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class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Wrestling career</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Wrestling_career-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Wrestling career subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Wrestling_career-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Amateur_wrestling" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Amateur_wrestling"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Amateur wrestling</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Amateur_wrestling-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Training_under_the_pros" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Training_under_the_pros"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Training under the pros</span> </div> </a> <ul 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class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#National_Wrestling_Alliance"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>National Wrestling Alliance</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-National_Wrestling_Alliance-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-NWA_Worlds_Heavyweight_Champion_and_dominance" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NWA_Worlds_Heavyweight_Champion_and_dominance"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.1</span> <span>NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and dominance</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NWA_Worlds_Heavyweight_Champion_and_dominance-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Final_world_championship_run_with_NWA" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Final_world_championship_run_with_NWA"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.2</span> <span>Final world championship run with NWA</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Final_world_championship_run_with_NWA-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Late_career" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Late_career"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.6</span> <span>Late career</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Late_career-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Later_life" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Later_life"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Later life</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Later_life-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Personal_life" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Personal_life"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Personal life</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Personal_life-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Legacy" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legacy"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Legacy</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Legacy-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Championships_and_accomplishments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Championships_and_accomplishments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Championships and accomplishments</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Championships_and_accomplishments-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Championships and accomplishments subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Championships_and_accomplishments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " 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Available in 18 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-18" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">18 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9B%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%98%CE%B5%CE%B6" title="Λου Θεζ – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Λου Θεζ" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%A3%A8_%ED%85%8C%EC%A6%88" title="루 테즈 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="루 테즈" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%84%D9%88_%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%B2" title="لو ثيسز – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="لو ثيسز" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%83%86%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA" title="ルー・テーズ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="ルー・テーズ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%B7,_%D0%9B%D1%83" title="Тез, Лу – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Тез, Лу" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sco mw-list-item"><a href="https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Scots" lang="sco" hreflang="sco" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Scots" data-language-local-name="Scots" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Scots</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz" title="Lou Thesz – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Lou Thesz" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" 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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">American professional wrestler (1916–2002)</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above fn">Lou Thesz</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg/220px-1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="247" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg/330px-1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg/440px-1953_St.Paul_Armory_Wrestling_Program_-_Lou_Thesz.jpg 2x" data-file-width="847" data-file-height="950" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">Thesz in 1953</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Birth name</th><td class="infobox-data nickname">Aloysius Martin Thesz</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1916-04-24</span>)</span>April 24, 1916<br /><a href="/wiki/Banat,_Michigan" title="Banat, Michigan">Banat, Michigan</a>, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Died</th><td class="infobox-data">April 28, 2002<span style="display:none">(2002-04-28)</span> (aged 86)<br /><a href="/wiki/Orlando,_Florida" title="Orlando, Florida">Orlando, Florida</a>, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Cause of death</th><td class="infobox-data">Complications caused by <a href="/wiki/Triple_bypass_surgery" class="mw-redirect" title="Triple bypass surgery">Triple bypass surgery</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Children</th><td class="infobox-data">3</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="line-height: 1.5em"><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">Professional wrestling career</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Ring_name" title="Ring name">Ring name(s)</a></span></th><td class="infobox-data">Lou Thesz</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Billed height</th><td class="infobox-data">6 ft 2 in (188 cm)<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Billed weight</th><td class="infobox-data">225 lb (102 kg)<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Billed from</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Louis, Missouri">St. Louis, Missouri</a><sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Trained by</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Ad_Santel" title="Ad Santel">Ad Santel</a><sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br /><a href="/wiki/Ed_Lewis_(wrestler)" title="Ed Lewis (wrestler)">Ed Lewis</a><sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br /><a href="/wiki/George_Tragos" title="George Tragos">George Tragos</a><sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br /><a href="/wiki/Peter_Sauer" title="Peter Sauer">Ray Steele</a><sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Debut</th><td class="infobox-data">1932<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Retired</th><td class="infobox-data">1990</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546" /></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-subheader" style="font-weight:bold;">Military service</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Allegiance</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="13" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png 2x" data-file-width="69" data-file-height="39" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Service <wbr />/ branch</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/United_States_Army" title="United States Army">United States Army</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Years of service</th><td class="infobox-data">1944–1946</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Battles / wars</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546" /><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size: 100%;"><div class="fn" style="font-size:125%;">Lou Thesz</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546" /></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="color: #202122; background:lavender;line-height:normal;padding:0.2em;">3rd President of the <a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Cauliflower Alley Club">Cauliflower Alley Club</a></th><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546" /></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data" style="border-bottom:none"><span class="nowrap"><b>In office</b></span><br />1992–2000</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546" /></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left"><span class="nowrap">Preceded by</span></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Archie_Moore" title="Archie Moore">Archie Moore</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="text-align:left"><span class="nowrap">Succeeded by</span></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Red_Bastien" title="Red Bastien">Red Bastien</a></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below" style="border-top: 1px solid right;"><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output 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0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks" style="border: 4px double #3633FF;border-spacing:0.2em 0;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of <a href="/wiki/Category:Professional_wrestling" title="Category:Professional wrestling">a series</a> on</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">Professional wrestling</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wrestling_-_Sikeston,_MO_1938_-_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg/250px-Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg/330px-Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg/500px-Wrestling_-_Sikeston%2C_MO_1938_-_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1300" data-file-height="865" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">History</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_professional_wrestling" title="History of professional wrestling">History of professional wrestling</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Template:Years_in_professional_wrestling" title="Template:Years in professional wrestling">By year</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Early_wrestling_championships" title="Early wrestling championships">Early wrestling championships</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gold_Dust_Trio" title="Gold Dust Trio">Gold Dust Trio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1980s_professional_wrestling_boom" title="1980s professional wrestling boom">1980s boom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Black_Saturday_(professional_wrestling)" title="Black Saturday (professional wrestling)">Black Saturday</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NWA_World_Title_Tournament" title="NWA World Title Tournament">1994 NWA World Title Tournament</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_War" title="Monday Night War">Monday Night War</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Attitude_Era" title="Attitude Era">Attitude Era</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2000_All_Japan_Pro_Wrestling_mass_exodus" title="2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exodus">2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exodus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Invasion_(professional_wrestling)" title="The Invasion (professional wrestling)">The Invasion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wednesday_Night_Wars" title="Wednesday Night Wars">Wednesday Night Wars</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Notable promotions</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/All_Elite_Wrestling" title="All Elite Wrestling">All Elite Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/All_Japan_Pro_Wrestling" title="All Japan Pro Wrestling">All Japan Pro Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/All_Japan_Women%27s_Pro-Wrestling" title="All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling">All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/All_Star_Wrestling" title="All Star Wrestling">All Star Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/American_Wrestling_Association" title="American Wrestling Association">American Wrestling Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consejo_Mundial_de_Lucha_Libre" title="Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre">Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Extreme_Championship_Wrestling" title="Extreme Championship Wrestling">Extreme Championship Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DDT_Pro-Wrestling" title="DDT Pro-Wrestling">DDT Pro-Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frontier_Martial-Arts_Wrestling" title="Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling">Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gorgeous_Ladies_of_Wrestling" title="Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling">Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Crockett_Promotions" title="Jim Crockett Promotions">Jim Crockett Promotions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joint_Promotions" class="mw-redirect" title="Joint Promotions">Joint Promotions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lucha_Libre_AAA_Worldwide" title="Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide">Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Major_League_Wrestling" title="Major League Wrestling">Major League Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maple_Leaf_Wrestling" title="Maple Leaf Wrestling">Maple Leaf Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Alliance" title="National Wrestling Alliance">National Wrestling Alliance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling" title="New Japan Pro-Wrestling">New Japan Pro-Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_Noah" title="Pro Wrestling Noah">Pro Wrestling Noah</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ring_of_Honor" title="Ring of Honor">Ring of Honor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soft_Ground_Wrestling" title="Soft Ground Wrestling">Soft Ground Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stampede_Wrestling" title="Stampede Wrestling">Stampede Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tokyo_Joshi_Pro-Wrestling" title="Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling">Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Total_Nonstop_Action_Wrestling" title="Total Nonstop Action Wrestling">Total Nonstop Action Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UWF_International" title="UWF International">UWF International</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Women_of_Wrestling" title="Women of Wrestling">Women of Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Championship_Wrestling" title="World Championship Wrestling">World Championship Wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Wonder_Ring_Stardom" title="World Wonder Ring Stardom">World Wonder Ring Stardom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WWE" title="WWE">WWE</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Raw_(WWE_brand)" title="Raw (WWE brand)">Raw</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SmackDown_(WWE_brand)" title="SmackDown (WWE brand)">SmackDown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NXT_(WWE_brand)" title="NXT (WWE brand)">NXT</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evolve_(WWE_brand)" class="mw-redirect" title="Evolve (WWE brand)">Evolve</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_promotions" title="List of professional wrestling promotions">Others</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Notable people</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"><small><b>Early 20th Century</b></small> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bert_Assirati" title="Bert Assirati">Bert Assirati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Billy_Riley" title="Billy Riley">Billy Riley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Billy_Sandow" title="Billy Sandow">Billy Sandow</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ed_Lewis_(wrestler)" title="Ed Lewis (wrestler)">Ed Lewis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frank_Gotch" title="Frank Gotch">Frank Gotch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_Hackenschmidt" title="George Hackenschmidt">George Hackenschmidt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Great_Gama" title="The Great Gama">The Great Gama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_Pfefer" title="Jack Pfefer">Jack Pfefer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joe_Stecher" title="Joe Stecher">Joe Stecher</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Londos" title="Jim Londos">Jim Londos</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orville_Brown" title="Orville Brown">Orville Brown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Salvador_Lutteroth" title="Salvador Lutteroth">Salvador Lutteroth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toots_Mondt" title="Toots Mondt">Toots Mondt</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>Mid 20th Century</b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Blue_Demon" title="Blue Demon">Blue Demon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bruno_Sammartino" title="Bruno Sammartino">Bruno Sammartino</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddy_Rogers_(wrestler)" title="Buddy Rogers (wrestler)">Buddy Rogers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/El_Santo" title="El Santo">El Santo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Fabulous_Moolah" title="The Fabulous Moolah">The Fabulous Moolah</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gene_Kiniski" title="Gene Kiniski">Gene Kiniski</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gorgeous_George" title="Gorgeous George">Gorgeous George</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karl_Gotch" title="Karl Gotch">Karl Gotch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mildred_Burke" title="Mildred Burke">Mildred Burke</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sam_Muchnick" title="Sam Muchnick">Sam Muchnick</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stu_Hart" title="Stu Hart">Stu Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Verne_Gagne" title="Verne Gagne">Verne Gagne</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>1970s </b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Akira_Maeda" title="Akira Maeda">Akira Maeda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant" title="André the Giant">André the Giant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antonio_Inoki" title="Antonio Inoki">Antonio Inoki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shirley_Crabtree" class="mw-redirect" title="Shirley Crabtree">Big Daddy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Billy_Robinson" title="Billy Robinson">Billy Robinson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carlos_Col%C3%B3n" title="Carlos Colón">Carlos Colón</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk_Jr." title="Dory Funk Jr.">Dory Funk Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dusty_Rhodes" title="Dusty Rhodes">Dusty Rhodes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/El_Signo" title="El Signo">El Signo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Giant_Baba" title="Giant Baba">Giant Baba</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gordon_Solie" title="Gordon Solie">Gordon Solie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_Brisco" title="Jack Brisco">Jack Brisco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mil_M%C3%A1scaras" title="Mil Máscaras">Mil Máscaras</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Negro_Navarro" title="Negro Navarro">Negro Navarro</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel" title="Nick Bockwinkel">Nick Bockwinkel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Funk" title="Terry Funk">Terry Funk</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>1980s</b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bobby_Heenan" title="Bobby Heenan">Bobby Heenan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crush_Gals" title="Crush Gals">Crush Gals</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dynamite_Kid" title="Dynamite Kid">Dynamite Kid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/El_Texano" title="El Texano">El Texano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Genichiro_Tenryu" title="Genichiro Tenryu">Genichiro Tenryu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hulk_Hogan" title="Hulk Hogan">Hulk Hogan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Crockett_Jr." title="Jim Crockett Jr.">Jim Crockett Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Randy_Savage" title="Randy Savage">Randy Savage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ric_Flair" title="Ric Flair">Ric Flair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat" title="Ricky Steamboat">Ricky Steamboat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Road_Warriors" title="Road Warriors">Road Warriors</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roddy_Piper" title="Roddy Piper">Roddy Piper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Satoru_Sayama" title="Satoru Sayama">Satoru "Tiger Mask" Sayama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stan_Hansen" title="Stan Hansen">Stan Hansen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vince_McMahon" title="Vince McMahon">Vince McMahon</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>1990s</b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Akira_Taue" title="Akira Taue">Akira