Dick Shikat vs Jim Londos (1930)

[@tubewrestler]

What a historic find.. Londos may have been short but he was a beast in the ring The Golden Greek was very good

[@xaviermouratonabo6499]

It's a privilege to witness such historical record. Jim Londos was just tireless. And such crowd in attendance, taking into account that this was during the Great Depression, is very incredible.

[@risboturbide9396]

Well said, man.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Thanks for sharing this AMAZING footage! Such an important & legendary night in pro wrestling history!

[@bryannevers4679]

Great wrestling match. Londos was a top star during that time. Great upload!!

[@KenViewer]

I believe the astonishing, historic footage you've uploaded had never been seen by any living person until you showed it here. It also marks the last night of an era in professional wrestling whose successor-style -- especially because of Londos, would then go on to last for some 40 years. It is an amazing effort by you and will remain so forever. -- Ken

[@WildBillZim1]

Excellent! Even has sound. Thanks.

[@NoirFan01]

Thanks for posting

[@aceldamas665]

This is my first time seeing film of Londos. Very cool. He reminds me of Rickson Gracie. And from what I understand, Londos also studied Jiu-jitsu, so there is that similarity as well.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

The #1 box office attraction in pro wrestling history! Not Hogan..Not Flair, Not Austin, Not The Rock…But The Golden Greek, JIM LONDOS! 💰💰

[@delmerjunior]

Thanks! Enjoyed this very much!

[@kenviewer1]

I am not planning to die any year soon, but old age makes it imperative to thank Raging Bull for his years of dedication to newsreels archives and other footage of historic wrestling matches. He has no equal. Bravo to him !!!

[@Aphelion_k9f]

And it's a great tool for youngsters like myself to view the past. I find this period of wrestling history to be fascinating.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

"Wrestling has come back into its own again." Nice potshot at Sonnenburg and Lewis. Even in 1929/1930 the fan communucation network was good enough to reveal that Lewis was winning back the belt on every house show on the tour to send the marks home happy that they'd seen sporting history - then they turned up the next night of the tour with Sonnenburg still as champion. So in the end the NBA got involved and had Shikat and Londos as champions trading a rival version of the belt.

[@grawakendream8980]

amazing, like looking through a window in time. the quality of the film is impeccable. and the audio helps demonstrate how populr londos really was. first time i ever heard londos too. 40 days later londos was in the ring with ray steele in the same venue. I'll bet he wrestled 15 times in between those dates, too if wonder if that's rudy dusek and jim mcmillen at the beginning of the reel

[@kenwriter5786]

This historic match was for the National BOXING Association's one-and-only successful attempt to encompass professional wrestling, and the winner was awarded the first NBA's world's heavyweight WRESTLING championship. The NBA later changed its mind about getting involved in the wrestling racket and stopped recognizing wrestling champions. Thus, Londos is the only person to EVER hold the NBA's world's wrestling title. Londos never was defeated for that crown since it had been discontinued within a year. He subsequently was switched over to the independent National WRESTLING Association (a brand-new organization) world's heavyweight title. (Similar sounding name.) Further, since apparently no theatrical footage has been found, uploader and historian Raging Bull 1935's re-editing of the out-takes of the bout provide the only known chronological (with a few mis-edits) footage of the roughly 20 minutes of the match that are available out-of-order in digitized format. Nothing else like this is known to exist at this time. The winner of this match was predetermined.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

The National Wrestling Association was not a completely brand new organisation - it existed as a department, the Wrestling Division - within the National Boxing Association (NBA-WD) before seceeding. Structurally, the NBA-WD and the NWAssociation were one and the same and there was continuity between the two - all that happened was that the Wrestling Division became an independent entity.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

Also this was a return match from a bout the previous year which Shikat won, so it is wrong to say Londos was awarded a "first championship." The New York and Pensylvania State Athletic Commisions stripped Gus Sonnenburg of recognition because (1) he was clearly a Tanker who was protected by the superior Lewis, his policeman (2) Lewis was frequently ending house shows winning the title back from Sonnenburg only for the title change to disappear into the ether and Sonnenburg to turn up as champion once again on the next house show in another town. Eventually they got caught doing this.

[@matthewfarmer8740]

This card drew approximately 15,000 fans which was 13,115 paid for a gate of $43,622.20.

[@TheMartimBenfica]

Rick Steiner reminds me of Londos: small, low centre of gravity.

[@LaptopLarry330]

This was an excellent attendance number for an outdoor pro wrestling card during The Great Depression.

[@libra42ful]

If you watch it on playback speed at .75x it gives you a truer speed of the action

[@brucemichaelgrossman4913]

I love how pro wrestling back then was basically just a Greco Roman exhibition with strikes.

[@sammmm87]

Cornette says Londos was bigger than hogan in his day. I had to check him out, great video thanks.

