He was born in the backwoods of Kentucky in the early 1800’s. His family was dirt poor. His mother died when he was nine, and he had a difficult relationship with his father. He went to school “now and then,” and it is said his entire schooling amounted to less than one year’s attendance. As a result, he was mostly self-educated, and loved to read. Neighbours said he would walk for miles just to borrow a book.
Reading became a great pastime for him. He wasn’t able to find many books, but fully absorbed every one he could get his hands on. By the time he turned 21, he stood six-foot-four. He was lanky, but muscular and powerful. He was noted for the skill and strength with which he could wield an axe. He was a rough and tumble frontier man.
[…]
The two men stripped to the waist, and the wrestling began. The two were well matched, and the fight went on and on – and got rougher and rougher. Then, well into the fight, Armstrong used a painful, illegal move. That infuriated his young opponent, who then picked Armstrong up and threw him to the ground knocking him out.
That wrestler, the powerful fighter who beat Jack Armstrong that day, was Abraham Lincoln. That’s why Abraham Lincoln is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Question: Is that story true, or is it a lie?
The story is true.
A huge mural of that fight hangs on the wall inside the Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Will S.' Random Weirdness Blog 
I’ve heard that before and read about him wrestling “catch as catch can” for money.
It’s a crazy story, and it’s odd that it’s not more widely known!
Ape Lincoln was a big ol’ commie.
The original Yankee imperial executive Dear Leader and pen pal of comrade Karl Marx who gave some tips about muh racism to his fellow traveler.
Agreed.