On his way to one of the greatest careers ever in the squared circle, Lou Thesz defeats a fellow wrestling icon to win an early version of the world championship
On April 25, 1947, Lou Thesz defeated “Whipper” Billy Watson in St. Louis, Missouri, to retain a version of the World Heavyweight Championship that predated the National Wrestling Alliance championship that Thesz later brought to prominence in the 1950s.
Thesz had just celebrated his 31st birthday the day before, and the defeat of the accomplished Watson was another indication that he was destined to carry the mantle of professional wrestling. A gentleman who would attend public events nattily dressed and with a calm demeanor, Thesz set a professional standard as the sport’s standardbearer. He spoke rather eloquently for the typical athlete of his era, and he had exuded a standard that seemed to follow the coveted championship for decades to come.
Ironically, Watson would later hand Thesz one of his biggest losses when he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, ending Lou’s massive, six-year reign on March 15, 1956, in Toronto, Ontario. With 15,000 fans in attendance at Maple Leaf Gardens, Watson defeated Thesz by countout. Former boxing champion Jack Dempsey was the special referee, as Watson became the first Canadian to hold the title.
Thesz would add yet another chapter to the rivalry when he defeated Watson 239 days later and re-captured the title on November 9, 1956, in St. Louis.
