Wrestling in History

• 1893-05-04 Cowboy Bill Pickett invents bulldogging, the skill of grabbing cattle by the horns and wrestling them to the ground
• 1953-04-27 Wrestler Freddie Blassie coins term "Pencil neck geek"
• 1972-09-10 American freestyle wrestler Dan Gable wins the 68kg division gold medal at the Munich Olympics; only Olympic wrestler not to have a single point scored against him in the competition

• 1984-08-02 Jeff Blatnick becomes first American to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Los Angeles Olympics, Blatnick was in remission for Hodgkin’s disease
• 1986-11-24 Wrestler John Tatum charged with possession of marijuana
• 1987-01-28 Wrestler Jim Neidhart indicted for assaulting a flight attendant
• 1991-03-11 John Smith, US amateur wrestler, wins James E Sullivan Award
• 1992-08-06 Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner becomes the first American to win in three straight Olympics, capturing the gold in the 286-pound freestyle division in Barcelona
• 2019-08-15 60th annual finger wrestling (Fingerhakeln) championships takes place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, part of Partenkirchner Festival week

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 119

• 1852-05-25 William Muldoon, American wrestler and owner of NY health institute "The Olympia", born in Caneadea, Allegany County, New York (d. 1933)
• 1876-04-22 Georg Lurich, Estonian wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century, born in Väike-Maarja, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire (d. 1920)
• 1880-11-03 Edward Barrett, Irish heavyweight wrestler and all-round sportsman (Olympic gold tug-of-war 1908), born in Ballyduff, County Kerry (d. 1932)
• 1881-11-03 George Mehnert, American wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1904, bantamweight 1908), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1948)
• 1883-02-03 Camille Bombois, French circus wrestler and naïve painter, born in Venarey-les-Laumes (d. 1970)
• 1895-08-09 Nathaniel "Nat" Pendleton, American wrestler (Olympics 1920, Silver) and actor (The Thin Man, Reckless), born in Davenport, Iowa (d. 1967)
• 1897-01-02 Jim Londos, Greek wrestler (d. 1975)
• 1900-06-22 Russell Vis, American Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold freestyle lightweight 1924), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 1990)
• 1903-01-10 Voldemar Väli, Estonian wrestler, born in Kuressaare, Estonia (d. 1997)
• 1903-06-20 Sam Rabin [Rabinowitz], British sculptor, artist, actor and freestyle wrestler (Olympic bronze middleweight 1928), born in Cheetham, North Manchester, England (d. 1991)
• 1903-10-19 Tor Johnson [Tore Johansson], Swedish wrestler and actor (Bride of the Monster), born in Kalmar län, Sweden (d. 1971)
• 1903-12-15 Tamanishiki San'emon, Japanese sumo wrestler (32nd yokozuna; winner 9 top division yūshō), born in Kōchi, Japan (d. 1938)
• 1908-02-12 August Neo, Estonian wrestler (d. 1982)
• 1908-02-29 Bob Pearce, American wrestler (Olympic gold bantamweight freestyle 1932), born in Wyaconda, Missouri (d. 1996)
• 1908-03-10 Kristjan Palusalu, Estonian wrestler (Olympic gold Greco-Roman, freestyle heavyweight 1936), born in Varemurru, Estonia (d. 1987)
• 1923-11-03 Glen Brand, American wrestler (Olympic gold middleweight 1948), born in Clarion, Iowa (d. 2008)

