[Deathwatch] Lou Thesz, Former Pro Wrestling Champ, 86

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Lou Thesz, Dead at 86...

http://www.onlineonslaught.com/columns/oo/20020429.shtml

April 29, 2002
by Rick Scaia
Exclusive to OnlineOnslaught.com

The news and views round-up for Monday: 
Lou Thesz, perhaps pro wrestling's biggest drawing card during the
1940s and 50s, passed away Sunday morning.  He had recently undergone
heart by-pass surgery, from which he had seemed to have been
recovering.  He had remained hospitalized though, in the two weeks
since the surgery.
 
On Sunday morning, he passed away at age 86.  
 
Thesz was a six time NWA Champion, winning his first title in 1937 at
the age of 21.	His final title win came in 1963, and Thesz held the
belt for three years, when he dropped the title at the age of 50. 
Thesz's title reigns totaled almost 13 years, and in addition to his
final three-year reign, Thesz was also the NWA Champion for 8 straight
years between 1948 and 1956.
 
Thesz's final title win is remarkable for a reason other than the fact
that he held the belt while in his upper 40s...  it is also the title
match that directly spawned what became the WWF World Title.  In 1963,
the Northeast territory (the WWWF, controlled by Vince McMahon's dad)
was a supporting member of the NWA, and acknowledged their champion as
the World Champion.  However, the WWWF did not agree with the decision
to switch the World Title onto Lou Thesz in '63.  The WWWF continued to
acknowledge Buddy Rogers (the previous NWA Champ) as the new WWWF
Champion  [A fictitious "tournament" was invented, and the story goes
that Rogers beat Antonino Rocca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become the
first WWWF Champ...  but in reality, he was acknowledged as the frist
WWWF Champ because of the Federation's refusal to accept Thesz's sixth
title victory.]
 
As NWA Champ, Thesz traveled all over the world defending his belt.  He
was so revered in Japan that, at the age of 73, he was coaxed back into
the ring for a final match.  He wrestled and lost to one of his
students, Masahiro Chono, back in 1990.
 
Thesz always championed the idea of "real" wrestling, and took pride in
the fact that when he competed, the grappling took precedence over the
entertainment side of things.  Of today's current crop of stars, Thesz
had singled out Kurt Angle as the absolute best of the bunch on more
than one occasion.
 
If nothing else, the name of Lou Thesz should be firmly established in
today's fans' minds because of Stone Cold Steve Austin's use of the
Thesz Press as part of his everyday arsenal.  [Thesz, however -- ever
the wrestling technician -- was quick to point out that the way Austin
does the move, it's really more of a flying body scissors!]
 
Our thoughts are with Lou Thesz's family and friends on this sad
occasion.  And here at OO, we will also attempt to further pay tribute
to Thesz and bring his legacy to the attention of today's fans as best
we can.  Look for Denny Burkholder's extensive interview with Thesz and
other features in the next several days...