User:Kris Classic/Dick Shikat

Richard I. "Dick" Schikat  (born in Ragnitz, Tilset, East Prussia January 11, 1897 - December 3, 1968), better known as Dick Shikat, was a German professional wrestler who rose to prominence in the late 1920s and most notable won the Unified World Heavyweight Championship from Danno O'Mahony in 1936.

Early career
While in his homeland of Germany, Schikat befriended fellow wrestler Johannes Steinke, with whom he toured Germany and Europe. On October 9, 1923, Schikat and Steinke arrived in the United States from Dresden at Ellis Island.

On Thursday, November 29, 1923, Steinke and Schikat performed at the Mechnics Building in Boston for George Tuohey. In the main event, Steinke lost to Wladek Zbyszko in 1:18:30. He was locked in a toe hold at the end of the first fall, and was unable to continue for the second. Schikat, who was still adapting himself to the quicker catch-as- catch-can style, wrestled Dr. Stajker in a 10-minute exhibition of wrestling holds. Steinke and Schikat were well received by American promoters, providing an international flavor that many were searching for.

After that Schikat parted ways with Steinke (who settled in Chicago) and joined the Ed Lewis-Billy Sandow national circuit and later signed a year-long contract with Rudy Miller, a prominent German manager.

Schikat was successful in 1924 on the West Coast, defeating both William Demetral and Stanislaus Zbyszko in San Francisco.

In 1925 he again toured the United States, alongside his wife Ereka and his brother Joe, who was a middleweight wrestler. Schikat and Ereka settled in Philadelphia. The San Francisco area still held an opening for Schikat, and he returned to the territory in 1926. During his time in San Francisco he wrestled a man who would have a major impact on his career, Joe “Toots” Mondt.

Collaboration with "Toots" Mondt
By early 1928, Mondt was a partner in the New York office. Schikat, who shortened his name to Shikat, was still under contract to Miller. Miller was also a member of the Jack Curley-Mondt promotion circuit, promoting in Brooklyn, New York. During this time Mondt took Shikat under his wing to become his manager. Miller was still going to benefit financially and was amicable to the decision, as a finely-tutored Shikat would do better at the box office.

In 1929, while working with Jim Londos’ manager Ed White, Philadelphia promoter Fabiani guaranteed a total purse of $35,000 for a bout between Londos and Shikat, after which the winner would be recognized as a World Champion. On August 23, a crowd estimated at 30,000 turned out at the Municipal Stadium to see Shikat pin Londos in 1:15:12. After the win, Shikat was quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer: “I am happier tonight than I have ever been in my life and I want to get out of here as soon as possible and cable my wife, who is in Germany visiting relatives. I am grateful to the people of Philadelphia and to the commission of the State of Pennsylvania, for it was here that I was first recognized as of wrestling championship calibre, and it was here that I was given this opportunity of realizing my ambition. The title will not be nursed by me.”

Shikat would go on to defend against top names such as Everette Marshall, Rudy Dusek, Gino Garibaldi, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, and George Zaharias. The win and subsequent 10-month reign established Dick Shikat as a top star and he would be a drawing card for years to come.

Shikat vs. O'Mahony
Shikat’s second World Championship win was an infamous bout on March 2, 1936 in Madison Square Garden, where he dethroned Danno O’Mahony when Shikat unexpectedly turned the scripted bout into a shoot match.

O'Mahony's management filed a lawsuit against Shikat. Before the suit could make much headway, Shikat dropped the Championship to Ali Baba.

Personal life
Schikat began wrestling in the Greco-Roman style at the age of fifteen. Prior to his wrestling career, he was a sailor in the German Navy during the first World War prior to his wrestling career.

In 1925, Schikat returned to his homeland and married Ereka Dain.

Shikat’s wife died soon after he lost the World Championship in 1936 and he sunk into obscurity after that. He wrestled off and on into the 1950s, before making his final in-ring appearance in 1953.

In wrestling

 * Finishing moves
 * Crotch and half-nelson hold
 * Hammerlock

Championships and accomplishments
02.03.1936 - 25.04.1936		World Heavyweight Champion	54 days	Matches 23.08.1929 - 06.06.1930		NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion	287 days	Matches 23.08.1929 - 06.06.1930		NWA World Heavyweight Champion	287 days	Matches