Evan Lewis (wrestler)
| Evan Lewis | |
|---|---|
Evan Lewis in 1919 | |
| Born | May 24, 1860 Ridgeway, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 1919 (aged 59) Dodgeville, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Evan Lewis |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Billed weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 13 st) |
| Debut | May 1882 |
| Retired | 1899 |
Evan Lewis (May 24, 1860 – November 3, 1919) was an American professional wrestler who was the first recognized American Heavyweight Champion and is credited with perfecting the "stranglehold" or "neck yoke" more commonly known today as the sleeperhold. He is sometimes confused with Ed "Strangler" Lewis, a later six-time World Heavyweight Champion also credited with first using the hold, whose moniker is attributed to Lewis's after a reporter noted a resemblance between the two.