Taue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antonio_Pe%C3%B1a" title="Antonio Peña">Antonio Peña</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atsushi_Onita" title="Atsushi Onita">Atsushi Onita</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bret_Hart" title="Bret Hart">Bret Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eric_Bischoff" title="Eric Bischoff">Eric Bischoff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keiji_Muto" title="Keiji Muto">Keiji "The Great Muta" Muto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Ross" title="Jim Ross">Jim Ross</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jushin_Liger" title="Jushin Liger">Jushin Liger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenta_Kobashi" title="Kenta Kobashi">Kenta Kobashi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kevin_Nash" title="Kevin Nash">Kevin Nash</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manami_Toyota" title="Manami Toyota">Manami Toyota</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mitsuharu_Misawa" title="Mitsuharu Misawa">Mitsuharu Misawa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Heyman" title="Paul Heyman">Paul Heyman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scott_Hall" title="Scott Hall">Scott Hall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shawn_Michaels" title="Shawn Michaels">Shawn Michaels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sting_(wrestler)" title="Sting (wrestler)">Sting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin" title="Stone Cold Steve Austin">Stone Cold Steve Austin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson" title="Dwayne Johnson">The Rock</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Undertaker" title="The Undertaker">The Undertaker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toshiaki_Kawada" title="Toshiaki Kawada">Toshiaki Kawada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Triple_H" title="Triple H">Triple H</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vince_Russo" title="Vince Russo">Vince Russo</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>2000s</b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AJ_Styles" title="AJ Styles">AJ Styles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dave_Bautista" title="Dave Bautista">Batista</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brock_Lesnar" title="Brock Lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Jericho" title="Chris Jericho">Chris Jericho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eddie_Guerrero" title="Eddie Guerrero">Eddie Guerrero</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edge_(wrestler)" title="Edge (wrestler)">Edge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hiroshi_Tanahashi" title="Hiroshi Tanahashi">Hiroshi Tanahashi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jeff_Hardy" title="Jeff Hardy">Jeff Hardy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jeff_Jarrett" title="Jeff Jarrett">Jeff Jarrett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Cena" title="John Cena">John Cena</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kurt_Angle" title="Kurt Angle">Kurt Angle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/M%C3%ADstico" title="Místico">Místico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Randy_Orton" title="Randy Orton">Randy Orton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rey_Mysterio" title="Rey Mysterio">Rey Mysterio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rob_Van_Dam" title="Rob Van Dam">Rob Van Dam</a></li></ul> <p><small><b>2010s and 2020s</b></small> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Becky_Lynch" title="Becky Lynch">Becky Lynch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bryan_Danielson" title="Bryan Danielson">Bryan Danielson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CM_Punk" title="CM Punk">CM Punk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cody_Rhodes" title="Cody Rhodes">Cody Rhodes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jon_Moxley" title="Jon Moxley">Jon Moxley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kazuchika_Okada" title="Kazuchika Okada">Kazuchika Okada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenny_Omega" title="Kenny Omega">Kenny Omega</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Khan" title="Nick Khan">Nick Khan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roman_Reigns" title="Roman Reigns">Roman Reigns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rossy_Ogawa" title="Rossy Ogawa">Rossy Ogawa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seth_Rollins" title="Seth Rollins">Seth Rollins</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tony_Khan" title="Tony Khan">Tony Khan</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">By region</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Australia" title="Professional wrestling in Australia">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighting_Cholitas" title="Fighting Cholitas">Bolivia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Canada" title="Professional wrestling in Canada">Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_China" title="Professional wrestling in China">China</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_France" title="Professional wrestling in France">France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_India" title="Professional wrestling in India">India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Iran" class="mw-redirect" title="Professional wrestling in Iran">Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Israel" title="Professional wrestling in Israel">Israel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Japan" title="Professional wrestling in Japan">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lucha_libre" title="Lucha libre">Mexico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_New_Zealand" title="Professional wrestling in New Zealand">New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Puerto_Rico" title="Professional wrestling in Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Russia" title="Professional wrestling in Russia">Russia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Saudi_Arabia" class="mw-redirect" title="Professional wrestling in Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_the_United_States" title="Professional wrestling in the United States">United States</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Styles</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/British_wrestling" class="mw-redirect" title="British wrestling">British wrestling</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/All-in_professional_wrestling" title="All-in professional wrestling">All-in style</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Admiral-Lord_Mountevans_rules" title="Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules">Mountevans rules</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cruiserweight_(professional_wrestling)" title="Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)">Cruiserweight</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/X_Division" title="X Division">X Division</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_France" title="Professional wrestling in France">French catch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hardcore_wrestling" title="Hardcore wrestling">Hardcore</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intergender_wrestling" title="Intergender wrestling">Intergender</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Lucha_libre" title="Lucha libre">Lucha libre</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Midget_wrestling" title="Midget wrestling">Midget</a> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Mini-Estrella" title="Mini-Estrella">Mini-Estrella</a></i></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Puroresu" title="Puroresu">Puroresu</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shoot_wrestling" title="Shoot wrestling">Shoot style</a> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/U-Kei_(martial_arts)" title="U-Kei (martial arts)">U-Kei</a></i></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_professional_wrestling" title="Women's professional wrestling">Women's</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Concepts</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li>Attire <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_mask" title="Wrestling mask">Masks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_singlet" title="Wrestling singlet">Wrestling singlet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_shoe" title="Wrestling shoe">Wrestling shoe</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blading_(professional_wrestling)" title="Blading (professional wrestling)">Blading</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_championship" title="Professional wrestling championship">Championship</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:World_heavyweight_wrestling_championships" title="Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships">World Heavyweight</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dirt_sheet" title="Dirt sheet">Dirt sheet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms" title="Glossary of professional wrestling terms">Glossary of terms</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kayfabe" title="Kayfabe">Kayfabe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gimmick_(professional_wrestling)" title="Gimmick (professional wrestling)">Gimmick</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Face_(professional_wrestling)" title="Face (professional wrestling)">Face</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heel_(professional_wrestling)" title="Heel (professional wrestling)">Heel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)" title="Shoot (professional wrestling)">Shoot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heat_(professional_wrestling)" title="Heat (professional wrestling)">Heat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Job_(professional_wrestling)" title="Job (professional wrestling)">Job</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Push_(professional_wrestling)" title="Push (professional wrestling)">Push</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/House_show" title="House show">House show</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types" title="Professional wrestling match types">Match types</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Music_in_professional_wrestling" title="Music in professional wrestling">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ring_name" title="Ring name">Ring name</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sports_entertainment" title="Sports entertainment">Sports entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tag_team" title="Tag team">Tag team</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Professional_wrestling_weight_classes" title="Category:Professional wrestling weight classes">Weight classes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_ring" title="Wrestling ring">Wrestling ring</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Culture</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Backyard_wrestling" title="Backyard wrestling">Backyard wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Cauliflower Alley Club">Cauliflower Alley Club</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_ear" title="Cauliflower ear">Cauliflower ear</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_wrestling-based_comic_books" title="List of wrestling-based comic books">Comic books</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fantasy_wrestling" title="Fantasy wrestling">Fantasy wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Professional_wrestling_films" title="Category:Professional wrestling films">Films</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Lucha_libre_films" title="Category:Lucha libre films">Luchador films</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_magazines" title="List of professional wrestling magazines">Magazines</a></li> <li>Paintings <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Wrestlers_(Courbet)" title="The Wrestlers (Courbet)">Gustave Courbet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wrestlers_(Eakins)" title="Wrestlers (Eakins)">Thomas Eakins</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Wrestlers_(Etty)" title="The Wrestlers (Etty)">William Etty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Wrestlers_(Luks)" title="The Wrestlers (Luks)">George Luks</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rib_(professional_wrestling)" title="Rib (professional wrestling)">Rib</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ribera_Steakhouse" title="Ribera Steakhouse">Ribera Steakhouse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ten-bell_salute" title="Ten-bell salute">Ten-bell salute</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_video_games" title="List of professional wrestling video games">Video games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_personalities_in_politics" title="Professional wrestling personalities in politics">Wrestling personalities in politics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zubaz" title="Zubaz">Zubaz</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent; border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Media outlets</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Botchamania" title="Botchamania">Botchamania</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Box_y_Lucha" title="Box y Lucha">Box y Lucha</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Ring" title="Dark Side of the Ring">Dark Side of the Ring</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Fighting_Spirit_Magazine" title="Fighting Spirit Magazine">Fighting Spirit Magazine</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Live_Audio_Wrestling" title="Live Audio Wrestling">Live Audio Wrestling</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/OSW_Review" title="OSW Review">OSW Review</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Power_Slam" title="Power Slam">Power Slam</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated" title="Pro Wrestling Illustrated">Pro Wrestling Illustrated</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Solowrestling.com" title="Solowrestling.com">Solowrestling</a></i></li> 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title="Owen Hart">Death of Owen Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mass_Transit_incident_(professional_wrestling)" title="Mass Transit incident (professional wrestling)">Mass Transit incident</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Screwjob" title="Montreal Screwjob">Montreal Screwjob</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bruiser_Brody#Death" title="Bruiser Brody">Murder of Bruiser Brody</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Murder_of_Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Murder of Rikidōzan">Murder of Rikidōzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_premature_professional_wrestling_deaths" title="List of premature professional wrestling deaths">Premature deaths</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ring_boy_scandal" title="Ring boy scandal">Ring boy scandal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Speaking_Out_movement" title="Speaking Out movement">Speaking Out</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/United_States_v._McMahon" title="United States v. 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border-top:1px solid #3633FF; text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Related topics</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content hlist" style="padding-top:0;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Combat_sport" title="Combat sport">Combat sport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comparison_of_professional_wrestling_and_mixed_martial_arts" title="Comparison of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts">Comparison of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Martial_arts" title="Martial arts">Martial arts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mock_combat" title="Mock combat">Mock combat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pankration" title="Pankration">Pankration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shootfighting" title="Shootfighting">Shootfighting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sport_wrestling" class="mw-redirect" title="Sport wrestling">Sport wrestling</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amateur_wrestling" title="Amateur wrestling">Amateur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catch_wrestling" title="Catch wrestling">Catch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shoot_wrestling" title="Shoot wrestling">Shoot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Submission_wrestling" title="Submission wrestling">Submission</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lancashire_wrestling" title="Lancashire wrestling">Lancashire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luta_Livre" title="Luta Livre">Luta Livre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pehlwani" title="Pehlwani">Pehlwani</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stage_combat" title="Stage combat">Stage combat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theatre" title="Theatre">Theatre</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Theatresports" title="Theatresports">Theatresports</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Professional_wrestling_sidebar" title="Template:Professional wrestling sidebar"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Professional_wrestling_sidebar" title="Template talk:Professional wrestling sidebar"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Professional_wrestling_sidebar" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Professional wrestling sidebar"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Aloysius Martin Thesz</b> (April 24, 1916 – April 28, 2002), known by the <a href="/wiki/Ring_name" title="Ring name">ring name</a> <b>Lou Thesz</b>, was an American <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">professional wrestler</a> and wrestling coach. Considered to be one of the last true <a href="/wiki/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)#Shoot_fighting" title="Shoot (professional wrestling)">shooters</a> (legitimate wrestlers) in professional wrestling<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Wrestling_Tough_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wrestling_Tough-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and described as the "quintessential <a href="/wiki/Athlete" title="Athlete">athlete</a>" and a "polished warrior who could break a man in two if pushed the wrong way",<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers and wrestling world champions in history, and possibly the last globally accepted world champion.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thesz won various version of the World Heavyweight Championship seven times, including <a href="/wiki/List_of_NWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions" title="List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions">three reigns</a> as <a href="/wiki/NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NWA World Heavyweight Championship">NWA World Heavyweight Champion</a>, which he held for a combined total of ten years, three months and nine days (3,749 days) – longer than anyone else in history. In <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>, Thesz was known as the "<i>God of Wrestling'</i>" (like his Belgian counterpart, <a href="/wiki/Karl_Gotch" title="Karl Gotch">Karl Gotch</a>) and was called "<i>Tetsujin</i>", which means "Ironman", in respect for his speed, conditioning and expertise in <a href="/wiki/Catch_wrestling" title="Catch wrestling">catch wrestling</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Alongside Karl Gotch and <a href="/wiki/Billy_Robinson" title="Billy Robinson">Billy Robinson</a>, Thesz later helped train young <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_in_Japan" title="Professional wrestling in Japan">Japanese wrestlers</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial artists</a> in catch wrestling.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In his final years, he was head coach at the <a href="/wiki/CACC_Snake_Pit_Japan" class="mw-redirect" title="CACC Snake Pit Japan">CACC Snake Pit Japan</a><span class="noprint" style="font-size:85%; font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.A.C.C.%E3%82%B9%E3%83%8D%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3" class="extiw" title="ja:C.A.C.C.スネークピットジャパン">ja</a>]</span>. </p><p>A successful <a href="/wiki/Amateur_wrestling" title="Amateur wrestling">amateur wrestler</a> in his youth and an ardent supporter of the sport in his later years, he helped establish, in addition to being a member of its inaugural class, the <a href="/wiki/George_Tragos/Lou_Thesz_Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a>, which honors successful professional wrestlers with a strong amateur wrestling background, and is a charter member of several other halls of fame, including: <a href="/wiki/WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="WCW Hall of Fame">WCW</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_Hall_of_Fame" title="Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame"><i>Wrestling Observer Newsletter</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" title="Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum">Professional Wrestling</a> and <a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame#Legacy_inductees" title="WWE Hall of Fame">WWE's Legacy Wing</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_life">Early life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Aloysius Martin Thesz was born in <a href="/wiki/Banat,_Michigan" title="Banat, Michigan">Banat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a> on April 24, 1916.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His father, Martin, was a <a href="/wiki/Working_class" title="Working class">working-class</a> shoemaker of <a href="/wiki/Hungarians" title="Hungarians">Hungarian</a> and <a href="/wiki/Germans" title="Germans">German</a> descent;<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> his mother, Katherine (<a href="/wiki/Birth_name" title="Birth name">née</a> <a href="/wiki/Schultz" title="Schultz">Schultz</a>), also of German descent, hailed from the <a href="/wiki/Austria-Hungary" title="Austria-Hungary">Austro-Hungarian Empire</a>. His family moved to <a href="/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Louis, Missouri">St. Louis</a> in <a href="/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a> when he was a young boy.