 9:23.
31 October 1896
Heywood, England
Heywood Athletic Ground
3,000 fans / 2,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Clayton drew Joe Carroll (no falls)
= £100 side bet. They wrestled for 54 minutes without a winner, then the weather got bad, and they agreed to call the match a draw and continue it a couple of days later.
2 November 1896
Heywood, England
Heywood Athletic Ground
1,500 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Tom Clayton drew Joe Carroll (no falls)
= A continuation of the match above. They wrestled for about an hour, without a winner, and ultimately they agreed to call the match a draw.
13 February 1897
Heywood, England
Heywood Athletic Ground
3,000 fans
Tom Clayton drew Joe Carroll (1:0 falls)
= £200 side bet. Clayton won the first in 17:30, and no one could win the second fall. It was getting late at night and the wrestlers agreed to call the match a draw and resume it on February 15. However, on the day of the rematch Carroll was there in the afternoon, but come show time he was nowhere to be seen. The match/money was awarded to Clayton.
1 March 1897
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. Antonio Pierri (1:0 falls) - cnc
= Cannon won the first in 37:30, Pierri was then assisted out of the circus (the claim being he had hurt his shoulder when Cannon threw him) and when after the 10-minute rest period Pierri did not return the referee declared Cannon the winner.
29 March 1897
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“very fairly well attended”
Tom McInerney def. Fair Turner (2:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £50 side bet. The two had wrestled a few weeks back at Warrington (Turner's home town) and the referee had awarded that match to Turner. McInerney had disputed this and so a rematch was booked. In the match here McInerney won the first fall in 12:25 minutes and the second in 21:30 minutes.
On 26 May 1897 the American star Evan “Strangler” Lewis arrived in the UK and was challenging all-comers, Greco-Roman or catch-as-catch-can style.
17 July 1897
Bolton, England
Burnden Park
6,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Evan “Strangler” Lewis def. Joe Carroll (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. Lewis had trained with and was accompanied by Charles Green, and Carroll had trained with Tom Clayton. Lewis won the first fall in 4 minutes and the second in 4:30 minutes. Tom Connors issued a challenge to the winner, but it doesn't seem like anything came from it.
28 August 1897
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
3,000 fans / 2,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Evan “Strangler” Lewis def. Tom Clayton (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. Lewis was billed as the American champion and Clayton as the English champion. Lewis won the first fall in 19 minutes and the second in 3:30 minutes.
From mid November 1897 onward Charles Fengler and Nicolai Petroff came to London for an extended stay and issued a challenge to all-comers (Tom Cannon preferred). They ended up wrestling a few matches against each other, including one at Eugen Sandow's newly-opened School of Physical Culture in London. Their run lasted through mid January 1898.
13 December 1897
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
World Catch-as-catch-can Lightweight Championship: Sam Moores drew James Mellor (no falls)
= £100 side bet. The wrestlers wrestled for about 30 minutes, without a fall, and ultimately they agreed to call the match a draw.
25 January 1898
St. Helens, England
People's Palace
Tom Cannon failed to beat Charles Green (15 minutes)
= Cannon was appearing here nightly and had an open challenge - £10 to any man he failed to beat in 15 minutes.
26 January 1898
St. Helens, England
People's Palace
Tom Cannon failed to beat Tom McInerney (15 minutes)
= Afterward McInerney asked for a rematch, with special stipulations, two days later and Cannon accepted.
28 January 1898
St. Helens, England
People's Palace
Tom Cannon def. Tom McInerney (16 minutes)
= The stipulation, as suggested by McInerney two days prior, was that McInerney would get £5 if he lasted 15 minutes and then 10 shilling for every minute after that so by lasting 16 minutes McInerney won £5 10s.
18 June 1898
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
“a large crowd”
World Catch-as-catch-can Middleweight Championship: Sam Moores drew James Mellor (no falls)
= £80 side bet. The wrestlers wrestled for about an hour, without a fall, and ultimately they agreed to call the match a draw. Interestingly enough, their previous match in December 1897 was advertised as a World Lightweight Championship and now this was a World Middleweight Championship.
30 July 1898
Liverpool, England
Everton Football Grounds (Goodison Park)
5,000 or 6,000 fans / “an immense concourse of people”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Paul Pons (2:1 falls)
= £200 side bet. There was also an amateur competition for a gold medal given by Cannon. I would consider this to be one of the most important UK matches of the 1890s. Cannon was the top UK Greco-Roman star and the main British World Greco-Roman champion claimant. Pons was the top French star at this point and was also claiming to be the World champion. So this was a match to see who the real champion was (well, as real as you could be given that there was no official lineage and just various claimants). What made the match even more interesting is that a number of years earlier in Paris a win over Cannon had elevated Pons into prominence and made him a true top star in France so this was also Cannon's chance to avenge that loss. In the match Cannon won the first fall in 11 minutes, Pons won the second in 5 minutes, and Cannon won the third in 18 minutes. Also, based on a newspaper advert that I saw, parts of the match were filmed.
