* December 2010 **
Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861-January 8, 1937) was a World Champion wrestler born in Cedar County, Iowa. He is credited as being an early pioneer of professional wrestling, making his living by wrestling in fairs and carnivals. He practiced the early "Catch-As-Catch Can" style of the sport, before the spectacle of Sports Entertainment.
He was not only know for his immaculate wrestling ability, but also for his "in-human" feats of strength. Although only weighing 164 lbs, "Farmer" Burns had a 20" plus neck! One of his most favorite feats of strength to perform was his ability to take a full six foot Hangman's Plunge with a rope tied around his neck-and live! He even enjoyed showboating while performing this stunt by whistling "Yankee Doodle" while hanging. Talk about a very dangerous and crazy stunt! I've never heard of another man, dead or living, who could imitate this stunt.
Martin Burns wrestled as what's known in the wrestling world as a "Hooker" or "Shooter" meaning he had the ability to legitimately hurt his opponent with even the simplest maneuver. Burns had such an incredible wrestling career, that he claimed to have wrestled over 6000 matches, and only to have lost 6! What a true competitor Farmer Burns must have been! He even bested the reigning America's Heavyweight Champion" at the time, The Original "Strangler" Evan Lewis on April 20, 1895. Burns held the tile for two years before being defeated by other pioneer wrestlers Tom Jenkins, and Dan McLeod in 1897.
After retiring from the sport, he opened a very successful wrestling school in Omaha, Nebraska. He also lead the Cedar Rapids High School to their very first Iowa wrestling tournament title.
We here at Turnbuckle Times would like to take the time to honor a former 2 year straight America's Heavyweight Champion, and very successful wrestler and teacher-Martin "Farmer" Burns in making him the first Turnbuckle Times "Wrestler of the Month" for December 2010.
Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861-January 8, 1937) was a World Champion wrestler born in Cedar County, Iowa. He is credited as being an early pioneer of professional wrestling, making his living by wrestling in fairs and carnivals. He practiced the early "Catch-As-Catch Can" style of the sport, before the spectacle of Sports Entertainment.
He was not only know for his immaculate wrestling ability, but also for his "in-human" feats of strength. Although only weighing 164 lbs, "Farmer" Burns had a 20" plus neck! One of his most favorite feats of strength to perform was his ability to take a full six foot Hangman's Plunge with a rope tied around his neck-and live! He even enjoyed showboating while performing this stunt by whistling "Yankee Doodle" while hanging. Talk about a very dangerous and crazy stunt! I've never heard of another man, dead or living, who could imitate this stunt.
Martin Burns wrestled as what's known in the wrestling world as a "Hooker" or "Shooter" meaning he had the ability to legitimately hurt his opponent with even the simplest maneuver. Burns had such an incredible wrestling career, that he claimed to have wrestled over 6000 matches, and only to have lost 6! What a true competitor Farmer Burns must have been! He even bested the reigning America's Heavyweight Champion" at the time, The Original "Strangler" Evan Lewis on April 20, 1895. Burns held the tile for two years before being defeated by other pioneer wrestlers Tom Jenkins, and Dan McLeod in 1897.
After retiring from the sport, he opened a very successful wrestling school in Omaha, Nebraska. He also lead the Cedar Rapids High School to their very first Iowa wrestling tournament title.
We here at Turnbuckle Times would like to take the time to honor a former 2 year straight America's Heavyweight Champion, and very successful wrestler and teacher-Martin "Farmer" Burns in making him the first Turnbuckle Times "Wrestler of the Month" for December 2010.
