Hook wrestling
Catch Wrestling
Short for "catch-as-catch-can" wrestling or grappling, sometimes known as hook wrestling.
In the late 19th century, carnivals routinely traveled the American countryside. These were the days before television or radio, days when the carnivals were a primary source of American entertainment. As part of their attraction, many carnivals had what were dubbed "athletic shows" where prize fighters and wrestlers would take on all comers for cash wagers. The athletic shows were not only a source of entertainment, but also a way for the locals to interact with the performers, test their skill, and perhaps win some money in the process.
In their earliest stages, athletic show wrestling competition rules were offshoots of traditional wrestling rules, with each person trying only to pin the other. But as time went on, locals became more ruthless, and it wasn't uncommon to hear stories of a local trying to gouge out a wrestler's eyes during a challenge match. In addition, disputes often arose as to whether a person was actually pinned, (not surprising considering there was money on the line), and whether the referees were calling the matches fairly. The travelling wrestlers developed submission holds, or "hooks," both to protect themselves from injury and to eliminate any doubt as to the victor. The wrestlers would stretch and crank their opponents, making them shout a loud concession of "uncle."
As time passed the men became even more skillful at hooking. The rules of the challenge matches were often tipped to favor the local challengers--akin to giving a handicap, or odds. Depending on the carnival or match, the wrestler could lose a match by being hooked, pinned, or simply thrown. Thus, in order to survive, hookers became extremely proficient at controlling and hooking their opponents and defending against all methods of attack.
Under the most narrow of rules, wrestlers would lose matches if they failed to defeat their opponents within a certain time. Now, not only were these men becoming masters of wrestling, control and hooks, they were also developing the skill to execute their technique extremely quickly and efficiently.
Men such as Martin "Farmer" Burns, Frank Gotch, John Pesek, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Ray Steele, and many others all "made their bones" as carnival wrestlers. This was a piece of Americana that we shouldn't forget.
