The One Opponent Gotch Could Not Beat

Sa December 16, 1917, Frank Alvin Gotch lost a three week battle with uremic poisoning. Doctors attempted to keep his kidneys going through an operation in Chicago but it provided only temporary relief. Gotch intended to travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas to try and restore his health. The operation ended this hope. Gotch spent the last couple weeks only able to take short walks in his hometown of Humboldt, Iowa.

Frank Gotch compiled one of the most impressive wrestling records in American professional wrestling history. After being defeated by Martin “Magsasaka” Burns in 1899, Burns took the 21 year-old Gotch under his wing. Sa tulad ng isang mahusay na tagapagsanay, Gotch soon won the American Heavyweight Championship.

Gotch scored his biggest triumph in 1908 when he defeated George Hackenschmidt for the recognized World Wrestling Championship. Three years later, he defeated “Ang Russian Lion” in the rematch. In between these matches, he defeated future World Champion Stanislaus Zbyszko.

Unlike many other champions, Gotch retired as champion in 1913 when he was 35 taong gulang. With the birth of his son Robert, Nagpasya si Gotch na magretiro sa buhay sa bukid kasama ang kanyang pamilya. Walang sinuman ang nakakaalam ng malakas at malusog na gotch ay mabubuhay lamang ng apat pang taon.

Prior to advances in medicine, uremic poisoning was a deadly killer. Many St. Opisyal Louis Police, who died in the line of duty, had survivable wounds but died from uremic poisoning. Ngayon, Si Gotch ay malamang na nabuhay ng isang mahaba at produktibong buhay sa bukid na patuloy na nagsasanay sa mga wrestler tulad ng kanyang mentor Burns.

With the death of Gotch, legitimate wrestling also died. Legitimate competitions were almost completely replaced with prearranged matches. Ang pagkamatay ni Gotch ay minarkahan ang pagtatapos ng isang panahon.

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