Joe Stecher-ek proba gainditu du
Joe Stecherri buruzko istorio mitikoetako bat Martinen batekin izan zuen lehiaketa legitimo bati buruzkoa da “Baserritarrak” Burns borrokalariak, Stecher ia batxilergotik atera zenean. Burnsek Stecherren ospe gero eta handiagoaren berri izan zuen eta bere borrokalarietako batekin probatzea erabaki zuen..
Urtez, Stecherrek Yusif Mahmout garaitu zuela uste nuen baina benetan Yussif Hussane borrokatu zuen. The match occurred on June 17, 1913 at the Opera House in Dodge, Nebraska. Mahmout was a bigger start but was already in his late 40s. Hussane was 20 years younger and had amassed an excellent record in the four years before this match.
Burns expected Hussane to easily handle Stecher. Instead, Stecher shut down Hussane’s offense, which mainly consisted of trying to throw Stecher off the mat. Stecher caught Hussane in a leg scissors around the neck. Hussane realized that he was about to be choked out, so he bit the inside of Stecher’s leg.
The referee had no choice but to disqualify Hussane. The disqualification was what Hussane wanted. He later admitted that he knew his situation was desperate and didn’t want to submit or be choked out. The foul was his attempt to save face.
The match was supposed to be two-out-of-three falls. Hala ere, Hussane declined to return for the second fall. Stecher won the second fall and match via forfeit.
Stecher’s relatively easy victory impressed “Baserritarrak” Erredurak. Publicly, they would act like rival camps but Burns actually started training both 20-year-old Joe and his older brother Anton “Tony” Grabatzailea.
Arabera 1915, Burns believed Joe Stecher could beat any wrestler in the world, so he started arranging a match with Frank Gotch, who retired as World Champion in 1913. Gotch was tired of challenges from other wrestlers wanting to benefit from his reputation, so he agreed to work a match with Stecher. He would let Stecher win and basically annoint him as his successor. Hala ere, Gotch was injured in a training match with Bob Managoff, Sr.
Despite not being able to wrestle Gotch, Stecher was accepted as the World Champion by the American wrestling fans and sports reporters. While he wrestled in mostly worked matches, Stecher was more than capable of defeating other wrestlers in legitimate contests.
Hussane’s wrestling career would last from 1909 arte 1927. He was a successful journeyman but never beat the top men, whether it was a contest or prearranged exhibition.
Hussane must have been a good legitimate wrestler though or Burns would not have used him to test Stecher. Many of the top and mid-level wrestlers of this era were good to great wrestlers. Hala ere, legitimate contests could be boring for spectators, so wrestlers were working matches more often.
After 1915, worked matches were the rule. Legitimate contests mainly occurred behind closed doors in training matches. Wrestlers kept their legitimate skills up in case someone tried to double-cross them in the ring.
You can leave a comment or ask a question this or any post on my Facebook orria edo Twitter profila.
Sources: The Dodge Criterion (Dodge, Nebraska), Ekaina 12, 1913 edition, p. 8, The Loup City Northwestern (Sherman County, Nebraska), Maiatzaren 7, 1914 edition, p. 1 and wrestlingdata.com
Pin It