Evan Lewis, known as the first "Strangler" in professional wrestling, was not just a significant figure in the 1800s professional wrestling scene—he was the most feared wrestler of the 19th century and credited as the first American Heavyweight Champion.
His real-life contributions and innovations in the ring, combined with his fearsome reputation, helped shape the sport, but modern myths have blurred the lines between the man and the legend. Uncovering the truth about Lewis reveals a fascinating story that transformed the early days of wrestling in America.
Evan Lewis was the first ‘Strangler’ of American wrestling and the most feared wrestler of the 19th century.
Unraveling the Two Evan Lewises: The Man and the Myth
When discussing the notorious pro wrestler Evan Lewis, the first "Strangler" of American pro wrestling, it’s crucial to distinguish between two different figures.
The first is the actual historical person, a popular wrestler whose career spanned just over a decade in the 1880s-90s. The second is a mythical character, partially created by his contemporary journalists and business partners and further embellished by modern-day wrestling historians.
This mythical version is often portrayed as if he were a UFC fighter, but this depiction is far from the truth. The real Evan Lewis was a different man altogether.
In this article, the focus is solely on the real Evan Lewis.
The Emergence of Evan Lewis During the Catch Wrestling Boom
Evan Lewis (May 24th, 1860 – November 3rd, 1919) emerged as a pro wrestler during an era when the Lancashire catch-as-catch-can style was becoming the dominant form of wrestling in America. This relatively new style quickly gained popularity due to its flashy and showy nature.
Catch wrestling, according to Jim Parr (a former world heavyweight champion and a late 19th century to early 20th century professional wrestling star in the UK and later in the United States where he resided), "In Lancashire, where the Lancashire or catch-as-catch-can game, as it is called, originated, all falls count when the shoulders touch the mat together. It makes no difference whether you throw a fellow over your head and let go of him, or whether you press him down with a hammerlock or roll him: it is a fall every time the shoulders strike together."
While other wrestling styles, such as collar-and-elbow, side-hold, and Greco-Roman (imported from France), were still practiced, the time of catch wrestling was at its peak. Most catch wrestling practitioners of that era were foreigners, primarily Englishmen from Lancashire. During this early age of American pro wrestling, no American-born catch wrestlers of any note existed.
The Cornish Wrestling Roots of Evan Lewis
Evan Lewis’ wrestling background was in Cornish wrestling, a style very different from Lancashire wrestling.
Cornish wrestling is an upright style where participants wear jackets, and only jacket holds are allowed. Victory is achieved by throwing the opponent onto their back, either in a 3-point down fall (two shoulders and a hip, or two hips and a shoulder) or a 4-point down fall (both shoulders and hips on the ground).
Cornish wrestling was not widely practiced in America except within closed communities of Cornish immigrants, who were miners by trade. These communities held annual tournaments, which Lewis regularly entered.
Despite being prize money competitions, these tournaments resembled amateur wrestling more than the staged events of professional wrestling.
Transition to Lancashire Wrestling: Learning a New Style
The Head Creel: A classic move from Lancashire wrestling, where wrestlers would perform the ‘walking on the head’ trick to evade a double leg and escape a pin. This acrobatic maneuver was a signature technique used by Evan Lewis’ contemporaries to avoid being taken down, showcasing the agility and skill of wrestlers during the 1800s.
In contrast, Lancashire wrestling was almost the opposite of Cornish wrestling. Competitors wrestled bare-chested and barefoot, and any hold on any part of the body was allowed.
The goal was to make both of the opponent’s shoulders touch the ground, known as a 2-point down fall.
This style also permitted attacks on opponents who were no longer on their feet, leading to its nickname "up and down" wrestling.
Wrestling on all fours was also acceptable. However, Lancashire wrestling was defined not just by its rules but by its vocabulary—a set of specific "holds and falls" unique to the style.
