Wrestling Heritage

Here is the ruleset used by earliest American catch wrestling star Evan “Strangler” Lewis when he faced Ernst Roeber a Greco-Roman champion for the mixed wrestling championship of America.

Notably Lewis, even though he was the first major catch wrestler of American birth, didn’t know much about ground wrestling. The most, if not all, his fair back falls were achieved from the standing position, and due to his Cornish wrestling background his favourite throw was a classy Grapevine Throw performed from the Collar-and-Elbow hitch!

“CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN, OR LANCASHIRE WRESTLING.

Rule 1-Either opponent may press his arm against his antagonist’s throat.

Rule 2-Kicking the limbs shall be considered fair.

Rulo 3-No fall to count unless one party is thrown on his back, two shoulders touching the floor at the same time to constitute a fall.

Rule 4-The match to consist of first fall, best two in three, or three in five, according to mutual understanding.

Rule 5-No less than ten nor more than twenty minutes rest allowed botween each wrestling bout.

Rule 6-Letting go either hand, changing holds, or grabbing by the legs shall be allowed.

Rule 7-The ring, when practicable, to be twenty-four feet square.

Rule 8-All bets to go with the stakes. The stakeholder or his deputy to announce on the grounds publicly at all times when a match is not concluded which way the stakes go.

Rule 9-If the referee be not chosen in the articles, and the wrestlers or backers cannot agree to appoint one within fifteen minutes from the time of entering the ring, the stake-holder shall appoint one

Rule 10-In all matches the wrestlers must be in stocking foot or barefooted, and they will not be permitted to scratch, throttle or pull each other’s cars, or commit any other unfair not toward each other. Neither will they be allowed to be rubbed with grease, resin or any pernicious drugs on any part of their bodies. The competitors to be allowed one second each, who must not be changed during the continuance of the match, neither will a second be allowed to touch his own or his opponent’s man while wrestling. Touching either competitor while in the act of wrestling will be a disqualification against the offender and his party, and the referee shall decide against them. If the wrestlers entangle with what may be considered ‘the boundary of the ring, they shall draw off and renew the contest with the same hold as when they drew off.

Rule 11 – Richard K. Fox, proprietor of the Police Gazette, to be official stakeholder, and to appoint a referee unless the Olympic club agrees to select those officials”.

By the late 1890s the touch-fall rule was abolished in North America all matches were exclusively won on pinfalls! The typical early 1900s rules were as such: “The match must be straight catch-as-catch-can. Best two out of three falls. Police Gazette Rules to govern. Pinfalls only to govern. Strangle hold only barred.”