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz and his three sisters grew up speaking <a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a> at home and he did not start learning <a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a> until he entered kindergarten at age five. <a href="/wiki/Hungarian_language" title="Hungarian language">Hungarian</a> was also spoken in the Thesz household but the children did not learn it. In addition to public school, he also had to attend German school every Saturday until he was eight. He was fluent in German and English.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Wrestling_career">Wrestling career</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Wrestling career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Amateur_wrestling">Amateur wrestling</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Amateur wrestling"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Thesz's father was a national <a href="/wiki/Greco-Roman_wrestling" title="Greco-Roman wrestling">Greco-Roman wrestling</a> middleweight champion in his native Hungary and introduced Lou to the sport as a young boy. At eight years old, Lou began a tough and thorough education in Greco-Roman wrestling under his father, which provided the fundamentals for his later success. He trained in Greco-Roman wrestling under the guidance of his father for several years until transitioning to <a href="/wiki/Folkstyle_wrestling" class="mw-redirect" title="Folkstyle wrestling">folkstyle wrestling</a> in high school, where he was a successful competitor on his school team. He also trained in <a href="/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> as a teenager. Thesz dropped out of high school by age 14 to work at his father's shoe repair business and began training in <a href="/wiki/Freestyle_wrestling" title="Freestyle wrestling">freestyle wrestling</a> at <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_High_School_(St._Louis,_Missouri)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cleveland High School (St. Louis, Missouri)">Cleveland High School</a> due to his father knowing the wrestling coaches. He quickly became an accomplished freestyle wrestler, competing in city-wide intramurals and regional tournaments in the 160 lb division. At aged 16, Thesz then gained further training in freestyle wrestling under John Zastro. Thesz credited Zastro for elevating his wrestling and became his regular <a href="/wiki/Sparring" title="Sparring">sparring</a> partner. Thesz won several amateur titles and became one of the most dominant freestyle wrestlers of his weight class in the county, and caught the eye of Tom Packs, a professional wrestling promoter in St. Louis. Packs met with Thesz and asked if he wanted to wrestle professionally and Thesz accepted. Thesz later said he would have continued his amateur career had he not been asked.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Packs sent Lou to <a href="/wiki/George_Tragos" title="George Tragos">George Tragos</a> for further coaching. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Training_under_the_pros">Training under the pros</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Training under the pros"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:George_Kondylis_1936.jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/George_Kondylis_1936.jpeg/250px-George_Kondylis_1936.jpeg" decoding="async" width="160" height="298" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/George_Kondylis_1936.jpeg/330px-George_Kondylis_1936.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="2232" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/George_Tragos" title="George Tragos">George Tragos</a> trained Thesz for nearly four years at the <i>National Gym</i> in <a href="/wiki/St._Louis" title="St. Louis">St. Louis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>George Tragos, a feared Greek Olympic freestyle wrestler, <a href="/wiki/Catch_wrestling" title="Catch wrestling">catch wrestler</a> and wrestling coach at the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Missouri" title="University of Missouri">University of Missouri</a>, took a liking to Thesz and respected his willingness to work hard and follow instruction. He trained under the watchful eye of Tragos for nearly four years at the National Gym in St. Louis.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tragos, who had a well-deserved reputation as a dangerous catch wrestler, decried the emerging performance-related aspects of the sport and instead coached young men to be true, authentic professional wrestlers.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tragos specifically taught Thesz <a href="/wiki/Submission_wrestling" title="Submission wrestling">submission wrestling</a> and how to wrestle from the bottom. Thesz remembered Tragos saying, "any fool can start on top. If you start at the bottom, you learn to wrestle." <a href="/wiki/Peter_Sauer" title="Peter Sauer">Ray Steele</a> also served as a coach and mentor to Thesz during this time.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thesz also studied under German-born catch wrestler <a href="/wiki/Ad_Santel" title="Ad Santel">Ad Santel</a>, who was known for his feud with the <a href="/wiki/Kodokan_Judo_Institute" title="Kodokan Judo Institute">Kodokan judo</a> school.<sup id="cite_ref-ECW_Press_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ECW_Press-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz studied under Santel for up to five days every week during a 6-month stay in <a href="/wiki/California" title="California">California</a> and remembered it being the "most intensive training period of my life". Throughout his career, Thesz continued to train under Santel whenever he was in the California area. The training he received under Santel would help establish Thesz as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the world.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thesz later met legendary former champion <a href="/wiki/Ed_%22Strangler%22_Lewis" class="mw-redirect" title="Ed "Strangler" Lewis">Ed "Strangler" Lewis</a> in St. Louis and was encouraged to challenge Lewis to a friendly contest. Although Thesz lost the 15-minute contest, Lewis was impressed by Thesz's skills and later became his manager and trainer.<sup id="cite_ref-Lou_Thesz_Interview_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lou_Thesz_Interview-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Lewis later described Thesz as "lithe as a panther and exceptionally fast. He moves with the speed of a lightweight."<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As his trainer, Lewis taught Thesz extremely painful and potentially crippling submission holds that would help him when facing opponents that refused to lose.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Early_professional_career">Early professional career</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Early professional career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg/220px-Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg/330px-Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg/440px-Wrestling._The_Angel...Lou_Thesz_BAnQ_P48S1P06188.jpg 2x" data-file-width="960" data-file-height="589" /></a><figcaption>Lou Thesz tied up with <a href="/wiki/The_French_Angel" title="The French Angel">Maurice "The French Angel" Tillet</a> in 1940</figcaption></figure> <p>Thesz made his <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">professional wrestling</a> debut at the age of 17, performing in undercard matches around the St. Louis territory whilst still working at his father's shoe repair shop. However, Thesz spent most of his early career honing his craft under the tutelage of George Tragos in both catch and freestyle wrestling, and later with <a href="/wiki/Ad_Santel" title="Ad Santel">Ad Santel</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Say_Uncle!:_Catch-As-Catch-Can_Wres_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Say_Uncle!:_Catch-As-Catch-Can_Wres-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When not taking a local booking, Tragos arranged Thesz with competitive workouts with top <a href="/wiki/Collegiate_wrestling" title="Collegiate wrestling">collegiate</a> wrestlers in the region. Thesz then worked the <a href="/wiki/Iowa" title="Iowa">Iowa</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a>, <a href="/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a> and <a href="/wiki/California" title="California">California</a> territory, continuing to compete on the undercards while honing his craft on the road. Thesz notably worked out with top amateurs trained by Billy Thom, head coach of the <a href="/wiki/Wrestling_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics" title="Wrestling at the 1936 Summer Olympics">1936 U.S. Olympic wrestling team</a>, and old carnival wrestlers around the region including Earl Wampler, who became his mentor and occasional workout partner on the road.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="AWA_and_National_Wrestling_Association_World_Heavyweight_Champion">AWA and National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: AWA and National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>By 1937, Thesz had become one of the biggest stars in the St. Louis territory, and on December 29 he defeated <a href="/wiki/Everett_Marshall" title="Everett Marshall">Everett Marshall</a> for the <a href="/wiki/AWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Boston_version)" title="AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version)">American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship</a> in a grueling three hour match,<sup id="cite_ref-awabos_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-awabos-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the first of many <a href="/wiki/World_heavyweight_titles" class="mw-redirect" title="World heavyweight titles">world heavyweight titles</a>, which also made Thesz became the youngest world heavyweight champion in history, at the age of 21.<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There is speculation that this match may have been a legitimate <a href="/wiki/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)" title="Shoot (professional wrestling)">shoot</a> contest.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz later told wrestling historian Mike Chapman that he was there to wrestle competitively, which he did, and ended up winning the match, but was unsure if he actually won or Marshall <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#Drop" title="Glossary of professional wrestling terms">dropped</a> the title to him.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He later dropped the title to <a href="/wiki/Steve_%22Crusher%22_Casey" class="mw-redirect" title="Steve "Crusher" Casey">Steve "Crusher" Casey</a> in <a href="/wiki/Boston" title="Boston">Boston</a> six weeks later. He won the <a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Championship_(National_Wrestling_Association)" title="World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)">National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship</a> in 1939, once again defeating Marshall, and again in 1948, defeating <a href="/wiki/Bill_Longson" class="mw-redirect" title="Bill Longson">Bill Longson</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="National_Wrestling_Alliance">National Wrestling Alliance</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: National Wrestling Alliance"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1948, the <a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Alliance" title="National Wrestling Alliance">National Wrestling Alliance</a> (NWA) was formed, the purpose being to create one world champion for all the various wrestling territories throughout <a href="/wiki/North_America" title="North America">North America</a>. <a href="/wiki/Orville_Brown" title="Orville Brown">Orville Brown</a>, the reigning Midwest World Heavyweight Championship holder, was named the first champion. Thesz, at the time, was head of a promotional combine that included fellow wrestling champions Longson, <a href="/wiki/Bobby_Managoff" title="Bobby Managoff">Bobby Managoff</a>, Canadian promoter <a href="/wiki/Frank_Tunney" title="Frank Tunney">Frank Tunney</a> and <a href="/wiki/Eddie_Quinn" title="Eddie Quinn">Eddie Quinn</a>, who promoted in the St. Louis territory where NWA promoter <a href="/wiki/Sam_Muchnick" title="Sam Muchnick">Sam Muchnick</a> was running opposition. Quinn and Muchnick ended their promotional war, and Thesz' promotion was absorbed into the NWA. Part of the deal was a <a href="/wiki/Championship_unification" title="Championship unification">title unification</a> match between Brown and Thesz, who held the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, just weeks before the scheduled bout, Brown was involved in an automobile accident that ended his career, and he was forced to <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#Vacant" title="Glossary of professional wrestling terms">vacate</a> the <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_championship" title="Professional wrestling championship">championship</a> and the NWA awarded the title to the No. 1 contender, Thesz. Thesz was chosen for his skill as a "hooker" to prevent double crosses by would-be <a href="/wiki/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)" title="Shoot (professional wrestling)">shooters</a> who would deviate from the <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#Work" title="Glossary of professional wrestling terms">planned finish</a> for personal glory. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="NWA_Worlds_Heavyweight_Champion_and_dominance">NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and dominance</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and dominance"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_(Strangler)_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg/170px-Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="210" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg/255px-Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg/340px-Champion_Lou_Thesz_and_Manager_Ed_%28Strangler%29_Lewis_-_Sports_Facts_-_21_April_1953_Minneapolis_Armory_Wrestling_Program.jpg 2x" data-file-width="970" data-file-height="1198" /></a><figcaption>Lou Thesz in 1953, managed by <a href="/wiki/Ed_Lewis_(wrestler)" title="Ed Lewis (wrestler)">Ed "The Strangler" Lewis.</a></figcaption></figure> <p>Between 1949 and 1956, Thesz set out to unify all the existing world titles into the <a href="/wiki/NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NWA World Heavyweight Championship">National Wrestling Alliance Worlds Heavyweight Championship</a>. In 1952, he defeated Baron Michele Leone in <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles" title="Los Angeles">Los Angeles</a> for the California World Heavyweight title and became the closest any wrestler had been to being <a href="/wiki/Undisputed_championship_(professional_wrestling)" title="Undisputed championship (professional wrestling)">undisputed</a> world heavyweight wrestling champion since <a href="/wiki/Danno_O%27Mahony" title="Danno O'Mahony">Danno O'Mahony</a> in 1936. Thesz finally dropped the title to <a href="/wiki/Whipper_Billy_Watson" title="Whipper Billy Watson">Whipper Billy Watson</a> in 1956, and took several months off to recuperate from an <a href="/wiki/Ankle" title="Ankle">ankle</a> injury. He regained the title from Watson seven months later. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:LouThesz.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/LouThesz.jpg/170px-LouThesz.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="222" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/LouThesz.jpg/255px-LouThesz.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/LouThesz.jpg/340px-LouThesz.jpg 2x" data-file-width="358" data-file-height="468" /></a><figcaption>Thesz, <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1950</span>s</figcaption></figure> <p>1957 was an important year for Thesz; on June 14, the first taint to Thesz' claim of undisputed champion occurred in a match with gymnast-turned-wrestling star, <a href="/wiki/Edouard_Carpentier" class="mw-redirect" title="Edouard Carpentier">Edouard Carpentier</a>. The match was tied at <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types#Variations_of_singles_matches" title="Professional wrestling match types">two falls</a> apiece when Thesz claimed a <a href="/wiki/Legit_(professional_wrestling)" class="mw-redirect" title="Legit (professional wrestling)">legitimate</a> back injury and forfeit the last fall, thus Carpentier was declared the winner; however, the NWA chose not to recognize the title change, deciding a championship could not change hands due to injury. Despite the NWA's decision, there were some promotions who continued to recognize Carpentier's claim to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. That same year, Thesz became the first wrestler to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>, wrestling <a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a> in a series of 60-minute <a href="/wiki/Draw_(professional_wrestling)" class="mw-redirect" title="Draw (professional wrestling)">draws</a>. Their first match notably started as a legitimate contest as Rikidōzan believed himself to be a far superior wrestler. Thesz quickly dominated Rikidōzan and easily beat him to win the first fall. Rikidōzan accepted defeat and they worked the rest of the match. Their bouts popularized professional wrestling in Japan, gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. Realizing he could make more money in the land of the rising sun, Thesz petitioned to the NWA promoters to regularly defend the <a href="/wiki/Championship_belt#Professional_wrestling" title="Championship belt">championship belt</a> in Japan, but his request was turned down, and Thesz asked to drop the title to his own hand picked champion, <a href="/wiki/Dick_Hutton" title="Dick Hutton">Dick Hutton</a>, rather than Thesz's real-life rival and the more popular choice, <a href="/wiki/%22Nature_Boy%22_Buddy_Rogers" class="mw-redirect" title=""Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers">Buddy Rogers</a>. Thesz would embark on a tour of Europe and Japan, billing himself as the <a href="/wiki/NWA_International_Heavyweight_Championship" title="NWA International Heavyweight Championship">NWA International Heavyweight Champion</a>; this title is still recognized as a part of <a href="/wiki/All_Japan_Pro_Wrestling" title="All Japan Pro Wrestling">All Japan Pro Wrestling</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Triple_Crown_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship">Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Final_world_championship_run_with_NWA">Final world championship run with NWA</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Final world championship run with NWA"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1963, Thesz came out of semi-retirement to win his sixth world heavyweight championship from <a href="/wiki/Buddy_Rogers_(wrestler)" title="Buddy Rogers (wrestler)">Buddy Rogers</a> at the age of 46. In 1964, he infamously faced <a href="/wiki/Kintar%C5%8D_%C5%8Cki" title="Kintarō Ōki">Kintarō Ōki</a>, a student of Rikidōzan, in what turned into a legitimate <a href="/wiki/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)" title="Shoot (professional wrestling)">shoot</a> contest. Originally scheduled for three falls, Ōki shot on Thesz in the first round. Ōki's move to shoot on Thesz ended things fast, as Thesz wounded him to the point that Ōki was stretchered off.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He would hold the NWA title until 1966 when, at the age of 50, he lost it to <a href="/wiki/Gene_Kiniski" title="Gene Kiniski">Gene Kiniski</a>. On May 29, 1968, in Bombay, <a href="/wiki/Dara_Singh" title="Dara Singh">Dara Singh</a>'s victory over Lou Thesz earned Dara Singh the World Championship. According to Thesz, Singh (who was 12 years younger than Thesz) was "an authentic wrestler, and was superbly conditioned." For these reasons, Thesz had no problem losing to Dara Singh.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2022)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Late_career">Late career</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Late career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Thesz wrestled on a part-time basis over the next 13 years, winning his last major title in 1978, in <a href="/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a>, becoming the inaugural <a href="/wiki/UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="UWA World Heavyweight Championship">Universal Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Champion</a> at the age of 62, before dropping the championship to <a href="/wiki/El_Canek" title="El Canek">El Canek</a> a year later. Thesz wrestled a match with <a href="/wiki/Luke_Graham_(wrestler)" title="Luke Graham (wrestler)">Luke Graham</a> in 1979 billed as his retirement match and considered himself retired after this, though he did continue to wrestle exhibition matches periodically through the 1980s. On November 16, 1987, Thesz won a <a href="/wiki/WWE" title="WWE">World Wrestling Federation</a> "legends" <a href="/wiki/Battle_royal_(professional_wrestling)" title="Battle royal (professional wrestling)">battle royal</a> featuring <a href="/wiki/Killer_Kowalski" title="Killer Kowalski">Killer Kowalski</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel" title="Nick Bockwinkel">Nick Bockwinkel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Gene_Kiniski" title="Gene Kiniski">Gene Kiniski</a>, <a href="/wiki/Edouard_Carpentier" class="mw-redirect" title="Edouard Carpentier">Edouard Carpentier</a> and other legends. He finally wrestled his last public match on December 26, 1990, in <a href="/wiki/Hamamatsu" title="Hamamatsu">Hamamatsu</a>, Japan at the age of 74, against his protégé, <a href="/wiki/Masahiro_Chono" title="Masahiro Chono">Masahiro Chono</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This makes him one of the only male professional wrestlers, along with <a href="/wiki/Abdullah_The_Butcher" class="mw-redirect" title="Abdullah The Butcher">Abdullah The Butcher</a>, to wrestle in seven different decades.