Lou Thesz - Pro Wrestlers Database
WWE Hall of Fame: LegacyNJPW Hall of Fame: NJPW Greatest 18 ClubNWA Hall of Fame: IndividualWCW Hall of Fame: Individual

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Lou Thesz, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Aloysius Martin Thesz (born Lajos Tiza) was born in Banat, Michigan on April 24, 1916.

He died on April 28, 2002 at the age of 86.

Lou Thesz is a 3-time World Champion.

Lou Thesz was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 as part of the Legacy wing, in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing, in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005 and in the WCW Hall of Fame in 1993.

Profile Info

  • GenderMale
  • Real NameAloysius Martin Thesz (born Lajos Tiza)
  • Ring Names
    • Lou Thesz (January 1, 1932 - December 26, 1990)
    • Don Louis Thesz (January 1, 1940 - May 1, 1942)
  • Born April 24, 1916
  • Died April 28, 2002 (aged 86)
  • NationalityNationality: United StatesUnited States
  • Birth PlaceBanat, Michigan
  • Billed From
    • Banat, Michigan
  • Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
  • Weight
    • 225 lbs (102 kg)

Career History

  • Roles

    • Ambassador (December 22, 1991 - October 2, 1995)
    • Part Time Wrestler (November 16, 1987 - December 26, 1990)
    • Coach (January 1, 1948 - December 31, 1989)
    • Wrestler (January 1, 1932 - April 22, 1982)
  • Promotions History

    Promotionfromto
    PromotionUnion of Wrestling Forces InternationalUWF IDecember 22, 1991October 2, 1995
    PromotionAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight April 17, 1982April 22, 1982
    PromotionNational Wrestling AllianceNWAApril 20, 1949September 14, 1981
    PromotionUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWAMarch 29, 1981May 3, 1981
    PromotionContinental Wrestling AssociationCWAAugust 7, 1978December 11, 1978
    PromotionUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWAJune 5, 1977August 27, 1978
    PromotionNWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICAApril 10, 1978July 29, 1978
    PromotionWorld Wrestling AssociationWWA INApril 11, 1975June 11, 1975
    PromotionNWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICAJune 24, 1973February 17, 1975
    PromotionChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFJuly 4, 1973February 4, 1975
    PromotionGeorgia Championship WrestlingGCWMarch 9, 1973February 1, 1974
    PromotionHeart of America Sports AttractionsCSW, St. Louis Wrestling ClubSLWCJanuary 8, 1970January 24, 1970
    PromotionPacific Northwest WrestlingPNWFebruary 3, 1961December 2, 1969
    PromotionBig Time WrestlingBTW DETROITApril 25, 1968October 25, 1969
    PromotionNWA Western States SportsWSSMay 28, 1952October 9, 1969
    PromotionNWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICAApril 10, 1940August 26, 1969
    PromotionChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFJune 24, 1963June 25, 1969
    PromotionGeorgia Championship WrestlingGCWMarch 29, 1963June 20, 1969
    PromotionSt. Louis Wrestling ClubSLWCFebruary 17, 1961January 24, 1969
    PromotionSouthwest SportsSWS TXMay 14, 1940November 20, 1968
    PromotionInternational Wrestling EnterpriseIWEJanuary 3, 1968January 29, 1968
    PromotionNWA Tri-StateNWA TRI STATEJanuary 7, 1963October 14, 1967
    PromotionAmerican Wrestling AssociationAWAMarch 11, 1967August 1, 1967
    PromotionHeart of America Sports AttractionsCSWSeptember 17, 1964May 4, 1967
    PromotionWorldwide Wrestling AssociatesWWA HOLLYWOODJuly 6, 1966October 28, 1966
    PromotionAmerican Wrestling AllianceAWA SFAugust 13, 1966October 20, 1966
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPNovember 25, 1963September 1, 1966
    PromotionGulf Coast Championship WrestlingGCCWMarch 30, 1962February 4, 1966
    PromotionGulf Athletic ClubGACAugust 13, 1937December 3, 1965
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance DetroitNWA DETROITDecember 29, 1962October 9, 1965
    PromotionEmpresa Mexicana de la Lucha LibreEMLLMarch 5, 1965March 12, 1965
    PromotionNorth American Wrestling AssociationNAWAFebruary 10, 1959September 12, 1962
    PromotionJapan Pro Wrestling AllianceJWAApril 27, 1962May 25, 1962
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance San FranciscoNWA SFJune 27, 1960February 6, 1962
    PromotionBig Time WrestlingBTW CALGARYApril 7, 1952February 10, 1961
    PromotionMid-Pacific PromotionsMPPAugust 24, 1952December 14, 1960
    PromotionSam Muchnick Sports AttractionsSMSAJanuary 28, 1949November 27, 1959
    PromotionCentral States WrestlingCSWFebruary 9, 1949October 1, 1959
    PromotionDecember 11, 1957February 25, 1958
    PromotionRelwyskow & Green PromotionsRGPDecember 16, 1957February 25, 1958
    PromotionDale Martin PromotionsDMPDecember 11, 1957February 18, 1958
    PromotionMinneapolis Boxing & Wrestling ClubMBWCAugust 6, 1935November 12, 1957
    PromotionJapan Pro Wrestling AllianceJWAOctober 7, 1957October 25, 1957
    PromotionFred Kohler EnterprisesFKENovember 22, 1946August 16, 1957
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance San FranciscoNWA SFSeptember 10, 1951May 23, 1957
    PromotionGeorgia Championship WrestlingGCWJuly 25, 1947April 26, 1957
    PromotionNWA Tri-StateNWA TRI STATEJanuary 9, 1950April 25, 1957
    PromotionChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFNovember 13, 1950February 15, 1957
    PromotionPacific Northwest WrestlingPNWDecember 16, 1952July 20, 1956
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPMay 18, 1953January 13, 1956
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance DetroitNWA DETROITJuly 11, 1950November 26, 1951
    PromotionMidwest Wrestling AssociationMWAJanuary 2, 1939July 2, 1942
    PromotionFred Kohler EnterprisesFKEJanuary 31, 1939April 25, 1940
    PromotionSan Francisco Booking OfficeSFBOJune 17, 1936December 8, 1936
  • Images History

