Joe Acton
British professional wrestler (1852-1917)
- Born
- 8 March 1852, England
- Died
- 26 June 1917, Portland
- Citizenship
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Sport
- amateur wrestling, professional wrestling
- Occupation
- amateur wrestler, professional wrestler
Joseph Acton (8 March 1852 – 26 June 1917), known by his ringname "Little Joe" or "Limey Joe", was a British professional wrestler and world champion who competed in England and America during the late 19th century. Acton is one of a handful of wrestlers credited with introducing "catch-as-catch-can" wrestling (also known today as free-style), with its roots in old Lancashire wrestling, to the United States. Wrestling under the name Joe Acton, and nicknamed "The Little Demon," Acton was considered one of the top wrestlers of his era.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q6208281 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.