<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Later_life">Later life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Later life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After retiring, Thesz remained involved in the wrestling industry. He later became a special guest <a href="/wiki/Referee_(professional_wrestling)" title="Referee (professional wrestling)">referee</a>, promoter and trainer. He became the commissioner and occasional trainer for the <a href="/wiki/Shoot_wrestling" title="Shoot wrestling">shoot-style</a> promotion <a href="/wiki/Union_of_Wrestling_Force_International" class="mw-redirect" title="Union of Wrestling Force International">Union of Professional Wrestling Forces International</a>, and lent the promotion one of his old NWA championship belts, which they recognized as their own world title. With the promotion he spent one week every month in Japan teaching the wrestlers techniques in catch wrestling. However, by 1993 his enthusiasm for the UWFi waned as the company started moving away from its <a href="/wiki/Shootfighting" title="Shootfighting">shootfighting</a> style and favoring performers over wrestlers, and he soon severed relations with the company, taking his old championship belt back with him. His specific criticisms included the use of power bombs, deriding them as unrealistic despite his own use of them and their later use in MMA fights. As an announcer, Thesz was the color commentator for <a href="/wiki/International_World_Class_Championship_Wrestling" title="International World Class Championship Wrestling">International World Class Championship Wrestling</a>'s weekly television show. He was highly critical of modern-day professional wrestling and described it as 'choreographed tumbling', showcasing little to no actual wrestling skills. He commented on the rise of <a href="/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial arts</a> and favourably compared it to his early days as a competitive catch wrestler.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Through his friendship with his student <a href="/wiki/Gene_LeBell" title="Gene LeBell">Gene LeBell</a>, Thesz had an association with <a href="/wiki/Gokor_Chivichyan" title="Gokor Chivichyan">Gokor Chivichyan</a> and LeBell's Hayastan MMA Academy.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He remained active as a wrestling coach, holding seminars in Virginia and later Florida. One of his most famous students, <a href="/wiki/Kiyoshi_Tamura" title="Kiyoshi Tamura">Kiyoshi Tamura</a>, was one of the first men to beat a member of the <a href="/wiki/Gracie_family" title="Gracie family">Gracie family</a> in over fifty years, beating <a href="/wiki/Renzo_Gracie" title="Renzo Gracie">Renzo Gracie</a> by unanimous decision in an MMA fight.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Kit Bauman, co-writer of Thesz's autobiography <i>Hooker</i>, received a magazine mailed by Thesz that included a story on the sport of <a href="/wiki/Pankration" title="Pankration">pankration</a>, an <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Greece" title="Ancient Greece">Ancient Greek</a> <a href="/wiki/Combat_sport" title="Combat sport">combat sport</a> that blended <a href="/wiki/Wrestling" title="Wrestling">wrestling</a> and <a href="/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> (and considered an early precursor to MMA), with a brief note that Thesz wrote saying, "this sounds like something I would have enjoyed."<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz was frequently seen in attendance at <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Wrestling_Championships" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships">NCAA wrestling</a> events and was a lifelong supporter of <a href="/wiki/Amateur_wrestling" title="Amateur wrestling">amateur wrestling</a>. He made occasional visits to top collegiate universities in the country, most notably striking up friendships with <a href="/wiki/Old_Dominion_University" title="Old Dominion University">Old Dominion University</a> head coach <a href="/wiki/Gray_Simons" title="Gray Simons">Gray Simons</a> and <a href="/wiki/University_of_Iowa" title="University of Iowa">University of Iowa</a> head coach <a href="/wiki/Dan_Gable" title="Dan Gable">Dan Gable</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1992, Thesz became the president of the <a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Cauliflower Alley Club">Cauliflower Alley Club</a> (CAC), an organization recognizing and supporting retired wrestlers, boxers and actors who enjoyed an association with wrestling. He served as CAC's president until 2000. In 1999, he helped establish the <a href="/wiki/George_Tragos/Lou_Thesz_Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a>, a hall of fame and museum located within the <a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" title="National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum">National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Dan_Gable" title="Dan Gable">Dan Gable</a> Museum. The hall of fame honors professional wrestlers with a strong amateur wrestling background. Thesz became the first inductee alongside George Tragos, <a href="/wiki/Ed_%22Strangler%22_Lewis" class="mw-redirect" title="Ed "Strangler" Lewis">Ed "Strangler" Lewis</a> and <a href="/wiki/Frank_Gotch" title="Frank Gotch">Frank Gotch</a>. He served on the Board of Directors and also did part-time coaching on the wrestling mats at the museum.<sup id="cite_ref-Lou_Thesz_Interview_17-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lou_Thesz_Interview-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Personal_life">Personal life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Personal life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Thesz was married three times. His first marriage to Evelyn Katherine Ernst on March 22, 1937.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz was convalescing from a severe knee injury suffered in 1939 and from 1941 to 1944 worked as a dog breeder and trainer for Dogs for Defense and later as a supervisor for the Todd Houston Shipyard.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He divorced his first wife in 1944 and at the shipyard, Thesz met his second wife, Fredda Huddleston Winter, with whom he fathered three children: Jeff Thesz, Robert Thesz and Patrick Thesz.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz's second marriage came to an end after he and Fredda divorced in 1975.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He married Charlie Catherine Thesz and remained with her for the rest of his life. Thesz lived in <a href="/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia">Norfolk, Virginia</a> for much of his later life and started a wrestling school called the Virginia Wrestling Academy in 1988. One of Thesz's protégés Mark Fleming became head coach of the academy. He wrote an <a href="/wiki/Autobiography" title="Autobiography">autobiography</a>, <i>Hooker: An Authentic Wrestler's Adventures Inside the Bizarre World of Professional Wrestling</i>. Thesz was drafted into the army in 1944, despite a legitimate injury to his knee and multiple medical deferments. Owing to his wrestling background, he taught hand-to-hand combat defense for medics before being discharged in 1946.<sup id="cite_ref-Kenyon_2011_10-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kenyon_2011-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thesz remained in good health through his older years, however after undergoing <a href="/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery" title="Coronary artery bypass surgery">triple bypass surgery</a> for an <a href="/wiki/Aortic_valve" title="Aortic valve">aortic valve</a> replacement on April 9, 2002, he died due to complications weeks later on April 28, four days after his 86th birthday, in <a href="/wiki/Orlando,_Florida" title="Orlando, Florida">Orlando, Florida</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legacy">Legacy</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Legacy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg/170px-Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="234" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg/255px-Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg/340px-Lou_Thesz_poster.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="826" /></a><figcaption>A Jacksonville, Florida poster advertises Thesz</figcaption></figure> <p>Thesz is strongly considered by many to be the greatest professional wrestler of the 20th century.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Among his many accomplishments in the sport, he is credited with inventing a number of professional wrestling moves and holds such as the <a href="/wiki/German_suplex" class="mw-redirect" title="German suplex">belly-to-back waistlock suplex</a> (later known as the <i>German suplex</i> due to its association with <a href="/wiki/Karl_Gotch" title="Karl Gotch">Karl Gotch</a>), the <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_attacks#Thesz_press" class="mw-redirect" title="Professional wrestling attacks">Lou Thesz press</a>, <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling_holds#STF" title="Professional wrestling holds">stepover toehold facelock</a> (STF), and the <a href="/wiki/Ganso_bomb" class="mw-redirect" title="Ganso bomb">original powerbomb</a>. </p><p>Thesz was the first wrestler to ever hold the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, which became a part of what is now the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship under All Japan Pro Wrestling.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz was also the first UWA World Heavyweight Champion for the now defunct <a href="/wiki/Universal_Wrestling_Association" title="Universal Wrestling Association">Universal Wrestling Association</a> in Mexico, where he won the title after defeating <a href="/wiki/Mil_M%C3%A1scaras" title="Mil Máscaras">Mil Máscaras</a> on July 26, 1976. Thesz was the first ever TWWA World Heavyweight Champion for the now defunct <a href="/wiki/International_Wrestling_Enterprise" title="International Wrestling Enterprise">International Wrestling Enterprise</a> as well.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thesz and "The Outlaw" (<a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk_Sr." class="mw-redirect" title="Dory Funk Sr.">Dory Funk Sr.</a>) were the first ever NWA Pacific Coast (Vancouver) Tag Team Champions.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1999, his name was given to the <a href="/wiki/George_Tragos/Lou_Thesz_Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a> for professional wrestling stars with a successful amateur background at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in <a href="/wiki/Waterloo,_Iowa" title="Waterloo, Iowa">Waterloo, Iowa</a>, where he was an inaugural inductee. In October 1997, Thesz was honored by a ceremony at <a href="/wiki/History_of_WWE#World_Wrestling_Federation" title="History of WWE">World Wrestling Federation</a>'s (WWF) <a href="/wiki/Badd_Blood:_In_Your_House" title="Badd Blood: In Your House">Badd Blood</a> as being both the youngest and oldest world heavyweight champion at ages 21 and 50, respectively<sup id="cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> (technically, <a href="/wiki/Verne_Gagne" title="Verne Gagne">Verne Gagne</a> holds the record for oldest champ, when he held the <a href="/wiki/AWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="AWA World Heavyweight Championship">AWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> in 1980 at age 54, which was tied by WWF owner <a href="/wiki/Vince_McMahon" title="Vince McMahon">Vince McMahon</a> in 1999; Thesz has since been supplanted as the oldest NWA World Heavyweight Champion by former champion <a href="/wiki/Tim_Storm" title="Tim Storm">Tim Storm</a> (who was born on February 18, 1964), who won the title at age 52 by defeating <a href="/wiki/Jax_Dane" title="Jax Dane">Jax Dane</a> on October 21, 2016). In 1999, a large group of professional wrestling experts, analysts and historians named Thesz the most influential NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2002, Thesz was named the second greatest professional wrestler of all time behind Ric Flair in the magazine article "100 Wrestlers of All Time" by John Molinaro, edited by <a href="/wiki/Dave_Meltzer" title="Dave Meltzer">Dave Meltzer</a> and Jeff Marek.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Former NCAA champion and NWA World Heavyweight Champion <a href="/wiki/Jack_Brisco" title="Jack Brisco">Jack Brisco</a> named Thesz his all-time favorite professional wrestler by saying that "Lou Thesz was my idol. He was a great wrestler, a great example, a class man".<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/All_Elite_Wrestling" title="All Elite Wrestling">AEW</a> wrestler <a href="/wiki/Claudio_Castagnoli" title="Claudio Castagnoli">Claudio Castagnoli</a> named Thesz his "dream" tag team partner and said, "He [Thesz] personifies wrestling. He represents everything that I think it should be. He's a class act, and he was a workhorse for the company, while at the same time being a student of the game. He was completely legit. I would have loved a chance to go one-on-one with him or to work alongside him".<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Japanese wrestler <a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a>, who had several matches with Thesz in Japan, considered Thesz to be the greatest wrestler of all time and lamented that "after the match with the world's greatest wrestler, fights with other run-of-the-mill wrestlers became unappetizing for me".<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Three-time <a href="/wiki/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association" title="National Collegiate Athletic Association">NCAA</a> heavyweight champion and <a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Alliance" title="National Wrestling Alliance">NWA</a> <a href="/wiki/NWA_Worlds_Heavyweight_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship">World Heavyweight Champion</a> <a href="/wiki/Dick_Hutton" title="Dick Hutton">Dick Hutton</a> said that Thesz was the best man he ever met, in any type of wrestling (both competitive and performance).<sup id="cite_ref-Wrestling_Tough_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wrestling_Tough-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Hutton later said that Thesz was "the only man I ever faced in the ring, professional or amateur, who was faster than I was."<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> National <a href="/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judo</a> champion, grappler and professional wrestler <a href="/wiki/Gene_LeBell" title="Gene LeBell">Gene LeBell</a> said that he considered Thesz to be one of his 'teachers', saying "Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch and Vic Christy all taught me a lot about grappling... From Thesz I learned how to hurt people. He had a little bit of a sadistic side". LeBell also mentioned that he learned most of his submission grappling from Thesz.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> LeBell also considers Thesz, <a href="/wiki/Ed_%22Strangler%22_Lewis" class="mw-redirect" title="Ed "Strangler" Lewis">Ed "Strangler" Lewis</a> and Karl Gotch as the toughest men he has ever known.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Wrestling promoter <a href="/wiki/Sam_Muchnick" title="Sam Muchnick">Sam Muchnick</a> considered Ed "Strangler" Lewis as the greatest legitimate wrestler he had ever seen, with Thesz, <a href="/wiki/Peter_Sauer" title="Peter Sauer">Ray Steele</a>, <a href="/wiki/Joe_Stecher" title="Joe Stecher">Joe Stecher</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jim_Londos" title="Jim Londos">Jim Londos</a> and <a href="/wiki/John_Pesek" title="John Pesek">John Pesek</a> "only a few steps behind Lewis."<sup id="cite_ref-ECW_Press_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ECW_Press-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Fellow catch wrestler <a href="/wiki/Billy_Robinson" title="Billy Robinson">Billy Robinson</a> considered Thesz to be the greatest professional wrestler of all time, saying "everybody respected professional wrestling because of Lou Thesz. He may not have been the best competitive catch wrestler but he was very good in his time."<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thesz is an inaugural member of several professional wrestling <a href="/wiki/Hall_of_fame" class="mw-redirect" title="Hall of fame">halls of fame</a>, including the <a href="/wiki/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" title="Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum">Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_Hall_of_Fame" title="Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame">Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame</a>, <a href="/wiki/NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="NWA Hall of Fame">NWA Hall of Fame</a>, <a href="/wiki/WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="WCW Hall of Fame">WCW Hall of Fame</a>, and the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame which is subsequently named after both one of his trainers along with Thesz himself.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On April 2, 2016, Thesz was posthumously inducted into the <a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame" title="WWE Hall of Fame">WWE Hall of Fame</a> as an inaugural member of the "Legacy" wing. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Championships_and_accomplishments">Championships and accomplishments</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Championships and accomplishments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png/220px-Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png/330px-Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png/440px-Lou_Thesz_with_NWA_World_Championship_1980%27s.png 2x" data-file-width="1224" data-file-height="1633" /></a><figcaption>Thesz was a three-time <a href="/wiki/NWA_World_Heavyweight_Champion" class="mw-redirect" title="NWA World Heavyweight Champion">NWA World Heavyweight Champion</a></figcaption></figure> <ul><li><b>American Wrestling Association (Boston)</b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Boston_version)" title="AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version)">AWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> (1 time)<sup id="cite_ref-awabos_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-awabos-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Cauliflower Alley Club">Cauliflower Alley Club</a></b> <ul><li>Iron Mike Mazurki Award (1998)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/George_Tragos/Lou_Thesz_Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a></b> <ul><li>Class of 1999<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/International_Championship_Wrestling_(Mississippi)" title="International Championship Wrestling (Mississippi)">International Championship Wrestling</a></b> <ul><li>ICW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/International_Wrestling_Enterprise" title="International Wrestling Enterprise">International Wrestling Enterprise</a></b> <ul><li>TWWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/International_Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a></b> <ul><li>Class of 2021<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Japan_Pro_Wrestling_Alliance" title="Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance">Japan Wrestling Association</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NWA_International_Heavyweight_Championship" title="NWA International Heavyweight Championship">NWA International Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/NWA_International_Heavyweight_Championship#Title_history" title="NWA International Heavyweight Championship">1 time</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Joint_Promotions" class="mw-redirect" title="Joint Promotions">Joint Promotions</a></b> <ul><li>World Heavyweight Championship <i>(Great Britain version)</i> (1 time)<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b>Midwest Wrestling Association (Ohio)</b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship#MWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Ohio)" title="MWA World Heavyweight Championship">MWA World Heavyweight Championship (Ohio version)</a> (1 time)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Missouri_Sports_Hall_of_Fame" title="Missouri Sports Hall of Fame">Missouri Sports Hall of Fame</a></b> <ul><li>Class of 2002</li></ul></li> <li><b>Montreal Athletic Commission</b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MAC_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="MAC World Heavyweight Championship">MAC World Heavyweight Championship</a> (4 times)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Alliance" title="National Wrestling Alliance">National Wrestling Alliance</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NWA World Heavyweight Championship">NWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_NWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions" title="List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions">3 times</a>)<sup>1</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="NWA Hall of Fame">NWA Hall of Fame</a> (<a href="/wiki/NWA_Hall_of_Fame#2005" title="NWA Hall of Fame">Class of 2005</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/NWA_All-Star_Wrestling" title="NWA All-Star Wrestling">NWA All-Star Wrestling</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NWA_Pacific_Coast_Tag_Team_Championship_(Vancouver_version)" title="NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)">NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship <i>(Vancouver version)</i></a> (<a href="/wiki/NWA_Pacific_Coast_Tag_Team_Championship_(Vancouver_version)#Title_history" title="NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)">1 time</a>) – with <a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk" title="Dory Funk">The Outlaw</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Alliance" title="National Wrestling Alliance">NWA Mid-America</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NWA_Southern_Junior_Heavyweight_Championship" title="NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship">NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/NWA_Southern_Junior_Heavyweight_Championship#Title_history" title="NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship">2 times</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/AWA_Southern_Tag_Team_Championship" title="AWA Southern Tag Team Championship">NWA Southern Tag Team Championship <i>(Mid-America version)</i></a> (<a href="/wiki/AWA_Southern_Tag_Team_Championship#Title_history" title="AWA Southern Tag Team Championship">1 time</a>) – with <a href="/wiki/Jackie_Fargo" title="Jackie Fargo">Jackie Fargo</a></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/National_Wrestling_Association" title="National Wrestling Association">National Wrestling Association</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Championship_(National_Wrestling_Association)" title="World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)">NWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Championship_(National_Wrestling_Association)#Title_history" title="World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)">3 times</a>)<sup>2</sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling" title="New Japan Pro-Wrestling">New Japan Pro-Wrestling</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling#Greatest_18_Club" title="New Japan Pro-Wrestling">Greatest 18 Club</a> inductee</li></ul></li> <li><i><b><a href="/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated" title="Pro Wrestling Illustrated">Pro Wrestling Illustrated</a></b></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/PWI_Stanley_Weston_Award" class="mw-redirect" title="PWI Stanley Weston Award">Stanley Weston Award</a> (1982)<sup id="cite_ref-PWI_Awards_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PWI_Awards-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" class="mw-redirect" title="Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame#Inductees" class="mw-redirect" title="Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame">Pioneer Era</a> (class of 2002)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/World_Class_Championship_Wrestling" title="World Class Championship Wrestling">Southwest Sports, Inc.