Episode 108 – Not Quite the King

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In this episode, I will discuss the incredible career of Aleksander “Alex” Aberg from 1914-1917 in the United States.

Recommendations

K.O. on Netflix starring Cyril Gane. Also made appearance in Le Cage, a previous recommendation.

Thoughts on Cyril Gane

Main Content

Aleksander “Alex” Aberg was born in Kolga, modern day Estonia, on August 11, 1881. Estonia was part of the Russian Empire but is now an independent country. Aberg is a national hero in Estonia.

Aberg debuted as a professional wrestler in 1899 and really came into his own during 1905 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Aberg defeated or drew with every opponent in over 60 bouts during the year.

Aberg traveled to the United States in 1913 but missed his opportunity to challenge Frank Gotch, who retired in April 1913.

Aberg won every match but one in 1913 and 1914. Aberg lost a best two-out-of-three-falls match with Stanislaus Zbyszko in Boston, Massachusetts. Zbyszko was the only wrestler to defeat Aberg during his entire time in America.

During the 1915 New York International Wrestling Tournament, Aberg defeated Dr. Benjamin Roller, Wladek Zbyszko, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, the Masked Marvel, and anyone else foolish enough to challenge Aberg in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Aberg did his part to establish himself as the replacement to Frank Gotch. Aberg won or drew every match in 1915 and 1916. Circumstances conspired to keep Aberg from being recognized as Gotch’s successor.

Aberg was a Greco-Roman wrestling specialist even though catch-as-catch-can wrestling was the dominant style in the U.S. since the 1890s.

Aberg’s match with the Masked Marvel on December 31, 1915, also hurt him with wrestling fans. After carrying the Marvel a few days earlier, Aberg knew the Masked Marvel had been exposed in the newspapers as Mort Henderson. Aberg gobbled the Marvel up in two straight falls.

Aberg did admit working a few matches for Jack Curley, which referred to a series of matches in January 1916, but stopped when Aberg realized how much fans despised wrestlers working together or “fake wrestling.”

Aberg left New York City in early 1916 taking bookings in other cities. Aberg took bookings in Boston, where he previously wrestled for promoter George Touhey. Aberg also trained in catch wrestling as Aberg wanted a match with Joe Stecher.

Confident in his new catch abilities, Aberg signed for a best two-out-of-three-falls match under catch-as-catch-can wrestling rules with Wladek Zbyszko. After signing for the bout, Touhey told Aberg that he would drop the match to Wladek Zbyszko. Aberg told Touhey he would not lose to Zbyszko and no-showed the event. Curley and Touhey sued Abert, who exposed the business in court.

After the lawsuit was settled in Aberg’s favor, Aberg and Lurich returned to Russia. It was here than one of the odder stories in professional wrestling developed.

Review

Lou Thesz vs. Cyclone Anaya from Chicago’s International Amphitheater on March 31, 1950 rather early in Thesz’s championship reign.

Lou Thesz born Aloysius Martin Thesz in Banat, Michigan on April 24, 1916. Grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. My great aunt dated him briefly. His sisters always told my great aunt, do not tell any of the boys, who my brother is.

Thesz won his first world title in 1937 at only twenty-one years of age. Thesz would be the six-time world champion holding the American Wrestling Association (Boston) world title, the National Wrestling Association world title (twice) as well as being a three-time National Wrestling Alliance Champion. After Orville Brown, the current National Wrestling Alliance Champion was injured in a car accident, Thesz merged both NWA titles into the National Wrestling Alliance Championship.

Cyclone Anaya was born Jesus Becerra Valencia in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on August 1, 1917. Although wrestlingdata.com listed Anaya at six feet, two inches, Anaya was closer to five feet, two inches. Anaya probably stood 5’06” and weighed 190 muscular pounds. Thesz towered over him in this match.

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