Established | 1999 |
---|---|
Location | Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
Director | Jim Miller |
Public transit access | 6 7 MET Transit |
Website |
nwhof |
The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (TNTHOF) [1] is a professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dan Gable Museum. The hall of fame honors professional wrestlers with a strong amateur wrestling or shootfighting background who have made an impact on professional wrestling. [2] It is named after Lou Thesz, who helped create it, [3] and his trainer George Tragos. [4]
The hall of fame was founded in 1999 in Newton, Iowa, but moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 2007. [5] The museum suffered severe flooding in the Iowa flood of 2008, [6] but reopened in June 2009. [7] Wrestling historian and journalist Mike Chapman served as executive director of the museum until Kyle Klingman succeeded him in November 2009. [8] On July 1st, 2019, Jim Miller began work as director of the Hall of Fame succeeding Kyle Klingman. [9]
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. [10] [11]
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. [11] [12]
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. [11] [33]
Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | James C. Melby | Longtime professional wrestling journalist [16] |
2007 | Mike Chapman | Executive director of the Dan Gable Museum [17] |
2008 | Greg Oliver | Honored with Steven Johnson. Canadian author and journalist, founded SLAM! Wrestling [6] |
2008 | Steven Johnson | Honored with Greg Oliver. Has written several books on professional wrestling [6] |
2009 | Mike Mooneyham | Author and columnist for The Post and Courier [7] |
2010 | J Michael Kenyon | Wrestling historian and director of the Cauliflower Alley Club [19] |
2011 | Scott Teal | Owner of Crowbar Press [20] |
2012 | Bill Apter | Photographer and journalist for several magazines, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated [21] |
2013 | George Napolitano | Professional wrestling photographer [22] |
2014 | Larry Matysik | Announcer for Wrestling at the Chase [32] |
2015 | Wade Keller | Journalist and founder of the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter [24] |
2016 | Dave Meltzer | Editor and publisher of Wrestling Observer Newsletter [25] |
2017 | Scott Williams | Posthumous honoree: Wrestling historian and author [11] |
2018 | Koji Miyamoto | Japanese wrestling historian and author of 16 books [26] |
2019 | Brian Shields | Authored several WWE books [27] |
2021 | Mark James | Historian and author of several books about territorial professional wrestling [34] |
2022 | Dick Bourne | Written or co-written a number of books, including: Crown Jewel: The NWA Championship 1959–1973. [35] |
2023 | Tom Burke | Historian and journalist for numerous publications [1] |
This award recognizes those in the professional wrestling industry who have used their skills in the realm of public service. [11]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | — | Bill Murdock | Head of Eblen Charities [17] [b] |
2008 | — | Father Jason Sanderson | Cauliflower Alley Club board member and promoter who held regional championships [6] [38] |
2009 | — | Bill Kersten | Announcer for Kansas City Wrestling [7] |
2010 |
Rene Goulet (Robert Bédard) |
One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion [19] | |
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 [20] | |
2012 | John "Bradshaw" Layfield | One-time WWE Champion, three-time WWF Tag Team Champion [21] | |
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 [22] | |
2014 | Larry "The Axe" Hennig | Second time honored, previously inducted in 2006 [32] | |
2015 | Brian Blair | Two-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion [24] | |
2016 |
J. J. Dillon (James Morrison) |
Long-time manager in the NWA, former WCW onscreen commissioner [25] | |
2017 |
Magnum T. A. (Terry Allen) |
Two-time Mid-South North American Champion, two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion [11] | |
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) [26] | |
2019 | — |
Thunderbolt Patterson (Claude Patterson) |
One-time CWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion [27] |
2021 [a] |
Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) |
A record seven-time WWF/E Women's Champion [39] | |
2023 |
Bill DeMott (William Charles DeMott II) |
Two-times WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time W*ING World Heavyweight Champion [1] |
This award recognizes wrestlers who have excelled in mixed martial arts. [11]
This award recognizes excellence in professional wrestling broadcasting. [40]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021 |
Gordon Solie (Francis Labiak) |
Posthumous honoree: commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling [40] | |
2022 |
Jim Ross |
Second time honored, previously received the Lou Thesz Award in 2011 [40] | |
2023 | — |
Conrad Thompson |
Professional wrestling promoter, and podcast host and promotes the Starrcast wrestling convention [40] |
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 |
Les Thatcher (Leslie Malady) |
Has performed various roles in the wrestling industry, including as a wrestler, trainer, promoter and announcer [1] |
Introduced in 2023, this award recognizes excellence in the training of others for professional wrestling. [1] In the December 2023 newsletter published by the hall, it was announced this award would be renamed in honor of Vern Gagne. [41]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | — |
Boris Malenko (Lawrence J. Simon) |
Posthumous honoree: Held various regional championships [1] |
2024 | — |
Tom Prichard (Tom Prichard) |
1 time WWF Tag Team Champion, 8 time Smokey Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Champion, trainer of Kurt Angle, The Rock, Randy Orton and others |
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
2024a
was invoked but never defined (see the
help page).Established | 1999 |
