Long before wrestling had superheroes, Abe Coleman was living like one. Famous for his long life and incredible strength, Wrestling’s 'Wolverine' led a life that still surprises fans.

And that legacy was recently commemorated by Jamie Lewis, a former powerlifting World record holder. He posted a carousel of Abe's poses on Instagram, along with a video from one of his pro-wrestling matches.

The caption read, "Abe Coleman is the closest humanity has come to real-life Wolverine- he was the exact height & weight as Wolverine from @marvelcomics, an unkillable badass who lived longer than any other pro wrestler in history, & was super agile despite being jacked as hell..."

Modern wrestling fans may wonder why Coleman is called the Wrestling’s Wolverine, and the answer lies in his size and healing power. With a height of 5’3” and weight between 200-220lbs, Coleman looked exactly like Wolverine. And he, “clearly had some kind of mutant healing powers, because he lived to 101 after a 32-year wrestling career”.

Not only that, but he, after starting in the late 1920s, also maintained his long career by avoiding serious injuries in an era when medical support was not as convenient as today.

Jamie Lewis added, “Coleman seemed not to age- though he gained some fat over the years, he had a 47cm (18.5") neck & 46cm (18") upper arms without a pump even in retirement, & his forearms were so big they made his upper arms look kinda small”.

Rudy Miller, a local promoter, discovered him and offered Abe 25 dollars to wrestle. It was Coleman's debut at the Ridgewood Grove Arena.

While his power and longevity were in the spotlight, the legend who passed away in 2007 at 101 was also known for his agility. He also used a special technique in his wrestling that is still appreciated by his fans.

The Abe Coleman-Developed Wrestling Move That’s Still in Use

According to Lewis, Coleman was the 1st wrestler to use the dropkick, which is used by reigning WWE stars, including Randy Orton and CM Punk to date. However, Coleman called it the "Kangaroo Kick," since he drew inspiration from the kicking technique of a kangaroo.

This move later became popular in wrestling, specifically after his opponent, Jumping Joe Savoldi, borrowed and made it flashier. After his retirement in 1958, Coleman defeated 2 real-life teenage attackers with that technique despite being in his 80s, such was the impact of his "Kangaroo Kick."

In his life, Coleman appeared in over 2000 in-ring encounters. Here's a list of some of his some memorable matches where he secured the W:

• December 27, 1927: Coleman defeated Fred Meyers
• December 26, 1932: he defeated Norton Jackson
• January 4, 1933: Abe Coleman defeated Lou Plummer
• January 18, 1933: Abe Coleman defeated Jim Clickstock
• January 20, 1933: he defeated John Maxos
• February 4, 1993: he defeated Ralph Wilson
• March 20, 1950: he defeated Red Kirkpatrick.

All in all, if you want stay fit and become a centenarian, look no farther than Abe Coleman.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy