Frank Gotch Pays His Dues

Frank Gotch, the farm boy from Humboldt, Iowa, would defeat George Hackenschmidt for the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in 1908.  This victory and his subsequent defeat of “Hack” in the 1911 rematch cemented Gotch’s place as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.  Gotch was a very talented wrestler but he was not the undefeated wunderkind of legend.  Gotch paid his dues and experienced losses on his way to the top.

Frank Alvin Gotch was born on April 27, 1878.  In his prime, Gotch stood 5’11” and weighed between 193 and 210 pounds.  Gotch began wrestling in 1999 at 21 years of age.  He defeated all the locals before taking on former champion Dan McLeod in a match lasting two hours.  McLeod finally overcame Gotch but was impressed by the youngster’s ability.

In December 1899, Gotch took on Martin “Farmer” Burns, who defeated Gotch in 11 minutes.  It was a turning point for Frank Gotch.  Burns, a celebrated wrestling trainer, was so impressed that he offered to train Gotch.  This meeting would lead to Frank Gotch becoming world champion nine years later.

Prior to his world championship run, Frank Gotch paid his dues.  He even lost some matches along the way.  On Wednesday, March 27, 1901, Frank Gotch, the Iowa Wrestling Champion, took on Oscar Wasem, the St. Louis, MO Champion, at Burlington, Iowa in front of 500 fans at the local Turner Hall.  The March 28, 1901 edition of the St. Louis Republic carried a story about the bout.

The match was a two out of three falls event.  Oscar Wasem won the first fall after 31 minutes and 30 seconds.  According to the Republic, Gotch won the second fall by a fluke in 4 minutes and 35 seconds.  The reporter did not explain how it was a fluke but being the hometown newspaper the reporter might not have been the most impartial observer.  Wasem won the third and deciding fall after 26 minutes and 45 seconds.  Wasem immediately challenged Martin “Farmer” Burns.

The immediate challenge of “Farmer” Burns would indicate that Frank Gotch was still acting as Burns’ “policeman”.  If a challenger wanted to face a champion, the challenger usually had to defeat another contender before he got the shot at the championship.  Gotch seems to be the challenger or “policeman” that the potential title contender had to beat.  Oscar Wasem did not beat “Farmer” Burns.

Possibly inspired by this defeat, Frank Gotch would go on a tear beating every challenger from Nebraska and Iowa before leaving for the Klondike during a gold rush in 1902.  Gotch made quite a name for himself during his Klondike run.

 Oscar Wasem was small for a heavyweight at 165 pounds.  He was still wrestling in 1912, when he was training with Frank Gotch for a match with Dr. Ben Roller.  The match was supposed to be a retirement match.  Oscar Wasem disappears from history at this point.  Frank Gotch would make history in 1908 but he had to pay his dues first.

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Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made and Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and e-book.

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