• 1923-12-24 Iron Mike DiBiase, American wrestler, born in New York City (d. 1969)
• 1928-03-01 Ivan Bohdan, Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold Soviet Union heavyweight 1960; World C'ship gold 1958, 61), born in Dmytro-Bilivka, Ukraine (d. 2020)
• 1928-03-16 Wakanohana Kanji I, Japanese sumo wrestler (45th Yokozuna; 10 x top division titles), born in Hirosaki, Japan (d. 2010)
• 1928-07-21 Sky Low Low [Marcel Gauthier], Canadian professional wrestler, born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1998)
• 1929-03-21 Maurice Catarcio, American professional wrestler known as "The Matador", and fitness advocate, born in Ocean City, New Jersey (d. 2005)
• 1929-07-21 Bob Orton, American wrestler (d. 2006)
• 1929-07-28 Shozo Sasahara, Japanese freestyle wrestler (World C'ship gold featherweight 1954; Olympic gold 1956), born in Yamagata, Japan (d. 2023)
• 1930-10-10 Konstantin Vyrupayev, Soviet wrestler (Greco-Roman Bantamweight Olympic Gold 1956), born in Irkutsk, Russia (d. 2012)
• 1931-11-03 Mustafa Dağıstanlı, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 57kg 1956, 62kg 1960; World C'ship gold 1954, 57, 59), born in Söğütpınar, Turkey (d. 2022)
• 1932-03-10 Anatoliy Roschin, Soviet super heavyweight wrestler (Olympic gold 1972)
• 1933-03-05 İsmail Ogan, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 78kg 1964, silver 1960), born in Macun, Turkey (d. 2022)
• 1933-06-04 Dmitry Mindiashvili, Soviet and Russian wrestling coach (coach Olympic champions Ivan Yariguin 1972, 76 and Buvaisar Satiev (1992, 96, 2004), born in Tbilisi, Georgia (d. 2021)
• 1934-04-02 Brian Glover, British actor and wrestler (Alien 3, Kes), born in Sheffield, England (d. 1997)
• 1934-12-06 Nick Bockwinkel, American professional wrestler (WCW/AWA), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2015)
• 1936-01-11 Abdullah the Butcher [Lawrence Robert Shreve], Canadian professional wrestler, born in Windsor, Ontario

• 1937-05-19 Pat Roach, English actor and wrestler (d. 2004)
• 1937-09-16 Aleksandr Medved, Ukrainian freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold USSR heavyweight 1964 68, 72; World C'ship gold x 7), born in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine
• 1938-03-10 Kazım Ayvaz, Turkish wrestler (Olympic gold lightweight 1964; World C'ship gold welterweight 1958; lightweight 1962), born in Rize, Turkey (d. 2020)
• 1938-12-05 Gennady Sapunov, Russian Greco-Roman wrestler (World C'ship gold lightweight 1963, 65; silver 1966) and coach (Soviet GR wrestling team 1979-90), born in Ust-Muya, Russia (d. 2023)
• 1939-09-19 Moshe Weinberg, Israeli Olympic wrestling coach (murdered in the Munich Olympic massacre), born in Haifa, British Mandate of Palestine (d. 1972)
• 1940-01-03 Tsutomu Hanahara, Japanese freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1964), born in Shimonoseki, Japan (d. 2024)
• 1940-02-24 Nicolae Martinescu, Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold 100kg 1972), born in Vişani, Romania (d. 2013)
• 1941-01-19 Pat Patterson, Canadian pro wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame; creator Royal Rumble), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2020)
• 1942-11-21 Afa Anoa'i, Samoan-American pro wrestler (WWF Tag Team C'ship x 3 with Sika), born in Western Samoa
• 1943-02-06 Pelle Svensson, Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler (World C'ship gold 100kg 1970, 71; Olympic silver 97kg 1964), born in Sollefteå, Sweden (d. 2020)
• 1944-06-16 Takamiyama Daigorō [Jesse Kuhaulua], American wrestler (1972 1st non-Japanese sumo champion), born in Maui, Hawaii
• 1946-05-20 Bakhaavaa Buidaa, Mongolia, wrestler (Olympic silver 1972) disqualified
• 1948-03-15 Levan Tediashvili, Georgian freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold USSR 82kg 1972, 90kg 1976; World C'ship gold x 4), born in Sagarejo, Georgia (d. 2024)
• 1948-04-06 Vítězslav Mácha, Czech Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold welterweight 1972, silver 1976; World C'ship gold 1974, 77), born in Krmelín, Czech Republic (d. 2023)
• 1948-10-22 John Peterson, American freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 82 kg 1976), born in Cumberland, Wisconsin

