The One Opponent Gotch Could Not Beat

On December 16, 1917, Frank Alvin Gotch lost a three week battle with uremic poisoning.  Doctors attempted to keep his kidneys going through an operation in Chicago but it provided only temporary relief.  Gotch intended to travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas to try and restore his health.  The operation ended this hope.  Gotch spent the last couple weeks only able to take short walks in his hometown of Humboldt, Iowa.

Frank Gotch compiled one of the most impressive wrestling records in American professional wrestling history.  After being defeated by Martin “Farmer” Burns in 1899, Burns took the 21 year-old Gotch under his wing.  With such an excellent trainer, Gotch soon won the American Heavyweight Championship.

Gotch scored his biggest triumph in 1908 when he defeated George Hackenschmidt for the recognized World Wrestling Championship.  Three years later, he defeated “The Russian Lion” in the rematch.  In between these matches, he defeated future World Champion Stanislaus Zbyszko.

Unlike many other champions, Gotch retired as champion in 1913 when he was 35 years old.  With the birth of his son Robert, Gotch decided to retire to life on the farm with his family.  No one could have know the strong and healthy Gotch would only live four more years.

Prior to advances in medicine, uremic poisoning was a deadly killer.  Many St. Louis Police Officers, who died in the line of duty, had survivable wounds but died from uremic poisoning.  Today, Gotch would likely have lived a long and productive life on the farm continuing to training wrestlers like his mentor Burns.

With the death of Gotch, legitimate wrestling also died.  Legitimate competitions were almost completely replaced with prearranged matches.  Gotch’s death marked the end of an era.

 What do you think of when you hear of a young person like Frank Gotch passing away?  You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

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