---|---|
Location | Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
Director | Jim Miller |
Public transit access | 6 7 MET Transit |
Website |
nwhof |
The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (TNTHOF) [1] is a professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dan Gable Museum. The hall of fame honors professional wrestlers with a strong amateur wrestling or shootfighting background who have made an impact on professional wrestling. [2] It is named after Lou Thesz, who helped create it, [3] and his trainer George Tragos. [4]
The hall of fame was founded in 1999 in Newton, Iowa, but moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 2007. [5] The museum suffered severe flooding in the Iowa flood of 2008, [6] but reopened in June 2009. [7] Wrestling historian and journalist Mike Chapman served as executive director of the museum until Kyle Klingman succeeded him in November 2009. [8] On July 1st, 2019, Jim Miller began work as director of the Hall of Fame succeeding Kyle Klingman. [9]
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. [10] [11]
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. [11] [12]
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. [11] [33]
Year | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | James C. Melby | Longtime professional wrestling journalist [16] |
2007 | Mike Chapman | Executive director of the Dan Gable Museum [17] |
2008 | Greg Oliver | Honored with Steven Johnson. Canadian author and journalist, founded SLAM! Wrestling [6] |
2008 | Steven Johnson | Honored with Greg Oliver. Has written several books on professional wrestling [6] |
2009 | Mike Mooneyham | Author and columnist for The Post and Courier [7] |
2010 | J Michael Kenyon | Wrestling historian and director of the Cauliflower Alley Club [19] |
2011 | Scott Teal | Owner of Crowbar Press [20] |
2012 | Bill Apter | Photographer and journalist for several magazines, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated [21] |
2013 | George Napolitano | Professional wrestling photographer [22] |
2014 | Larry Matysik | Announcer for Wrestling at the Chase [32] |
2015 | Wade Keller | Journalist and founder of the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter [24] |
2016 | Dave Meltzer | Editor and publisher of Wrestling Observer Newsletter [25] |
2017 | Scott Williams | Posthumous honoree: Wrestling historian and author [11] |
2018 | Koji Miyamoto | Japanese wrestling historian and author of 16 books [26] |
2019 | Brian Shields | Authored several WWE books [27] |
2021 | Mark James | Historian and author of several books about territorial professional wrestling [34] |
2022 | Dick Bourne | Written or co-written a number of books, including: Crown Jewel: The NWA Championship 1959–1973. [35] |
2023 | Tom Burke | Historian and journalist for numerous publications [1] |
This award recognizes those in the professional wrestling industry who have used their skills in the realm of public service. [11]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | — | Bill Murdock | Head of Eblen Charities [17] [b] |
2008 | — | Father Jason Sanderson | Cauliflower Alley Club board member and promoter who held regional championships [6] [38] |
2009 | — | Bill Kersten | Announcer for Kansas City Wrestling [7] |
2010 |
Rene Goulet (Robert Bédard) |
One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion [19] | |
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 [20] | |
2012 | John "Bradshaw" Layfield | One-time WWE Champion, three-time WWF Tag Team Champion [21] | |
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 [22] | |
2014 | Larry "The Axe" Hennig | Second time honored, previously inducted in 2006 [32] | |
2015 | Brian Blair | Two-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion [24] | |
2016 |
J. J. Dillon (James Morrison) |
Long-time manager in the NWA, former WCW onscreen commissioner [25] | |
2017 |
Magnum T. A. (Terry Allen) |
Two-time Mid-South North American Champion, two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion [11] | |
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) [26] | |
2019 | — |
Thunderbolt Patterson (Claude Patterson) |
One-time CWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion [27] |
2021 [a] |
Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) |
A record seven-time WWF/E Women's Champion [39] | |
2023 |
Bill DeMott (William Charles DeMott II) |
Two-times WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time W*ING World Heavyweight Champion [1] |
This award recognizes wrestlers who have excelled in mixed martial arts. [11]
This award recognizes excellence in professional wrestling broadcasting. [40]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021 |
Gordon Solie (Francis Labiak) |
Posthumous honoree: commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling [40] | |
2022 |
Jim Ross |
Second time honored, previously received the Lou Thesz Award in 2011 [40] | |
2023 | — |
Conrad Thompson |
Professional wrestling promoter, and podcast host and promotes the Starrcast wrestling convention [40] |
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 |
Les Thatcher (Leslie Malady) |
Has performed various roles in the wrestling industry, including as a wrestler, trainer, promoter and announcer [1] |
Introduced in 2023, this award recognizes excellence in the training of others for professional wrestling. [1] In the December 2023 newsletter published by the hall, it was announced this award would be renamed in honor of Vern Gagne. [41]
Year | Image | Ring name (Birth name) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | — |
Boris Malenko (Lawrence J. Simon) |
Posthumous honoree: Held various regional championships [1] |
2024 | — |
Tom Prichard (Tom Prichard) |
1 time WWF Tag Team Champion, 8 time Smokey Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Champion, trainer of Kurt Angle, The Rock, Randy Orton and others |
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
2024a
was invoked but never defined (see the
help page).