1900s and 1910s

by Mark Long

Cool Timeline

1900
Frank Gotch Defeats Farmer Burns
Farmer Burns - Frank Gotch - historyofwrestling.com

For the first time, Frank Gotch defeats Farmer Burns. The match took place in Winterset, Iowa, giving Gotch a record of 26-2 (his only losses occurring before Burns had trained him.

1901
Tom Jenkins Wins the American Title
Tom Jenkins - historyofwrestling.com

Tom Jenkins defeats Dan McLeod to win the American title in Cleveland, Ohio. Both men had previously defeated Farmer Burns and were thus claiming to be the American champion. They had previously wrestled to no decision, so this match. McLeod won the first fall via pinfall in thirty six minutes.…
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1902
Dan McLeod Defeats Tom Jenkins to  Recapture the American Title
Dan McLeod - historyofwrestling.com

Dan McLeod defeats Tom Jenkins to  recapture the American title in a match held in Worcester, Massachusetts. Jenkins was suffering from blood poisoning in his leg and forfeited the third and deciding fall. McLeod won $1,500 of the $2,000 purse in Mechanics’ Hall in front of a crowd of 1,100…
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1905
Tom Jenkins Recaptures the American Heavyweight Champonship
Tom Jenkins - historyofwrestling.com

Tom Jenkins recaptures the American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Frank Gotch at Madison Square Garden in New York City in front of 10,300 fan. This was the third title reign for Jenkins and would set up his title match against George Hackenschmidt for the world title

1906
Fred Beell Defeats Frank Gotch For The American Title
Fred Beell - historyofwrestling.com

Prussian-born Fred Beell stunned the wrestling world by defeating the American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Frank Gotch. The match took place in New Orleans, Louisiana with Beell throwing Gotch from the ring. Known as the "Beell Throw," his toss of the champion caused Gotch to lose consciousness, supposedly because his head…
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1908
Frank Gotch Defeats George Hackenschmidt For The World Title
Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt 1 - historyofwrestling.com

Frank Gotch, the American Heavyweight champion, defeated World Heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt in front of more than 10,000 raucous fans in Chicago, Illinois. Hackenschmidt entered the ring standing 5' 9", and weighing 208 lbs. while challenger measured in at 5' 11", 196 lbs. Gotch marveled at the champion's physique, declaring…
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1910
Frank Gotch Defeats Stanislaus Zbyszko
Frank Gotch - historyofwrestling.com

Frank Gotch defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko in six seconds of the first fall in a title match held in Chicago, Illinois. He followed up by gaining a second fall in just over 27 minutes with an arm bar ad a wrist lock. The loss was alleged to be Zbyszko's first  in…
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1911
George Hackenschmidt Fails to Stanislaus Zbyszko in 90 minutes
Stanislaus Zbyszko - historyofwrestling.com

In a match held in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Stanislaus Zbyszko declared himself the victor over  George Hackenschmidt when Hackenschmidt failed to throw him in 90 minutes. The match was actually a battle to see whom would next fight World Heavyweight champion Frank Gotch. Hackenschmidt,…
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Frank Gotch Defeats George Hackenschmidt in Rematch
Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt 2 - historyofwrestling.com

In front of a crowd of 25,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, Frank Gotch defeated George Hackenschmidt in a rematch of the 1908 fight. With a live gate of $87,000.00 in White Sox Park, the match was one of the most anticipated of all time. Prior to the match, Hackenschmidt opined…
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1915
Mort Henderson Debuts as the Masked Marvel
The Masked Marvel Mort Henderson - historyofwrestling.com

During the 1915 New York International Wrestling Tournament started in the Manhattan Opera House, the crowds had become a bit bored with the action and attendance began to wain when suddenly a masked man walked through the crowd and was seated near the stage. The hooded man sat for a…
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1917
Joe Stecher Forfeits the World Championship to Earl Caddock
Earl Caddock - Joe Stecher - historyofwrestling.com

Earl Caddock became the World Heavyweight champion when Joe Stecher forfeited their match. The match was signed in March 1917 and was held in Omaha, Nebraska in front of a sold out arena of 7,500 people for a gate of $14,000.00. Stecher outweighed the challenger by 25 lbs. and was…
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1919
Ed “Strangler” Lewis Outlasts Joe Stecher in Chicago
Ed Lewis - Joe Stecher - historyofwrestling.com

Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Joe Stecher in 2:12:37. The match was set for a best out of three falls, with the provision that if no fall occurred within the fist hour and a half it would be decided by one fall. The match took place in Chicago, Illinois in front…
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