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, oth