Earl Caddock vs Joe Stecher (1920): Oldest Pro Wrestling on Film

Newsreel 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. While some have argued that this style was simply a more traditional way of "working" (performing) than what would soon follow, others have claimed that Caddock-Stecher was the last great "shoot" (real) match for a world title.

While it is impossible to determine when professional wrestling became purely performance, even at this point in its history many match outcomes were 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.

This match was discussed by Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez on the March 2nd 2009 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio:

http://media001.f4wonline.com/dmdocuments/030209wo.mp3

The copyright of this work, registered or published prior to 1923, has expired. As a result, this work has entered into the public domain.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• caddock
• stecher
• 1920
• championship
• professional
• wrestling
• shoot
• worked

[kissmusiclover]

Is this available in HD or 3-D???

[Thebadguy1987]

bacckk whe it was "real" ; P

[AlexDCl]

Ah, they don't go for over two hours anymore, they should do though, as a one off, that'd be a pretty cool attraction.

[AlexDCl]

Which one is who, how can we spot the difference?

[AlexDCl]

They should dub some commentary over this.

[AlexDCl]

"Let's go Caddock" "Let's go Stecher"

[MrCampfires]

"He was an inspiration to the youth of America. During his entire career, he exemplified the best in American sports tradition. And when the history of wrestling is written,,, I shall see that Earl Caddock's name goes up near the top for his wrestling ability, and on top as the man who has done most for the uplift of wrestling in this country." - Nat Fleisher, author historian

[raider8sox]

forget about wrestlemania, haha!

[JoBo6772]

@Thebadguy1987 "Its still real to me DAMMIT"

[mnemrod]

This is 60p!!!

[fatboymatt]

This match is 100% a work

[AmericanNohbuddy]

@luchador1764

Some matches were worked back then, but not all.