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Ed 'Strangler' Lewis

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Wrestler

The Resume

    (June 30, 1891-August 8, 1966)
    Born in Nekoosa, Wisconsin
    Birth name was Robert Herman Julius Friedrich
    Five-time heavyweight champ between 1920 and 1931

Why he might be annoying:

    He adopted Ed Lewis as a pseudonym because his parents did not approve of wrestling.
    Depending on which story you believe, he got the 'Strangler' nickname either because he resembled early champ Evan 'Strangler' Lewis or because his signature sleeper hold looked like he was strangling his opponent.
    His sleeper hold was controversial, and the Illinois Athletic Commission and New York State Assembly both tried to ban it.
    He earned over $3 million during his career but lost it through bad investments.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He wrestled in 6,200 matches with only 33 losses.
    He ranked with Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey as one of the biggest sports celebrities of his era.
    His match against Jim Londos at Wrigley Field (September 20, 1934) drew a gate of $96,300, which would remain a wrestling record until 1952.
    Late in life, he went blind from trachoma.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying