Pro Wrestling History Nerds

Pro Wrestling History Nerds

Greco Roman and Catch as Catch Can, epic battles and Carny scams. Why were there two Strangler Lewises? What’s a Hippodrome? Find out when you listen, learn, and party with Nick and Heidi Howitzer: The Pro Wrestling History Nerds!

Episodes

August 26, 2024 72 mins

It's a story of newfound fame out east, a private match with Tom Jenkins, the importance of a loudmouth manager, and a couple of riots. It's the story of Fred Beell, Part 7!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played

Fred Beell fell into a career slump in 1903, only to break out on the nation stage in Baltimore at the close of 1904. Listen to that journey unfold, along with some wild side quests and wild stories of the midwest in the early 1900s.

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
July 3, 2024 68 mins

A match against a living legend, a look at the Gotch gang, a whole lotta strangling, a fake Turk, and a wild ad for vitality pills. It's the story of Fred Beell, part 5.

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
June 18, 2024 67 mins

Wins, losses, angry letters, and attempt to move west, and a box office bomb against a wrestling legend.

It's the story of Fred Beell, part 4!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
June 4, 2024 54 mins

A tale of bait-and-switch booking, stacking the betting odds, a wrestler with upset stomach, and why you can't answer a public challenge from the dark woods of the frontier.

It's the story of Fred Beell, part 3!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
May 14, 2024 63 mins

Learn about the impact of disease in warfare, the horrors of pre-OSHA railroad work, an ill-fated attempt to swindle a "Jay In The Woods" town, trash talking in the sports pages, and more!

Join Nick and Heidi for the story of Fred Beell, part two!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
April 23, 2024 57 mins

Today Nick and Heidi discuss the railroad expansion into the post-Civil War Midwest, why fire is bad, old timey language that makes us giggle, and of course the early life and career of Fred Beell.

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
April 9, 2024 78 mins

Today we discuss a man of many stolen gimmicks. A man with multiple shots at the NWA title. A man who set fires, committed crimes, did prison time, and was the body guard of a Mafia boss, who went on to be a movie icon.

Nick and Heidi tell the story of Lenny Montana!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

-The Godfather Wars, by Mark Seal. From t...

Mark as Played
March 26, 2024 89 mins

How did an all-women's show impact the Colorado Wrestling Scene? How do women wrestlers navigate the  world of regional pro wrestling? Why did Priscilla Kelly kick Heidi Howitzer in the face?

Listen up as we solve these mysteries and tell wild stories from Respect Women's Wrestling!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Mark as Played
March 12, 2024 80 mins

Murder, scandals, intervention by the supreme court, Nazi in-laws, a Texas Death match, and the hottest short run a tag team could ask for. Today Nick and Heidi discuss the life and career of Sam Sheppard!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American Newspapers.

Mark as Played
February 27, 2024 74 mins

Join Nick and Nova Mente BJJ Instructor Troy Everett for a look back at the world of martial arts instructional VHS tapes. So wash your gi, buy a black belt online, and get ready to kick your friends in the head while learning karate in your basement!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Mark as Played
February 12, 2024 120 mins

The end of an era, the decline of the Howard Theater, the Bowsers enjoy the success of their Boston promotion, and of course a few arrests, rumors, and drama. It's the conclusion of our look at the life and times of Cora Livingston!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
January 23, 2024 75 mins

Returning to Boston, a pretender to the title, an audience member gets slapped, and more.

Nick and Heidi continue the story of Cora Livingston!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
January 9, 2024 74 mins

Nick and Heidi discuss the dawn of the 1920s, the impact of the Great War on women's wrestling, The origin of masked wrestling, the purpose of submission holds, and Cora's marital status in advertisements.

It's the story of Cora Livingston, Part 9!

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
December 26, 2023 76 mins

Circus wrestling, Freak show questions, Intergender challenges, Angry Women's groups, and an idiot who gambled a fortune on a wrestling match.

All this and more, as Nick and Heidi continue the story of Cora Livingston.

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
December 14, 2023 66 mins

Cora joins the circus! Are charity shows a scam? Why did Cora's matches lose their viciousness? Why was the Howard Theater's ad department so good? Listen up and learn, as Nick and Heidi continue the story of Cora Livingston.

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
November 21, 2023 58 mins

Changing the finish, a light house, getting thrown through a painting, women's suffrage, and ref bumps. Nick and Heidi continue the wild story of Cora Livingston.

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
November 8, 2023 56 mins

A big match against Laura Bennett! DQs galore! Why toe-holds got so popular! Why wouldn't Lottie Oliver wrestle men? Why did church groups protest wrestling? Listen to Nick and Heidi continue the story of Cora Livingston to find out!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
October 24, 2023 57 mins

More strangling, more violence, near riots, a drunken woman on a rampage, and more!

Nick and Heidi continue the exciting and strange tale of Cora Livingston.

 

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played
October 10, 2023 81 mins

More challenges, more strangling, a possible vacation for marriage and motherhood, and an outraged police officer who shut down a match.

All this and more, as Nick and Heidi talk about Cora Livingston!

Venmo research donations accepted at @nicholas-gossert

Primary sources: Sited articles from American and Canadian Newspapers.

Mark as Played

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