Fred Beell Defeats Frank Gotch For The American Title

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 hit the ring post.  After being revived, Gotch returned to the ring, whereupon he was quickly pinned by the challenger. Gotch would claim later that he had entered the match out of shape and was injured when he was thrown “into an orchestra pit.”