Arriba Renato Gardini 1915

A principis de 1915, Sam Rachmann va promoure el Torneig Internacional de Lluita de Nova York amb la intenció de substituir el retirat campió mundial de lluita lliure Frank Gotch.. Rachmann creia que ningú podria derrotar a Aleksander “Alex” Aberg, El successor de Gotch escollit per Rachmann, en la lluita grecoromana.

El repte de Rachmann era catch-as-catch-can era l'estil de lluita dominant a Amèrica. Per sortejar aquest repte, Rachmann recruited international wrestlers, skilled in Greco-Roman wrestling, for his tournament. Renato Gardini was an ideal recruit for the tournament.

Gardini, born on March 10, 1889 in Italy, represented in Italy in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1912 Olympics. Gardini’s legitimate background would add credence to the tournament, which consisted mostly of legitimate contests.

Gardini debuted during the last few weeks of the Spring Tournament on May 27, 1915. Gardini defeated Herman Kuethe.

Gardini drew in his next two matches before losing to Wladek Zbyszko in 18 minutes on June 3, 1915. Gardini losing to Zbyszko was no shame. Aberg and Zbyszko would meet in the final of the Spring Tournament.

Gardini might have thought his journey to America was going to be of short duration. Però, after his initial introduction to American professional wrestling, Gardini made the transition to catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Gardini would live in the United States for the remainder of his life.

During the Fall Tournament, the International Tournament was actually two tournaments, Gardini began competing in catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Al desembre 14, 1915, Gardini defeated Carl Sanderson in a catch-as-catch-can match. Attendance was so poor during the Fall Tournament, Rachmann was forced to incorporate catch-as-catch-can matches as well as several gimmicks to save his tournament.

By the late 1920s, Gardini established himself as one of the top contenders for the World Championship. Although he would never win the world title, Gardini would often be the man a contender beat to get a shot at the championship.

In the late 1930s, Gardini moved into professional wrestling promotion. Gardini was promoting wrestling in Brazil during September 1940 tour, when he had a heart attack brought on by high altitude. Gardini died on September 29, 1940, a couple weeks before his 51st birthday.

Gardini was survived by his wife Edith, who he met and married in the United States, as well as 15-year-old daughter Catherine and 7-year-old Renato. La seva mare, who still lived in Italy, also survived him.

En 1915, Gardini was only a 26-year-old aspiring grappling with a long career ahead of him. In the next few months, we will review a couple of his biggest battles.

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Sources: Brooklyn Times Union, Maig 29, 1915 edition, p. 8, Asbury Park Press, Desembre 15, 1915 edition, p. 10, Boston Globe, Octubre 29, 1940 edition, p. 15 i wrestlingdata.com.

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