George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum's Dan Gable Museum. The hall of fame honors wrestlers with a strong amateur background who have made an impact on professional wrestling.[1] It is named after Lou Thesz, who helped create it,[2] and his trainer George Tragos.[3]
Established | 1999 |
---|---|
Location | Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
Director | Kyle Klingman |
Website | nwhof |
The hall of fame was founded in 1999 in Newton, Iowa but moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 2007.[4] The museum suffered severe flooding in the Iowa flood of 2008,[5] but reopened in June 2009.[6] Wrestling historian and journalist Mike Chapman served as executive director of the museum until Kyle Klingman succeeded him in November 2009.[7]
Inductions take place at a hall of fame induction ceremony. Other activities are held throughout the weekend in conjunction with the event, such as local independent promotion Impact Pro Wrestling's "Hall of Fame Classic" tournament in 2017 and 2018.[8][9]
Honorees
Inductees
Frank Gotch Award recipients
Named after hall of fame inductee Frank Gotch, this award honors people in professional wrestling who brought positive recognition to the industry through work outside of it.[9][10]
James C. Melby Award recipients
James C. Melby was the first recipient of this award and it was subsequently named after him. It recognizes excellence in professional wrestling writing or historical preservation.[9][29]
Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | James C. Melby | Longtime professional wrestling journalist[14] |
2007 | Mike Chapman | Executive director of the Dan Gable Museum[15] |
2008 | Greg Oliver | Honored with Steven Johnson. Canadian author and journalist, founded SLAM! Wrestling[5] |
2008 | Steven Johnson | Honored with Greg Oliver. Has written several books on professional wrestling[5] |
2009 | Mike Mooneyham | Author and columnist for The Post and Courier[6] |
2010 | J Michael Kenyon | Wrestling historian and director of the Cauliflower Alley Club[17] |
2011 | Scott Teal | Owner of Crowbar Press[18] |
2012 | Bill Apter | Photographer and journalist for several magazines, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated[19] |
2013 | George Napolitano | Professional wrestling photographer[20] |
2014 | Larry Matysik | Announcer for Wrestling at the Chase[28] |
2015 | Wade Keller | Journalist and founder of the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter[22] |
2016 | Dave Meltzer | Editor and publisher of Wrestling Observer Newsletter[23] |
2017 | Scott Williams | Posthumous honoree: Wrestling historian and author[9] |
2018 | Koji Miyamoto | Japanese wrestling historian and author of 16 books[24] |
2019 | Brian Shields | Authored several WWE books[25] |
Lou Thesz Award recipients
This award recognizes those in the professional wrestling industry who have used their skills in the realm of public service.[9]
Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|
2007 | Bill Murdock | Head of Eblen Charities[15][lower-alpha 2] |
2008 | Father Jason Sanderson | Cauliflower Alley Club board member and promoter who held regional championships[5][32] |
2009 | Bill Kersten | Announcer for Kansas City Wrestling[6] |
2010 | Rene Goulet (Robert Bédard) |
One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion[17] |
2011 | Jim Ross | Longtime lead announcer for WWF/E, WCW and other regional promotions; Head of WWF Talent Relations during the Attitude Era, signing many well known wrestlers[18] |
2012 | John "Bradshaw" Layfield | One-time WWE Champion, three-time WWF Tag Team Champion[19] |
2013 | Edge (Adam Copeland) |
Four-time WWE Champion, a record seven-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE). He held the WWF/World and WWE Tag Team Championships a combined 14 times, more than any other wrestler[20] |
2014 | Larry "The Axe" Hennig | Second time honored, previously inducted in 2006[28] |
2015 | Brian Blair | Two-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[22] |
2016 | J.J. Dillon (James Morrison) |
Long-time manager in the NWA, former WCW onscreen commissioner[23] |
2017 | Magnum T.A. (Terry Allen) |
Two-time Mid-South North American Champion, two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion[9] |
2018 | Booker T (Robert Huffman) |
Five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, one-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE), a record six-time WCW World Television Champion, a record 11-time WCW World Tag Team Champion (10 of which came with his brother Stevie Ray as Harlem Heat)[24] |
2019 | Thunderbolt Patterson (Claude Patterson) |
One-time CWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[25] |
2021[lower-alpha 1] | Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) |
A record seven-time WWF/E Women's Champion[33] |
George Tragos Award recipients
This award recognizes wrestlers who have excelled in mixed martial arts.[9]
Notes
- These honorees were originally announced as being part of the 2020 ceremony but the event has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]
- In 2019, it was reported that Murdock had been convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child in 1988 and he has since been removed from the Hall of Fame's website.[30][31]
References
- Skok, Jason (2013). Kurt Angle: From Olympian to Wrestling Machine. Capstone Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-1429686822.
