Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made and Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling

The Matches Which Built and Crippled an Industry

In 1908, Georg Hackenschmidt had been the touring World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion for 8 years. Considered one of the strongest men in the world, fans viewed "Hack" as unbeatable. He returned to the United States for the first time in three years to face the formidable Frank Gotch.

Gotch harbored hard feelings for not getting a title shot in 1905. The result was two controversial but legitimate wrestling matches, whose effects were felt for the next decade.