Belgian Bloodies German Wrestler’s Nose

On May 21, 1915, the International Wrestling Tournament began in New York.  Samuel Rachman promoted the event as a way to showcase European Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion Alek Aberg.  Rachman believed Aberg was the natural successor to World Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch, who retired in 1913.

On the first day of the tournament, nationalistic feelings about World War I popped up in one of the first matches between Belgian wrestler Harry De Nys and German wrestler Wilhelm Berner.  De Nys and Berner wrestled two ten minute rounds to a draw.  However, both wrestlers employed rough tactics during the match.

Both wrestlers stuck each other repeatedly.  At one point, Berner tried to throw De Nys over the foot lights into the orchestra pit.

In the last ten seconds of the second round, De Nys struck Berner into the nose with his palm.  De Nys strike brought blood from Berner’s nose.  Berner attempted to attack De Nys after the end of the round but was held back by the referee.  The American crowd came down firmly on the Belgian’s side and booed Berner before, during and after the match.

The crowd also booed Austrian wrestler Stefan Lagler.  Italian wrestler Leo Pardello defeated Lagler with a hammer lock and face hold in a little more than 8 minutes.

Finally, Rachman’s stars made their entrance.  George Lurich, Estonian strongman and wrestler, met Gustav Kollerman, a 350 pound Saxonian strongman and wrestler.  Lurich beat Kollerman in 9 minutes, 35 seconds with a head chancery.

Frank Gotch beat George Lurich in his final match during April 1913.  Rachman was building up Lurich because he believed Aberg could beat Lurich legitimately if he had to.

Rachman’s star Aberg entered the ring next.  Aberg, also an Estonian, beat Bavarian wrestler Karl Vogel in 4 minutes, 15 seconds with a body hold.

Rachman’s tournament did not generate the interest he thought it would.  The newspapers quit covering the tournament during the summer due to lack of interest from the public.  Rachman knew he needed to recapture the public’s attention.  In Fall 1915, the Masked Marvel would appear.

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