• 1948-10-25 Dan Gable, American 68kg freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 1972), born in Waterloo, Iowa
• 1949-08-14 Bob Backlund, American pro wrestler (WWWF/WWF Heavyweight C'ship 1978-93, 1994; WWF Tag Team C'ship with Pedro Morales), born in Princeton, Minnesota
• 1949-11-29 Wayne Cowan [Dutch Mantel], American wrestler, born in South Carolina
• 1949-12-28 Gheorghe Berceanu, Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold light-flyweight 1972, silver 1976; World C'ship gold 1969, 72), born in Cârna, Romania (d. 2022)
• 1950-02-09 Lloyd Keasor, American freestyle wrestler (World C'ship gold 68kg, Olympic silver 1976), born in Pumphrey, Maryland
• 1950-06-27 Ben Peterson, American freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 90kg 1972), born in Barron County, Wisconsin
• 1951-05-06 Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, Kazakh Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold, light-flyweight 1980; World C'ship gold 1981), born in Tegistik, Kazakhstan (d. 2020)
• 1952-11-17 Roman Codreanu, Romania, wrestler (Olympic-1980)
• 1953-11-20 Greg Gibson, American Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic silver 1984), born in Stafford, Virginia
• 1954-01-14 Jim Duggan, American wrestler, born in Glens Falls, New York
• 1955-05-30 Jake "The Snake" Roberts, American pro wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame), born in Gainesville, Texas
• 1955-06-01 Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, Japanese sumo wrestler (31 tournament c'ships; Kyushu Tournament 1981-88), born in Fukushima, Japan (d. 2016)
• 1956-06-03 Suren Nalbandyan, Soviet Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold 1976), born in Geghard, Armenia, Soviet Union
• 1956-09-16 Anatoly Beloglazov, Russian 52 kg freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 1980), born in Kaliningrad, Russia
• 1956-09-16 Sergei Beloglazov, Russian 57 kg freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 1980, 88), born in Kaliningrad, Russia
• 1957-07-26 Jeff Blatnick, American wrestler (Olympic gold 1984), born in Schenectady, New York (d. 2012)
• 1958-01-08 Rey Misterio Sr., Mexican wrestler, born in Tijuana, Mexico
• 1959-02-15 Hugo Savinovich, Ecuadorian sports commentator and wrestler, born in Guayaquil, Ecuador
• 1959-06-06 David Schultz, American wrestler (d. 1996)

• 1959-08-18 Tom Prichard, American wrestler, born in Pasadena, Texas
• 1960-02-03 Kerry Von Erich, American wrestler (d. 1993)
• 1960-02-03 Marty Jannetty, American pro wrestler (WWF World Tag Team C'ship 1992 [1-2-3 Kid]; half of The Rockers with Shawn Michaels), born in Columbus, Georgia
• 1960-05-14 Steve Williams, American professional wrestler, known as "Dr. Death", and USFL football player, born in Lakewood, Colorado (d. 2009)
• 1960-11-02 Bruce Baumgartner, American wrestler (Olympic gold 1984, 92), born in Haledon, New Jersey
• 1961-02-21 Bertha Faye, American wrestler (d. 2001)
• 1961-08-14 Eddie Gilbert, American wrestler, born in Lexington, Tennessee (d. 1995)
• 1961-11-11 Matt Ghaffari, Iranian-American greco-roman wrestler (Olympic silver 1992, 96), born in Tehran, Iran
• 1961-11-25 Kenny Monday, 163 lbs freestyles wrestler (Olympics 1988, 92, 96), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
• 1962-04-12 Takada Nobuhiko, Japanese wrestler, born in Isogo-ku, Yokohama
• 1963-02-09 Madusa Miceli [Debra Ann], wrestler (WCW), born in Milan, Italy
• 1963-06-22 Randy Couture, American mixed martial artist (3-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, 2-time UFC Light heavyweight Champion), born in Everett, Washington
• 1963-08-21 Melvin Douglas, American freestyle wrestler (World C'ship gold 90kg 1993, silver 82kg 1989, bronze 90kg 1994, 96), born in Topeka, Kansas
• 1964-01-06 Jacqueline Moore, American wrestler, born in Dallas, Texas
• 1964-01-14 Ernest Miller, American wrestler, born in Atlanta, Georgia
• 1965-08-09 John Smith, US amateur wrestler and coach (4-time World Champion, 2-time Olympic Games champion), born in Del City, Oklahoma
• 1965-08-26 Bobby Duncum, Jr., American wrestler, born in Amarillo, Texas (d. 2000)
• 1965-11-17 Rob Koll, Bellefonte PA, 163 lbs/74 kg freestyle wrestler (Olymp-96)
• 1966-01-22 Carlton Haselrig, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1992; Pittsburgh Steelers) and wrestler (6 x NCAA titles; Pitt-Johnstown), born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (d. 2020)

• 1966-03-25 David Hohl, American freestyle wrestler (Olympics-9-92, 96), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
• 1966-07-10 Johnny Grunge, American pro wrestler (4 x ECW World Tag Team C'ship, WCW World Tag Team C'ship [with Rocco Rock], born in Sulphur, Louisiana (d. 2006)
• 1967-09-19 Alexander Karelin, Russian-Soviet Greco-Roman wrestler, born in Novosibirsk, Russia
• 1968-05-19 Jeanne Basone, Brubank California, wrestler (Hollywood-GLOW)

