TWA Hall of Fame: Class of '08- Lou Thesz

Great champions are few and far between. When they do grace the ring though, you realize it. One of the early great champions was the rough and rugged Lou Thesz. His greatest claim to prominence is that, unlike any other of his time, he captivated the entire country with his in-ring skills for the better part of two decades. He decided to tackle the world of wrestling, which at the time was gaining fans. In 1932, as an aspiring star, he met the well-established, infamous wrestler Ed Lewis, who was billed as "The Strangler". Not long after, Lewis would take it upon himself to teach this young man the procedures of "hooking". Hooking was the process executed in the ring in which you would torture your opponent with grueling submission maneuvers. What came of this was a lifetime friendship and a newly-trained wrestler who was bound to become a star. Thesz had chosen St. Lois as his stomping grounds. It was a very popular wrestling territory at the time. After only five years in the business, in 1937, he claimed the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Everett Marshall on December 29th. Aged only 21, he set the record for the youngest World Champion ever, the record still stands today. He lost the title after a short six-week reign. Today, there is still confusion in the World Title lineage of the time which Thesz became champion. However, he was determined to continue to succeed. Just two years later, he once again defeated Marshall for the World Championship. Thesz would hold the title for four months. It would take him nearly nine more years to become champion. He defeated Bill Longson for the title in 1948 for his third reign as Champion. In that same year in Waterloo, Iowa, the National Wrestling Association would form, a national membership between big time promotions. Thesz's title would in a way become defunct although it was said to have been unified with the new National Wrestling Alliance's World Title which was held by Orville Brown. Brown and Thesz were set to have a unification match on Nove,ber 25, 1949, but Brown was injured in a car accident and Thesz became the undisputed World Champion. During his reign, he went across the country unifying several small promotions' World Titles into his . He was now on top of his game as the country believed he was the best wrestler they had ever seen. Unfortunately, Thesz would injure his ankle and his near seven-year reign as World Champion would ends at the hands of "Whipper" Billy Watson. However, Thesz would return and reclaim his title from Watson eight months later. His reign would end again in June 1957 when he was forced to forfeit the title during a match with Edouard Carpentier. the injury would cause controversy as some lineages suggest that Thesz can't lose the title due to injury while others suggest otherwise. However, Carpentier would refuse recognition when his promoter pulled out of the NWA. Thesz would travel to Japan and battle Rikodozan in several sixty-minute draws. The matches popularized wrestling in Japan once again. He would lose the title in November to Dick Hutton who he found potential in. Lou's career would slow down, but he would win the title one last time in 1963 by beating Buddy Rogers who would leave the NWA and help found the WWWF with Vincent J. McMahon. He would once again tour the World as Champion. He chose to lose the title to Bruno Sammartino, but Bruno was the WWWF Champion and had obligations. He finally dropped the title for the last time in 1966 to Gene Kiniski. Lou Thesz would go into semi-retirement. He would tour Mexico and win a few championships before coming back to the states for his final match for eleven years against Luke Graham in 1979. His real retirement match was in 1990. At the age of 74, he lost to protege Masahiro Chono by submission in Japan. He would remain a part of the wrestling world by frequently visiting Cauliflower Alley Club reunions. On April 9, 2002,he had a tripe heart bypass. Late that month, on April 28th, Lou Thesz passed away at the age of 86. He legacy still lives on today providing inspiration for aspiring wrestlers just as it did in the past. Today, he is still considered by many to be the greatest World Champion that ever lived.

TWA Hall of Fame: Class of '08- Ric Flair

Ric Flair's career can't be summed up in words. He forever changed the world in so many ways a mathematician would have difficulty with calculating them. From being Champion of the World to being the most popular (and hated) wrestler in America, he did it all. His thirty year career has proved him to be a phenomenon. Not only was a singles star, he even had success with the brutal heel stable, The Four Horsemen, which he led. And to think it almost ended before it ever started. in 1972, his life was risked in a plane crash that left him with doubts form returning to the ring in which he had yet succeeded in. He had determination and perseverance, though, and returned to the ring without missing much action. When he returned, he was a well oiled machine. He knocked off the likes of Harley Race, Wahoo McDaniel, and others. He achieved eternal fame in 1981 when he defeated Dusty Rhodes for his first World Title. He would make history two years later by starring in the first ever NWA/WCW phenomenon Starrcade. In a cage match at the first Starrcade supercard, Flair would defeat Race in a World Title match. The cage match is known today as a determining point in Flair's forever-reviled career. Not many years later, Flair would turn and become the most hated heel in America. By being a member of the most elite stable in wrestling, The Four Horsemen, from the start, he proved to be as prominent as a heel as he was a face. They would dominate for years by taking out the country's most beloved wrestlers. Eventually the Four Horsemen would fade away, and Flair would join the now independent from NWA company, WCW. He remained a dominant force in the company until it closed in 2001 by winning eight World Titles. He then jumped to the huge force of WWE. Just two years after he was signed, he, Randy Orton, Batista, and Triple H formed the group Evolution which resembled the significant passing of the torch. The group would deteriorate nearly two years later and Flair would once again become a singles star. Today, with retirement in his grasp, he continues to wrestle even though three decades of the in-ring life has taken its toll. Fans know that every time they see him wrestle, they see a true legend go form pillar to post. Form the time he first time he graced the ring, he proved that there is no one like him. He is definitely one of a kind. The Nature Boy will not only be remembered for what he did in the ring but for what he did out of the ring. Every time he had a microphone, you would hear something new and off-the-wall. His flamboyancy in the ring and his cunning out of it made him the slickest wrestler of his time. You either loved him with all your heart or you hated him with a vengeance, that is what made him special. His personality was exotic but perfect for pro wrestling. The list of reasons to put Flair in the Hall of Fame would go on forever. No matter what you do though, you will always remember Ric Flair when pro wrestling comes to mind.