Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1919
By: Karl Stern
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 1919 is covered on the Long Form History of Pro Wrestling Podcast - Click Here.
1919
01-01-1919: While in the off season at Dartmouth, Gus Sonnenberg accepts a position as coach for Escanaba High School football team in Michigan.
01-05-1919: Jim Londos defeats William Demetral in New York to win the Greek heavyweight title.
02-20-1919: In Boston MA: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeated Jim Eagan (2-0).
02-21-1919: In St. Louis MO: Joe Stecher defeated Harry Buckman.
02-24-1919: In Sioux City, IA, a near riot breaks out following a two hour match between Wladek Zbyszko and Joe Stecher. The fans begin yelling, “fake” and police protection is needed to get the men to the dressing room. Wladek is named the winner the next day but all bets are called off.
In Omaha, NE: Promoter Pete Loch writes the following to the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune: Please announce in your paper that I will offer a $10,000 purse for a match between Stecher, Zbyszko, Lewis, or any one of the three to wrestle Marin Plestina, the match to take place in Omaha within thirty days or sooner, the winner to take all the gate receipts.
02-25-1919: In Chicago IL: at the Crown Theater: Wladek Zbyszko defeated Steve Savage.
03-03-1919: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats Joe Stecher in Chicago, IL. Lewis wins with the headlock in just over two hours.
03-05-1919: Earl Caddock sends word from the war front that he is going to retire. Jack Curley then proclaims Wladek Zbyszko as the World champion.
03-07-1919: Norfolk, VA: Wladek Zbyszko battled Ed “Strangler” Lewis to a 2 ½ hour draw in front of a sold out crowd of 1,100.
03-10-1919: In Kansas City, MO: Wladek Zbyszko defeated Joe Stecher. Stecher won the first fall with body scissors and arm hold in 22:25, Wladek won the second fall with a reverse body hold in 2:14:25, and Zbyszko pined Stecher in the third in 14:03.
03-21-1919: Wladek Zbyszko defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis in New York with a turn away crowd of over 12,000. Wladek pins Lewis after an hour and a half. The World championship which had been claimed by Lewis dating back to John Olin is now lost. Though Earl Caddock has never officially lost the World championship to anyone, Wladek’s claim to be World champion is now as strong as anyone’s.
03-1919: George Tragos wins the AAU and YMCA wrestling championships.
04-28-1919: In Chicago, IL: Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Report says lots of Lewis supporters lost their money. Lewis tiered during match and Zbyszko’s physical condition won match for him.
05-09-1919: Louisville, KY: Joe Stecher defeated Wladek Zbyszko. Ex-sailor Stecher defeats Wladek in 1:45:15 with body scissors and arm lock in a world title match that follows the John Olin Line. An upset at the time.
In New York City, NY at Madison Square Garden: Attendance: 5,000: Marin Plestina defeated Jack Taylor… Bernhof Hansen defeated Mike Matalich… Herman Gehring battled Jean Westergaard to a draw… Tom Draak defeated Harry Stevens (Martin “Farmer” Burns was special referee).
05-19-1919: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeats Wladek Zbyszko in Chicago in a match described as one of the greatest of all time. The first fall of the match went one hour and thirty-six minutes with Wladek winning. Lewis then came back and took the next two falls. Strangler Lewis then claims the world championship and is presented with the belt.
06-11-1919: In Omaha, NE: Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeated Jim Londos. Lewis beat Londos with a headlock in 1:34:45. Reports were that Londos, outweighed by 40 pounds gave Lewis “one of the hardest matches of his career.”
06-14-1919: John Pesek defeats Wladek Zbyszko and bills himself as world champion.
07-04-1919: Joe Stecher defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis in Omaha, NE with Earl Caddock as referee.
07-14-1919: In Lincoln, NE Joe Stecher defeated Wladek Zbyszko.
09-23-1919: El Santo (Rodolfo Guzman Huertes) is born in Tulancingo, Mexico.
11-03-1919: Joe Stecher defeats Ed “Strangler” Lewis in a tournament match designed to crown an undisputed world champion in New York City. Joe Stecher now has the most legitimate claim to a world championship.
Veteran champion and original “Strangler” Evan Lewis dies of cancer at the age of 59. Since leaving wrestling, Evan Lewis had served on the Ridgeway, WI Town Council and was later Sergeant-At-Arms for the Democratic Party Caucuses.
11-27-1919: In Boston, MA Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis. Wladek eliminated Lewis from a tournament by countering Ed’s headlock into a body hold and a head chancery with a pin. Sold out with 6,500. Match conducted under new American Wrestling Association rules.
12-08-1919: In New York City, NY: Joe Stecher defeated Wladek Zbyszko.
12-15-1919: In Springfield, MA: Joe Stecher defeated John Olin when Olin was unable to continue after Stecher won 1st fall in 2:02:30 with an arm scissors.
Joe Stecher
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