Oldest Pro Wrestling on Film: Caddock vs Stecher, 1920



Uploaded by: tranquileye
Video Description:
Rare footage from the second Earl Caddock-Joe Stecher match for the professional wrestling world title, January 30th 1920. The match took place at the second Madison Square Garden in New York City. Stecher pinned Caddock in 2:05:00 using a wristlock and his finishing hold, the body scissors.
This is perhaps the earliest professional wrestling match of which film survives. Some have said that Caddock-Stecher was the last great "shoot" (real) match for a world title, but others argue that this style was simply a more traditional way of "working" (performing) than what would soon follow. While it is impossible to determine when professional wrestling became purely performance, clearly by this point in its history match outcomes were largely predetermined. In the coming months, "Toots" Mondt and Billy Sandow would reshape the sport into a style of performance virtually identical to what we know today.
The copyright of this work, registered or published prior to 1923, has expired. As a result, this work has entered into the public domain.


Tags for this video: 1920 caddock championship professional shoot stecher worked wrestling

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Comments for this video on YouTube
i remember watching ... ( 2 months ago by CarlitoCabanna)
i remember watching this on tv when it first aired loooooooooooooooool!
its a work. But ... ( 2 months ago by Kolohe86786876786786)
its a work. But given the times, these guys probably knew how to do it for real.
LOL this is from ... ( 2 months ago by wwe9112)
LOL this is from 1923., they wearn't even born yet.
This is incredible ... ( 2 months ago by MNRN08)
This is incredible footage. Where did you discover it? I watched it twice already. Also, is there more that you've found? Contact me if you can. THANKS!
Ric flair was still ... ( 1 month ago by JFMatador)
Ric flair was still alive here.
He's not that old. ( 1 month ago by gamingeagle19)
He's not that old.
How can it be from ... ( 1 month ago by ScrotumCancer)
How can it be from 1923 when it clearly says 1920?
From the site I was ... ( 1 month ago by wwe9112)
From the site I was on it said 1923. I didn't pay attention to the date. Some of us aren't perfect.
excellent footage i ... ( 1 month ago by hambone9119)
excellent footage i love wrestlings history and past
Looks like a ... ( 1 month ago by athenieus)
Looks like a Steiner Brother's training video.
this sucks i want ... ( 1 month ago by nico90000)
this sucks i want HD!!!
it was copyrighted ... ( 1 month ago by GamingPalooza)
it was copyrighted in 1923, filmed in 1920... ehhh
This was the first ... ( 1 month ago by MrBeverlyHills)
This was the first time Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan met each other in the squared circle.
lol i think i see ... ( 1 month ago by htownnigggga)
lol i think i see undertaker in the background...
Look! Shawn ... ( 1 month ago by TheEnigma26)
Look! Shawn Michaels is coming ou to be the special ref in the match!
This is Terry ... ( 4 weeks ago by 9InchWarrior)
This is Terry Funk's first retirement match
What a gem this is, ... ( 4 weeks ago by Weaponhead7)
What a gem this is, great upload.
we want tables!!!! ... ( 2 weeks ago by ewhhdtd)
we want tables!!!! clap,clap,clap clap clap
Array ( 2 weeks ago by AgApE010)
Great upload!
This is how wrestling still should be, not the crap today where the wrestlers talk trash to each other more than wrestle. And when two of them finally do get in the ring, every wrestler and his mother come out of the locker room to interuppt the match hitting their opponents with everything but the kitchen sink.
Although entertaining at times, the sport has lost all dignity.
i'd hate to be a ... ( 1 week ago by 316up)
i'd hate to be a referee for one of this 1+ hour matches.
I wonder if pro ... ( 1 week ago by itroll3fun)
I wonder if pro wrestling fans were closet homosexuals back then, too. I bet they were.
WTF this is 25 mins ... ( 1 week ago by johnvitowilson)
WTF this is 25 mins how the hell can this load!!!
Man talk about HD ... ( 1 week ago by Lallin92)
Man talk about HD quality! lol
I must say that was ... ( 5 days ago by isaacallin)
I must say that was real, now we got mma. wwe is just a joke now. i am glad brock got out of that and into the mma ufc champ even!



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