When Lewis began his professional career, he was unfamiliar with Lancashire wrestling. The wrestlers of that era were typically short lightweights (130-150 lbs), known for their acrobatic skills, such as walking on their heads to avoid a fall—an iconic image of the style that persists today.
To learn Lancashire wrestling, Lewis had to team up with top-notch professionals like Joe Acton and Jimmy Faulkner. These men, and others like them, partnered with him, teaching him the intricacies of Lancashire wrestling.
Lewis had to wrestle with them repeatedly to adopt their ring behavior and learn their tricks. This partnership was crucial in his development as a pro wrestler.
Acton, Faulkner, and similar wrestlers were good jobbers who helped make Evan Lewis a professional wrestler and gave him the initial push he needed. These partnerships turned him into a star, proving that "it is always the retinue that makes the King!"
The Development of Evan Lewis’ Unique Wrestling Style
Based on Lewis’ physical appearance, it’s clear that he was not a perfect fit for Lancashire wrestling exhibitions. He wasn’t small or flexible enough to perform the acrobatic feats that his teachers did.
To become an attraction and draw crowds, Lewis had to develop a unique style unrelated to traditional Lancashire wrestling, which he lacked, especially early in his career. His solution was a rough-house style—a brawl-like form of wrestling that he introduced to American fans. This innovation made him famous and admired.
Lewis was one of the pioneers of this fight-like ring behavior. Today, it is impossible to imagine a pro wrestling match without wrestlers roughing each other up. Without it, wrestling exhibitions would look sterile, plain, boring, and amateurish.
The Strangle Hold: Evan Lewis’ Signature Move
An artist’s depiction of Evan Lewis’ signature move, The Strangler’s Hold, featured in an 1890s newspaper.
Another innovation by Lewis was his signature finishing move, the "strangle hold," a basic chancery hold he learned from contemporary boxers.
In interviews, Lewis revealed that he used this hold not to injure his opponents but to put them flat on their backs. Interestingly, he often preferred wrestling "for flat falls, 4 points down," which wasn’t even part of Lancashire wrestling. It seems he couldn’t entirely abandon his Cornish roots.
Evan Lewis’ Rise to Champion Status Amid Controversy
Soon, Lewis’ partners began promoting him as the next champion, part of a plan to crown him champion regardless of his actual skill. They prepared the ground for him in newspapers, and he became a "champion wrestler" in the local press before winning any actual championships.
However, some of his "ring opponents" and business rivals spoke of him disparagingly. They claimed he was a performer below the average wrestler’s level, certainly not of champion caliber, and that his ring performances consisted only of accidentally injuring his opponents with his "brutalities."
They also alleged that they had to be paid by Lewis to wrestle him, not just by the event organizer, because working with him was unsafe. Yes, Lewis paid certain men to become his opponents because he wasn’t a skilled wrestling jobber.
His knowledge of Lancashire wrestling was limited when he first gained star status. As British champion wrestler Tony St Clair, a dear friend of mine, says, "It takes two to tango" when explaining the secrets of the wrestling profession. So, Lewis sold his "fights," and the crowds accepted them. Not only that, but they also loved his unique style.
After Lewis, rough-house wrestling became the standard for bigger, less skilled pro wrestlers. Despite the criticisms, these controversies only added to his fame.
Among American wrestling fans, Lewis is remembered as the first American champion who was truly American. He was unique, truly one of a kind. And it is out of these contradictions that the legend of Evan Lewis was born.
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Ruslan C. Pashayev is a professional ballroom and Dancesport dancer, coach, and choreographer based in Delaware, Ohio. Born in 1980 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ruslan began ballroom dancing at seven and pursued it throughout his youth. However, his passion for wrestling—both amateur Olympic style and professional wrestling—was ignited at age 12. Since 2005, Ruslan has been an avid student of wrestling history, with a particular interest in the origins and evolution of Lancashire Catch-as-catch-can wrestling. This deep-rooted passion led to the 2019 publication of his book, ‘The Story of Catch,’ available through the link above.
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