Dick Shikat

Richard I. Shikat (11 January 1897 – 3 December 1968) was a German professional wrestler and World Heavyweight Champion active in the early 20th century. Known for his dangerous "hooking" style, he had notable bouts with Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Wladek Zbyszko, and Jim Londos. Over his career, he wrestled under three versions of his surname: Schickat, Schikat, and Shikat.

Shikat achieved fame on 2 March 1936 when he defeated Danno O'Mahony to win the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden. The match was brutal, causing O'Mahony to quit twice before the finish. After winning, Shikat attempted to sell his title but faced backlash from promoters and managers, leading to suspensions across multiple states. In March 1936, the Tennessee Athletic Commission suspended him, triggering simultaneous suspensions in 23 other states affiliated with the National Wrestling Association.

Despite this controversy, Shikat's career highlights include holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (original version) and winning the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) World Heavyweight Championship twice. He also won the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship once. In recognition of his contributions to wrestling, he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2013.