Origins of the World Title
In 1880, William Muldoon (left) gained recognition as World's Greco-Roman Champion with a win over Thiebaud Bauer. His rise to prominence brought challengers from across the globe, including Tom Cannon of England, “Mat” Sorakichi of Japan, Carl Abs of Germany and William Miller of Australia. Muldoon was part of the New York State Athletic Commission, and early governing body for wrestling.
It is possible that Muldoon awarded the title to Ernest Roeber in 1887, but other sources state Roeber became world champion in 1892 by defeating French champion Apollon.
Beck Olsen became the third champion in 1900, Roeber beat Olsen for the European branch of the title but then vacated it later in 1901.
It is possible that Muldoon awarded the title to Ernest Roeber in 1887, but other sources state Roeber became world champion in 1892 by defeating French champion Apollon.
Beck Olsen became the third champion in 1900, Roeber beat Olsen for the European branch of the title but then vacated it later in 1901.
British grappler Tom Cannon (right) became the fourth world title claimant in 1901 when he defeated Antonio Pierre. Cannon's title was really more of a European championship.
Second champion Roeber had lost the American branch of the title to Evan Lewis, he to Martin Burns, he to Dan McLeod and he to Tom Jenkins, he to Frank Gotch and he to Jenkins, so Jenkins was claiming the American title at the time Cannon was claiming the title in England. |
The Russian Lion George Hackenschmidt (left) became the 5th World Champion by winning the following:
- World championship from Tom Cannon (1904) - European championship from Ahmed Madrali (1904) - American championship from Tom Jenkins (1905) - Austrian championship (1901) - French championship (1901) - Russian championship (1901) - Berlin, Elberfield & Hamburg championships (1901) Having become the first ever undisputed champion with his New York win over Jenkins, the Estonian remained champion until 1908. |
The World Heavyweight Championship
Frank Gotch was already a 2-time American champion, having beaten Tom Jenkins and Fred Beell, when he won the world title from Hackenschmidt in 1908. The match between Hcakenschmidt and Gotch on April 3 1908 is pictured, left.
When he won the world title Gotch vacated the American title which was vacant for 2 years until Henry Ordemann defeated Charlie Cutler.
Gotch retired as world champion in 1912 but in some respects he was known as the real world champion for the rest of his life and subsequent champions all sought his approval. In 1914 he decreed that Americus (Gus Schoenlein) and Fred Beell should wrestle for the vacant world title. Gus Schoenlein won and became one of the most forgotten world champions in history. Two months later Schoenlein lost the belt to a man who Gotch had previously defeated, Stanislaus Zbyszko.
When he won the world title Gotch vacated the American title which was vacant for 2 years until Henry Ordemann defeated Charlie Cutler.
Gotch retired as world champion in 1912 but in some respects he was known as the real world champion for the rest of his life and subsequent champions all sought his approval. In 1914 he decreed that Americus (Gus Schoenlein) and Fred Beell should wrestle for the vacant world title. Gus Schoenlein won and became one of the most forgotten world champions in history. Two months later Schoenlein lost the belt to a man who Gotch had previously defeated, Stanislaus Zbyszko.
Polish Stanislaus Zbyszko (right) became the 8th world heavyweight champion in May 1914 but then left the US that October, taking the title with him. Zbyszko had previously wrestled Gotch for the title in 1910 but suffered an embrassing loss where he conceeded the first fall in 6.4 second and the second in 27 minutes. He did not return to the US until 1921. While he was absent Charlie Cutler claimed the title by defeating B.F Roeller.
For Charlie Cutler's title defence against Joe Stecher, Frank Gotch was again in attendance to ensure recognition of the new champion. |
Title Dispute: 1915-191
Joe Stecher (left) became the 9th World Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Charlie Cutler. Stecher had first been discovered by Martin 'Farmer' Burns who was also the mentor of Frank Gotch. The 22 year old world champion was often in the shadow of Gotch and a match between the two never materialised.
In December 1916 John Olin claimed a win over Stecher by countout and so claimed the title in controversial fashion. Olin lost a match (again refereed and endorsed by Gotch) to Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
In December 1916 John Olin claimed a win over Stecher by countout and so claimed the title in controversial fashion. Olin lost a match (again refereed and endorsed by Gotch) to Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
Meanwhile on April 1917, Earl Caddock (right) defeated Joe Stecher to also claim the title and so both Caddock and Lewis claimed to be champion. Wladek Zbyszko (brother of Stanislaus) and Lewis traded the title and were recognised in New York. Stecher defeated Zbyszko for that version of the title but then Caddock finally managed to solidify his claim. 10th Heavyweight Champion of the World Earl Caddock defeated Stecher in 1917, he then defeated Wladek Zbyszko in 1918. Caddock defeated Ed Lewis in 1918 and would hold the title for another two years. In effect he cleaned up three lines of the title, defeating original champion Joe Stecher and then defeating New York claimants Wladek Zbyszko and Ed Lewis. Caddock lost the title to Joe Stecher in January 1920 and Stecher became the 11 champon and the first man to ever officially regain the title. |
The Era of the Gold Dust Trio 1920-1929
Ed "Strangler" Lewis was, by 1920, clearly one of the toughest wrestlers in the world, but that is not his greatest contribution to wrestling.
