Edwin Bibby (15 November 1848 – 5 May 1905) was an English

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

champion during the 1870s and 1880s. He was a popular catch-as-catch-can style wrestler in his generation. He became the first American Heavyweight Champion in 1881 with a victory over Duncan C. Ross. During his career he was also known as Ned and Eddie.

Early life in England

Bibby was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

on 15 November 1848. He married Mary Ann Connelly (age 16) in 1867. They had 13 children, only three of whom survived. He began working as a coal miner in 1871. Bibby began his wrestling career in 1872 and quickly became a top wrestler. He performed for

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

in Prince Albert's Court in London.

Life in America

In 1879 he immigrated to America and later sent for his family. He lived in New York and later

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and became a naturalized citizen in 1900. On 19 January 1881, Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion with his victory over Duncan C. Ross. He lost that title the next year, on 7 August 1882, to Joe Acton in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. Bibby's final wrestling match was against

Sorakichi Matsuda Matsuda Sorakichi (1859 – August 16, 1891) was a Japanese professional wrestler of the 19th century. He became a feature attraction in America, competing in a distinctly western sport, long before it was adopted in Japan. Background Sorakich ...

, whom he defeated on 28 October 1887, in

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. On 5 May 1905, Bibby died from rheumatism at the age of 56. He is buried in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...

alongside his wife Mary Ann who died in 1929 and their son Thomas who died in 1950. Bibby's son Tom donated the Championship silver belt that can allegedly still be found at a Lancashire museum.

Notable opponents

* Duncan C. Ross: Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion on 19 January 1881. * Clarence Whistler: Drew to Clarence Whistler twice, 19 November 1880, and 21 December 1880. He lost to Whistler on 8 June 1883. *

William Muldoon William A. Muldoon (May 25, 1845 – June 3, 1933) was the Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, a physical culturist and the first chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. He once wrestled a match that lasted over seven hours. Nicknamed "Th ...

: Lost to Muldoon 2–0 on 2 March 1881. * Joe Acton: Lost to Acton in 38 minutes on 7 August 1882. * Carl Abs: Lost to Carl Abs in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

on 30 April 1885. *

: Defeated Sorakichi in his final fight, 28 October 1887.

Championships and accomplishments

Catch wrestling Catch wrestling (originally catch-as-catch-can) is a classical hybrid grappling style and combat sport. It was developed by J. G. Chambers in Britain . It was popularised by wrestlers of travelling funfairs who developed their own submission ...

** American Catch-as-Catch-can Championship (1 time) *

Professional Wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

American Heavyweight Championship The American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was the first heavyweight professional wrestling championship in the United States. The title existed from 1881 through approximately 1922. Title history See also *Professional wrestling in the ...

( 1 time) **World Heavyweight Championship ''(Great Britain version)'' (1 time)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bibby, Edwin 1848 births 1905 deaths 19th-century professional wrestlers British catch wrestlers English emigrants to the United States English male professional wrestlers Sportspeople from Ashton-under-Lyne Naturalized citizens of the United States