Alan Eustace lucha “Agricultor” Muralla exterior
In the early 1920s, Billy Sandow convenció al promotor de Georgia Tom Law para que se mudara a Wichita, Kansas y desarrollar el área para futuros espectáculos de lucha libre.. El Medio Oeste de Estados Unidos sería un importante generador de ingresos para el Gold Dust Trio, que Sandow lideró con el Campeón del Mundo Ed “Strangler” Lewis y el genio promocional Joseph “Toots” Mondt, en la década de 1920.
Law would produce two great talents in his first few years as the Wichita, Promotor de Kansas. 18 year-old Jim Browning, who would become a World Champion in the early 1930s, moved from Missouri to train with Law’s group in 1921.
Law’s other star would become a homesteader, or wrestler who stayed in the territorial area. Alan Eustace was born Allen Lewellyn Eustace in Wakefield, Kansas on December 7, 1891. Law stood 6’03” and weighed 230 libras, which made him a large heavyweight in the 1920s.
Photo of Alan Eustace in 1922 (Dominio Público)
The 30-year-old Eustace was further ahead than Browning in 1922. Considered the reigning Kansas State Heavyweight Champion, Eustace was being pushed for a title match with Ed “Strangler” Lewis. To establish Eustace as a viable contender, promoter Law matched him up with George “Agricultor” Baily on Thursday, Marzo 18, 1922.
Bailey was a solid professional, who primarily wrestled in the Northeast, as he lived in Vermont farm (surprise, surprise). Bailey only stood 5’09” but weighed 230 libras. Built like a beer barrel, Bailey made credible challenges for the world championship with both Ed “Strangler” Lewis and Stanislaus Zbyszko. Law was depending on Bailey’s reputation in building anticipation for a world title challenge by Eustace.
George “Agricultor” Bailey from the Public Domain
The wrestlers met at the City Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas. The match would be contest 2-out-of-3-falls. The winner would have to win 2 falls from his opponent.
The first twenty minutes of the first fall was contested fairly evenly. Bailey aggressively tried to get underneath Eustace’s higher center of gravity for a throw but Eustace stepped around the attempt each time.
Bailey then attempted several leg scissors holds but Eustace countered by securing a toehold on Bailey’s leg each time. Bailey would buck his legs wildly to get loose each time.
At about the 20-minute mark, Bailey secured a leg scissors but Eustace turned. The men ended up facing each other allowing Eustace to break the scissors hold.
Eustace then used his longer legs to secure a scissors hold on Bailey. Bailey tried to buck out of the scissors but Eustace grabbed an armbar to secure Bailey into the hold. Eustace turned Bailey onto his shoulders for the first fall at 31 minutes, 30 segundo.
After a short intermission, Eustace dominated the second fall. Using another scissors hold, Eustace rolled Bailey onto his shoulders for the second fall and match at 12 minutes, 30 segundo. Newspaper accounts of the match pointed out that Eustace beat Bailey quicker than Lewis, when Lewis turned back Bailey’s latest title challenge.
With his strong victory over Bailey, Eustace was setup for a match with Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Law’s promotion of Eustace worked to a tee in setting him up for the challenge. But would it draw a big house?
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Sources: Topeka Daily Capital, Mayo 19, 1922 edition, p. 8, Legacy of Wrestling website and wrestlingdata.com.