</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NWA_Texas_Heavyweight_Championship" title="NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship">Texas Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/NWA_Texas_Heavyweight_Championship#Title_history" title="NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship">4 times</a>)<sup id="cite_ref-TexasBook_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TexasBook-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-TexasWeb_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TexasWeb-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup>3</sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Stampede_Wrestling" title="Stampede Wrestling">Stampede Wrestling</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Stampede_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" class="mw-redirect" title="Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame">Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame</a> (Class of 1995)<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame" title="St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame">St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame</a></b> <ul><li>Class of 2007</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Universal_Wrestling_Association" title="Universal Wrestling Association">Universal Wrestling Association</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="UWA World Heavyweight Championship">UWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship#Title_history" title="UWA World Heavyweight Championship">1 time</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/World_Championship_Wrestling" title="World Championship Wrestling">World Championship Wrestling</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="WCW Hall of Fame">WCW Hall of Fame</a> (<a href="/wiki/WCW_Hall_of_Fame#1993" title="WCW Hall of Fame">Class of 1993</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Worldwide_Wrestling_Associates" class="mw-redirect" title="Worldwide Wrestling Associates">Worldwide Wrestling Associates</a></b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/WWA_International_Television_Tag_Team_Championship" title="WWA International Television Tag Team Championship">WWA International Television Tag Team Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/WWA_International_Television_Tag_Team_Championship#Title_history" title="WWA International Television Tag Team Championship">1 time</a>) – with <a href="/wiki/Sailor_Art_Thomas" title="Sailor Art Thomas">Sailor Art Thomas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Los_Angeles_version)" class="mw-redirect" title="WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version)">WWA World Heavyweight Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Los_Angeles_version)#Title_history" class="mw-redirect" title="WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version)">1 time</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/WWE" title="WWE">World Wrestling Federation/WWE</a></b> <ul><li>Legends Battle Royal winner (1987)<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame" title="WWE Hall of Fame">WWE Hall of Fame</a> (<a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2016)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2016)">Class of 2016</a>)<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li><i><b><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter" title="Wrestling Observer Newsletter">Wrestling Observer Newsletter</a></b></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_Hall_of_Fame" title="Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame">Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame</a> (<a href="/wiki/Wrestling_Observer_Newsletter_Hall_of_Fame#Inductees" title="Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame">Class of 1996</a>)</li></ul></li> <li><b>Other titles</b> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Wrestling_Championship_(original_version)" title="World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)">World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship</a> (<a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Wrestling_Championship_(original_version)#Title_history" title="World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)">2 times</a>)<sup>4</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Los_Angeles_version)" title="World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles version)">World Heavyweight Championship <i>(Los Angeles version)</i></a> (2 times)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Pacific_Northwest)" class="mw-redirect" title="World Heavyweight Championship (Pacific Northwest)">World Heavyweight Championship <i>(Pacific Northwest version)</i></a> (1 time)</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Notes">Notes</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><small><sup>1</sup> Thesz's first NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign began when he was awarded the championship by the NWA board of directors, rather than him winning the championship in a National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated promotion.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The National Wrestling Alliance regarded Thesz as a record-setting, six-time champion, recognizing his three additional reigns from the National Wrestling Association, and considered <a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a> to have broken this record when he won a seventh reign in 1983.</small><sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br /> <small><sup>2</sup> The World Heavyweight Championship of the National Wrestling Association existed from 1929 through 1949, until it was unified with the world championship used by the National Wrestling Alliance.</small><br /> <small><sup>3</sup> While the title is best known as the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, Thesz's reigns with the title occurred prior to the NWA assuming control of it. In fact, he won the title before the NWA was created.</small><br /> <small><sup>4</sup> Thesz's two reigns with the title occurred prior to its unification with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.</small> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Encyclopedia-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclopedia_1-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFShieldsSullivan2009" class="citation book cs1">Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). <i><a href="/wiki/WWE_Encyclopedia" title="WWE Encyclopedia">WWE Encyclopedia</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Dorling_Kindersley" class="mw-redirect" title="Dorling Kindersley">Dorling Kindersley</a>. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/191">191</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7566-4190-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7566-4190-0"><bdi>978-0-7566-4190-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=WWE+Encyclopedia&rft.pages=191&rft.pub=Dorling+Kindersley&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0&rft.aulast=Shields&rft.aufirst=Brian&rft.au=Sullivan%2C+Kevin&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-nytimes_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nytimes_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nytimes_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nytimes_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nytimes_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFLitsky2002" class="citation web cs1">Litsky, Frank (May 8, 2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/sports/lou-thesz-86-skilled-pro-wrestler-dies.html">"Lou Thesz, 86, Skilled Pro Wrestler, Dies"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 5,</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz%2C+86%2C+Skilled+Pro+Wrestler%2C+Dies&rft.date=2002-05-08&rft.aulast=Litsky&rft.aufirst=Frank&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2002%2F05%2F08%2Fsports%2Flou-thesz-86-skilled-pro-wrestler-dies.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Wrestling_Tough-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Wrestling_Tough_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Wrestling_Tough_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFChapman2018" class="citation book cs1">Chapman, Mike (November 16, 2018). <i>Wrestling Tough</i> (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics. p. 221. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1492567912" title="Special:BookSources/978-1492567912"><bdi>978-1492567912</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Wrestling+Tough&rft.pages=221&rft.edition=2nd&rft.pub=Human+Kinetics&rft.date=2018-11-16&rft.isbn=978-1492567912&rft.aulast=Chapman&rft.aufirst=Mike&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHornbaker2007" class="citation book cs1">Hornbaker, Tim (2007). <i>National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Professional Wrestling</i>. ECW Press. pp. <span class="nowrap">33–</span>34. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1550227413" title="Special:BookSources/978-1550227413"><bdi>978-1550227413</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=National+Wrestling+Alliance%3A+The+Untold+Story+of+the+Monopoly+that+Strangled+Professional+Wrestling&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E33-%3C%2Fspan%3E34&rft.pub=ECW+Press&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-1550227413&rft.aulast=Hornbaker&rft.aufirst=Tim&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMooneyham2013" class="citation web cs1">Mooneyham, Mike (March 31, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130331/PC20/130339966/1131/mooneyham-column-pro-wrestling-books-worth-reading-x2018-the-voice-of-mid-atlantic-wrestling-x2019">"Pro wrestling books worth reading; 'The Voice of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Post_and_Courier" title="The Post and Courier">The Post and Courier</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 7,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Post+and+Courier&rft.atitle=Pro+wrestling+books+worth+reading%3B+%27The+Voice+of+Mid-Atlantic+Wrestling%27&rft.date=2013-03-31&rft.aulast=Mooneyham&rft.aufirst=Mike&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postandcourier.com%2Farticle%2F20130331%2FPC20%2F130339966%2F1131%2Fmooneyham-column-pro-wrestling-books-worth-reading-x2018-the-voice-of-mid-atlantic-wrestling-x2019&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120910163257/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html">"Wrestling History: 2002"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated" title="Pro Wrestling Illustrated">Pro Wrestling Illustrated</a></i>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 12,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Pro+Wrestling+Illustrated&rft.atitle=Wrestling+History%3A+2002&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pwi-online.com%2Fpages%2Fwrestlingframe.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.puroresu.com/personalities/thesz/asahi.html">"Lou Thesz lives on in the minds of Japanese - May 2, 2002"</a>. <i>Puroresu.com</i>. May 2, 2002<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Puroresu.com&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz+lives+on+in+the+minds+of+Japanese+-+May+2%2C+2002&rft.date=2002-05-02&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.puroresu.com%2Fpersonalities%2Fthesz%2Fasahi.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWilcox2007" class="citation web cs1">Wilcox, Nate (August 9, 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2007/8/9/134253/6410">"MMA History Part III: Proto MMA Evolves Out of Worked Pro Wrestling in Japan"</a>. <i>Bloody Elbow</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 5,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Bloody+Elbow&rft.atitle=MMA+History+Part+III%3A+Proto+MMA+Evolves+Out+of+Worked+Pro+Wrestling+in+Japan&rft.date=2007-08-09&rft.aulast=Wilcox&rft.aufirst=Nate&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloodyelbow.com%2F2007%2F8%2F9%2F134253%2F6410&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSchildroth2002" class="citation news cs1">Schildroth, Keith (April 29, 2002). 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Michael (2011). <i>Hooker</i> (3rd ed.). Gallatin, Tenn.: Crowbar Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9844090-4-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-9844090-4-4"><bdi>978-0-9844090-4-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Hooker&rft.place=Gallatin%2C+Tenn.&rft.edition=3rd&rft.pub=Crowbar+Press&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=978-0-9844090-4-4&rft.aulast=Kenyon&rft.aufirst=Lou+Thesz+with+Kit+Bauman%3B+edited+by+J.+Michael&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span> <span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: </span><span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">|first=</code> has generic name (<a href="/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name" title="Help:CS1 errors">help</a>)</span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment">CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nwhof.org/blog/dg-inductees/lou-thesz/">"Lou Thesz"</a>. <i>National Wrestling Hall of Fame</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 21,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=National+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnwhof.org%2Fblog%2Fdg-inductees%2Flou-thesz%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nwhof.org/blog/dg-inductees/george-tragos/">"George Tragos"</a>. <i>National Wrestling Hall of Fame</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 13,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=National+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame&rft.atitle=George+Tragos&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnwhof.org%2Fblog%2Fdg-inductees%2Fgeorge-tragos%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nwhof.org/blog/dg-inductees/ray-steele/">"Ray Steele"</a>. <i>National Wrestling Hall of Fame</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=National+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame&rft.atitle=Ray+Steele&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnwhof.org%2Fblog%2Fdg-inductees%2Fray-steele%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://snakepitusa.com/about-us/legends/">"Catch Wrestling Legends"</a>. <i>Snake Pit U.S.A</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 24,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Snake+Pit+U.S.A.&rft.atitle=Catch+Wrestling+Legends&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fsnakepitusa.com%2Fabout-us%2Flegends%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ECW_Press-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ECW_Press_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ECW_Press_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMatysik2013" class="citation book cs1">Matysik, Larry (February 8, 2013). <i>The 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time: The Definitive Shoot</i>. ECW Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1770411043" title="Special:BookSources/978-1770411043"><bdi>978-1770411043</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+50+Greatest+Professional+Wrestlers+of+All+Time%3A+The+Definitive+Shoot&rft.pub=ECW+Press&rft.date=2013-02-08&rft.isbn=978-1770411043&rft.aulast=Matysik&rft.aufirst=Larry&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSnowden2012" class="citation book cs1">Snowden, Jonathan (May 8, 2012). <i>Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling</i>. ECW Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781770410404" title="Special:BookSources/9781770410404"><bdi>9781770410404</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Shooters%3A+The+Toughest+Men+in+Professional+Wrestling&rft.pub=ECW+Press&rft.date=2012-05-08&rft.isbn=9781770410404&rft.aulast=Snowden&rft.aufirst=Jonathan&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Lou_Thesz_Interview-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Lou_Thesz_Interview_17-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Lou_Thesz_Interview_17-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHartley" class="citation web cs1">Hartley, Jeremy. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.solie.org/interviews/lout.html">"Lou Thesz Interview"</a>. <i>Solie's Vintage Wrestling</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 24,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Solie%27s+Vintage+Wrestling&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz+Interview&rft.aulast=Hartley&rft.aufirst=Jeremy&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solie.org%2Finterviews%2Flout.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/lou-thesz">"Lou Thesz"</a>. <i>Wrestling Heritage</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 15,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling+Heritage&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestlingheritage.co.uk%2Flou-thesz&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFLeBell2002" class="citation book cs1">LeBell, Gene (2002). <i>The Great Lou Thesz</i>. p. 4.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Great+Lou+Thesz&rft.pages=4&rft.date=2002&rft.aulast=LeBell&rft.aufirst=Gene&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Say_Uncle!:_Catch-As-Catch-Can_Wres-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Say_Uncle!:_Catch-As-Catch-Can_Wres_20-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFShannon2011" class="citation book cs1">Shannon, Jake (June 2011). <i>Say Uncle!: Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling, & Modern Grappling</i>. ECW Press. p. 15. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1550229615" title="Special:BookSources/978-1550229615"><bdi>978-1550229615</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Say+Uncle%21%3A+Catch-As-Catch-Can+Wrestling+and+the+Roots+of+Ultimate+Fighting%2C+Pro+Wrestling%2C+%26+Modern+Grappling&rft.pages=15&rft.pub=ECW+Press&rft.date=2011-06&rft.isbn=978-1550229615&rft.aulast=Shannon&rft.aufirst=Jake&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/14792">"Earl Wampler"</a>. <i>National Wrestling Hall of Fame</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 13,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Culture+Crossfire&rft.atitle=When+S%2Ait+got+Real%3A+Incidents+of+Pro+Wrestling+becoming+a+%22Shoot%22+Vol.+4&rft.date=2014-12-30&rft.aulast=Lutzke&rft.aufirst=Andrew&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fculturecrossfire.com%2Fwrestling%2Fwhen-sit-got-real-incidents-of-pro-wrestling-becoming-a-shoot-vol-4%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFLovranksi2001" class="citation web cs1">Lovranksi, Dan (March 13, 2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/phenomforestcommaplegrovewrestlingnews/interview-with-lou-thesz-t6424.html">"Interview with Lou Thesz"</a>. <i>Live Audio Wrestling</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Live+Audio+Wrestling&rft.atitle=Interview+with+Lou+Thesz&rft.date=2001-03-13&rft.aulast=Lovranksi&rft.aufirst=Dan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tapatalk.com%2Fgroups%2Fphenomforestcommaplegrovewrestlingnews%2Finterview-with-lou-thesz-t6424.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFLeBell2002" class="citation book cs1">LeBell, Gene (2002). <i>The Great Lou Thesz</i>. p. 1.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Great+Lou+Thesz&rft.pages=1&rft.date=2002&rft.aulast=LeBell&rft.aufirst=Gene&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/8737-rings-kiyoshi-tamura-vs-renzo-gracie">"Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Renzo Grace"</a>. <i>Tapology</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 1,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling+Classics&rft.atitle=I+like+wrestling+better+as+a+sport+than+a+business&rft.aulast=Thesz&rft.aufirst=Lou&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestlingclassics.com%2Ffe%2Ffe-thesz.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001100820/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/l/lou-thesz/">"Lou Thesz - Online World of Wrestling"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/l/lou-thesz/">the original</a> on October 1, 2012.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Lou+Thesz+-+Online+World+of+Wrestling&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onlineworldofwrestling.com%2Fbios%2Fl%2Flou-thesz%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sadgeniu.wordpress.com">"セッド・ジニアス Sad Genius | News of the 実録実話小説〜人生は地図のない片道旅行〜 ⒸSad Genius All right reserved"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=%E3%82%BB%E3%83%83%E3%83%89%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B8%E3%83%8B%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B9+Sad+Genius+%7C+News+of+the+%E5%AE%9F%E9%8C%B2%E5%AE%9F%E8%A9%B1%E5%B0%8F%E8%AA%AC%E3%80%9C%E4%BA%BA%E7%94%9F%E3%81%AF%E5%9C%B0%E5%9B%B3%E3%81%AE%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84%E7%89%87%E9%81%93%E6%97%85%E8%A1%8C%E3%80%9C+%E2%92%B8Sad+Genius+All+right+reserved.