Hack, you asked me about the origin of the count of 3 pinfall rule, I mentioned that it comes from the United States, it appears that it was French professionals who introduced that kind of finish in wrestling here in America. I found the good reference to that, here it is.
London, 1881, Acton of Wigan, Lancs to wrestle Cannon of London (in fact of Tyldsley, Lancs) according to the French Rules.
In fact in the 1870s we had some best exponents of that style here in America and they would not wrestle our way (Collar and Elbow, Side Hold) but preferred only their style and popularized it here. By 1900 all catch-as-catch-can pro contests in America were pinfalls ONLY.
In England slow pinfall was associated with French style, and Lancashire matches were decided on quick touch falls only whether they were flying, rolls or pins, they called it - STRIKING THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME, meaning even for a brief instant.