[@christiansoldier77]

sammmm87 Jim Cornette is full of BS if you dont know that already. Wrestling was a joke back in these days. It was looked down upon

[@Aphelion_k9f]

@@christiansoldier77 "Looked down upon" lol. Wrestling today doesn't even pass as being good entertainment anymore. Also Londos worked in front of 100K people a half a century before Mania 3. I think I'll take Corny's opinion over some doofus on the internet.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@Aphelion_k9f Why are there s many idiots like you on youtube? First of all Corny is the doofus and he says a lot of stupid things to get fools like you to listen to his podcast. Corny has a gripe with Vince and Hogan for some reason and that is why he always trashes them which is stupid because they are the reason why he can actually make money doing a podcast in the first place. Otherwise he might be little more than a bum on the street right now . Obviously you arent bright enough to understand that. Second, Londis wrestled at a time where there was no TV . How big do you think his reach or fame could possibly be back then you moron? Third , When I said it was "looked down upon" that means wrestling was not respected back then. Wrestling was probably considered a notch above prostitution in terms of respect. Hogan was the one to make wrestling a mainstream form of entertainment and legitimate profession. That is why you can not ever compare Londis to Hogan you complete and utter ignoramus.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

@@christiansoldier77 Lmao okay. You don't know a single goddamn thing about pro wrestling. Just stick to bible thumbing you inbred hick.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@Aphelion_k9f Goodness you are stupid and clueless LOL smh

[@-KillaWatt-]

I'd love to hear Jim Cornette's take on this.

[@grawakendream8980]

this match is a fully modern 20th century working match

[@SwaggaLeo]

This match went for One Hour Twenty Three Minutes O_O

[@masahirohayashi938]

この時代のプロレスはフォールかギブアップで勝負が決まった。あまりにも動きのない地味な試合だった。いつ頃からかお客さんが喜ぶように飛んだり跳ねたり お互いに相手に合わせる派手な 試合運びになった。結果もプロモーターが決めるようになりショー化していった。

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Kinda suprised that a lot of the crowd seems to be behind Shikat during that match.

[@JackJones-ke8mo]

Yeah dude 😎. You are so right. What is up?

[@normancarr3015]

Great exciting match ocer 9o years ago

[@rampage5524]

Dick Shikat looks like a giant in the ring even more so if you see him fighting Jim Londos..

[@kenviewer1]

RagingBull; I found clear footage of Joe Stecher wrestling in 1930. It's at the usual place. -- Ken Viewer

[@kevinbbadd]

Where's that?

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

Are you sure it wasn't the 1920 Stecher vs Caddock match?

[@anothonypeterson3402]

Even THIS wrestling is more interesting than todays wrestling.But the 70's wrestling is the best I've ever seen.I started watching in 1972-by coincidence it was the perfect wrestling.Buddy Colt was making 3 dark-haired wrestlers bleed-so I thought he must be the greatest wrestler that ever lived! (LOL)

[@rianaandriamaharo4359]

anothony peterson It’s maybe because I’m younger but I prefer the 90’s style way more than this even if it’s still interesting

[@robh.5658]

This is Wrestling, for sure.

[@frompartsunknown6281]

Wrestling sure has evolved. Not worse or better just different. Imagine if Rock or Stone Cold could travel back in time and cut promos

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

Fans back then would have just laughed at them if they had tried to do their thing back in the day.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

@16:32 Interesting to see the way the ref counted 3….was that the way they typically counted back then? Or was he trying not to let Schikat know that he was counting or something? 🤔 Something about the finish just looks a bit odd…

[@pinotnoir6974]

I’d love to see a Bret Hart or Curt Hennig vs Jim Londos dream-match. ALSO I’d love to see a Steve Austin vs Dick Shikat dream match. OMG… What a culture shock it would be for the audience. Can you for one moment imagine, in the 1930’s, - Austin’s signature theme entrance of SHATTERING GLASS? - asking a full stadium of fans or full MSG fans, “GIVE ME A, HELL YA.”? - drinking (not one) but two BOTTLES of BEER during prohibition… and asking for more? - giving a stunner to the 75-year-old ring announcer? The shock alone would cause any woman over the age of 150 to orgasm. Then the unimaginable happens. Strangler Lewis enters the ring and shoves Austin (not once, but twice). Both are locked in a psychological battle, a silent challenge, an intense gaze, eyes boring into each other like laser beams. Lewis gets him in a sleeper only to be rewarded with a shocking stunner. Instead of going home, fans line up at the ticket booth. 😅

[@BelieveInHumans]

that ol' stiff style........ I can't believe I'm getting to watch this..... :)

[@cli260]

"As the referee slapped Londos on the back indicating that the champion had been pinned, hundreds attempted to climb into the ring, and police rushed inside the ropes to keep the ring clear" If Londis wins we riot

[@oscarolivares7009]

Was this a work or shoot? It's actually seriously hard to tell. There's so much more legitimate grappling in here as opposed to todays overly choreographed spots and thigh slapping. This match resembles pancrase far more than it does WWE or AEW.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

They were working by this point, but it was a much more legitimate style. It was still in the fairly early stages by this point, and they had to protect it. A few years later in the 1930s the papers exposed it was a work and it almost killed the business for years to come.

