George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame Archives

History bonds the Tragos/Thesz wrestling family

Posted by John Cosper | Jul 20, 2024 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — Just after 8 pm on Friday night, July 19, Coach Jim Miller stood at the...

Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame shines on silver anniversary

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jul 20, 2024 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa—The big winner on the silver anniversary of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz...

Garea appreciative of Brisco Award from Tragos/Thesz HOF

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 14, 2024 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

When Jerry Brisco called Tony Garea to let him know that he had been selected as the 2024...

Wrestling Rules apply: DeMott’s Thesz Award acceptance speech

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 7, 2023 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Bill DeMott’s trophy case is filling up, with 2012 Men’s Wrestling Award from the...

Mat Matters: Unexpected joys, treasures at Tragos/Thesz HOF

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 27, 2023 | Interviews, Opinion, Photo Galleries, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — Making a fairly last-minute decision to head to Waterloo, Iowa, for the...

Albright family brightens up Tragos/Thesz induction

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 22, 2023 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – If you are going to have single inductee into the Tragos/Thesz Professional...

Guest column: Gene LeBell was one of a kind

Posted by Mike Chapman | Aug 11, 2022 | Obituaries, Opinion, Tragos/Thesz HOF

When I created the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa, in 1998, one of...

Stratus, Rotunda, J.R. on top at Tragos/Thesz induction

Posted by Joyce Paustian | Jul 24, 2022 | Event Reports, Photo Galleries, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – The 2022 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction weekend in Waterloo,...

Rotunda, Ross, Stratus announced as Tragos/Thesz honorees

Posted by Greg Oliver | Sep 3, 2021 | Uncategorized

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa, announced some early names for its...

A rookie’s visit to Waterloo & Tragos/Thesz induction weekend

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Jul 20, 2021 | Event Reports, Interviews, Opinion, Tragos/Thesz HOF

By BRIAN WESTCOTT – For SlamWrestling.net WATERLOO, IOWA — I attended my very first...

At Hart, Divas of Doom ‘are lady wrestlers’

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 5, 2019 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Bret Hart versus Owen Hart at WrestleMania X is the match that made a young Beth Copeland...

Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame inductee Beth Phoenix ‘revels in the magic’ of wrestling

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 28, 2019 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix shared her journey of overcoming gender...

Honours keep coming for Dan Severn

Posted by Bob Kapur | Jul 28, 2018 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

In the cacophony noise at a weightlifting competition – the grunts, groans, clanking...

Cage making an impact on X-Division and beyond

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 28, 2018 | Interviews

At least one competitor in this year’s George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame Classic...

American Alpha: ‘Like brothers from day one’

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 10, 2017 | Interviews

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan started their amateur careers with a passion for professional...

American Alpha come full circle at Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame weekend

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 24, 2017 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – Amateur and professional wrestling have always been intertwined for the men...

Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame: Chuck Taylor wins inaugural HOF Classic tournament

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 22, 2017 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – PWG World Champion Chuck Taylor added yet another accolade to his list of...

Mike McGuirk was ‘a woman in a men’s tuxedos’

Posted by Kari Williams | Apr 10, 2017 | Interviews

Born into a wrestling family, Mike McGuirk’s father — promoter and wrestler Leroy...

Rhodes, Orndorff top 2017 Tragos/Thesz HOF class

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 7, 2017 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame has booked itself a Dusty Finish...

Hall of fame a family affair for Tessa Blanchard

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 17, 2016 | Interviews

Wrestler and promoter Joe Blanchard’s career was recognized last month in Waterloo, Iowa, as...

Former Hawkeye Big E humbled by visit to Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 1, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend served as a homecoming of...

Amateur side of Iron Sheik shines in Waterloo

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 30, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – While the rantings of the Iron Sheik can often be hard to decipher, there...

Backlund & Iron Sheik headline Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 23, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – Two former WWF World champions headlined the George Tragos/Lou Thesz...

JJ Dillon ‘humbled’ by Thesz Award

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jan 27, 2016 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

JJ Dillon is rarely at a loss for words. On television, he was a mouthy villain as a wrestler, and...

Charlie Thesz reflects on Lou’s life through scrapbooks

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 31, 2015 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, IOWA – Flipping through scrapbooks of years gone by, she was flooded with memories...

Jim Ross: Kurt Angle ‘was born to be a wrestler’

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 8, 2015 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

While Kurt Angle’s career began in the no-nonsense world of amateur wrestling, the skills he...

Melding two worlds: Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle to attend NWHOF weekend

Posted by Kari Williams | Jun 22, 2015 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

The first time Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle met Lou Thesz, a six-time world champion, was an...

