Double-Cross Gone Wrong

Whether it was a double-cross or an attempt to setup a legitimate contest, Paul Bowser’s attempt to secure a match between Joe Stecher and Joe Malcewicz nearly resulted in a riot on March 11, 1926. Events of the previous year actually set this debacle into motion.

From the end of 1922, the Gold Dust Trio of Ed “Strangler” Lewis, his manager Billy Sandow and training partner/promotional partner Joseph “Toots” Mondt dominated wrestling. They set the rules, and if promoters or wrestlers resisted, they were frozen out of using Lewis.

Losing the ability to book the world champion adversely impacted promoters ability to make big money. Wrestlers frozen out of working with the Gold Dust Trio would also suffered financially. The Trio’s dominance created a lot of enemies.

In 1925, the Trio finally made a mistake by putting the championship on a non-wrestler, or performer. Sandow had Lewis drop the world championship to “Big” Wayne Munn, a college football player with no wrestling skill but great box office drawing power.  Sandow only let Munn wrestle with people he trusted to keep the title from being taken by a skilled wrestler.

Sandow trusted Stanislaus Zbyszko but a group of promoters and wrestlers led by Jack Curley and the Stecher brothers paid Zbyszko to shoot on Munn and defeat him legitimately. Zbyszko then dropped the title to Joe Stecher in a worked match in St. Louis.

Boston promoter Paul Bowser was allegedly part of the conspiracy in 1925. The trouble began when the plotters tried working together. Joe Stecher feared one of the other conspirators may double-cross him. Even though Stecher was a skilled wrestler able to beat most other wrestlers not named Lewis, a double-cross involving referees would be harder to block.

Bowser booked Joe Stecher but the Stecher brothers were concerned when the agreed upon referee was switched for the March 11th match. Anthony Stecher demanded Joe’s fee upfront, which Bowser declined, further raising the Stecher brothers’ suspicions.

Bowser later claimed the Stecher brothers agreed to meet anyone so Bowser didn’t let the brothers know Joe’s opponent before hand. This scenario is unlikely to implausible. Fearing double-crosses, the Stecher brothers would have demanded to know the opponent.

Stecher was already in the ring, when Jake Bressler entered ringside to wrestle him for the championship. Neither Stecher brother appeared concerned over a challenge from Bressler.

A few minutes later, Joe Malcewicz, a much better legitimate wrestler, jumped into the ring in his wrestling gear. When Malcewicz entered the ring, the Stecher brothers realized Bowser was trying to double-cross Joe. Bowser switching both the referee and opponent was too much to ignore.

Bowser assumed a proud man like Joe Stecher would wrestle Malcewicz anyway but Bowser miscalculated. Joe simply left the ring. Joe and Tony refused the match, dressed, and left.

The referee Leon Burbank awarded the match and championship to Malcewicz on a forfeit. It was a hollow victory. None of the governing bodies or state athletic commissions would recognize Malcewicz as World Champion. However, Bowser’s actions almost caused a riot.

Boston Police had to surround the ring to keep the fans back from attacking everyone in the ring.  The fans were furious they had spent money on such a farce.

The Stechers told the newspapers that Bowser had promised them $12,500.00 to defend the title. Bowser refused to pay before the match knowing what he was planning. Bowser still hadn’t paid them a few days later.

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Source: The Tampa Times, March 12, 1926 edition, p. 35