Anton “Tony” Stecher

October 3, 2022 Ken Zimmerman Jr. Early Professional Wrestling History

If wrestling fans know of Anton “Tony” Stecher, it is as the long-time promoter of professional wrestling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stecher started promoting professional wrestling in the Twin Cities during 1933. Stecher built the Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club into a powerful local wrestling promotion.

Stecher was also one of the early members of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Stecher promoted a young Lou Thesz in 1936. Later, Stecher strongly supported Thesz as the perfect wrestler to carry the NWA title as the touring world champion.

Anton “Tony” Stecher during his wrestling days in 1913 (Public Domain)

Besides being a successful promoter, Tony Stecher wrestled in the early 1910s. A frequent training partner for his younger brother, Joe Stecher, Tony Stecher was a notable lightweight wrestler. Unfortunately, his lack of size at five feet, nine inches tall and one hundred sixty-five pounds, kept him from becoming a breakout star himself.

Once his brother Joe developed into a world title contender, Tony Stecher put his own wrestling career on hold to manage his brother Joe. Born on February 7, 1889, Tony was four years older than Joe.

Prior to managing Joe, Tony won all his matches in 1912 until he wrestled Pete Fromm on December 23, 1912, in Harlan, Iowa. After one hour and fifteen minutes of fierce wrestling, Fromm took the first fall from Tony Stecher. Stecher could not continue the match and forfeited the best two-out-of-three-falls match.

Stecher resumed his winning ways when he defeated B.C. Busch of Columbus, Ohio in Dodge, Nebraska on January 5, 1913. Stecher won the first fall in thirty-seven minutes. He only needed eight minutes to pin Busch for the second fall. Tony won the match in two straight falls.

By 1915, Tony Stecher managed more than he wrestled but did take an occasional match. In Fremont, Nebraska on April 19, 1915, Stecher wrestled middleweight contender Clarence Eklund. Stecher gave Eklund a tough time until Eklund secured an armbar on Stecher. Eklund won the match after forty-seven minutes. Eklund injured Tony Stechers arm forcing Tony to concede the two-out-of-three-falls match to Eklund.

In Hooper, Nebraska on November 16, 1915, Tony Stecher wrestled Eklund again. This time Stecher wrestled aggressively for two hours and twenty minutes before the referee declared the match a draw. Tony Stecher did not get revenge for the injured arm but did prove he was the equal of Eklund.

After 1915, Tony Stecher wrestled few matches as his brother’s career took up most of his time. However, Tony Stecher proved that managing and promoting skills were as important to the developing sport of professional wrestling as wrestling skills.

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