Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1917
By: Karl Stern (@wiwcool)
Much of the text of this entry comes from issue 82 of the DragonKing Press Newsletter available as a downloadable .pdf in the digital downloads section.
The year 1917 is covered on the Long Form History of Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1917
04-09-1917: Joe Stecher forfeits the World championship to Earl Caddock after he is injured during a match in Omaha, NE with over 8,000 fans in attendance. The match went over 3 hours with each man taking a fall until Stecher was injured during the third fall. Caddock serves in the U.S. infantry in World War I and Stecher in the Navy. The title lay undefended through much of the war.
04-20-1917: Frank Schuler, a San Francisco promoter, sues Ad Santel and Joe Stecher alleging he had overpaid them $150.
04-25-1917: Ad Santel defeats Farmer Stanton in San Francisco. Following the match Santel is accosted by an IRS agent for not paying state taxes.
05-01-1917: Frank Gotch wrestles his last match in Chicago, IL defeating Leo Pardello in a one fall match. A crowd of 10,000 was on hand.
05-02-1917: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats John Olin for a version of the world title in Chicago, IL. His billing as World champion is based on Olin’s win over Joe Stecher in 1916. Frank Gotch is the referee.
05-11-1917: Louisville, KY: Wladek Zbyszko defeated John Olin. Olin is unable to continue due to a shoulder injury.
06-05-1917: Wladek Zbyszko defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis for his version of the world title in San Francisco.
07-04-1917: Ed “Strangler” Lewis recaptures the off-shoot world title from Wladek Zbyszko in Boston, MA. Lewis wins his title back when Wladek is unable to continue during the 3rd fall. Zbyszko won 1st fall after a body roll into a pin (57:45). Lewis then pinned Zbyszko using a half-nelson in 24:44 after Wladek had injured his right elbow & leg. Zbyszko gamely started the 3rd fall, but was thrown to the mat and submitted in 45 seconds. Lewis is announced as new World Champion.
09-03-1917: Omaha, NE: Ed “Strangler” Lewis battled Wladek Zbyszko to a draw. Ed Lewis, billed as champion, goes to a no contest with Zbyszko. On same card Joe Stecher defeats Marin Plestina via DQ.
09-14-1917: Clarence Eklund defeats Elmer “Pet” Brown in Houston, TX for the World lightweight title.
12-15-1917: In New York City, Ed “Strangler” Lewis battled Wladek Zbyszko to a 20 minute draw in a tournament match.
12-16-1917: Frank Gotch dies from uremic poisoning at his home in Humboldt, IA. He was 40 years old.
12-17-1917: Wladek Zbyszko wins a tournament in New York pinning Ed “Strangler” Lewis thus claiming his version of the world title.
12-19-1917: Frank Gotch is buried in Humboldt, IA with Iowa Governor W.L. Harding delivering the eulogy.
12-22-1917: In New York City, Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis in a New York City tournament final for the World Title, Zbyszko pins Lewis using a body hold combined with a scissors in 1:47:37. Lewis had heard his manager arguing with Zbyszko’s camp and turned his head and got trapped in Wladek’s finishing hold. Zbyszko is proclaimed World Champion not from beating Lewis but from winning tournament. The John Olin claim was not on the line and Lewis’s head holds were not allowed to be used in match.
1917 (unspecified): Jim Londos makes his pro debut.
Frank Gotch - Dead.
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