What Would Frank Gotch Do?

I was just reading a biography of Frank Gotch at www.frankgotch.com. I love this passage. The fulsome praise coming from Gotch's opponent, George Dinnie, after being soundly thrashed really emphasizes the degree to which Gotch must have totally made this guy his bitch. He changed his tune so totally that you can just tell he was living in mortal fear of Gotch even as he sang his praises. It's as though Gotch had held him in a headlock and whispered to him that if he ever talked shit about him again, he'd come back to England and literally tear him limb from limb.

Back in Europe, Hackenschmidt had to face unbelieving fans and press. Promoter Jack Curley wanted a rematch, knowing how much money it would bring in. Hack began bad-mouthing Gotch all over the continent. Gotch, hearing the stories in America, was stunned and hurt. Then he turned angry. He went to Europe and whipped a good English wrestler named George Dinnie, who had been taunting Gotch, believing the Hack stories. Here's what Dinnie had to say after wrestling Gotch and being demolished:

"Gotch is the most wonderful of all the great wrestlers I have met. Hackenschmidt altogether takes a back seat. Gotch worked with his brains as well as with his body, in a way Hackenschmidt could never do. He is strong and moves likes lightning. A man stands no chance against him. He is a master of ring craft. I have never met or read of a man like him. There is not an ounce of science in the ring that he does not know about. He uses pure brainy science.


"He wrestles fair and in a legitimate way. It is a new style and we know nothing about it here. Yet there is nothing about wrestling that he does not know, and he always keeps within the rules.

"Gotch is a straight, gentlemanly fellow, and I don't think he would ever do anything outside the rules If he were beaten, he would accept his defeat like a Britisher. He would not shake hands and then go away and say things about his opponent. If all Hackenschmidt says is true, why did he shake hands with Gotch in friendly way after the contest? Why did he not leave the ring disgusted?"