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fsadgeniu.wordpress.com&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Bryan_Alvarez" title="Bryan Alvarez">Alvarez, Bryan</a>: "Figure Four Weekly Newsletter #358", page 1. Cover date May 6, 2002</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.puroresu.com/personalities/thesz/">"Lou Thesz"</a>. <i>Puroresu.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Puroresu.com&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.puroresu.com%2Fpersonalities%2Fthesz%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html">"NWA International Heavyweight Title (Japan)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-titles.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-titles.com&rft.atitle=NWA+International+Heavyweight+Title+%28Japan%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fjapan%2Falljapan%2Fint-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/tc-h.html">"Unified Triple Crown Heavyweight Title (Japan)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-titles.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-titles.com&rft.atitle=Unified+Triple+Crown+Heavyweight+Title+%28Japan%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fjapan%2Falljapan%2Ftc-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/iwe/twwa-h.html">"TWWA World Heavyweight Title (IWE)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-titles.com</i>. January 24, 1968<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-titles.com&rft.atitle=TWWA+World+Heavyweight+Title+%28IWE%29&rft.date=1968-01-24&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fjapan%2Fiwe%2Ftwwa-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/bc/bc-pc-t.html">"Pacific Coast Tag Team Title (British Columbia)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-titles.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-titles.com&rft.atitle=Pacific+Coast+Tag+Team+Title+%28British+Columbia%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fcanada%2Fbc%2Fbc-pc-t.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160914213059/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingNWA51/nwa_greatest.html">"Nature Boy a natural choice: Experts pick Flair as greatest NWA champ"</a>. <i>Canoe.com</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingNWA51/nwa_greatest.html">the original</a> on September 14, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Canoe.com&rft.atitle=Nature+Boy+a+natural+choice%3A+Experts+pick+Flair+as+greatest+NWA+champ&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canoe.com%2FSlamWrestlingNWA51%2Fnwa_greatest.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMolinaro2003" class="citation book cs1">Molinaro, John (2003). <i>The Top 100 Wrestlers of All Time</i>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Slam.canoe.com&rft.atitle=SLAM%21+Wrestling+-+Jack+Brisco+Chat&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fslam.canoe.com%2FSlamWrestlingChats%2Fbrisco_jack_oct01-can.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wwe.com/inside/dream-tag-teams">"9 Superstars pick their ultimate dream tag teams"</a>. WWE. January 15, 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=9+Superstars+pick+their+ultimate+dream+tag+teams&rft.pub=WWE&rft.date=2015-01-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwe.com%2Finside%2Fdream-tag-teams&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFShimbun" class="citation web cs1">Shimbun, Asahi. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.puroresu.com/personalities/thesz/asahi.html">"Lou Thesz lives on in the minds of Japanese"</a>. <i>Puroresu</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Puroresu&rft.atitle=Lou+Thesz+lives+on+in+the+minds+of+Japanese&rft.aulast=Shimbun&rft.aufirst=Asahi&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.puroresu.com%2Fpersonalities%2Fthesz%2Fasahi.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestlingperspective.com/97.html">"Dick Hutton Breaks His Silence In Wrestling Perspective #97"</a>. <i>Wrestling Perspective</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 18,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling+Perspective&rft.atitle=Dick+Hutton+Breaks+His+Silence+In+Wrestling+Perspective+%2397&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestlingperspective.com%2F97.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJacobs2013" class="citation web cs1">Jacobs, Mark (September 11, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://writingfighting.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/an-interview-with-judo-gene-lebell/">"An Interview With "Judo" Gene LeBell"</a>. <i>Writing, Fighting and Other Stuff</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Writing%2C+Fighting+and+Other+Stuff&rft.atitle=An+Interview+With+%22Judo%22+Gene+LeBell&rft.date=2013-09-11&rft.aulast=Jacobs&rft.aufirst=Mark&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwritingfighting.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F09%2F11%2Fan-interview-with-judo-gene-lebell%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGross2016" class="citation book cs1">Gross, Josh (June 21, 2016). <i>Ali vs Inoki: The Forgotten Fight That Inspired Mixed Martial Arts and Launched Sports Entertainment</i>. BenBella Books. p. 25. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1942952190" title="Special:BookSources/978-1942952190"><bdi>978-1942952190</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ali+vs+Inoki%3A+The+Forgotten+Fight+That+Inspired+Mixed+Martial+Arts+and+Launched+Sports+Entertainment&rft.pages=25&rft.pub=BenBella+Books&rft.date=2016-06-21&rft.isbn=978-1942952190&rft.aulast=Gross&rft.aufirst=Josh&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFRobinsonShannon2012" class="citation book cs1">Robinson, Billy; Shannon, Jake (June 1, 2012). <i>Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling</i>. ECW Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0369316493" title="Special:BookSources/978-0369316493"><bdi>978-0369316493</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Physical+Chess%3A+My+Life+in+Catch-as-Catch-Can+Wrestling&rft.pub=ECW+Press&rft.date=2012-06-01&rft.isbn=978-0369316493&rft.aulast=Robinson&rft.aufirst=Billy&rft.au=Shannon%2C+Jake&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nwhof.org/blog/pro-class/1999/">"1999 | National Wrestling Hall of Fame"</a>. <i>Nwhof.org</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Nwhof.org&rft.atitle=1999+%26%23124%3B+National+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnwhof.org%2Fblog%2Fpro-class%2F1999%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170723141845/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2003/08/04/153447.html">"Ventura given Museum's top honour"</a>. <i>Slam! Wrestling</i>. <a href="/wiki/Canadian_Online_Explorer" class="mw-redirect" title="Canadian Online Explorer">Canadian Online Explorer</a>. August 4, 2003. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2003/08/04/153447.html">the original</a> on July 23, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 6,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Slam%21+Wrestling&rft.atitle=Ventura+given+Museum%27s+top+honour&rft.date=2003-08-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fslam.canoe.com%2FSlam%2FWrestling%2F2003%2F08%2F04%2F153447.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFTanabe2016" class="citation web cs1">Tanabe, Hisaharu, ed. (August 11, 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ms/icw/icw-us-h.html">"ICW United States Heavyweight Title (Mississippi)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-Titles.com</i>. Puroresu Dojo. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201117135035/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ms/icw/icw-us-h.html">Archived</a> from the original on November 17, 2020.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-Titles.com&rft.atitle=ICW+United+States+Heavyweight+Title+%28Mississippi%29&rft.date=2016-08-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fus%2Fms%2Ficw%2Ficw-us-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction">"Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Induction+Weekend+2022+%26%23124%3B+Pro+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prowrestlinghall.org%2Finduction&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wrestling-titles.com:443/europe/uk/uk-world-h.html">"World Heavyweight Title (Great Britain)"</a>. <i>Wrestling-Titles.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 5,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-Titles.com&rft.atitle=World+Heavyweight+Title+%28Great+Britain%29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%3A443%2Feurope%2Fuk%2Fuk-world-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-PWI_Awards-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-PWI_Awards_53-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200610190704/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html">"PWI Awards"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated" title="Pro Wrestling Illustrated">Pro Wrestling Illustrated</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Kappa_Publishing_Group" title="Kappa Publishing Group">Kappa Publishing Group</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html">the original</a> on June 10, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 7,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Pro+Wrestling+Illustrated&rft.atitle=PWI+Awards&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pwi-online.com%2Fpages%2FPWIawards.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TexasBook-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-TexasBook_54-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">*<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWillDuncan2000" class="citation book cs1">Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". <i>Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present</i>. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. <span class="nowrap">268–</span>269. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9698161-5-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-9698161-5-4"><bdi>0-9698161-5-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Texas%3A+NWA+Texas+Heavyweight+Title+%5BVon+Erich%5D&rft.btitle=Wrestling+Title+Histories%3A+professional+wrestling+champions+around+the+world+from+the+19th+century+to+the+present&rft.place=Pennsylvania&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E268-%3C%2Fspan%3E269&rft.pub=Archeus+Communications&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=0-9698161-5-4&rft.aulast=Will&rft.aufirst=Gary&rft.au=Duncan%2C+Royal&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TexasWeb-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-TexasWeb_55-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html">"NWA Texas Heavyweight Title"</a>. <i>Wrestling-Titles</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 30,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-Titles&rft.atitle=NWA+Texas+Heavyweight+Title&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fus%2Ftx%2Ftx-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFWhalen1995" class="citation episode cs1">Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". <a href="/wiki/Stu_Hart_50th_Anniversary_Show" title="Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show"><i>Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart</i></a>. Event occurs at 15:38. <a href="/wiki/Shaw_Communications" title="Shaw Communications">Shaw Cable</a>. <a href="/wiki/CICT-DT" title="CICT-DT">Calgary 7</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Showdown+at+the+Corral%3A+A+Tribute+to+Stu+Hart&rft.date=1995-12-15&rft.aulast=Whalen&rft.aufirst=Ed+%28host%29&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html">"Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)"</a>. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Stampede+Wrestling+Hall+of+Fame+%281948-1990%29&rft.pub=Puroresu+Dojo&rft.date=2003&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fcanada%2Fab%2Fhof.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/misccard.html#legends">"Misc. WWF Supercards"</a>. <i>Prowrestlinghistory.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Prowrestlinghistory.com&rft.atitle=Misc.+WWF+Supercards&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prowrestlinghistory.com%2Fsupercards%2Fusa%2Fwwf%2Fmisccard.html%23legends&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-59">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFBobby_Melok2016" class="citation web cs1">Bobby Melok (April 2, 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-fame/wwe-hall-fame-2016/article/legacy-inductees">"Congratulations to the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees"</a>. WWE<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Congratulations+to+the+2016+WWE+Hall+of+Fame+Legacy+inductees&rft.pub=WWE&rft.date=2016-04-02&rft.au=Bobby+Melok&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwe.com%2Fshows%2Fwwe-hall-fame%2Fwwe-hall-fame-2016%2Farticle%2Flegacy-inductees&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-h.html">"NWA World Heavyweight Title"</a>. <i>Wrestling-titles.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wrestling-titles.com&rft.atitle=NWA+World+Heavyweight+Title&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrestling-titles.com%2Fnwa%2Fworld%2Fnwa-h.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pwinsider.com/article/86482/harley-race-talks-about-hulk-hogan-as-a-wrestler-lou-thesz-and-more.html?p=1">*What was the feeling like when you beat Lou Thesz’ record for the number of world title reigns? “Well, it was a reign that had stood for…a long time, and everybody knew that Lou Thesz, no matter who beat his record was not going to take away anything from his name. I was very very proud to be the person that was capable of doing that, and I made sure that Lou’s name stayed right where it was at even though I had bettered it.” <br /><i>Harley Race Talks About Hulk Hogan As A Wrestler, Lou Thesz and More</i> (Interview with Harley Race), Vic Schiavone, PWI Insider 2014-06-24 08:35:42</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDave_Meltzer_&_John_F._Molinaro2002" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Dave_Meltzer" title="Dave Meltzer">Dave Meltzer</a> & John F. Molinaro (2002). <i>Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of all Time</i>. Winding Stair Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55366-305-5" title="Special:BookSources/1-55366-305-5"><bdi>1-55366-305-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Top+100+Pro+Wrestlers+of+all+Time&rft.pub=Winding+Stair+Press&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=1-55366-305-5&rft.au=Dave+Meltzer+%26+John+F.+Molinaro&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMallory_Curley2005" class="citation book cs1">Mallory Curley (2005). <i>Beatle Pete, Time Traveller</i>. Randy Press (discusses Lou Thesz and wrestling promoter Bill Best at Liverpool Stadium).</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Beatle+Pete%2C+Time+Traveller&rft.pub=Randy+Press+%28discusses+Lou+Thesz+and+wrestling+promoter+Bill+Best+at+Liverpool+Stadium%29&rft.date=2005&rft.au=Mallory+Curley&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALou+Thesz" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lou_Thesz&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/60px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lou_Thesz" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Lou Thesz">Lou Thesz</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wwe.com/superstars/lou-thesz">Lou Thesz</a> on <a href="/wiki/WWE" title="WWE">WWE</a>.com <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466053#P2857" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857666/">Lou Thesz</a> at <a href="/wiki/IMDb_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="IMDb (identifier)">IMDb</a> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466053#P345" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/thesz/">Puroresu.com: Lou Thesz</a></li> <li>Lou Thesz's profile at <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=930">Cagematch.net</a> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466053#P2728" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, 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data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output 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rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Cauliflower_Alley_Club149" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Template:Cauliflower Alley Club"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Template talk:Cauliflower Alley Club"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Cauliflower Alley Club"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Cauliflower_Alley_Club149" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Cauliflower_Alley_Club" title="Cauliflower Alley Club">Cauliflower Alley Club</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><b>Headquarters</b>: <a href="/wiki/Clermont,_Florida" title="Clermont, Florida">Clermont, Florida</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Presidents</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mike_Mazurki" title="Mike Mazurki">"Iron" Mike Mazurki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Archie_Moore" title="Archie Moore">Archie Moore</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_Bastien" title="Red Bastien">Red Bastien</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel" title="Nick Bockwinkel">Nick Bockwinkel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/B._Brian_Blair" title="B. Brian Blair">B. Brian Blair</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Annual awards<br /> winners</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Iron Mike Mazurki<br /> Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Woody_Strode" title="Woody Strode">Woody Strode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hard_Boiled_Haggerty" title="Hard Boiled Haggerty">Hard Boiled Haggerty</a></li> <li>Vic Christy</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gene_LeBell" title="Gene LeBell">Gene LeBell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_Beyer" title="Dick Beyer">Dick Beyer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tom_Drake" title="Tom Drake">Tom Drake</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jesse_Ventura" title="Jesse Ventura">Jesse Ventura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ray_%22Thunder%22_Stern" class="mw-redirect" title="Ray "Thunder" Stern">Ray Stern</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stu_Hart" title="Stu Hart">Stu Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Killer_Kowalski" title="Killer Kowalski">Killer Kowalski</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maurice_%22Mad_Dog%22_Vachon" class="mw-redirect" title="Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon">Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bobby_%22The_Brain%22_Heenan" class="mw-redirect" title="Bobby "The Brain" Heenan">Bobby "The Brain" Heenan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Funk" title="Terry Funk">Terry Funk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Don_Leo_Jonathan" title="Don Leo Jonathan">Don Leo Jonathan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bret_Hart" title="Bret Hart">Bret Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel" title="Nick Bockwinkel">Nick Bockwinkel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ted_DiBiase" title="Ted DiBiase">Ted DiBiase</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sgt._Slaughter" title="Sgt. Slaughter">Sgt. Slaughter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/%22Stone_Cold%22_Steve_Austin" class="mw-redirect" title=""Stone Cold" Steve Austin">"Stone Cold" Steve Austin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ivan_Koloff" title="Ivan Koloff">Ivan Koloff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Taylor" title="Terry Taylor">Terry Taylor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Larry_Hennig" title="Larry Hennig">Larry Hennig</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trish_Stratus" title="Trish Stratus">Trish Stratus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tully_Blanchard" title="Tully Blanchard">Tully Blanchard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baron_von_Raschke" title="Baron von Raschke">Baron von Raschke</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mark_Henry" title="Mark Henry">Mark Henry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alundra_Blayze" class="mw-redirect" title="Alundra Blayze">Alundra Blayze</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_%22Bradshaw%22_Layfield" class="mw-redirect" title="John "Bradshaw" Layfield">John "Bradshaw" Layfield</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lou Thesz/Art Abrams<br /> Lifetime Achievement<br /> Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Penny_Banner" title="Penny Banner">Penny Banner</a></li> <li>William Pappas</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dan_Gable" title="Dan Gable">Dan Gable</a></li> <li>Fr. Bill Olivas</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ted_Lewin" title="Ted Lewin">Ted Lewin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mike_Chapman" title="Mike Chapman">Mike Chapman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Angelo_Savoldi" title="Angelo Savoldi">Angelo Savoldi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antonio_Inoki" title="Antonio Inoki">Antonio Inoki</a>/<a href="/wiki/Danny_Hodge" title="Danny Hodge">Danny Hodge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_Brisco" title="Jack Brisco">Jack Brisco</a>/<a href="/wiki/Les_Thatcher" title="Les Thatcher">Les Thatcher</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Verne_Gagne" title="Verne Gagne">Verne Gagne</a>/<a href="/wiki/Eddie_Sharkey" title="Eddie Sharkey">Eddie Sharkey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Danny_Hodge" title="Danny Hodge">Hodge</a>/<a href="/wiki/Bob_Geigel" title="Bob Geigel">Geigel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/%22Dr._Death%22_Steve_Williams" class="mw-redirect" title=""Dr. Death" Steve Williams">"Dr. Death" Steve Williams</a>/<a href="/wiki/Pat_Patterson_(wrestler)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pat Patterson (wrestler)">Pat Patterson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bob_Roop" title="Bob Roop">Bob Roop</a>/<a href="/wiki/Reggie_Parks" title="Reggie Parks">Reggie Parks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dan_Severn" title="Dan Severn">Dan Severn</a>/<a href="/wiki/Jim_Ross" title="Jim Ross">Jim Ross</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rick_Martel" title="Rick Martel">Rick Martel</a>/<a href="/wiki/Mick_Foley" title="Mick Foley">Mick