...

. 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.