His manager Billy Sandow met a man called "Toots" Mondt, originally to act as a sparring partner for Lewis. But what the three realised that wrestling was limited in several ways.
Matches could last several hours - sometimes eight hours- and fans found them boring; there was no real sense of drama or theatre because nobody knew the wrestlers' personalities; and often a wrestler would win who fans did not care about.
As a solution Sandow, Mondt and Lewis pioneered a new style of wrestling and that is basically pro wrestling as we know it today. They set aside the rules and courtesy of Greco-Roman and introduced "slam bang western style wrestling" which not only included grappling but also "bar room brawling" techniques, and exciting dramatic slams and "finishing moves". They also introduced concepts like distracting the referee, cheating, good guys and bad guys and they ensured that Lewis's opponent went along with the plan accordingly. Eventually opponents realised that if they went along with the story lines, it paid off financially for all parties.
Lewis, Sandow and Mondt became known as the Gold Dust Trio.
Lewis held the World Title throughout the 1920’s; and with the promotional backing of Sandow and Mondt, he soon became a national superstar. Yet, the Trio recognized that fans would eventually grow tired of one man dominating the belt, and so Lewis agreed to occasionally “put over” a popular challenger to generate renewed interest (especially since he was skilled enough to regain the belt any time he pleased). Thus became the practice of “working” a match, and wrestling “programs” (a series of bouts meant to build up a specific wrestler as a suitable contender) were born. In the process, the Trio established a hierarchy for their talent, as only legitimate grapplers were ever considered as champions; though inferior wrestlers who possessed charisma or ethnic appeal were often “pushed” as challengers to attract specific fan bases or regions.
His manager Billy Sandow met a man called "Toots" Mondt, originally to act as a sparring partner for Lewis. But what the three realised that wrestling was limited in several ways.
Matches could last several hours - sometimes eight hours- and fans found them boring; there was no real sense of drama or theatre because nobody knew the wrestlers' personalities; and often a wrestler would win who fans did not care about.
As a solution Sandow, Mondt and Lewis pioneered a new style of wrestling and that is basically pro wrestling as we know it today. They set aside the rules and courtesy of Greco-Roman and introduced "slam bang western style wrestling" which not only included grappling but also "bar room brawling" techniques, and exciting dramatic slams and "finishing moves". They also introduced concepts like distracting the referee, cheating, good guys and bad guys and they ensured that Lewis's opponent went along with the plan accordingly. Eventually opponents realised that if they went along with the story lines, it paid off financially for all parties.
Lewis, Sandow and Mondt became known as the Gold Dust Trio.
Lewis held the World Title throughout the 1920’s; and with the promotional backing of Sandow and Mondt, he soon became a national superstar. Yet, the Trio recognized that fans would eventually grow tired of one man dominating the belt, and so Lewis agreed to occasionally “put over” a popular challenger to generate renewed interest (especially since he was skilled enough to regain the belt any time he pleased). Thus became the practice of “working” a match, and wrestling “programs” (a series of bouts meant to build up a specific wrestler as a suitable contender) were born. In the process, the Trio established a hierarchy for their talent, as only legitimate grapplers were ever considered as champions; though inferior wrestlers who possessed charisma or ethnic appeal were often “pushed” as challengers to attract specific fan bases or regions.
The Famous Double-Cross
In 1921 Lewis lost the title to former champion Stanislaus Zbyszko and then regained it the following year. Lewis held onto the title until 1925 when the Gold Dust Trio decided Wayne Munn should unseat him as champion and then shortly afterwards, Lewis would win back the title. Before that, however Munn had a title defence against Stanislaus Zbyszko and that night Zbyszko didn't feel like going along with the agreed finished and so, in a famous "shoot" he legitimately beat Munn and Stanislaus Zbyszko became the 17th World Heavyweight Champion in a double-cross.
Michigan and Illinois promoters refused to recognise Zbyszko's Philadelphia win and Ed Lewis defeated Munn to claim recognition in that area.
Former champ Joe Stecher defeated Zbyszko in St Louis to become the 18th champion and finally in 1928 the two great rivals, Joe Stecher and Ed Lewis faced off, with Lewis victorious and becoming the 19th champion. Loose ends were tied up.
In 1929 Lewis lost the championship to Gus Sonnenberg but more than 20 athletic commissions withdrew recognition of the new titleist for his failure to meet "real contenders". In New York, Philadelphia and Illinois, the title was vacated.
Michigan and Illinois promoters refused to recognise Zbyszko's Philadelphia win and Ed Lewis defeated Munn to claim recognition in that area.
Former champ Joe Stecher defeated Zbyszko in St Louis to become the 18th champion and finally in 1928 the two great rivals, Joe Stecher and Ed Lewis faced off, with Lewis victorious and becoming the 19th champion. Loose ends were tied up.
In 1929 Lewis lost the championship to Gus Sonnenberg but more than 20 athletic commissions withdrew recognition of the new titleist for his failure to meet "real contenders". In New York, Philadelphia and Illinois, the title was vacated.