St. Louis Wrestler Surprises Gotch

Frank Gotch holds the title of America’s greatest legitimate professional wrestler. Gotch competed in legitimate contests with pre-arranged or “worked” matches thrown in the mix. By 1905, no one could beat Gotch unless Gotch allowed it.

In the early years of his career, Gotch was not so dominant. Gotch lost matches to his mentor, Martin “Farmer” Burns, before “the Farmer” started training him. Gotch also lost to the man he eventually crushed for the American Heavyweight Championship in 1904, Tom Jenkins. On March 27, 1901, in Burlington, Iowa, a journeyman wrestler surprised Gotch.

Oscar Wasem was a St. Louis wrestler, who eventually made his way to Omaha, Nebraska via St. Joseph, Missouri. Wassem claimed the wrestling championship of St. Louis, Missouri, so Wasem signed an agreement to meet Frank Gotch. Gotch, the Iowa wrestling champion.

While Wasem possessed an impressive physique for the early Twentieth Century, Wasem only weighed 168 pounds. Wasem was more of a middleweight or light heavyweight. Gotch was a full-blown heavyweight at 198 pounds.

Gotch appeared confident of an easy time when they met but Wasem shocked Gotch. After thirty-one minutes, thirty seconds of hard wrestling, Wasem scored the first fall.

A shocked Gotch came out strong to start the second fall. Gotch secured the second fall in four minutes, thirty-five seconds. After such a quick pin, Gotch believed he had turned the tide. Wasem had other plans.

Wasem wrestled Gotch for twenty-six minutes, forty-five seconds securing the third fall and match. Wasem upset the favorite Gotch. Wasem immediately challenged Gotch’s trainer, Martin “Farmer” Burns for the middleweight championship.

I question whether this outcome was legitimate based on Wasem’s immediate challenge of “Farmer” Burns. Gotch may have dropped the match to Wasem to set up the match between Burns and Wasem.

However, it could have been a contest. Frank Gotch was still green at this time only being a professional for two years. I do not know of any undefeated professional wrestlers even though wrestlers have falsely claimed an undefeated record.

Little information is known about Oscar Wasem today. After wrestling in St. Louis from the early 1890s to 1900, Wassem moved to St. Joseph, Missouri and eventually Omaha, Nebraska. Wassem, a full-time baker, still wrestled sporadically until 1915.

Frank Gotch went on to win both the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship and the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championships. Gotch’s early losses planted the seeds leading to his growth and future success. However, it could have been a contest. Frank Gotch was still green at this time only being a professional for two years. Most great wrestlers also lose early in their careers. These losses drive the wrestler to future greatness.

Little information is known about Oscar Wassem today. After wrestling in St. Louis for several years, Wassem moved to St. Joseph, Missouri and eventually Omaha, Nebraska. Wassem, a full-time baker, was still wrestling at least sporadically in 1915.

Frank Gotch would go on to win both the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship and the World Heavyweight Wrestling Championships. The seeds of these victories were planted during Gotch’s early losses to his trainer “Farmer” Burns, Tom Jenkins and little known Oscar Wassem.

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Sources: Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha, Iowa), March 27, 1901, p. 8