James Faulkner
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English born, this wrestler was brought into the world on May 1, 1857 in Manchester. He was a small man at around 135lbs in weight at the peak of his career. He is said to have started wrestling at about 17 years of age. It is also said that by 1878 he was the English Middleweight Champion after defeating a man named John Eckersly. A title Faulkner was said to hold for over four years.
During his time in America he told a story to a journalist of one of his few losses back in his home country:
"In speaking of reducing one's weight, Faulkner tells a story of a match he was to engage in with Sam Morse, the champion 120-pound wrestler of England. They agreed upon wrestling at 120 pounds and Faulkner, who was several pounds too heavy, went into training at a place in England, about forty miles from the point where they were to wrestle. A set of scales at a near-by railroad station was used by Faulkner to tell his exact weight. On the day of the match Faulkner weighed as usual and was several ounces lighter than was required. He started for the town where the match was to take place and upon arriving there he weighed again, but the scales he had weighed upon last didn't tally with the ones at his training quarters and he found that he was about two pounds too heavy. Nothing was to be done but to take a spin of several miles which he did, clothed in a heavy overcoat. He could not reduce himself, however, and the money in the hands of the stakeholder was turned over to Morse."
Whether that is all true or whether it was just a promoting tactic when Faulkner arrived in America during December 1883. He was considered one of the best middleweights in the country. On July 4, 1886 he competed against Edwin Bibby, the former American (Heavyweight) Catch-as-Catch-Can Champion, the match is billed as being for the World Middleweight Catch-as-Catch-Can Champion. Bibby won though, but it's said that Faulkner put on a great showing.
It was often said how he was the fastest wrestler known to man during the mid-1880's. He had great success against people around his weight-class, even Bibby weight considerably more than him though, but, he did not pick up as many wins as his larger opponents. On May 29, 1887 he moved to San Francisco where he had himself a position as an instructor Olympic Athletic Club.
At some point over the next nine months Faulkner either won or started claiming her was the Pacific Coast Middleweight Catch-as-Catch-Can Champion. When exactly is not known at present. By the end of the decade his status had dropped down to lightweight wrestler, this was as his career was winding down though.
He also moved to Buffalo around 1891 where he lived for the remainder of his life. In early 1894 he got sick and passed away in May of that year. It's announced in Cincinnati on June 10 that there will be a benefit held for his widow and how respected he was in the city. On May 3 it was reported that a James Faulkner had passed away the day before, but if this is the same Faulkner, I'm not positive, however can find no other date for a Faulkner passing around this time.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of James Faulkner.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #47.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of James Faulkner.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #47.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.