Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz (Born Lajos Tiza April 24, 1916 - April 28, 2002) was an American professional wrestler and six-time world champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days (3,749 days total), longer than anyone else in history. Among his many accomplishments, he is credited with inventing a number of professional wrestling techniques such as the belly to back waistlock suplex (later known as the German suplex due to its association with Karl Gotch), the Lou Thesz press, STF and the original powerbomb. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Always maintained outstanding physical condition and never used any ouytrageous costuming; appearing in wrestling trunks, wrestling shoes and waem-up robe.
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Quote
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The reality, or substance, of professional wrestling is the ability to perpetuate a fantasy. I never distinguished between fantasy and reality. I made my fantasy reality for over 60 years.
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Fact
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At around age 19, Thesz was taken under the wing of All Time Great and many times Champ, Ed "Strangler" Lewis; under whose tut-ledge, Lou became the unprecedented 6 times legitimate World's Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.
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Was known in the Pro Wrestling game as a "Hooker"; that being a legitimate Wrestler ("Shooter")who possessed the ability and skills to seriously damage his opponents arm or leg joints by applying certain hold.
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At the approximate age of 19, the young Thesz was taken under the wing of All Time Great and many times Champ, Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
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Published author.
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In 1952 he defeated Baron Michelle Leone in Los Angeles for the California World Heavyweight title and became the first undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion since the days of Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschmidt.
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Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame on May 23, 1993.
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Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002. (charter class)
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Hungarian birth name translated as "Aloysius Thesz" and birth name also seen as Aloysius Martin Thesz.
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His father Martin, a shoemaker, had been an amateur wrestling champion in his native Hungary.
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He won 936 consecutive matches from 1948 to 1955.
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He was the six-time world champion of the National Wrestling Alliance, the most important governing body of the era, winning his first title at 21. He held the title a total of 13 years, a record.
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He sometimes wrestled 200 to 250 times a year, often after driving all night from one site to the next. By his count, his career encompassed 6,000 matches, 200 broken bones and 16 million miles.
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Inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 2002
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
1985
Video
Lou Thesz
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling
1999
TV Movie documentary
Himself
WWF in Your House: Badd Blood
1997
TV Special
Himself
Eastern Championship Wrestling
1995
TV Series
Himself
WCW Slamboree 1994
1994
TV Movie
Himself
WCW Slamboree 1993
1993
TV Movie
Himself
WCW/NWA WrestleWar
1989
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1968
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Wrestling at the Chase
1959
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
WWE Raw
2013
TV Series
Lou Thesz
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
Video
Himself
WWE: History of the World Heavyweight Championship
2009
Video documentary
Himself
The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA
2006
Video documentary
Himself
Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
2003
Video
Himself
WWE Triple H: The Game
2002
Video
Himself
Wrestling Gold Vol.1: Busted Open!
2001
Video
Himself - referee
Known for movies
The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling (1999) as Himself
$19 Million