- Solomon, Brian (2015). Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1617135996.
- "George Tragos". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Klingman, Kyle (June 14, 2008). "Iowa wrestling museum flooded". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Klingman, Kyle (June 20, 2008). "Flood won't stop Tragos/Thesz HOF 'Super Weekend'". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- Johnson, Mike (June 30, 2009). "Ricky Steamboat, Nick Bockinkel Among 2009 Class Honored By Wrestling Museum & Institute". PWInsider. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "Chapman retires from Dan Gable Museum". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. November 25, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Big weekend on tap for local wrestling HOF". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. May 22, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- Keller, Wade (June 17, 2017). "Shelton Benjamin part of Impact Pro's Hall of Fame Classic tournament next month, full weekend details & schedule". PWTorch.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- "Ventura given Museum's top honour". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. August 4, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- Oliver, Greg (July 25, 2004). "Kiniski, Rheingans entering Newton hall". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Curry, Lewis (August 2, 2004). "Newton inducts Class of 2004". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Oliver, Greg (July 10, 2005). "Newton HOF set to grow by six". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "Hall of Fame Inductions Report: Bret Hart, Larrry Hennig, Mike DiBiase, Dory Funk Sr., Bop Roop". PWTorch. July 6, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Johnson, Steve (July 14, 2007). "Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Vongsarath, Chris (March 2, 2009). "Longtime Campbell resident Fritz von Goering to be inducted into wrestling hall of fame". Mercury News. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- Postian, Joyce (July 15, 2010). "Funk, Foley, Vachon among those honored at Tragos/Thesz HOF". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Oliver, Greg (November 15, 2010). "Tragos/Thesz HOF to honour Funk Jr., Monsoon, Ross, Duggan". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Alvarez, Bryan (November 15, 2011). "Tues update: Tons more from Raw, UFC vs. New York notes, more WWE Twitter madness, HDNet signs new MMA deal, MMA legend heading to ROH, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Caldwell, James (January 22, 2012). "News: Edge to join second Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Johnson, Vaugn (November 12, 2013). "Steiner Brothers to headline hall of fame induction ceremony". Philly.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Namako, Jason (May 22, 2015). "Kurt Angle reception set for 2015 National Pro Wrestling HOF". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Caldwell, James (July 18, 2016). "Stan Hansen added to this week's Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame, replaces two stars unable to appear". PWTorch.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Keller, Wade (March 26, 2018). "National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced Class of 2018, details on HOF Induction Weekend including Ross, Booker T, Animal". PWTorch.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Johnson, Mike (May 21, 2019). "2019 Tragos/Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class Announced". PWInsider. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- Lee, Joseph (July 21, 2020). "Tragos/Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Postpones This Year's Ceremony To 2021". 411 Mania. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- Laprade, Patric (July 10, 2012). "Award honours Dan Severn's MMA successes". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Williams, Kari (July 26, 2014). "Steiners headline Tragos/Thesz induction weekend". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- Nason, Josh (January 5, 2016). "Dave Meltzer to Receive Honor From National Wrestling Hall of Fame". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "Dan Gable's Lou Thesz Award". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- Fantz, Ashley (March 22, 2019). "Charity leader retires days after CNN reveals details of sex crime charge". CNN. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- "Jason Sanderson". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- Krex, Azxa (January 23, 2020). "Aun retirada, Trish Stratus hace historia en la lucha libre". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved January 28, 2020.