Foley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat" title="Ricky Steamboat">Ricky Steamboat</a>/<a href="/wiki/Wendi_Richter" title="Wendi Richter">Wendi Richter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Bearer" title="Paul Bearer">Bill Moody</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Michael_P.S._Hayes" class="mw-redirect" title="Michael P.S. Hayes">Michael Hayes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gerald_Brisco" title="Gerald Brisco">Gerald Brisco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arn_Anderson" title="Arn Anderson">Arn Anderson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kevin_Von_Erich" title="Kevin Von Erich">Kevin Von Erich</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shawn_Michaels" title="Shawn Michaels">Shawn Michaels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk_Jr." title="Dory Funk Jr.">Dory Funk Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rob_Van_Dam" title="Rob Van Dam">Rob Van Dam</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Men's Wrestling Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Haruka_Eigen" title="Haruka Eigen">Haruka Eigen</a>/<a href="/wiki/Ronnie_Garvin" class="mw-redirect" title="Ronnie Garvin">Ronnie Garvin</a>/<a href="/wiki/Guerrero_family" title="Guerrero family">Guerrero family</a>/<a href="/wiki/Paul_Vachon" title="Paul Vachon">Paul Vachon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cormier_wrestling_family" title="Cormier wrestling family">Cormier family</a>/<a href="/wiki/Art_Crews" title="Art Crews">Art Crews</a>/<a href="/wiki/Akio_Sato_(wrestler)" title="Akio Sato (wrestler)">Sato</a>/Bill Sky</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dean_Higuchi" class="mw-redirect" title="Dean Higuchi">Dean Higuchi</a>/<a href="/wiki/Rip_Hawk" title="Rip Hawk">Rip Hawk</a>/<a href="/wiki/Roger_Kirby" title="Roger Kirby">Roger Kirby</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Honky_Tonk_Man" title="The Honky Tonk Man">The Honky Tonk Man</a>/<a href="/wiki/Dan_Kroffat" title="Dan Kroffat">Dan Kroffat</a>/Alex Knight</li> <li>Michelle Starr/Mike Webster/<a href="/wiki/Bill_DeMott" title="Bill DeMott">Bill DeMott</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jake_%22The_Snake%22_Roberts" class="mw-redirect" title="Jake "The Snake" Roberts">Jake "The Snake" Roberts</a>/<a href="/wiki/Matt_Riviera" class="mw-redirect" title="Matt Riviera">Matt Riviera</a>/<a href="/wiki/Adam_Copeland" class="mw-redirect" title="Adam Copeland">Adam Copeland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dan_%22Short_Sleeve%22_Sampson" class="mw-redirect" title="Dan "Short Sleeve" Sampson">Dan "Short Sleeve" Sampson</a>/<a href="/wiki/Adam_Pearce" title="Adam Pearce">Adam Pearce</a>/Buddha Khan/<a href="/wiki/John_Cozman" class="mw-redirect" title="John Cozman">John Cozman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diamond_Dallas_Page" title="Diamond Dallas Page">Diamond Dallas Page</a>/<a href="/wiki/Christopher_Daniels" title="Christopher Daniels">Christopher Daniels</a>/<a href="/wiki/Sinn_Bodhi" title="Sinn Bodhi">Sinn Bodhi</a>/<a href="/wiki/Josef_Samael" title="Josef Samael">Almighty Sheik</a>/<a href="/wiki/Len_Denton" class="mw-redirect" title="Len Denton">Len Denton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Orndorff" title="Paul Orndorff">Paul Orndorff</a>/<a href="/wiki/Ken_Patera" title="Ken Patera">Ken Patera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kahagas" title="Kahagas">Kahagas</a>/<a href="/wiki/Fidel_Sierra" title="Fidel Sierra">Cuban Assassin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alexis_Smirnoff" title="Alexis Smirnoff">Alexis Smirnoff</a>/<a href="/wiki/Greg_Valentine" title="Greg Valentine">Greg Valentine</a>/Tony Storm</li> <li><a href="/wiki/David_Schultz_(professional_wrestler)" title="David Schultz (professional wrestler)">David Schultz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Santana" title="Ricky Santana">Ricky Santana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kevin_Sullivan_(wrestler)" title="Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)">Kevin Sullivan</a>/<a href="/wiki/Tommy_Rich" title="Tommy Rich">Tommy Rich</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Women's Wrestling Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Betty_Niccoli" title="Betty Niccoli">Betty Niccoli</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cynthia_Peretti" title="Cynthia Peretti">Jasmine</a>/<a href="/wiki/Luna_Vachon" title="Luna Vachon">Luna Vachon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joyce_Grable" title="Joyce Grable">Joyce Grable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Awesome_Kong" title="Awesome Kong">Awesome Kong</a>/Darling Dagmar/<a href="/wiki/Rockin%27_Robin_(wrestler)" title="Rockin' Robin (wrestler)">Rockin' Robin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Judy_Martin_(wrestler)" title="Judy Martin (wrestler)">Judy Martin</a>/<a href="/wiki/Lisa_Moretti" class="mw-redirect" title="Lisa Moretti">Ivory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Molly_Holly" title="Molly Holly">Molly Holly</a>/Sandy Partlow</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cheerleader_Melissa" title="Cheerleader Melissa">Cheerleader Melissa</a>/<a href="/wiki/Debi_Pelletier" class="mw-redirect" title="Debi Pelletier">Debi Pelletier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Beth_Phoenix" title="Beth Phoenix">Beth Phoenix</a>/<a href="/wiki/Gail_Kim" title="Gail Kim">Gail Kim</a>/<a href="/wiki/Lisa_Marie_Varon" title="Lisa Marie Varon">Lisa Marie Varon</a>/<a href="/wiki/Malia_Hosaka" title="Malia Hosaka">Malia Hosaka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gorgeous_Ladies_of_Wrestling" title="Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling">GLOW</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Santana_Garrett" title="Santana Garrett">Santana Garrett</a>/<a href="/wiki/Princess_Victoria_(wrestler)" title="Princess Victoria (wrestler)">Princess Victoria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Selina_Majors" title="Selina Majors">Bambi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jazz_(wrestler)" title="Jazz (wrestler)">Jazz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jacqueline_Moore" title="Jacqueline Moore">Jacqueline Moore</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Jason Sanderson<br /> Humanitarian Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Yvonne Melcher</li> <li>Al Burke</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lord_Zoltan" title="Lord Zoltan">Ken Jugan</a></li> <li>Sean Dunster</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diamond_Dallas_Page" title="Diamond Dallas Page">Diamond Dallas Page</a></li> <li>Sue Aitchison</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Red Bastien<br /> Friendship Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Joyce Paustian</li> <li>Shuhei Aoki</li> <li>Vince Fayhe</li> <li>Darla Taylor Staggs</li> <li>Brian Westcott</li> <li>John Arthur Lowe</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Non-annual awards<br /> winners</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lucha Libre<br /> Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Blue_Demon_Jr." title="Blue Demon Jr.">Blue Demon Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rey_Mysterio" title="Rey Mysterio">Rey Mysterio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Konnan" title="Konnan">Konnan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Tag Team Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Demolition_(professional_wrestling)" title="Demolition (professional wrestling)">Demolition</a> (<a href="/wiki/Ax_(wrestler)" title="Ax (wrestler)">Ax</a> and <a href="/wiki/Smash_(wrestler)" title="Smash (wrestler)">Smash</a>)</li> <li>High Flyers (<a href="/wiki/Greg_Gagne_(wrestler)" title="Greg Gagne (wrestler)">Greg Gagne</a> and <a href="/wiki/Jim_Brunzell" title="Jim Brunzell">Jim Brunzell</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harlem_Heat" title="Harlem Heat">Harlem Heat</a> (<a href="/wiki/Booker_T_(wrestler)" title="Booker T (wrestler)">Booker T</a> and <a href="/wiki/Stevie_Ray" title="Stevie Ray">Stevie Ray</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Faces_of_Fear" title="Faces of Fear">Faces of Fear</a> (<a href="/wiki/The_Barbarian_(wrestler)" title="The Barbarian (wrestler)">The Barbarian</a> and <a href="/wiki/Haku_(wrestler)" title="Haku (wrestler)">Meng</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Road_Warriors" class="mw-redirect" title="The Road Warriors">The Road Warriors</a> (<a href="/wiki/Road_Warrior_Animal" title="Road Warrior Animal">Road Warrior Animal</a>, <a href="/wiki/Road_Warrior_Hawk" title="Road Warrior Hawk">Road Warrior Hawk</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Paul_Ellering" title="Paul Ellering">Paul Ellering</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rock_%27n%27_Roll_Express" title="Rock 'n' Roll Express">Rock 'n' Roll Express</a> <a href="/wiki/Robert_Gibson_(wrestler)" title="Robert Gibson (wrestler)">Robert Gibson</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ricky_Morton" title="Ricky Morton">Ricky Morton</a>)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Rising Star Award/<br /> Future Legend Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kurt_Angle" title="Kurt Angle">Kurt Angle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Donovan_Morgan" title="Donovan Morgan">Donovan Morgan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Benoit" title="Chris Benoit">Chris Benoit</a></li> <li>Steve Fender</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cheerleader_Melissa" title="Cheerleader Melissa">"Cheerleader" Melissa Anderson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frankie_Kazarian" title="Frankie Kazarian">Frankie Kazarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariko_Yoshida" title="Mariko Yoshida">Mariko Yoshida</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Takeshi_Morishima" title="Takeshi Morishima">Takeshi Morishima</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Landell" title="Ricky Landell">Ricky Landell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trevor_Murdoch" title="Trevor Murdoch">Trevor Murdoch</a></li> <li>Oliver John</li> <li>Kyle Sebastian</li> <li>Kyle Matthews</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bobby_Sharp" title="Bobby Sharp">Bobby Sharp</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Santana_Garrett" title="Santana Garrett">Santana Garrett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wes_Brisco" title="Wes Brisco">Wes Brisco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karrion_Kross" title="Karrion Kross">Kevin Kross</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brian_Pillman_Jr." class="mw-redirect" title="Brian Pillman Jr.">Brian Pillman Jr.</a>/Maddison Miles</li> <li>Maddison Miles (2x)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">James C. Melby<br /> Historian Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Scott Teal</li> <li>Stephen Yohe</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vance_Nevada" title="Vance Nevada">Vance Nevada</a></li> <li>Tom Burke</li> <li>George Schire</li> <li>Dennis Brent</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dave_Meltzer" title="Dave Meltzer">Dave Meltzer</a></li> <li>Don Luce</li> <li>Mike Rodgers</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greg_Oliver" title="Greg Oliver">Greg Oliver</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Posthumous Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Nell Stewart/<a href="/wiki/Hercules_Cortez" title="Hercules Cortez">Hercules Cortez</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rhonda_Singh" class="mw-redirect" title="Rhonda Singh">Rhonda Singh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bull_Curry" title="Bull Curry">Wild Bull Curry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bobby_Shane" title="Bobby Shane">Bobby Shane</a>/<a href="/wiki/Vivian_Vachon" title="Vivian Vachon">Vivian Vachon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yukon_Eric" title="Yukon Eric">Yukon Eric</a>/Betty Jo Hawkins</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orville_Brown" title="Orville Brown">Orville Brown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_Gordienko" title="George Gordienko">George Gordienko</a>/Eddie Sullivan</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lee_Fields" title="Lee Fields">Lee Fields</a>/George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Michel_Martel" title="Michel Martel">Michel Martel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bruiser_Brody" title="Bruiser Brody">Bruiser Brody</a></li> <li>Roy McClarty</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Larry_Matysik" title="Larry Matysik">Larry Matysik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Londos" title="Jim Londos">Jim Londos</a></li> <li>Christine "Teeny" Jarrett</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">International Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pat_Barrett_(wrestler)" title="Pat Barrett (wrestler)">Pat Barrett</a> (2x)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">President’s Award</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Jerry_Lawler" title="Jerry Lawler">Jerry Lawler</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Professional_boxing" title="Professional boxing">Professional boxing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">Professional wrestling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Boxing_Hall_of_Fame" title="International Boxing Hall of Fame">International Boxing Hall of Fame</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professional_Wrestling_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" title="Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum">Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_awards" title="List of professional wrestling awards">List of professional wrestling awards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_halls_of_fame" title="List of professional wrestling halls of fame">List of professional wrestling halls of fame</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="NWA_Hall_of_Fame_Inductees130" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="Template:NWA Hall of Fame"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#000000">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="Template talk:NWA Hall of Fame"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#000000">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="Special:EditPage/Template:NWA Hall of Fame"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#000000">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="NWA_Hall_of_Fame_Inductees130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/NWA_Hall_of_Fame" title="NWA Hall of Fame"><span style="color:#000000">NWA Hall of Fame Inductees</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2005130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2005</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gordon_Solie" title="Gordon Solie">Gordon Solie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Barnett_(wrestling)" title="Jim Barnett (wrestling)">Jim Barnett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Cornette" title="Jim Cornette">Jim Cornette</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sam_Muchnick" title="Sam Muchnick">Sam Muchnick</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2006130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2006</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk_Jr." title="Dory Funk Jr.">Dory Funk Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eddie_Graham" title="Eddie Graham">Eddie Graham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lance_Russell" title="Lance Russell">Lance Russell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leilani_Kai" title="Leilani Kai">Leilani Kai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rock_%27n%27_Roll_Express" title="Rock 'n' Roll Express">Rock 'n' Roll Express</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Morton" title="Ricky Morton">Ricky Morton</a> and <a href="/wiki/Robert_Gibson_(wrestler)" title="Robert Gibson (wrestler)">Robert Gibson</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saul_Weingeroff" title="Saul Weingeroff">Saul Weingeroff</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2008130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2008</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Corsicans <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Corsica_Joe" title="Corsica Joe">Corsica Joe</a> and Corsica Jean</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Iron_Sheik" title="The Iron Sheik">The Iron Sheik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Midnight_Express_(professional_wrestling)" class="mw-redirect" title="Midnight Express (professional wrestling)">Midnight Express</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bobby_Eaton" title="Bobby Eaton">Bobby Eaton</a> and <a href="/wiki/Dennis_Condrey" title="Dennis Condrey">Dennis Condrey</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nikita_Koloff" title="Nikita Koloff">Nikita Koloff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ric_Flair" title="Ric Flair">Ric Flair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Rich" title="Tommy Rich">Tommy Rich</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2009130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2009</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dennis_Coralluzzo" title="Dennis Coralluzzo">Dennis Coralluzzo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gene_Kiniski" title="Gene Kiniski">Gene Kiniski</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jerry_Jarrett" title="Jerry Jarrett">Jerry Jarrett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mil_M%C3%A1scaras" title="Mil Máscaras">Mil Máscaras</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Orndorff" title="Paul Orndorff">Paul Orndorff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Funk" title="Terry Funk">Terry Funk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tully_Blanchard" title="Tully Blanchard">Tully Blanchard</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2010130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2010</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Buddy_Rogers_(wrestler)" title="Buddy Rogers (wrestler)">Buddy Rogers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dan_Severn" title="Dan Severn">Dan Severn</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Danny_Hodge" title="Danny Hodge">Danny Hodge</a></li> <li>Ed Chuman</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_Brisco" title="Jack Brisco">Jack Brisco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wrecking_Crew_(professional_wrestling)" title="Minnesota Wrecking Crew (professional wrestling)">Minnesota Wrecking Crew</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gene_Anderson_(wrestler)" title="Gene Anderson (wrestler)">Gene Anderson</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lars_Anderson_(wrestler)" title="Lars Anderson (wrestler)">Lars Anderson</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Ole_Anderson" title="Ole Anderson">Ole Anderson</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Gulas" title="Nick Gulas">Nick Gulas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Sheik_(wrestler)" title="The Sheik (wrestler)">The Sheik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shinya_Hashimoto" title="Shinya Hashimoto">Shinya Hashimoto</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2011130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2011</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Angelo_Savoldi" title="Angelo Savoldi">Angelo Savoldi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bill_Apter" title="Bill Apter">Bill Apter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dusty_Rhodes" title="Dusty Rhodes">Dusty Rhodes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freddie_Blassie" title="Freddie Blassie">Freddie Blassie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Johnny_Valentine" title="Johnny Valentine">Johnny Valentine</a></li> <li>LeBells <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aileen_Eaton" title="Aileen Eaton">Aileen Eaton</a>, <a href="/wiki/Gene_LeBell" title="Gene LeBell">Gene LeBell</a> and Mike LeBell</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pat_O%27Connor_(wrestler)" title="Pat O'Connor (wrestler)">Pat O'Connor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sue_Green" title="Sue Green">Sue Green</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wahoo_McDaniel" title="Wahoo McDaniel">Wahoo McDaniel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2012130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2012</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Fabulous_Moolah" title="The Fabulous Moolah">The Fabulous Moolah</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Tolos" title="John Tolos">John Tolos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joyce_Grable" title="Joyce Grable">Joyce Grable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Little_Beaver_(wrestler)" title="Little Beaver (wrestler)">Little Beaver</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Misty_Blue_Simmes" title="Misty Blue Simmes">Misty Blue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mr._Wrestling_II" title="Mr. Wrestling II">Mr. Wrestling II</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Boesch" title="Paul Boesch">Paul Boesch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat" title="Ricky Steamboat">Ricky Steamboat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Road_Warriors" title="Road Warriors">Road Warriors</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Road_Warrior_Animal" title="Road Warrior Animal">Road Warrior Animal</a> and <a href="/wiki/Road_Warrior_Hawk" title="Road Warrior Hawk">Road Warrior Hawk</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sputnik_Monroe" title="Sputnik Monroe">Sputnik Monroe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theodore_Long" title="Theodore Long">Teddy Long</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2013130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2013</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bobo_Brazil" title="Bobo Brazil">Bobo Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk" title="Dory Funk">Dory Funk, Sr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ernie_Ladd" title="Ernie Ladd">Ernie Ladd</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fabulous_Kangaroos" title="Fabulous Kangaroos">Fabulous Kangaroos</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Al_Costello" title="Al Costello">Al Costello</a> and <a href="/wiki/Roy_Heffernan" title="Roy Heffernan">Roy Heffernan</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jackie_Fargo" title="Jackie Fargo">Jackie Fargo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ray_Stevens_(wrestler)" title="Ray Stevens (wrestler)">Ray Stevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Salvador_Lutteroth" title="Salvador Lutteroth">Salvador Lutteroth</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2014130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2014</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bob_Kelly_(wrestler)" title="Bob Kelly (wrestler)">Cowboy Bob Kelly</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Giant_Baba" title="Giant Baba">Giant Baba</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/J._J._Dillon" title="J. J. Dillon">J. J. Dillon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kevin_Sullivan_(wrestler)" title="Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)">Kevin Sullivan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ox_Baker" title="Ox Baker">Ox Baker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pinkie_George" title="Pinkie George">Pinkie George</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2015130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2015</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Adam_Pearce" title="Adam Pearce">Adam Pearce</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leroy_McGuirk" title="Leroy McGuirk">Leroy McGuirk</a></li> <li>Mike Sircy</li> <li>Wright Brothers <ul><li>Don Wright and <a href="/wiki/Ron_Wright_(wrestler)" title="Ron Wright (wrestler)">Ron Wright</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2016130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2016</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Boris_Malenko" title="Boris Malenko">Boris Malenko</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gary_Hart_(wrestler)" title="Gary Hart (wrestler)">Gary Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Ross" title="Jim Ross">Jim Ross</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Len_Rossi" title="Len Rossi">Len Rossi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Bockwinkel" title="Nick Bockwinkel">Nick Bockwinkel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><div id="2017130" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2017</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Everett_Marshall" title="Everett Marshall">Everett Marshall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Lothario" title="José Lothario">José Lothario</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="NWA_World&#039;s_Heavyweight_Champions233" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template:NWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#000000">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template talk:NWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#000000">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:NWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Special:EditPage/Template:NWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#000000">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="NWA_World&#039;s_Heavyweight_Champions233" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/NWA_World%27s_Heavyweight_Championship" title="NWA World's Heavyweight Championship"><span style="color:#000000">NWA World's Heavyweight</span></a> <a href="/wiki/List_of_NWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions" title="List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions"><span style="color:#000000">Champions</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1940s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Orville_Brown" title="Orville Brown">Orville Brown</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1950s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Whipper_Billy_Watson" title="Whipper Billy Watson">Billy Watson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_Hutton" title="Dick Hutton">Dick Hutton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pat_O%27Connor_(wrestler)" title="Pat O'Connor (wrestler)">Pat O'Connor</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1960s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Buddy_Rogers_(wrestler)" title="Buddy Rogers (wrestler)">Buddy Rogers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gene_Kiniski" title="Gene Kiniski">Gene Kiniski</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dory_Funk_Jr." title="Dory Funk Jr.">Dory Funk Jr.</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1970s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_Brisco" title="Jack Brisco">Jack Brisco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Giant_Baba" title="Giant Baba">Giant Baba</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Funk" title="Terry Funk">Terry Funk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dusty_Rhodes" title="Dusty Rhodes">Dusty Rhodes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1980s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Rich" title="Tommy Rich">Tommy Rich</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ric_Flair" title="Ric Flair">Ric Flair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kerry_Von_Erich" title="Kerry Von Erich">Kerry Von Erich</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ron_Garvin" title="Ron Garvin">Ron Garvin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat" title="Ricky Steamboat">Ricky Steamboat</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">1990s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sting_(wrestler)" title="Sting (wrestler)">Sting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tatsumi_Fujinami" title="Tatsumi Fujinami">Tatsumi Fujinami</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Masahiro_Chono" title="Masahiro Chono">Masahiro Chono</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keiji_Muto" title="Keiji Muto">The Great Muta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Barry_Windham" title="Barry Windham">Barry Windham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shane_Douglas" title="Shane Douglas">Shane Douglas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chris_Candido" title="Chris Candido">Chris Candido</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dan_Severn" title="Dan Severn">Dan Severn</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naoya_Ogawa" title="Naoya Ogawa">Naoya Ogawa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gary_Steele" title="Gary Steele">Gary Steele</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">2000s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mike_Rapada" title="Mike Rapada">Mike Rapada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sabu_(wrestler)" title="Sabu (wrestler)">Sabu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Steve_Corino" title="Steve Corino">Steve Corino</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shinya_Hashimoto" title="Shinya Hashimoto">Shinya Hashimoto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ken_Shamrock" title="Ken Shamrock">Ken Shamrock</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/R-Truth" title="R-Truth">Ron Killings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jeff_Jarrett" title="Jeff Jarrett">Jeff Jarrett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/AJ_Styles" title="AJ Styles">A.J. Styles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ray_Gonz%C3%A1lez" title="Ray González">Ray González</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Raven_(wrestler)" title="Raven (wrestler)">Raven</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rhyno" title="Rhyno">Rhino</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Cage" title="Christian Cage">Christian Cage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Abyss_(wrestler)" title="Abyss (wrestler)">Abyss</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Adam_Pearce" title="Adam Pearce">Adam Pearce</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brent_Albright" title="Brent Albright">Brent Albright</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blue_Demon_Jr." title="Blue Demon Jr.">Blue Demon Jr.</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">2010s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Colt_Cabana" title="Colt Cabana">Colt Cabana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Josef_Samael" title="Josef Samael">The Sheik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kahagas" title="Kahagas">Kahagas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rob_Conway" title="Rob Conway">Rob Conway</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Satoshi_Kojima" title="Satoshi Kojima">Satoshi Kojima</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hiroyoshi_Tenzan" title="Hiroyoshi Tenzan">Hiroyoshi Tenzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jax_Dane" title="Jax Dane">Jax Dane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tim_Storm" title="Tim Storm">Tim Storm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nick_Aldis" title="Nick Aldis">Nick Aldis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cody_Rhodes" title="Cody Rhodes">Cody</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center; color:#000000; background:#FAD02C; box-shadow: inset 2px 2px 0 #000000, inset -2px -2px 0 #000000;">2020s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trevor_Murdoch" title="Trevor Murdoch">Trevor Murdoch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matt_Cardona" title="Matt Cardona">Matt Cardona</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tyrus_(wrestler)" title="Tyrus (wrestler)">Tyrus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ethan_Carter_III" title="Ethan Carter III">EC3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thom_Latimer" title="Thom Latimer">Thom Latimer</a> <b>(current)</b></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="UWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions90" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template:UWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template talk:UWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Special:EditPage/Template:UWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="UWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions90" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/UWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="UWA World Heavyweight Championship">UWA World Heavyweight Champions</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">1970s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">1980s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/El_Canek" title="El Canek">El Canek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tiger_Jeet_Singh" title="Tiger Jeet Singh">Tiger Jeet Singh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antonio_Inoki" title="Antonio Inoki">Antonio Inoki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Riki_Choshu" title="Riki Choshu">Riki Choshu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tatsumi_Fujinami" title="Tatsumi Fujinami">Tatsumi Fujinami</a></li> <li>Enrique Vera</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dos_Caras" title="Dos Caras">Dos Caras</a></li> <li>Scorpio</li> <li>The Killer</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Perro_Aguayo" title="Perro Aguayo">Perro Aguayo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_Van_Vader" title="Big Van Vader">Leon White / Bull Power</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">1990s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vampiro" title="Vampiro">Canadian Vampire Casanova</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kim_Duk" title="Kim Duk">Kim Duk</a></li> <li>Cadaver de Ultratomba</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2000s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cibern%C3%A9tico" title="Cibernético">Cibernético</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Wagner_Jr." title="Dr. Wagner Jr.">Dr. Wagner Jr.</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="WCW_Hall_of_Fame_Inductees86" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="Template:WCW Hall of Fame"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="Template talk:WCW Hall of Fame"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="Special:EditPage/Template:WCW Hall of Fame"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="WCW_Hall_of_Fame_Inductees86" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/WCW_Hall_of_Fame" title="WCW Hall of Fame">WCW Hall of Fame Inductees</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Class of 1993</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Verne_Gagne" title="Verne Gagne">Verne Gagne</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mr._Wrestling_II" title="Mr. Wrestling II">Mr. Wrestling II</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eddie_Graham" title="Eddie Graham">Eddie Graham</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Class of 1994</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Harley_Race" title="Harley Race">Harley Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ernie_Ladd" title="Ernie Ladd">Ernie Ladd</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Crusher_(wrestler)" title="The Crusher (wrestler)">The Crusher</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_the_Bruiser" title="Dick the Bruiser">Dick the Bruiser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ole_Anderson" title="Ole Anderson">Ole Anderson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jody_Hamilton" title="Jody Hamilton">Masked Assassin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wahoo_McDaniel" title="Wahoo McDaniel">Wahoo McDaniel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Class of 1995</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dusty_Rhodes" title="Dusty Rhodes">Dusty Rhodes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antonio_Inoki" title="Antonio Inoki">Antonio Inoki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Angelo_Poffo" title="Angelo Poffo">Angelo Poffo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terry_Funk" title="Terry Funk">Terry Funk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Big_John_Studd" title="Big John Studd">Big John Studd</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gordon_Solie" title="Gordon Solie">Gordon Solie</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="WWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions84" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template:WWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Template talk:WWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship" title="Special:EditPage/Template:WWA World Heavyweight Championship"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="WWA_World_Heavyweight_Champions84" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/WWA_World_Heavyweight_Championship_(Los_Angeles)" title="WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)">WWA World Heavyweight Champions</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/%C3%89douard_Carpentier" title="Édouard Carpentier">Édouard Carpentier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freddie_Blassie" title="Freddie Blassie">Freddie Blassie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_Beyer" title="Dick Beyer">The Destroyer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bearcat_Wright" title="Bearcat Wright">Bearcat Wright</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_the_Bruiser" title="Dick the Bruiser">Dick the Bruiser</a></li> <li>Bob Ellis</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toyonobori" title="Toyonobori">Toyonobori</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pedro_Morales" title="Pedro Morales">Pedro Morales</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luke_Graham_(wrestler)" title="Luke Graham (wrestler)">Luke Graham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddy_Austin" title="Buddy Austin">Buddy Austin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bobo_Brazil" title="Bobo Brazil">Bobo Brazil</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mark_Lewin" title="Mark Lewin">Mark Lewin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kintar%C5%8D_%C5%8Cki" title="Kintarō Ōki">Kim Il</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Iron_Mike_DiBiase" title="Iron Mike DiBiase">Mike DiBiase</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="WWE_Hall_of_Fame_-_Legacy_Wing198" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Legacy_Wing" title="Template:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Legacy_Wing" title="Template talk:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:WWE_Hall_of_Fame_Legacy_Wing" title="Special:EditPage/Template:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="WWE_Hall_of_Fame_-_Legacy_Wing198" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame#Legacy_wing" title="WWE Hall of Fame">WWE Hall of Fame - Legacy Wing</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="2010s198" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2010s</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2016)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2016)">2016</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ed_Lewis_(wrestler)" title="Ed Lewis (wrestler)">Ed Lewis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frank_Gotch" title="Frank Gotch">Frank Gotch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_Hackenschmidt" title="George Hackenschmidt">George Hackenschmidt</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lou Thesz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mildred_Burke" title="Mildred Burke">Mildred Burke</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pat_O%27Connor_(wrestler)" title="Pat O'Connor (wrestler)">Pat O'Connor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sailor_Art_Thomas" title="Sailor Art Thomas">Sailor Art Thomas</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2017)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2017)">2017</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bearcat_Wright" title="Bearcat Wright">Bearcat Wright</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Jerry_Graham" title="Dr. Jerry Graham">Dr. Jerry Graham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Haystacks_Calhoun" title="Haystacks Calhoun">Haystacks Calhoun</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Judy_Grable" title="Judy Grable">Judy Grable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/June_Byers" title="June Byers">June Byers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luther_Lindsay" title="Luther Lindsay">Luther Lindsay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Martin_Burns" title="Martin Burns">Martin Burns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rikid%C5%8Dzan" title="Rikidōzan">Rikidōzan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toots_Mondt" title="Toots Mondt">Toots Mondt</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2018)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2018)">2018</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Boris_Malenko" title="Boris Malenko">Boris Malenko</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cora_Combs" title="Cora Combs">Cora Combs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dara_Singh" title="Dara Singh">Dara Singh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hiro_Matsuda" title="Hiro Matsuda">Hiro Matsuda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Londos" title="Jim Londos">Jim Londos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lord_Alfred_Hayes" title="Lord Alfred Hayes">Lord Alfred Hayes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rufus_R._Jones" title="Rufus R. Jones">Rufus R. Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/El_Santo" title="El Santo">El Santo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sputnik_Monroe" title="Sputnik Monroe">Sputnik Monroe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stan_Stasiak" title="Stan Stasiak">Stan Stasiak</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2019)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2019)">2019</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bruiser_Brody" title="Bruiser Brody">Bruiser Brody</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddy_Rose" title="Buddy Rose">Buddy Rose</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hisashi_Shinma" title="Hisashi Shinma">Hisashi Shinma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Barnett_(wrestling)" title="Jim Barnett (wrestling)">Jim Barnett</a></li> <li>Joseph Cohen</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luna_Vachon" title="Luna Vachon">Luna Vachon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Primo_Carnera" title="Primo Carnera">Primo Carnera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Professor_Tanaka" title="Professor Tanaka">Professor Toru Tanaka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/S._D._Jones" title="S. D. Jones">S. D. Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wahoo_McDaniel" title="Wahoo McDaniel">Wahoo McDaniel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="2020s198" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2020s</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2021)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2021)">2020</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Baron_Michele_Leone" title="Baron Michele Leone">Baron Michele Leone</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brickhouse_Brown" title="Brickhouse Brown">Brickhouse Brown</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gary_Hart_(wrestler)" title="Gary Hart (wrestler)">Gary Hart</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ray_Stevens_(wrestler)" title="Ray Stevens (wrestler)">Ray Stevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Steve_Williams_(wrestler)" title="Steve Williams (wrestler)">"Dr. Death" Steve Williams</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2021)" title="WWE Hall of Fame (2021)">2021</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Buzz_Sawyer" title="Buzz Sawyer">Buzz Sawyer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dick_the_Bruiser" title="Dick the Bruiser">Dick the Bruiser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ethel_Johnson_(wrestler)" title="Ethel Johnson (wrestler)">Ethel Johnson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Boesch" title="Paul Boesch">Paul Boesch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pez_Whatley" title="Pez Whatley">"Pistol" Pez Whatley</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <b><a href="/wiki/Category:WWE_Hall_of_Fame" title="Category:WWE Hall of 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