“Toots” Mondt’s Injured in 1922

Joseph “Toots” Mondt wrestled professionally from the early 1910s through the 1930s but he made his real mark as a booker, booking agent and promoter. While Ed “Strangler” Lewis considered Mondt his equal in a legitimate wrestling match, Mondt has a genius for creating angles and finishes in worked wrestling exhibitions.

Mondt would join Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow to form the Gold Dust Trio late in 1922. In early 1922, Mondt was still a wrestler with Martin “Feirmeoir” Dónna’ stable of wrestlers. Burns trained Mondt in both legitimate and worked wrestling matches.

Mondt was already showing his creativity with wrestling finishes in a series of his 1922 matches, where he would be losing or “putting over” his opponents. Mondt used an injury angle to stay strong, while losing matches to his opponents.

In April 1922, Mondt wrestled Ad Santel, another skilled submission wrestler, in Santel’s hometown, San Francisco. The men wrestled a competitive bout until Santel secured a toehold on Mondt.

A toehold can injure an opponent legitimately but Mondt and Santel were working the match. Santel used the toehold to “injure” Mondt, who submitted at the one hour, 6 minute mark. The match was supposed to be 2 out of 3 titeann.

Mar sin féin, the ringside doctor would not let Mondt, despite his protests, continue because of torn ligaments in his ankle. The torn ligaments were a work as Mondt was back in the ring two weeks later with Renato Gardini.

Mondt knew fans didn’t blame a wrestler for getting injured in the days of mat wrestling. Mondt could appear as if he wanted to continue but was prevented by medical officials. Instead of thinking about him being beaten, fans left the arena impressed by his bravery. This angle would be used frequently over the next century by other promoters, bookers and wrestlers.

Mondt defeated Gardini in the first May bout but would lose to him in a return match on May 31, 1922. Gardini threw Mondt with a headlock causing Mondt to strike his head on the mat. Mondt wanted to continue but the doctor refused. Gardini was declared the winner over Mondt’s protests.

Mondt used the injury angle for the last time in 1922 during a Wichita, Kansas match with Dick Daviscourt. Mondt won the first fall from Daviscourt. Daviscourt won the second fall with a headlock. During the process of taking Mondt down with the headlock, Mondt hit the mat hard.

As the men prepared to enter the ring for the third fall, the doctor would not let Mondt continue because of a spine injury from the headlock throw. Daviscourt was awarded the match.

Mondt used the injury angle to lose matches yet appear tough and brave. His ability to understand fan psychology would help him as the Gold Dust Trio built the most powerful promotional machine in professional wrestling at that time.

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Sources: Ogden Standard-Examiner, Aibreán 26, 1922 edition, p. 10, Bealtaine 10, 1922 edition , p. 10 and November 14, 1922 edition, p. 11. Omaha Daily Bee, Meitheamh 1, 1922 edition, p. 9

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