Bios
Lou Thesz
Nickname: The Iron Man
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 225 lbs.
From: St. Louis, MO
Birthday: Apr 24th
Pro Debut: April 5, 1934
Aliases: Louis Thesz, Don Louis Thesz
Feds Worked For: NWA-West, TSW, AWA, NWA, WWF, Alex Turk Promotions (Canada), Al Haft Sports (IL/OH), All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All Star Wrestling (OR/WA/Canada), All Star Wrestling (NE/SD), Atlantic Athletic Commission (MA), Big Time Wrestling (Canada), Big Time Wrestling (MI/OH), Capitol Wrestling Corporation, Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Clark Sports, Inc. (IL), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Daro, Inc. (CA), Eastern Sports Enterprises (NJ/NY), Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (Mexico), Fred Kohler Enterprises (IL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL/MS), Harry Light Booking Office (MI), International Championship Wrestling (KY/MS/TN), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Association (FL/GA/MA/NC/NJ/NY/OH), International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Louisiana Wrestling Enterprises (AL/LA/MS), Lucha Libre Internaciónal (Mexico), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Manhattan Wrestling Enterprises (NJ/NY/DC), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), Midwest Wrestling Association Ohio (OH), Mike London Sports (AZ/CO/NM), Minnesota Boxing & Wrestling Club (MN), Mississippi Valley Sports Club (MI/MO), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Northwest Wrestling Promotions (Canada), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Chicago (IL), NWA Detroit (MI), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA Indianapolis (IN), NWA Iowa (IA), NWA Los Angeles (CA), NWA Mid-America (AL/TN), NWA Montreal (Canada), NWA Nebraska (NE), NWA New Mexico (NM), NWA San Francisco (CA), NWA Upstate (NY), NWA Vancouver (Canada), P. L. Pinkie George Promotions (IA), Pacific Coast Athletic Club (CA), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Provincial Sports Association (Canada), Ray Fabiani Sports, Inc. (PA), Rocky Mountain Sports Enterprises (CO/NM), Southwest Sports (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Terminal Athletic Club (OH), Trans World Wrestling Alliance (PA), Tri-States Sports (ID/OR/WA), Universal Wrestling Association (Mexico), Upstate Athletic Club (NY), Western Athletic Club, Inc. (OR/WA/Canada), World Wrestling Alliance (IN), Wrestling Promotions, Inc. (AZ)
Finisher: The Thesz Press
Signature Moves: The Stepover Toehold Facelock (STF)
Career Highlights: -AJPW/NWA International Champion
-AWA (Boston) World Champion
-AWA (Indiana/Ohio) World Champion
-ICW United States Champion
-MWA Ohio Champion
-NAWA/WWA Champion
-NWA (Los Angeles) World Champion
-NWA (Mid-America) Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ Jackie Fargo)
-NWA Missouri Champion
-NWA (Montreal) World/International Champion (2x)
-NWA Rocky Mountain Champion
-NWA Southern Champion
-NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Champion (3x)
-NWA Texas Champion (2x)
-NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Tag Team Champion (w/ The Outlaw)
-NWA World Champion (8x)
-SWS Texas Champion (4x)
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Jack Brisco)
-TWWA Champion
-UWA Champion
-WWA Champion
-WWA International Television Tag Team Champion (w/ Art Thomas)
Affiliates: Jackie Fargo, The Outlaw, Jack Brisco, Art Thomas
Notable Feuds: Hans Schabnel, Jack Washburbn, Red McIntyre, Bill Longson, Ernie Dusek, Buddy Rogers, Fred Curry, Sr., Killer Kowalski, Gene Kiniski, Pat O'Connor, Bobby Managoff, Billy Watson, Buddy Rogers, Bill Longson, Enrique Torres, Johnny Valentine, Dick Hutton, Ray Eckert, Yvon Robert, Wilbur Snyder, Hans Schmidt
Other Facts: -Full name was Alouysius Martin Thesz. Some sources list it as Lajos Tiza.
-Born in Banat, MI. When he was 2, his family moved to St. Louis, MO. He later moved to Norfolk, VA
-Sometimes billed from Phoenix, AZ
-Considered by many the greatest technical wrestler ever.
-Was introduced to Greco-Roman wrestling at age 8. His father was a Greco-Roman wrestler in Hungary.
-Trained for pro wrestling by Ad Santel, Ed Lewis, & George Tragos
-Began wrestling at the age of 17 in and around the St. Louis area.
-In 1949, there were two champions, the National Wrestling Association champion (Thesz) and the National Wrestling Alliance champion (Orville Brown), who were scheduled for a match in St. Louis. Brown was in a terrible auto accident, that pretty much ended his career, so Thesz was declared the champion, which ended up being the dominant championship worldwide in pro wrestling through 1984. What's notable about this historically, is that Brown was supposed to win that match, not Thesz. Largely due to that title reign, Thesz went on to be regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time.
-Over the next 3 years, he would unify his title with the AWA (Boston) World Title and the NWA (Los Angeles) World Titles, creating a Unified World Title which he would hold for almost 8 years!
-Held the NWA world title from November 27, 1949, to March 15, 1956. This is the longest NWA World Title reign of anyone.
-With all title reigns combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days (3,749 days total), longer than anyone else in history.
-One of only 11 documented wrestlers to have competed in seven different decades. (1930s - 1990s)
-Was Nick Bockwinkel's first opponent.
-Wrestled his final match on December 26, 1990. He lost to Masahiro Chono. At the time of this bout, Thesz had an artificial hip, but was still able to compete.
-Worked as commissioner for the Korean-based WWA.
-Until the time of his death, Thesz remained active in a handful of charities and was president of the Cauliflower Alley Club.
-He made appearances at serious projects and/or promotions with regard to what he preferred to call "the truer forms of wrestling."
-Won Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Stanley Weston Award and PWI Editor's Award in 1982
-Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1993
-Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999
-Passed away April 28, 2002. His body was cremated and most of the ashes were spread on a riverbank in Missouri. Some were spread among the empty wine bottles and trash alongside the Sportatorium in Dallas, TX. Other portions were spread in Miami, Houston, & Hawaii.
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2002
-Posthumously inducted in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005
-His biography, "Hooker", was written by Kit Bauman with his assistance and was released in 2011
-Posthumously inducted into the Legacy Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016
-Posthumously inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
Week of Sun 06-02 to Sat: 06-08
- 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
- 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Champion
- 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Champion
- 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Champion
- 06-02 2012 Brandon Walker became the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-02 2017 Cody Burns def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
- 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2019 Brock Landers def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Champion
- 06-02 2019 Erica became the ASP Women's Champion
- 06-02 2024 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. Mr. Nasty & Eddie LeVaughn for the WFC Tag Team Champions
- 06-02 2024 Thrash def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 06-03 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 06-03 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 06-04 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
- 06-04 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
- 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
- 06-04 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-04 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Champion
- 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
- 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
- 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
- 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-06 1972 Tom Jones & Ivan Putski def. The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 06-06 1981 Jake Roberts def. The Grappler for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
- 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
- 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
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