20.11.2007, 09:31
Lou Thesz gab im December 1980 dem Newsletter von Jim Burgett (World/American Wrestling Results) ein Interview:
Jim Burgett: Why did you come back to professional wrestling?
Lou Thesz: Well, I came back to wrestling because it's my first love. I invested some money in an industrial rubber business where I live (Newport News, Virginia) but it just doesn't have the razzle dazzle ... the romance to that sort of business that this does. Of course, as I said, wrestling is my first love and I miss it.
I miss all the old contacts, the old friends ... and there's just a lot in the wrestling world that isn't in a regular business world. There's nothing wrong with the regular business world, but this is such a fascinating sport and I'm hooked on it.
Jim Burgett: What year did you start wrestling pro?
Lou Thesz: I started wrestling pro in 1936. I won the heavyweight championship of the world, which was undisputed at that time, in the latter part of 1937. I've since been up and down the pike many times. I've won and lost the title six different times. I held the title a total of eighteen-and-a-half years. This is not a life story ... I'm just quoting some facts. I was the youngest champion in history. I was the oldest champion in history. Even at my age right now ... I'm attempting to win the title for an unprecedented seventh time and I don't see any reason why it can't be done. I've keep my body in great condition. Wrestling has been my entire life.
In fact, it interrupted my domestic life and when you've got nothing left in this world, you get back to the thing you love most of all and for me that was wrestling. So I've given it my undivided attention and I've been training very, very hard for the past six months and have discovered I can wrestle both the youngsters and the oldsters and I just don't see any age barrier to wrestle anyone in any age group.
Jim Burgett: During your title reign in the middle 1950's, a group of promoters stated that if you lost to (Ed) Carpentier in your next title match by disqualification, they were gonna recognize him as the World heavyweight champion. What happened there?
Lou Thesz: Well, that was a French Montreal group and they were infiltrating this country as promoters and I even assisted them for some time. However, I really don't think that having all the various champions is good for the sport. I think one undisputed champion is what we should have.If I may, I'd just like to say something about the calibre of talent you have here in this area. I'm speaking of Tupelo (Mississippi). Eddie Marlin has a pipeline to the top talent in the world. I don't know of any city this size that can witness the calibre of wrestlers the fans have in this area. What I'm trying to say is that the fan here is a very fortunate fan because they get Madison Square Garden cards for a nominal amount of money. It's like the Mississippi seat of wrestling culture.
Jim Burgett: I agree. Mississippi is traditionally a big football state but more and more fans are turning out for pro wrestling all over the state. We get crowds, for instance, in Booneville that range from three to six thousand ... more than the actual population of the town. I got a late start on your career. I watched your matches on Memphis cards in the early and middle 60's. I traveled to Chicago in 1967 and watched your two big matches against Verne Gagne. How do you feel about wrestling today?
Lou Thesz: A lot of the old timers will tell you wrestlers and wrestling was better in the old days. I don't go along with that at all. Some of the moves back then that we thought were very inside things and very sophisticated are common place today. And the moves that we knew as amatuers that we thought were so good are also commonplace today. I think the young wrestlers of today are superior to what we had in the past. I think some of them do not do their homework. But the man I'm wrestling tonight, Billy Robinson, I would say right today, without question, that he is the best wrestler in the world. And I say this without reservations because I'm really a super critic about wrestling and wrestlers. I think he's more knowledgable and objective about wrestling. He loves what he's doing, he's devoted his life to it, and I believe he's the number one man in the world today.
Jim Burgett: I agree. Did you ever wrestle Bruno Sammartino?
Lou Thesz: Oh yes! I wrestled Sammartino in Toronto, Canada in the early 60's. I don't remember the exact date but it's a matter of record and you can look it up in the old newspapers there. I pinned him in the middle of the ring and a week later they were calling him a champion in New York City. But that's the way it goes, you know? I went to New York later and a couple of reporters asked me about the Canada match and I told them. A while later I was a guest on the Tonight Show, which was being guest hosted by Joe Garagiola and he asked me about Sammartino. I told him I had beaten him before and I didn't see any reason I couldn't do it again. And I still feel that way. I could do it right today. No problem ... but he's a great guy. He's a very nice man.
Jim Burgett: Would you rate Robinson over Sammartino?
Lou Thesz: I most certainly would. I don't think there's any comparison. You can't mention the two in the same breath. Robinson over Gagne also.
Jim Burgett: Okay Lou ... if you don't win the (CWA World) title tonight, how long are you gonna stay on the Jarrett/Welch wrestling circuit?
Lou Thesz: Well, this is it. I will drive to Memphis, pick up my things, and leave. I will go back home and eat some of that great seafood there.
Jim Burgett: Thanks for the interview, Lou. It was a great pleasure.
