The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (TNTHOF) is a

professional wrestling hall of fame The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) and Museum was an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Wichita Falls, Texas; following the postponement of its 19th induction ceremony, planned for May 2020, and an annou ...

and museum located within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dan Gable Museum. The hall of fame is named after

Lou Thesz Aloysius Martin Thesz (April 24, 1916 – April 28, 2002), known by the ring name Lou Thesz, was an American professional wrestler and wrestling coach. Considered to be one of the last true shooters (legitimate wrestlers) in professional w ...

, who helped create it, and his trainer George Tragos. Inductees are professional wrestlers with a strong

amateur wrestling Amateur wrestling is a variant of wrestling practiced at Olympic Games, Olympic, Collegiate wrestling, collegiate, Scholastic wrestling, scholastic, and other levels. There are two international wrestling styles performed at the Olympic Games, fr ...

shootfighting Shootfighting is a martial art and combat sport, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association (ISFA). It incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principal of these being wrestlin ...

background who have made an impact on

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

. Additionally, it issues several more awards to recognize individuals who have influenced the industry in various capacities. The hall of fame was founded in 1999 in

Newton, Iowa Newton is the county seat of, and most populous city in, Jasper County, Iowa, United States. Located east of Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines, Newton is in Central Iowa. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the city population was 15,760 ...

, but moved to

Waterloo, Iowa Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 United States census the population was 67,314, making it the List of cities in Iowa, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

in 2007. The museum suffered severe flooding in the Iowa flood of 2008, but reopened in June 2009. Wrestling historian and journalist Mike Chapman served as executive director of the museum until Kyle Klingman succeeded him in November 2009. On July 1, 2019, Jim Miller began work as director of the Hall of Fame succeeding Kyle Klingman. Inductions take place at a hall of fame induction ceremony. Other activities are held throughout the weekend in conjunction with the event, such as local independent promotion Impact Pro Wrestling's Hall of Fame Classic tournament in 2017 and 2018.

Honorees

Inductees

Frank Gotch Award recipients

Named after hall of fame inductee

Frank Gotch Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler. Gotch was the first American professional wrestler to win the World Heavyweight Championship in catch wrestling, and he is credited for popularizin ...

, this award honors people in professional wrestling who brought positive recognition to the industry through work outside of it.

James C. Melby Award recipients

James C. Melby was the first recipient of this award and it was subsequently named after him. It recognizes excellence in professional wrestling writing or historical preservation.

Lou Thesz Award recipients

This award recognizes those in the professional wrestling industry who have used their skills in the realm of public service.

George Tragos Award recipients

This award recognizes wrestlers who have excelled in

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

Gordon Solie Award recipients

This award recognizes excellence in professional wrestling broadcasting.

Jack Brisco Spotlight Award recipients

Verne Gagne Trainer Award recipients

Introduced in 2023, this award recognizes excellence in the training of others for professional wrestling. In the December 2023 newsletter published by the hall, it was announced this award would be renamed in honor of Verne Gagne.

Impact Award recipients

Notes

References

External links

Bibliography of reports
by Slam Wrestling
Official website
{{Professional wrestling halls of fame 1999 establishments in Iowa Awards established in 1999 Buildings and structures in Waterloo, Iowa Halls of fame in Iowa Professional wrestling halls of fame Professional wrestling in the United States Professional wrestling-related lists