Dedicated to all the AT
show fighter I've known,
There was once in
Americana a contest to beat most
This event held almost daily by a most ungracious host,
The carnival grounds featured men who would fight if so dared
With local towns people who were quite often feared,
Athletic shows prospered as well as many local police
If the fix was in by a patch everyone got his or her piece,
On the bally a man shouted, "We take on all comers, challengers if
you like"
"We're putt 'in up some cash for you to win if you could fight",
Egos were toyed with but never to be broken
Until money changes hands and is taken as a token,
The contest would commence once hands had been shook
And if the stakes were right one could always make book,
Many a mark enters the ring thinking this will be easy
Till he's looked in the wrestlers eyes and now feels queasy,
Matches start out often with some banter or a flurry
It's important for the shooter not to end this in a hurry,
Now the doomed "Towner"
has left himself in quite the fix
Thinking he can win this by shear strength or by his tricks,
One shoots, maybe sprawls or even tries some sweeps
Another gouges or pinches or in other ways he cheats,
Once clinched then thrown and now properly ridden
His defeat is so sure it cannot now be hidden,
It is now quite apparent what mattered was not size
But the man that is winded had no chance of a prize,
Unique was the tongue in which Carney wrestlers could speak
But not by the man that now fell at his feet,
Athletic Arena circa 1950
Locals are enraged now their mans face down and counted out
If violent turns this angry mob, next "Hey rube" may be the shout,
Noses are bloodied many a time and men's teeth are often lost
But winning must be all to the showman no matter what the cost,
Ears cauliflower'd and rotor cuffs are torn
These are the condition of the old battle worn,
A neck could be broken, held in the deadly front face lock
A precarious position, like a gun when it's half cocked,
Seizing and then turning a neck so it is fully cranked
Often leaves an opponent with no doubt that he's been spanked,
A double wrist lock is often used to disable a mean opponent
A wrist held tight was a sharp twist, a turn could break him in a
moment,
Hooking a man could be very vicious of crippling at best
Most efficient form of combat to be developed in the west,
Destroying a man's body and even possible his soul
To some masters of submissions this was all part of a planned goal,
World's Smallest Boxers
by
Snap Wyatt
Risking all was their job
endangering ones life or maybe limb
Preparation for these journeys would always start off in a gym,
Conditioning was important of both body and the mind
Their legacy now written clear should stand the test of time,
Whether you be a fan a historian or maybe possible a foe
You'd respect any hooker with a motto "he's good to go",
These men engaged lumberjacks, ironworkers and the like
They scuffled with longshoremen or Indians who'd fight,
They took on the town bully a farmer or his friends
They won their matches with both smarts and will that never bends,
Catch as catch can wrestlers will go down in the books
As the men who submit others with hold known as hooks,
Many writers have long forgot or acknowledged to report
On the fearless men who risked it all for the sake of combat sport,
Men will always have their tales and mixed in there some truths
But let it be told the really tough made their was in carnival AT show
booths,
Dedicated to all the AT show fighter I've known,
Richard "Army Maquire August 28th 2001
from Carny Style Wresting
Poster advertising the
wrestling sideshow at a small carnival near Bellows Falls, Vermont
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