Carl Abs
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Abs was not a big star in America. His name was known and he had a small tour there, but his main portion of fame came in Europe. He was born on September 9, 1951 in Hamburg Germany. After he learned to wrestle and competed professionally, he also took up training hopeful youngsters. While one day I hope to be able to expand further on European stars, for now I can't, so we'll focus on his American run.
He left Hamburg around the middle of February in 1885 to make his way to New York. The U.S.A.'s sporting public were anticipating his arrival. It was thought that he'd give some of the big names currently on the Greco-Roman scene some great matches. He arrived in the New York port on March 9. On March 20, 1885 he competed in his first match against Professor William Hoeffler. Abs,who was billed as the "German Giant", won in two straight falls.
He'd get a draw with both Sorakichi Matsuda and William Muldoon on April 1 and 12, before getting the victory over Matsuda on April 16, winning in straight falls. Abs, who was billed as the German Champion, was coming in strong. April 30 he defeated Edwin Bibby and then managed another draw with William Muldoon in front of 1,603 people on May 18. Abs also performed feats of strength at shows.
He defeated Matsuda again on June 8. His last big match was billed for June 29 against Joe Acton. It was being promoted as England Vs. Germany for the World Championship. It never came off though. At first Acton asked for the match to be postponed. Then on July 2, the date on which it was rescheduled, Abs didn't show up. Acton went on claiming he was the champion by forfeit, while papers announced had left a week or more ago for Germany. Speculation was running rampant that Acton and Abs had worked to scam the audience.
Abs would never return to America though. He stayed in Europe. His taste of America was not over though. In 1894 Ernest Roeber traveled to Europe and faced Abs in September of that year. Roeber won the match. What was not told to the American public was that Abs had been ill and was actually slowly dying. A rematch was set for January also in Hamburg, Germany, but Abs could not wrestle.
A short time later on February 18, 1895 Carl Abs passed away. His legacy in Germany is immense; he is one of the true pioneering wrestlers in that country from what I have managed to ascertain, but his short run in America, mixed with the controversial ending to that tour has left his name almost totally forgotten to wrestling fans in the United States, even after such an impressive showing.
Abs was not a big star in America. His name was known and he had a small tour there, but his main portion of fame came in Europe. He was born on September 9, 1951 in Hamburg Germany. After he learned to wrestle and competed professionally, he also took up training hopeful youngsters. While one day I hope to be able to expand further on European stars, for now I can't, so we'll focus on his American run.
He left Hamburg around the middle of February in 1885 to make his way to New York. The U.S.A.'s sporting public were anticipating his arrival. It was thought that he'd give some of the big names currently on the Greco-Roman scene some great matches. He arrived in the New York port on March 9. On March 20, 1885 he competed in his first match against Professor William Hoeffler. Abs,who was billed as the "German Giant", won in two straight falls.
He'd get a draw with both Sorakichi Matsuda and William Muldoon on April 1 and 12, before getting the victory over Matsuda on April 16, winning in straight falls. Abs, who was billed as the German Champion, was coming in strong. April 30 he defeated Edwin Bibby and then managed another draw with William Muldoon in front of 1,603 people on May 18. Abs also performed feats of strength at shows.
He defeated Matsuda again on June 8. His last big match was billed for June 29 against Joe Acton. It was being promoted as England Vs. Germany for the World Championship. It never came off though. At first Acton asked for the match to be postponed. Then on July 2, the date on which it was rescheduled, Abs didn't show up. Acton went on claiming he was the champion by forfeit, while papers announced had left a week or more ago for Germany. Speculation was running rampant that Acton and Abs had worked to scam the audience.
Abs would never return to America though. He stayed in Europe. His taste of America was not over though. In 1894 Ernest Roeber traveled to Europe and faced Abs in September of that year. Roeber won the match. What was not told to the American public was that Abs had been ill and was actually slowly dying. A rematch was set for January also in Hamburg, Germany, but Abs could not wrestle.
A short time later on February 18, 1895 Carl Abs passed away. His legacy in Germany is immense; he is one of the true pioneering wrestlers in that country from what I have managed to ascertain, but his short run in America, mixed with the controversial ending to that tour has left his name almost totally forgotten to wrestling fans in the United States, even after such an impressive showing.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Carl Abs.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #3.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: October 3, 2014.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Carl Abs.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #3.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: October 3, 2014.