Post by cruefan68 on May 23, 2021 11:37:39 GMT -5
LOW – LEGENDS OF WRESTLING BIOS
#1: FRANK GOTCH
5’11” 208 lbs., Humboldt, IA
Finishing Move: Gotch Toehold
Signature Moves: Iowa Backdrop, reverse nelson and guillotine choke
#1: FRANK GOTCH
5’11” 208 lbs., Humboldt, IA
Finishing Move: Gotch Toehold
Signature Moves: Iowa Backdrop, reverse nelson and guillotine choke
TITLES HELD:
LOW World Heavyweight title X 2
Card# 1 to 20 (5 title defenses)
Card# 742 to 767 (3 title defenses)
LOW World tag team titles X 1
(With Johnny Valentine) Card# 336 to 385 (6 title defenses)
BATTLE ROYAL WINS:
1
TAG PARTNERS/FACTIONS:
Johnny Valentine
Dick Hutton
Jim Londos
FEUDS:
George Hackenschmidt
Johnny Valentine
The Sheik
MANAGERS:
None
LOW DEBUT:
Card #1
LOW World Heavyweight title X 2
Card# 1 to 20 (5 title defenses)
Card# 742 to 767 (3 title defenses)
LOW World tag team titles X 1
(With Johnny Valentine) Card# 336 to 385 (6 title defenses)
BATTLE ROYAL WINS:
1
TAG PARTNERS/FACTIONS:
Johnny Valentine
Dick Hutton
Jim Londos
FEUDS:
George Hackenschmidt
Johnny Valentine
The Sheik
MANAGERS:
None
LOW DEBUT:
Card #1
BIO: The inaugural LOW World Heavyweight champion, Frank Gotch has had an incredible career in the worldwide recognized promotion. The Humboldt, IA, native is known for his incredible technical skill along with an enviable combination of speed and technique. He has also been accused of having an aggressive demeanor which only adds to his legend. His finisher, the feared Gotch Toehold, has won him many matches in LOW where to date he has won fifty-eight percent of his matches.
Making his LOW debut on the very first card, held at the Marine Midland Auditorium in Buffalo, NY, Gotch emerged the winner of a one-night tournament besting the “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to be crowned the first LOW World Heavyweight champion. He was a fighting champion making five successful title defenses before falling to his storied rival Johnny Valentine. The saga of Gotch and Valentine, which included a memorable reign as the LOW World tag team champions, has long been cited by experts as a memorable one in the promotion.
Gotch would secure his second world heavyweight championship some six years later when he defeated Magnum T.A. in Baltimore, MD. Gotch was determined to make a solid go of this second reign, having three defenses under his belt, before he lost a controversial match to The Sheik at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Sheik used his dangerous Fireball to get the win and Gotch was left without his championship and some severe facial burns. Gotch would get some revenge against The Sheik in later rematches but was unable to take the title from him.
No history of Gotch would be complete without including his perennial rival, the “Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt. The two have locked horns in some memorable bouts under the LOW banner with Gotch holding a several match victory lead. Hackenschmidt, however, can brag about being a three-time LOW World Heavyweight champion giving him plus one over Gotch. There is no doubt that these two men will meet in more matches down the line and it would not be surprising to see it be in a world heavyweight championship match.
Making his LOW debut on the very first card, held at the Marine Midland Auditorium in Buffalo, NY, Gotch emerged the winner of a one-night tournament besting the “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to be crowned the first LOW World Heavyweight champion. He was a fighting champion making five successful title defenses before falling to his storied rival Johnny Valentine. The saga of Gotch and Valentine, which included a memorable reign as the LOW World tag team champions, has long been cited by experts as a memorable one in the promotion.
Gotch would secure his second world heavyweight championship some six years later when he defeated Magnum T.A. in Baltimore, MD. Gotch was determined to make a solid go of this second reign, having three defenses under his belt, before he lost a controversial match to The Sheik at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Sheik used his dangerous Fireball to get the win and Gotch was left without his championship and some severe facial burns. Gotch would get some revenge against The Sheik in later rematches but was unable to take the title from him.
No history of Gotch would be complete without including his perennial rival, the “Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt. The two have locked horns in some memorable bouts under the LOW banner with Gotch holding a several match victory lead. Hackenschmidt, however, can brag about being a three-time LOW World Heavyweight champion giving him plus one over Gotch. There is no doubt that these two men will meet in more matches down the line and it would not be surprising to see it be in a world heavyweight championship match.
WrestleCade Record (1-6-0):
WrestleCade 2 – Tokyo, Japan – Card #200:
Participated in a 22-Man Battle Royal won by The French Angel
WrestleCade 4 – New Orleans, LA – Card #400:
Participated in a tag team gauntlet match partnered with Johnny Valentine for a shot at the LOW World tag team titles. The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Johnny Heffernan) won that match.
WrestleCade 5 – Pontiac, MI – Card #500:
Lost to LOW World Heavyweight champion Giant Baba. Gotch earned the title shot by winning the Gold Star Battle Royal at MSG in New York, NY (Card #485).
WrestleCade 7 – Queens, NY – Card #700:
Teamed with Jim Londos in a loss to Lou Thesz & Tommy Rich
WrestleCade 8 – Atlanta, GA – Card #800:
Participated in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match with Fred Blassie and Ted Dibiase in a losing effort against Magnum T.A.
WrestleCade 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Card #900:
Defeated Dan Severn
WrestleCade 13 – Chicago, IL – Card #1300:
Teamed with Lou Thesz and Bobo Brazil in a loss to Fred Blassie, The Sheik and Johnny Valentine
WrestleCade 2 – Tokyo, Japan – Card #200:
Participated in a 22-Man Battle Royal won by The French Angel
WrestleCade 4 – New Orleans, LA – Card #400:
Participated in a tag team gauntlet match partnered with Johnny Valentine for a shot at the LOW World tag team titles. The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Johnny Heffernan) won that match.
WrestleCade 5 – Pontiac, MI – Card #500:
Lost to LOW World Heavyweight champion Giant Baba. Gotch earned the title shot by winning the Gold Star Battle Royal at MSG in New York, NY (Card #485).
WrestleCade 7 – Queens, NY – Card #700:
Teamed with Jim Londos in a loss to Lou Thesz & Tommy Rich
WrestleCade 8 – Atlanta, GA – Card #800:
Participated in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match with Fred Blassie and Ted Dibiase in a losing effort against Magnum T.A.
WrestleCade 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Card #900:
Defeated Dan Severn
WrestleCade 13 – Chicago, IL – Card #1300:
Teamed with Lou Thesz and Bobo Brazil in a loss to Fred Blassie, The Sheik and Johnny Valentine
