Oldest Pro Wrestling on Film: Caddock vs Stecher, 1920

Video Title :	Oldest Pro Wrestling on Film: Caddock vs Stecher, 1920
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.
Views :	100128
Rating :	4.66
Keywords, Tags :	caddock stecher 1920 championship professional wrestling shoot worked
Video Length :	25 : 49

Comments :

Looks like a Steiner Brother's training video.

excellent footage i love wrestlings history and past

From the site I was on it said 1923. I didn't pay attention to the date. Some of us aren't perfect.

How can it be from 1923 when it clearly says 1920?

Ric flair was still alive here.

He's not that old.

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!

its a work. But given the times, these guys probably knew how to do it for real.

i remember watching this on tv when it first aired loooooooooooooooool!

Kinda neat to see they had the showmanship aspect even way back then.