1 April 1899
London, England
Kensal Rise Grounds
1,000 or 1,200 fans
1. Middleweights: Tom Connors def. Thomas Graham
2. Middleweights: Jack Smith def. John Kito
3. Middleweights: Joe Carroll def. J. Higham
4. Middleweights: W. Williams received a bye to the next round
5. Middleweights: Tom Connors def. W. Williams
6. Middleweights: Joe Carroll def. Jack Smith
7. Welterweights: Thomas Jones def. John Tettlow
8. Welterweights: Sam Moores def. Joe Rudd
9. Welterweights: David Diggans def. Peter Britten
10. Welterweights: James Mellor def. William Jones
11. Welterweights: J. H. Dunbar def. L. W. Windle
12. Welterweights: James Mellor def. David Diggans
13. Welterweights: Sam Moores def. J. H. Dunbar
14. Welterweights: Thomas Jones received a bye to the next round
= Part of a series of athletics events promoted by William Thomas Ecclestone (a.k.a. “Jolly Jumbo”). There was running, jumping, leaping, obstacle racing, boxing, etc., but wrestling was the headline attraction. There were six wrestling tournaments in total (amateur and pro) and a total of 124 applicants (but some didn't make the cut). Three of the tournaments were in the Cumberland and Westmoreland style and the other three were in the catch-as-catch-can style. The winners were to receive a sum of money and a championship belt. Women's wrestling was also advertised and it was billed as being something that had never been seen before. The results above are from the two catch-as-catch-can tournaments that featured professionals – the middleweight tournament and the 10st 4lb tournament (which means welterweight, I suppose).
3 April 1899
London, England
Kensal Rise Grounds
“a big crowd”
1. Middleweights: Joe Carroll def. Jack Hardy
2. Middleweights: Tom Connors received a bye to the final
3. Middleweights Final: Joe Carroll def. Tom Connors (2:1 falls)
4. Welterweights: James Mellor drew Thomas Jones
5. Welterweights: Sam Moores received a buy to the final
6. Welterweights Final: Sam Moores drew James Mellor (no falls, 15 minutes)
= The conclusion of Jolly Jumbo's tournament. In the catchweight Cumberland and Westmoreland tournament semi-final George Lowden beat Matthew Steadman (George Steadman's son) and then he beat George Steadman himself in the final.
26 May 1899
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
“a large audience”
Sam Moores drew Tom Jones (1:1 falls)
= A card with catch-as-catch-can and Cumberland and Westmoreland matches. The main event, Moores vs. Jones, was for Jolly Jumbo's Welterweight Championship belt and £100. Jones won the first fall in 1 hour 12 minutes 18 seconds, Moores won the second in 4:18 minutes, and ultimately the wrestlers agreed to call the match a draw. A rematch was announced for a month later, but I don't have the result of that match.
23 September 1899
Wigan, England
Westwood Grounds
500 fans
Kara Osman def. Joe Carroll (2:1)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. This was most likely the same Kara Osman, who had wrestled in France previously (alongside Yousouf and Nourlah) and who also worked in the United States. Osman won the first fall in 7 minutes, Carroll won the second in less than 30 seconds, and Osman won the third in 5 minutes.
2 October 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans (sold out) + turnaway crowd / “crowded in every part”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. Jack Carkeek – cnc
= £100 side bet. Carkeek was claiming to be the World champion in catch-as-catch-can and Cornish wrestling. Cannon won the first in 8:48 minutes, Carkeek won the second in 11:31, and third lasted 13:34. The match ended when Cannon had a hammerlock on Carkeek and Carkeek was barely moving. Carkeek had dislocated his shoulder and therefore he could not continue. Cannon was declared the winner.
30 October 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
5,000 fans
World Greco-Roman Championship: Jack Carkeek def. Tom Cannon (c) (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won the first in 8 minutes, Carkeek won the second in 28:45 minutes, and Carkeek won the third in 28:40 minutes.
13 November 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“the circus was filled”
1. Charles Green def. J. Simpson (3:30 minutes)
2. Joe Carroll def. Loco (less than a minute)
3. Jack Carkeek def. Bob Faulkner (6 minutes)
= This was a tournament promoted by Tom Cannon and billed as a World's Catch-as-catch-can Championship (the first tournament to be billed as such in UK pro wrestling history). The winner was to receive a gold belt and £25. There was also an amateur tournament.
16 November 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“large audience”
1. Semi-final: Jack Carkeek def. Charles Green
2. Final: Jack Carkeek drew Joe Carroll (no falls)
= The second night of Tom Cannon's World Catch-as-catch-can Championship tournament. Carroll received a bye to the final. Tom McInerney issued a challenge to the winner of the tournament. The final lasted over two hours, with no falls, and the wrestlers agreed to continue the match a couple of days later.