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

Check out the spot towards to end, at 15:51 when Dick fixes his gear…if it was a legit shoot Londos would have shot in on him and tried to take him down.

[@seanwilson4885]

It was a work, but shoots still existed at this period. Around this time legitimate wrestling skill was still a top priority. Most matches from this time featured top shooters performing in matches.

[@keioh9776]

エアプレインの名手、黄金のギリシャ人ジム.ロンドスがこんなに小さな選手とは❗驚きました、この体格でルイス、ステッカー.シカット等と対等に闘っていたとは⁉️

[@grawakendream8980]

he wasn't equal to lewis stecher or shikat. but he was more popular than them. shikat was his policeman

[@libra42ful]

10:50 to 11:00...THIS is why vintage/classic pro wrestling is the best...very little regulation on what was acceptable, and what wasn't... Where men could be MEN in the ring and enjoy the stimulation from being/proving who was MORE of a MAN (as long as you "disguised" it as punishment)...Hell, let's be honest, the Mob had its hand in it, in many ways, even down to some of the wrestlers, who actually wrestled until one either submitted, or was just to spent to fight off a pin by the ref, who's only job really was to say "Off the ropes" (and couldn't care less if they did or not) or accept a submission or count a pin...vintage pro was pretty much all in the wrestlers hands, and the underhanded antics of the crooked mob guys who liked a good beating, that would bring the ticket-buying men (breadwinners of the time) back for more rough, satisfying action...$$$$

[@MBM1117727]

Wrestling was predetermined even then.

[@mda1218]

before steroids : man2man till one softens up the other for win...just like guys behind the Moose hall when I was growing up, but without 👊🏼s

[@tc19948]

No beer guts and no Kent Walton

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

Kent Walton would have loved this action. As for beer guts, British wrestling in the 80s was mostly smaller wiry guys like Johnny Saint and Jim Breaks or young kids like Danny Collins and Kid McCoy. All of them in great aerobic shape and very agile and athletic (have you seen the comments some gay men post to some British wrestling videos?) There were never more than about half a dozen superheavies.

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

Better luck next time

[@jdouglas1327]

Beautiful big Shikat gets dominated by the smaller wrestler

[@tc19948]

Look at the energy from both men. This was the year that "All-In" wrestling was launched. Does it look as tawdry as it was supposed to be?

[@Aphelion_k9f]

+Tony Curr It's not too far removed from today's wrestling. These guys sold, they worked, they played to the crowd. They even had sequences and spots.

[@matthewfarmer8740]

Not really accurate in describing it as the year "all-in" wrestling was launched. That's been something repeated by many for years but it is not accurate, more part of Toots Mondt own press. In fact you can view footage from 10 years earlier and it's similar to what you are watching above.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

Matthew Farmer Would you so happen to be the same Matt Farmer that devised the Matt Farmer scale?

[@matthewfarmer8740]

I would be one and the same (I think) as I never devised the scale but I've heard of people using the scale off of my work.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

Matthew Farmer I have. Always wanted to contact you and say thank you for that work. Found the scale based off your work in one of Larry Matysik's books. I tend to use it in place of Meltzer's but I have found both to be great scales. Just out of curiosity how did you normalize the gates across eras? I assumed you factored in inflation and changes in population density.

[@jaguar004]

Where is Roman Reigns?

[@normancarr3015]

Help me out people.IS THIS A SHOOT OR A WORK.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

Work. Though Dick Shikat was a notorious hooker.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

@@Aphelion_k9f In a shoot Shikat narrowly had the edge over Londos, but Londos was the better draw. Both of them could have ripped official champion Gus Sonnenburg to bits but neither of them could take Sonnonburg's policeman Strangler Lewis.

[@Aphelion_k9f]

@@kurtvanderbogarde8402 Lewis was almost as big of a draw as Londos too. But his prime came a decade earlier. Lewis at this time only chose to drop pins to Londos to further business. But I'm sure you're already aware of this. Just musing.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

@@Aphelion_k9f At the time of this match, Sonnenburg/Lewis and Shikat/Londos were on opposite sides of a promotional rivalrly with different World title versions. Lewis eventually crossed sides after the Henri DeGlane incident and ended up holding the version from this film and dropping it to Jim Browning who then dropped it to Londos. Then in 1934 Londos and Lewis made themselves sackfuls of money by working the smart marks decades before the internet, putting themselves on at Yankee Stadium before thousands who came along expecting to see Lewis double cross Londos only for Lewis to do the job and take his hefty cut. But that was four years after this was filmed. Back in 1930 Lewis and Londos were legit business rivals.

[@anothonypeterson3402]

ZIM,-you must be trying to be funny.

[@vadymd6510]

Wrestling oldest sport

[@nandonandez1795]

Boring😪

[@blangh]

This is god-awful. People really paid their good money to see this?