• 1969-05-08 Akebono Taro, American born Japanese sumo wrestler (1st non Japanese to reach rank of Yokozuna), born in Waimānalo, Hawaii
• 1969-09-16 Andrew Borodow, Canadian freestyle wrestler (Olympic 5-92, 96), born in Montreal, Quebec
• 1969-11-17 Takako Inque, Toride Japan, wrestler (Japan)
• 1970-06-13 Mikael Ljungberg, Swedish wrestler (Olympic gold 2000), born in Gothenburg, Sweden (d. 2004)
• 1970-07-02 Scotty 2 Hotty, American wrestler
• 1971-02-10 Louie Spicolli [Louis Mucciolo Jr.], American wrestler, born in San Pedro, California (d. 1998)
• 1971-04-15 Guivi Sissaouri, Canada freestyle wrestler (Olympic silver 1996), born in Tbilisi, Georgia
• 1972-07-13 Sean Waltman, American wrestler
• 1972-07-24 Kaiō Hiroyuki, Japanese sumo wrestler
• 1973-04-17 Kaihō Ryōji, Japanese sumo wrestler, born in Aomori, Japan
• 1973-10-30 Edge [Adam Copeland], Canadian professional wrestler, born in Orangeville, Ontario

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• 2006-03-14 OVW Heavyweight wrestling champion Matt Cappotelli (26) weds Lindsay Seeders at Makena Cove Beach in Maui

• 1920-01-20 Georg Lurich, Estonian wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century, dies at 43
• 1932-03-19 Edward Barrett, Irish heavyweight wrestler and all-round sportsman (Olympic gold tug-of-war 1908), dies at 54
• 1933-06-03 William Muldoon, American wrestler and owner of NY health institute "The Olympia", dies at 88
• 1938-12-04 Tamanishiki San'emon, Japanese sumo wrestler (32nd yokozuna; winner 9 top division yūshō), dies following a delayed appendectomy at 34
• 1948-07-08 George Mehnert, American wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1904, bantamweight 1908), dies at 66
• 1960-08-22 Eduard Pütsep, Estonian wrestler (b. 1898)
• 1963-12-26 "Gorgeous George" Wagner, wrestler, dies
• 1967-10-12 Nathaniel "Nat" Pendleton, American wrestler (Olympics 1920, Silver) and actor (The Thin Man, Reckless), dies from a heart attack at 72
• 1969-07-02 Michael DiBiase, wrestler (b. 1923)
• 1970-06-11 Camille Bombois, French circus wrestler and naïve painter, dies at 87
• 1971-05-12 Tor Johnson [Tore Johansson], Swedish wrestler and actor (Bride of the Monster), dies at 67
• 1975-08-19 Jim Londos, Greek-American wrestler, dies at 81
• 1982-06-13 Peter Maivia, wrestler (b. 1935)
• 1982-08-19 August Neo, Estonian wrestler (b. 1908)
• 1987-07-17 Kristjan Palusalu, Estonian wrestler (Olympic gold Greco-Roman, freestyle heavyweight 1936), dies at 79
• 1987-08-24 Malcolm Kirk "King Kong Kirk", English professional wrestler, dies of a heart attack in the ring at 51

• 1990-04-01 Russell Vis, American Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold freestyle lightweight 1924), dies at 89
• 1991-12-20 Sam Rabin [Rabinowitz], British sculptor, artist, actor and freestyle wrestler (Olympic bronze middleweight 1928), dies at 88
• 1992-02-07 Buzz Sawyer, wrestler (b. 1959)
• 1992-07-16 "Gorgeous" George [Arena], wrestler, dies at 84
• 1994-03-09 Eddie Creatchman, Canadian wrestler manager (b. 1928)
• 1996-01-26 David Schultz, American wrestler (Olympic gold 1984), killed by John Du Pont at 36
• 1996-03-15 Bob Pearce, American wrestler (Olympic gold bantamweight freestyle 1932), dies at 88
• 1997-04-13 Voldemar Väli, Estonian wrestler, dies at age 94
• 1997-06-03 Dennis James, American wrestling announcer and TV host (PDQ), dies at 79
• 1997-06-30 Larry O'Day, Australian wrestler, dies of cancer at 53
• 1997-07-24 Brian Glover, British actor and wrestler (Alien 3, Kes), dies of a brain tumor at 63
• 1998-11-06 Sky Low Low [Marcel Gauthier], Canadian professional wrestler, dies of a heart attack at 70
• 1999-11-27 Yasuhiro Kojima, wrestler (b. 1937)
• 2000-10-17 Leo Nomellini, American College/Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (Uni of Minnesota; 6×First-team All-Pro; 10×Pro Bowl; NFL 1950s All-Decade Team; SF 49ers), dies of a stroke at 76
• 2002-05-12 Erich Kulas, ECW Wrestler (Mass Transit), dies after surgery at 22

