Robert Herman Julius Friedrich, better known by the ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, was an American professional wrestler and trainer. During his wrestling career, which spanned four decades, Lewis was a four-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and overall recognized officially as a five-time world champion. Considered to be one of the most iconic and recognizable sports stars of the 1920s, often alongside boxer Jack Dempsey and baseball player Babe Ruth, Lewis notably wrestled in over 6,000 matches and lost only 32 of them.
Lewis in 1947
Lewis pins an opponent, 1929
Lewis managing Lou Thesz in the 1950s
World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)
The World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was the first recognized professional wrestling world heavyweight championship created in 1905 to identify the best catch as catch can wrestler in the world.
Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt were the first two champions
Hackenschmidt and Jenkins on the front page of the Daily Mirror, July 2, 1904
Lou Thesz was the final champion
Ed Lewis had most reigns and the longest combined reign