18 November 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“large audience”
Final: Jack Carkeek def. Joe Carroll (2:1 falls)
= The final of Tom Cannon's World Catch-as-catch-can Championship tournament. Carkeek won the first fall in 43 minutes, Carroll won the second in a little over 5 minutes, and Carkeek won the third in 8 minutes. Afterward Tom McInerney once again re-issued his challenge to the winner.
4 December 1899
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
3,000 fans / 3,000 fans / “the building was filled to its utmost capacity”
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon def. Jack Carkeek (c) (2:0 falls)
= £200 side bet. Cannon won the first fall in 21:30 minutes and the second in 9 minutes.
5 February 1900
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
“a great crowd”
World Catch-as-catch-can Lightweight Championship: Sam Moores def. James Mellor (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. John Pohl was in attendance for the match. Moores won the falls in 33:18 and 7:45 minutes.
12 February 1900
Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall
150 fans
Jack Carkeek def. John Pohl (2:1 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. £50 side bet. Carkeek won the first in 12:20, Pohl won the second in 4 minutes, and Carkeek won the third in 8 minutes.
5 March 1900
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
between 3,000 and 4,000 fans / 3,000 fans / “crowded”
Tom McInerney def. Jack Carkeek (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Carkeek won the first fall in 27 minutes, McInerney won second in 12:40 minutes, and McInerney won the third in 15 minutes.
9 April 1900
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
“a large number of people” / “a big attendance”
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Jack Carkeek (c) def. Tom McInerney (2:1 falls)
= £50 side bet. Carkeek won the first in 27 minutes, McInerney won the second in 10:30, and Carkeek won the third in 12:30.
9 April 1900
Stalybridge, England
Drill Hall
500 fans
James Mellor drew Sam Moores
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £150 side bet. Moores, who was from Stalybridge, won the first fall in 29:30 minutes, Moores then claimed to have an injured arm and offered Mellor £10 to call the match a draw, which Mellor accepted.
13 April 1900
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
4,000 fans / 3,000 fans
Tom Clayton def. Jack Carkeek (2:1 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. Carkeek won the first fall in 10:30 minutes, Clayton won the second in 3 minutes, and Clayton won the third in 35 seconds.
19 May 1900
New Brighton, England
New Brighton Tower Grounds
5,000 fans / 3,000 fans
World Catch-as-catch-can Championship: Jack Carkeek (c) def. Tom McInerney – cnc
= £100 side bet. Carkeek was billed as the World champion and McInerney was billed as the champion of England. Prior to the pro match there was an amateur tournament. Carkeek won the first fall in 27:18, and in the second fall (which lasted 25:30) McInerney injured his elbow and had to forfeit the match.
In early August 1900 Kara Osman was back in the UK (Liverpool to be precise) and was challenging Tom Cannon and Tom McInerney, but nothing came out of this.
In September 1900 there was some talk of there being a big World Catch-as-catch-can Championship tournament in London the following spring. The Turk Adali Halil was talked about as being one of the participants. Such a tournament never took place.
8 September 1900
Audenshaw, England
Snipe Inn Grounds
3,000 fans
H. H. Parker failed to beat James Mellor
= Catch-as-catch-can style. £50 side bet. Parker won the first fall in 23:24, Mellor won the second 8:13, and then they wrestled until 75 minutes was up. The stipulation was that the American Parker had to beat Mellor twice in 75 minutes so Mellor was declared the winner. Afterward it was said that Parker had dislocated his shoulder.
24 September 1900
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
3,000 fans
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. Andre Leroi (2:1 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won the first in 25 minutes, le Roi won the second in 23 minutes, and Cannon won the third in 11 minutes.
26 October 1900
Liverpool, England
Hengler's Circus
World Greco-Roman Championship: Tom Cannon (c) def. Andre Leroi (2:0 falls)
= £100 side bet. Cannon won both falls in about 10 minutes.
31 October 1900
Dublin, Ireland
Lyric Theatre
Jack Carkeek def. Tom Connors
= Greco-Roman style. Carkeek was appearing here and had an open challenge - £10 to anyone he couldn't beat in 15 minutes. Carkeek won in 10:30 minutes.
13 November 1900
London, England
South London Palace
1. Jack Carkeek failed to beat Joe Carroll (15 minutes)
2. Jack Carkeek def. Joe Carroll
= Carkeek was appearing here and had an open challenge - £10 to anyone he couldn't beat in 15 minutes. The first match was in the catch-as-catch-can style and the second one was Greco-Roman. That year Carkeek and Carroll wrestled in a bunch of different places and Carroll would often reach the time limit without being defeated only to be defeated in a rematch a day or two later.
