| Dutch Remembers Lou Thesz |
|
 Lou Thesz 1916-2002 |
There once was a man who was the greatest professional wrestler
that has lived in the past century. His name: Lou Thesz. Possibly the last of the really great all-around workers and pure wrestlers this business has ever known. A brilliant gentleman and a perfect ambassador that anyone in the business could want. During my tenure in the business I had met a lot of legends and great people, but Lou Thesz was at the top of my list. I had the good fortune of working with him on numerous occasions and I really enjoyed them. He was always in perfect condition, and spit and polish was his middle name. If you wanted to work with Lou, you had better know how to wrestle, because he would test you. And you'd never win in a shoot against him, especially when he was younger. I know; I tried. He put strawberries on the back of my head for my pitiful efforts against him. I can't remember how many times he won and lost and re-won the then-REAL NWA wrestling heavyweight championship belt. Too many to count. But his greatest attribute was his unselfish attitude for the business. Lou Thesz will never be forgotten by those of us during his era. If any of the young men in the business today would like to see perfection in the ring, as far as real wrestling goes, find some tapes on Lou: you will gain a blessing. Very few of his matches went less than 45 minutes, and you had better be able to keep up. If he found out beforehand you used drugs to enhance your performance, he'd make you wish you hadn't. The wrestling business has lost a great light and a great friend, and the world has been a better place with Lou in it. Rest peacefully my friend, we loved your kindness and you were a blessing to us all. God's peace, Dutch |