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Showing posts with label Joe Stecher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Stecher. Show all posts

July 4, 2016

Century ago, Stecher-Lewis wrestling match had a stranglehold on Omaha, but disappointed most



Column by Stu Pospisil / World-Herald staff writer


Imagine sitting in a temporary wooden grandstand on the Fourth of July, watching two heavyweight professional wrestlers “bunny-hug.”

For one hour, then two. Three and four hours pass.

Now dusk is falling. No lights, still no action. Some in the crowd, likely already losers on bets on their home-state favorite, get restless and toss cushions into the ring at the wrestlers.

A few lanterns are rounded up. An auto, maybe a Model T, is pulled up ringside so its headlights can help out.

Finally, after nearly five hours, the bout is declared a draw. No winner.

But this match — Joe Stecher of Dodge, Nebraska, against Ed “Strangler” Lewis — 100 years ago on July 4, 1916, at the old Douglas County Fairgrounds in Benson became legendary.

In 1983, World-Herald columnist Wally Provost said it was Omaha’s most famous Fourth of July sports event. In 1966, Dynamo Dennison, whom Provost called “a sports historian nonpareil,” said upon his 65th birthday that Stecher-Lewis had been Omaha’s greatest sports attraction.

And Stecher-Lewis was included in the “Giant Book of Strange But True Sports Stories,” written in 1976 by Howard Liss and Joe Mathieu. It was a book I read as a 14-year-old, and I developed a fascination with this story, perhaps the only sporting event in the city’s history at that time to rate mention.

October 21, 2015

This Day In Wrestling History


Mayor Bosse and the Sheriff of Evansville, IN confiscate the $2,756 in ticket sales from the previous night's match on the basis that they believe the Stecher-Lewis match was "not on the square" and was in fact "rigged." Mayor Bosse then proclaims that there would be no more wrestling in Evansville. Show promoter W. F. Barton is left with just $13 after the incident and claimed to owe $400 to the wrestlers.
October 21, 1915

All Japan Pro Wrestling holds it's first ever show at Machida City Gym in Tokyo, Japan. The show is headlined by a two out of three fall tag team match, with Bruno Sammartino & Terry Funk defeating Giant Baba & Thunder Sugiyama. Funk pinned Sugiyama to win the first fall, Sugiyama pinned Funk to win the second, and Baba & Sugiyama were counted out in the final fall.
October 21, 1972

Ernie Ladd defeats Carlos Colon in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the WWC North American Heavyweight Title.
October 21, 1974

Ken Patera defeats Tony Atlas to win his second NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title in Greensboro, North Carolina.
October 21, 1978

Bret Hart, ending months of rumors and speculation, signs a 20-year contract with the World Wrestling Federation, turning down a lucrative offer from WCW. As part of the agreement, which will see Hart become a part of the WWF office following his in-ring career, Bret is allowed to go into the ring during a live edition of Raw and discuss his decision. Hart does not blast WCW (as some within WWF were hoping), but does reveal that he is staying with the WWF. One year later, Vince McMahon would be asking Bret to drop the WWF Title to Shawn Michaels at the Survivor Series and releasing him from the contract, beginning the most famous story in wrestling history, the Montreal Screwjob.
October 21, 1996

Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeats Marc Mero the WWF Intercontinental Title, his first title in WWF/E.
October 21, 1996

Chris Jericho defeated The Rock for the WCW Heavyweight title.
October 21, 2001

Triple H simulated sex with a mannequin while dressed as Kane, in the infamous Katie Vick necrophilia skit.
October 21, 2002

February 20, 2013

This Day In Wrestling History


Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeats Joe "Scissors" Stecher to finally unify the World championship in St. Louis, Missouri. Lewis had been recognized as World champion in various areas, while Stecher held the linear championship belt. This match had been put off several times since 1925. While Lewis now has the strongest claim as World champion, the New York State Athletic Commission decides to recognize Hans Steinke as champion.
February 20, 1928

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeats Ric Flair for the NWA World Title.
February 20, 1989

January 30, 2013

This Day In Wrestling History


Joe Stecher defeats Earl Caddock in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The show draws a gate of $80,000. Caddock takes home $15,000 and Stecher $25,000. This match pits Joe Stecher's claim of the World Championship against Caddock who had never truly lost the title and made one Undisputed World Champion in Stecher. The match is the oldest known wrestling match which still survives on film.
January 30, 1920

November 3, 2012

This Day In Wrestling History


Joe Stecher defeats Ed "Strangler" Lewis in a tournament match designed to crown an undisputed World Champion in New York City. Stecher now has the most legitimate claim to a world championship.
November 3, 1919

Jesse "The Body" Ventura is elected the Governor of Minnesota.
November 3, 1998

July 25, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History


The Wilwaukee Journal says this about Ed "Strangler" Lewis: "...Lewis...who with Joe Stecher is the logical claimant of world's wrestling honors now that Frank Gotch has come out with a statement that he is through with the mat game...he [Lewis] will appear in motion pictures, taking the part of Hector in a movie play called The Illiad.... 'If Gotch retires, as he says he will, and Stecher makes good on his statement that he will not wrestle me again, I will lay claim to the heavyweight wrestling title....' "
July 25, 1916

January 30, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History - Joe Stecher vs. Earl Caddock Draws 80,000 at MSG


Joe Stecher defeats Earl Caddock in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The show draws a gate of $80,000. Caddock takes home $15,000 and Stecher $25,000. This match pits Joe Stecher's claim of the World Championship against Caddock who had never truly lost the title and made one Undisputed World Champion in Stecher. The match is the oldest known wrestling match which still survives on film.
January 30, 1920

January 30, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History - Joe Stecher vs. Earl Caddock Draws 80,000 at MSG


Joe Stecher defeats Earl Caddock in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The show draws a gate of $80,000. Caddock takes home $15,000 and Stecher $25,000. This match pits Joe Stecher's claim of the World Championship against Caddock who had never truly lost the title and made one Undisputed World Champion in Stecher. The match is the oldest known wrestling match which still survives on film.
January 30, 1920

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