    Dec 1962
    Dec 1962
    Apr 1952
    Apr 1952
    Jan 1940
    Jan 1940
    Aug 1935
    Aug 1935
  • Face / Heel Turns

    AlignmentDetailsfromto
    FaceJanuary 1, 1932December 26, 1990
  • Finishers

    • Lou Thesz press - Body Press (January 1, 1932 - December 26, 1990)
    • STF (January 1, 1932 - December 26, 1990)

Titles & Accomplishments

  • Career Awards

  • National Wrestling Alliance

  • American Wrestling Association (Boston)

    • 1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship

    International Wrestling Enterprise

    • 1 TWWA World Heavyweight Championship

    Japan Wrestling Association

    • 1 NWA International Heavyweight Championship

    Joint Promotions

    • 1 World Heavyweight Championship (Great Britain version)

    Midwest Wrestling Association (Ohio)

    • 1 MWA World Heavyweight Championship

    Montreal Athletic Commission

    • 4 MAC World Heavyweight Championship

    National Wrestling Association

    NWA All-Star Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (with The Outlaw)

    NWA Mid-America

    • 2 NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (with Jackie Fargo)

    Southwest Sports, Inc.

    • 4 Texas Heavyweight Championship

    Universal Wrestling Association

    • 1 UWA World Heavyweight Championship

    Worldwide Wrestling Associates

    • 1 WWA World Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (with Sailor Art Thomas)

    Other titles

    • 2 World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
    • 2 World Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)
  • Other Accomplishments

    • WCW Hall of Fame induction (class of 1993)
    • Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1995)
    • St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2007)
    • George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1999)
    • International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2021)
    • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2002 - Pioneer Era)
    • Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction (class of 2002)
    • WWF Legends Battle Royal Winner (1987)
    • Cauliflower Alley Club's Iron Mike Mazurki Award (1998)
    • PWI Stanley Weston Award (1982)
    • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)

Teams & Relations

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