The Top Ten Moves of Karl Gotch

Concluding the Old School theme with a top ten featuring the man who is sometimes referred to as the true God of Professional Wrestling: Karl Gotch. Gotch was born in Belgium shortly after World War I. After incredible hardships as he made his way into adulthood, such as enduring the horrific event known as the Holocaust, Gotch competed at the 1948 Olympics in the Greco Roman Wrestling event. He eventually was professionally trained in England, and won a number of tournaments all over Europe. He also received instruction in the Indian Martial Art of Pehlwani, which would lead Gotch to incorporate various stretches and exercises into his training regimen, making him one of the most athletically fit wrestlers of his time, a trait he would hand down to his students over the years. In 1959, he made his way to the United States, where he wasn't generally accepted, due to his Shooter style of wrestling, which many felt didn't fit in the new vision of pro wrestling that was rising at the time. However, that didn't stop him from having a short stop in the WWWF, where he and Rene Goulet held the WWWF World Tag Team Titles for some time. It is rumored that he and Buddy Rogers brawled, due to Rogers not wanting to compete against Gotch(Gotch contested that Rogers knew he'd lose), and supposedly did some major damage to then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Rogers. Gotch would settle for the AWA Ohio World Heavyweight Title instead. Gotch then made his way back to Japan, where he and Antonio Inoki did battle in a 2/3 Falls Match in the main event of the inaugural New Japan Pro Wrestling show in 1972, in which Gotch defeated Inoki in the third and final fall. Gotch would also team up with Lou Thesz in New Japan for a short period of time. Shortly there after, Gotch would retire from wrestling, but he was asked to train the competitors of the upstart UWF promotion, and he trained them in the art of Shoot Wrestling. Among these students was Satoru Sayama, the legendary Tiger Mask I. Though retired, Gotch maintained a strict fitness routine, all the way to July of 2007, when he passed away at his home. Gotch was legendary as an innovator, being the first man to incorporate the German Suplex(Lou Thesz actually invented it, but taught it to Gotch for him to use), and was the innovator of the Gotch style Tombstone Piledriver, as well as the traditional form of the move(though he rarely, if ever, used it).

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[CMY187]

Since I did not see it in this video, Suicidaldragon, I wish to know: was Gotch the innovator of the Cradle Piledriver, popularized by Jerry Lynn?

[TheSuicidalDragon]

Indeed

[CMY187]

@TheSuicidalDragon Thanks. Do you have any videos of Gotch executing the move, and if not, do you know of any?

[TheSuicidalDragon]

I don't, unfortunately.

[Scorpion14]

Man, that is some stiff wrestling there. He doesnt even look like he's doing a show. He looks like he's just beating the shit outta Inoki. That scoop slam looked damn legit.

[TheSuicidalDragon]

Gotch was one of the last of the Shooters breed, and really didn't find any success in the states due to his reputation.

[getodachoppa1]

0:37 was sweet... truly a pioneer and possibly the best shoot wrestler of all time.

[hcjc57]

I've said this numerous times, but this time it really hits it home-this was when wrestling was WRESTLING! A huge thx 4 posting!

[carlos3salas]

All those were from one fight? Huh the top ten......

[mkl62]

I hope that Karl Gotch gets into the WWE Hall of Fame next year.

[ParrryHottter]

The Stranglehold is a cool move. Sad that I never see it used anymore.

[theraphn1]

@TheSuicidalDragon was sagst du denn da du fickschnitzel

[Somesubjekt]

a true wrestler

[DanesFreedom]

They were all stiff bastards in those days. Not as exciting to watch, but stiff as hell.

[RPenta]

Dragon, I guess with Thesz, and Hodge, and let's not forget Ken Shamrock, and Billy Robinson Gotch was the real shooter.

Iron Sheik said that Gotch once told Verne Gagne: don't **** with me; I am a killer in the ring and a king outside the ring.