In November 1900 Hali Adali (Adali Halil), Tom Cannon and George M. Ross were appearing at the Tivoli in Glasgow. Right after that Adali and Cannon began appearing at the Empire in Middlesborough.
From mid November through mid December 1900 a troupe of wrestlers was appearing at the Crystal Palace in London. Part of the troupe were Antonio Pierri, Leon Masson, Pietro Dalmasso, Henri Alphonse, Corello (Louis Chorella?) and others. Some Brits joined eventually too, the most notable one being Charles Green. The matches were in the Greco-Roman style. The headline attraction for the troupe was to be the massive Turk Nourlah. However, Nourlah did not come to England at this time. The story that was told in the British press was that the Sultan required him to stay in Turkey so instead Nourlah sent his brother – Simon Nourlah. Simon wasn't as heavy as Nourlah, but was taller (about 7 feet). What's most interesting though is that Simon Nourlah was in fact the Serbian giant Simon Antonitch, who would go on be a popular name on the European Greco-Roman scene, and his matches in London are his earliest known pro wrestling matches. He made his London debut on November 19 with a victory over Henri Alphonse.
From early December 1900 onward Tom Cannon, Tom Jenkins, George M. Ross and others were appearing at the Paragon Theatre in London and also at Sadler's Wells Theatre. The matches were in the Greco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can styles.
Also from early December 1900 onward Jack Carkeek was appearing at the Forester's in London and then from mid December he was appearing at two London venues at the same time – the Bedford Music Hall and at Hammersmith Palace.
Later on in December 1900 Joe Carroll was appearing at the Star Music Hall in London.
5 December 1900
London, England
Paragon
Tom Jenkins failed to beat George M. Ross (15 minutes)
= Not sure what style this was in. I'd guess catch. The stipulation was that Jenkins had to win in 15 minutes.
7 December 1900
London, England
Paragon
George M. Ross def. Tom Jenkins (1:0 falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. Ross won in 10:55 minutes.
8 December 1900
Farnworth, England
Larkhill Grounds
2,000 fans
Tom Clayton failed to beat James Parr (no falls)
= Catch-as-catch-can style. The stipulation was that Clayton had to beat Parr 4 times in hour.
9 December 1900
London, England
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Tom Cannon def. Tom Jenkins (1:0 falls)
= Greco-Roman style. Cannon won in 11 minutes.
15 December 1900
London, England
Crystal Palace
1. Simon Nourlah drew Antonio Pierri
2. Leon Dumont def. Pietro Dalmasso
3. Charles Green def. Fitzpatrick
= The final show of the troupe.
15 December 1900
London, England
Bedford Music Hall
Jack Carkeek def. Joe Carroll (1:0 falls)
= Carkeek won the match in 18:35 minutes.
18 December 1900
London, England
Hammersmith Palace
Jack Carkeek failed to beat Joe Carroll (15 minutes)
= Greco-Roman style. Carkeek had an open challenge - £10 to anyone who he could not beat in 15 minutes.
19 December 1900
London, England
Bedford Music Hall
Jack Carkeek failed to beat Antonio Pierri (15 minutes)
= Not sure about the style. There may have been a previous match with Pierri a few days prior, which ended the same way.
19 December 1900
London, England
Hammersmith Palace
Jack Carkeek failed to beat Antonio Pierri (15 minutes)
= Second match between the two on the same day, but at a different venue. The stipulation was that Antonio Pierri's backer would give £10 to the Cabman's Shelter Fund if anyone managed to beat Pierri in 15 minutes.
21 December 1900
London, England
Hammersmith Palace
“packed”
Jack Carkeek failed to beat Antonio Pierri (15 minutes)
= By lasting the 15 minutes Pierri won another £10.
In conclusion, you can see how all of a sudden music halls and theatres in London embraced pro wrestling and this would soon spread throughout the UK. In December 1900 seven different London venues had wrestling as a regular fixture on their program, which I don't think had ever happened before in the span of a single month. The credit for this shift should go to guys like Jack Carkeek, Tom Cannon and Antonio Pierri, who were at the forefront of this movement. Jack Carkeek, who was now typically advertised as “The King of Wrestlers”, was generally viewed as the World Catch-as-catch-can champion in the UK and you could say there was some validity to his claim since he won the 1899 World Championship tournament promoted by Cannon. Tom Cannon was considered the World Greco-Roman champion in the UK and had held this claim for a while. And then there was Antonio Pierri, who would pop in and out of the UK, was always involved in big matches and three years later he would play a key role in kicking off the UK wrestling boom with George Hackenschmidt as the face of the boom. In short, what I'm trying to say here is that these guys laid the foundation and got the “music hall era” rolling. Then Hackenschmidt came along in March 1902 and after a while things aligned and Hack took things to a whole new level.
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