Lou Thesz: You're most welcome. It was my pleasure. Thanks.
Jim Burgett: Why did you come back to professional wrestling?
Lou Thesz: Well, I came back to wrestling because it's my first love. I invested some money in an industrial rubber business where I live (Newport News, Virginia) but it just doesn't have the razzle dazzle ... the romance to that sort of business that this does. Of course, as I said, wrestling is my first love and I miss it.
I miss all the old contacts, the old friends ... and there's just a lot in the wrestling world that isn't in a regular business world. There's nothing wrong with the regular business world, but this is such a fascinating sport and I'm hooked on it.
Jim Burgett: What year did you start wrestling pro?
Lou Thesz: I started wrestling pro in 1936. I won the heavyweight championship of the world, which was undisputed at that time, in the latter part of 1937. I've since been up and down the pike many times. I've won and lost the title six different times. I held the title a total of eighteen-and-a-half years. This is not a life story ... I'm just quoting some facts. I was the youngest champion in history. I was the oldest champion in history. Even at my age right now ... I'm attempting to win the title for an unprecedented seventh time and I don't see any reason why it can't be done. I've keep my body in great condition. Wrestling has been my entire life.
In fact, it interrupted my domestic life and when you've got nothing left in this world, you get back to the thing you love most of all and for me that was wrestling. So I've given it my undivided attention and I've been training very, very hard for the past six months and have discovered I can wrestle both the youngsters and the oldsters and I just don't see any age barrier to wrestle anyone in any age group.
Jim Burgett: During your title reign in the middle 1950's, a group of promoters stated that if you lost to (Ed) Carpentier in your next title match by disqualification, they were gonna recognize him as the World heavyweight champion. What happened there?
Lou Thesz: Well, that was a French Montreal group and they were infiltrating this country as promoters and I even assisted them for some time. However, I really don't think that having all the various champions is good for the sport. I think one undisputed champion is what we should have.If I may, I'd just like to say something about the calibre of talent you have here in this area. I'm speaking of Tupelo (Mississippi). Eddie Marlin has a pipeline to the top talent in the world. I don't know of any city this size that can witness the calibre of wrestlers the fans have in this area. What I'm trying to say is that the fan here is a very fortunate fan because they get Madison Square Garden cards for a nominal amount of money. It's like the Mississippi seat of wrestling culture.
Jim Burgett: I agree. Mississippi is traditionally a big football state but more and more fans are turning out for pro wrestling all over the state. We get crowds, for instance, in Booneville that range from three to six thousand ... more than the actual population of the town. I got a late start on your career. I watched your matches on Memphis cards in the early and middle 60's. I traveled to Chicago in 1967 and watched your two big matches against Verne Gagne. How do you feel about wrestling today?
Lou Thesz: A lot of the old timers will tell you wrestlers and wrestling was better in the old days. I don't go along with that at all. Some of the moves back then that we thought were very inside things and very sophisticated are common place today. And the moves that we knew as amatuers that we thought were so good are also commonplace today. I think the young wrestlers of today are superior to what we had in the past. I think some of them do not do their homework. But the man I'm wrestling tonight, Billy Robinson, I would say right today, without question, that he is the best wrestler in the world. And I say this without reservations because I'm really a super critic about wrestling and wrestlers. I think he's more knowledgable and objective about wrestling. He loves what he's doing, he's devoted his life to it, and I believe he's the number one man in the world today.
Jim Burgett: I agree. Did you ever wrestle Bruno Sammartino?
Lou Thesz: Oh yes! I wrestled Sammartino in Toronto, Canada in the early 60's. I don't remember the exact date but it's a matter of record and you can look it up in the old newspapers there. I pinned him in the middle of the ring and a week later they were calling him a champion in New York City. But that's the way it goes, you know? I went to New York later and a couple of reporters asked me about the Canada match and I told them. A while later I was a guest on the Tonight Show, which was being guest hosted by Joe Garagiola and he asked me about Sammartino. I told him I had beaten him before and I didn't see any reason I couldn't do it again. And I still feel that way. I could do it right today. No problem ... but he's a great guy. He's a very nice man.
Jim Burgett: Would you rate Robinson over Sammartino?
Lou Thesz: I most certainly would. I don't think there's any comparison. You can't mention the two in the same breath. Robinson over Gagne also.
Jim Burgett: Okay Lou ... if you don't win the (CWA World) title tonight, how long are you gonna stay on the Jarrett/Welch wrestling circuit?
Lou Thesz: Well, this is it. I will drive to Memphis, pick up my things, and leave. I will go back home and eat some of that great seafood there.
Jim Burgett: Thanks for the interview, Lou. It was a great pleasure.
Lou Thesz: You're most welcome. It was my pleasure. Thanks.