Schamberger takes WrestleMania to the matte

Posted by Kari Williams | Mar 23, 2015 | Interviews, The Artistic Canvas, WrestleMania

For nearly two months, Rob Schamberger took his own inspiration to the mat – with the swift stroke...

Road trip for a friend: A weekend at the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame

Posted by HERB SIMMONS | Jul 27, 2014 | Tragos/Thesz HOF

As I travelled down the highway to Waterloo, Iowa, I had many miles to reflect back on the reason...

Steiners headline Tragos/Thesz induction weekend

Posted by Kari Williams | Jul 26, 2014 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, IOWA — Seven of wrestling’s greatest performers and personalities laced up their...

Steiners and Snyder headline 2014 Class for Tragos/Thesz Pro Hall

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 26, 2014 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Well before they were “Big Poppa Pump” and “The Dog-Faced Gremlin,” Scott...

Thesz would approve of Wilbur Snyder as a hall of famer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 17, 2014 | Interviews, PWHF, Tragos/Thesz HOF

EDITOR’S NOTE: This biography is courtesy the book, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes...

Brisco sets the standard for excellence at the Hall of Fame

Posted by BRIAN HOOPS | Jul 8, 2013 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — Half of one of the greatest brother tag teams in professional wrestling...

J.R.’s passion shows through at Tragos/Thesz ceremony

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 23, 2011 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — Jim Ross, the Lou Thesz Award winner Saturday night at the Tragos/Thesz Pro...

Recalling Monsoon before he was top Gorilla

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jul 21, 2011 | Interviews

When Jack Stanbro thinks of Bob Marella, he remembers the elbow. Not the big elbow drop, which...

Funk Jr., Duggan thrilled by Hall of Fame honour

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 21, 2010 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

With its focus on wrestlers who could actually wrestle, and on the good works that wrestlers do...

Funk, Foley, Vachon among those honored at Tragos/Thesz HOF

Posted by Joyce Paustian | Jul 15, 2010 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – Despite some changes to the format from previous years — and to the...

Bockwinkel headliner at 2009 Tragos/Thesz HOF ceremony

Posted by Joyce Paustian | Jul 13, 2009 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – Although Friday started out with strong storms in the Waterloo area, the...

For von Goering, a long journey to Hall of Fame

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jul 9, 2009 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

It’s only a few hours from the south side of Chicago to Waterloo, Iowa. But it’s taken Fritz von...

Waters have receded; Now museum readies a flood of memories

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jan 8, 2009 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

After flooding devastated the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in...

Bret Hart’s speech from 2008 Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Aug 30, 2008 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

On June 28, 2008, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony in...

Melby Award winners deserving of honor

Posted by SHELLEY BONIN | Jul 3, 2008 | Opinion, Tragos/Thesz HOF

This past weekend, Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson were the recipients of the James C. Melby Award,...

Piper, Saito, Jacobs enter Tragos/Thesz HOF

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 28, 2008 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa – It was an international event Saturday, as the lives of two Canadians...

Flood damage at Iowa HOF makes an impression

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 27, 2008 | Interviews, Photo Galleries, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO — It’s one thing to read about the flood damage to the Dan Gable...

How Ray Gunkel’s death changed wrestling

Posted by Steven Johnson | Jun 27, 2008 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

Rows of wrestling photographs encircle heavy-duty gym equipment wedged into the first floor of...

Flood won’t stop Tragos/Thesz HOF ‘Super Weekend’

Posted by KYLE KLINGMAN | Jun 20, 2008 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

WATERLOO, Iowa — The flood of the century has severely damaged the Dan Gable International...

Iowa wrestling museum flooded

Posted by KYLE KLINGMAN | Jun 14, 2008 | Tragos/Thesz HOF

What has been labeled the worst flooding in nearly 50 years in Waterloo, Iowa, has caused...

Mat Matters: Saying goodbye to Jim Melby

Posted by Bill Fernow | Feb 11, 2007 | Gary Howard Memorial Library, Obituaries, Opinion, Tragos/Thesz HOF

At a workplace Christmas function, nine years ago, a co-worker familiar with my love of pro...

Noted historian James C. Melby dies

Posted by Greg Oliver | Feb 11, 2007 | Gary Howard Memorial Library, Interviews, Obituaries

The name James C. Melby would be familiar to any wrestling fan of a certain age. He wasn’t a...

Memories will haunt at Tragos/Thesz inductions

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 3, 2006 | Interviews, Tragos/Thesz HOF

It’s going to be a bittersweet induction weekend at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional...

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