This Day in Wrestling History

Frank Gotch is buried in Humboldt, Iowa with Iowa Governor W. L. Harding delivering the eulogy.
December 19, 1917

WCW held its 17th-annual "Starrcade" pay-per-view at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart defeated Goldberg by "submission" in a No Disqualification match to retain the title. Many referees were taken out during the match. Roddy Piper ended up taking over officiating duties, and called for the bell while Goldberg was locked in the Sharpshooter without Goldberg submitting, in Montreal Screwjob fashion. Hart's win ended a four-year losing streak for WCW World Heavyweight Champions at "Starrcade". Bret Hart suffered a severe concussion during the match, due to a mule kick by Goldberg. Unaware of the severity of the injury, Hart continued to wrestle, but was soon diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. The injury would prove to be career-ending, as Hart retired from wrestling soon after.

Madusa defeats Evan Karagias to win the Cruiserweight Championship at Starrcade. This was the first time a woman was crowned with this title.
December 19, 1999

This Day in Wrestling History

Frank Gotch dies of uremic poisoning at the age of 39 at his home in Humboldt, Iowa.
December 16, 1917

Scott Steiner makes his return to RAW for the first time in 8 years and challenges Triple H for the World title.
December 16, 2002

99 Years Ago: Gotch-Hackenschmidt

On September 4, 1911, Labor Day Monday that year -- there was a highly anticipated rematch between the two titans of professional wrestling of that era, Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt.

That match 98 years ago in Chicago brought together two ring rivals who had wrestled each other in the Windy City in April 1908. At the time of the first bout, it seemed like a classic mismatch, reminiscent of the Greco-Roman superheavyweight gold-medal match between Russian superstar Alexander Karelin and US dairy farmer Rulon Gardner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics...More?

source: examiner.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Happy Birthday to Frank Gotch
April 27, 1878 - December 16, 1917

Frank Gotch is truly one of the original pioneers of professional wrestling. Long before the money, fame, and glitz of modern wrestling, long before the post WWII boom of Gorgeous George and "TV wrestling," before Lou Thesz, before Ed "Strangler" Lewis, before there was even a such thing as a "federation" in wrestling, there was Frank Gotch.

During this fleeting time of legitimacy in wrestling, Gotch was renowned for his great skill and power, despite his deceivingly small stature, and became perhaps wrestling's first true box-office attraction. As crafty and ruthless as he was skilled, Gotch held the undisputed World Title until he retired, undefeated as champion. His professional record was an impressive 132 victories out of 140 total matches...with several of his losses coming in handicapped matches. His bouts with Hackenschmidt, Jenkins, Stanislaus Zbysko and others were truly legendary...and can be traced back to the earliest days of what we now know as professional wrestling...More?

source: wrestlingmuseum.com

98 Years Ago: Gotch-Hackenschmidt

On September 4, 1911, Labor Day Monday that year -- there was a highly anticipated rematch between the two titans of professional wrestling of that era, Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt.

That match 98 years ago in Chicago brought together two ring rivals who had wrestled each other in the Windy City in April 1908. At the time of the first bout, it seemed like a classic mismatch, reminiscent of the Greco-Roman superheavyweight gold-medal match between Russian superstar Alexander Karelin and US dairy farmer Rulon Gardner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics...More?

source: examiner.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Happy Birthday to Frank Gotch
April 27, 1878 - December 16, 1917

Frank Gotch is truly one of the original pioneers of professional wrestling. Long before the money, fame, and glitz of modern wrestling, long before the post WWII boom of Gorgeous George and "TV wrestling," before Lou Thesz, before Ed "Strangler" Lewis, before there was even a such thing as a "federation" in wrestling, there was Frank Gotch.

During this fleeting time of legitimacy in wrestling, Gotch was renowned for his great skill and power, despite his deceivingly small stature, and became perhaps wrestling's first true box-office attraction. As crafty and ruthless as he was skilled, Gotch held the undisputed World Title until he retired, undefeated as champion. His professional record was an impressive 132 victories out of 140 total matches...with several of his losses coming in handicapped matches. His bouts with Hackenschmidt, Jenkins, Stanislaus Zbysko and others were truly legendary...and can be traced back to the earliest days of what we now know as professional wrestling...More?

source: wrestlingmuseum.com