• 2003-05-01 Miss Elizabeth [Hulette], pro wrestling valet (Randy Savage), dies of overdose at 42
• 2004-11-17 Mikael Ljungberg, Swedish wrestler (Olympic gold 2000), dies at 34
• 2005-04-28 Chris Candido, American wrestler, dies at 33
• 2005-08-18 Christopher Bauman, American wrestler (b. 1982)
• 2006-06-23 Luke Graham, American wrestler, dies at 66
• 2008-11-15 Glen Brand, American wrestler (Olympic gold middleweight 1948), dies at 85
• 2010-04-02 Chris Kanyon, American pro wrestler (WCW/WWF World Tag Team C'ship), dies from suicide at 40
• 2010-09-01 Wakanohana Kanji I, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 45th Yokozuna (b. 1928)
• 2012-10-24 Jeff Blatnick, American wrestler (Olympic gold 1984), dies at 55
• 2012-10-31 Konstantin Vyrupayev, Soviet wrestler (Greco-Roman Bantamweight Olympic Gold 1956), dies at 82
• 2013-04-01 Nicolae Martinescu, Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold 100kg 1972), dies at 73
• 2015-03-20 Perro Aguayo, Jr., Mexican wrestler (CMLL), dies of cardiac arrest in the ring at 35
• 2016-07-31 Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, Japanese sumo wrestler (31 tournament c'ships; Kyushu Tournament 1981-88), dies from pancreatic cancer at 61
• 2020-01-19 Kazım Ayvaz, Turkish wrestler (Olympic gold lightweight, 1964; World C'ship gold welterweight, 1958; lightweight, 1962), dies at 81
• 2020-07-22 Carlton Haselrig, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1992; Pittsburgh Steelers) and wrestler (6 x NCAA titles; Pitt-Johnstown), dies from liver disease at 54

• 2020-08-02 Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, Kazakh Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold, light-flyweight 1980; World C'ship gold 1981), dies at 69
• 2020-12-17 Pelle Svensson, Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler (World C'ship gold 100kg 1970, 71; Olympic silver 97kg 1964), dies from cancer at 77
• 2020-12-25 Ivan Bohdan, Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold Soviet Union heavyweight 1960; World C'ship gold 1958, 61), dies at 92
• 2021-05-24 Dmitry Mindiashvili, Soviet and Russian wrestling coach (coach Olympic champions Ivan Yariguin 1972, 76 and Buvaisar Satiev (1992, 96, 2004), dies from pneumonia at 87
• 2022-04-26 İsmail Ogan, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 78kg 1964, silver 1960), dies at 89
• 2022-08-30 Gheorghe Berceanu, Romanian Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold light-flyweight 1972, silver 1976; World C'ship gold 1969, 72), dies at 72
• 2022-09-18 Mustafa Dağıstanlı, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 57kg 1956, 62kg 1960; World C'ship gold 1954, 57, 59), dies at 91
• 2023-03-05 Shozo Sasahara, Japanese freestyle wrestler (World C'ship gold featherweight 1954; Olympic gold 1956), dies at 93
• 2023-05-29 Vítězslav Mácha, Czech Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold welterweight 1972, silver 1976; World C'ship gold 1974, 77), dies at 75
• 2023-08-30 Gennady Sapunov, Russian Greco-Roman wrestler (World C'ship gold lightweight 1963, 65; silver 1966) and coach (Soviet GR wrestling team 1979-90), dies at 84
• 2024-02-05 Tsutomu Hanahara, Japanese freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold flyweight 1964), dies at 84
• 2024-02-17 Levan Tediashvili, Georgian freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold USSR 82kg 1972, 90kg 1976; World C'ship gold x 4), dies at 75