Kub yus tsis mob Stecher

Thaum ntxov 1916, Martin “Ua teb” Zaus, leej twg kawm thiab tswj Frank Gotch rau lub ntiaj teb Heavyweight Championship, pib tsis tau hais tias nws tsim tam sim no American Heavyweight tau zus ib Joe Stecher. Cov ntaubntawv seemed khib vim kub yus yuav tsum ua haujlwm nrog Stecher ntau xyoo. Kub yus pab npaj Stecher rau nws championship bout nrog Charlie Cutler hauv 1915.

Nyob rau hauv ib txoj kev, what Burns said was true because Stecher learned from both his brother Tony and wrestling coaches in Nebraska before meeting “Ua teb” Zaus. While a senior in high school and only 16 xyoo, Stecher almost defeated professional wrestler Dr. Rau cov menyuam Benjamin. Stecher received excellent training before he met “Ua teb” Zaus.

Txawm li cas los, Burns polished Stecher, who he met after Stecher turned pro in 1912. While Burns was touring with Yussif Mahmout, who was challenging all comers in a carnival setting, Stecher answered his challenge. Mahmout had to bite Stecher to be disqualifed after being caughter in Stecher’s scissor hold.

Stecher defeated Cutler for the vacant American Heavyweight Championship, under Burn’s tutelage. So why would Burns distance himself from Stecher? It was actually quite simple. The men were preparing for a “ua haujlwm” or prearranged exhibition with former undisputed World Champion Frank Gotch.

The wrestling public and more importantly the sporting press were skeptical of the legitimacy of wrestling bouts. Charges of “faking” outcomes dogged the sport since at least the 1870s. Gotch worked many legitimate matches in his career but also took part in “ua haujlwm” exhibitions. Gotch was motivated to put Stecher over and pass the torch to his and Burns’ young protege because Gotch was tired of being challenged.

After his 1911 marriage to his wife Gladys, Frank Gotch wrestled fewer and fewer matches. He retired as reigning world champion after beating Georg Lurich in 1913. Txawm li cas los, wrestlers such as Aleksander “Alex” Aberg continued to challenge him over the next couple of years. Gotch was like the retired gunfighter that every young gunsel wanted to make a reputation on.

If Gotch lost to Stecher, it would end all the challenges. The public already looked at Stecher as Gotch’s successor, so this victory would cement the prevailing view. Both Gotch and Burns liked Tony and Joe Stecher. They saw it as a win-win for everyone.

Txawm li cas los, Gotch was injured in training during 1916 and the match never occurred. Gotch died at only 40 years of age from blood poisoning in December 1917. Despite not “defeating” Gotch, the wrestling public continued to recognize Stecher as the champion. Burns would be free to continue working with Stecher.

Stecher won the world championship several times before retiring in 1934. He later suffered some type of breakdown and spent 30 years in an assisted living facility.

Lou Thesz held Tony Stecher, who by the 1930s was a promoter, in high regard. He met Joe Stecher several times. While he was impressed by Joe’s accomplishments and was very kind when they met, Thesz also said Joe’s mental health challenges were obvious to anyone who interacted with him. Nws tuag thaum 80 hnub nyoog rau xyoo 1974.

What do you think of the plan for working a match between Gotch and Stecher? Koj tuaj tawm tswv yim lossis nug ib lo lus nug hais txog qhov no lossis muaj nqe lus hauv qab no saib hauv qab no lossis rau ntawm kuv Facebook phab los sis Twitter profile.

Tau qhov twg los: St. Louis Star-zaug, Lub ob hlis ntuj 1, 1916 ib tsab, p. 9 thiab nqe lauj kaub by Lou Thesz

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