Wikipedia

George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame

(Redirected from James C. Melby Award)

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (TNTHOF)[1] is a professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dan Gable Museum. The hall of fame is named after Lou Thesz, who helped create it,[2] and his trainer George Tragos.[3] Inductees are professional wrestlers with a strong amateur wrestling or shootfighting background who have made an impact on professional wrestling.[4] Additionally, it issues several more awards to recognize individuals who have influenced the industry in various capacities.[1]

George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
TNTHOF housed inside of the Dan Gable Museum
Established1999
LocationWaterloo, Iowa, U.S.
DirectorJim Miller
Public transit accessBus transport  6   7  MET Transit
Websitenwhof.org/pro-class/

The hall of fame was founded in 1999 in Newton, Iowa, but moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 2007.[5] The museum suffered severe flooding in the Iowa flood of 2008,[6] but reopened in June 2009.[7] Wrestling historian and journalist Mike Chapman served as executive director of the museum until Kyle Klingman succeeded him in November 2009.[8] On July 1, 2019, Jim Miller began work as director of the Hall of Fame succeeding Kyle Klingman.[9]

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.[10][11]

Honorees

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Inductees

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Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
1999   Lou Thesz
(Aloysius Thesz) 		One-time holder of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version), two-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
1999   Ed "Strangler" Lewis
(Robert Friedrich) 		Posthumous inductee: Four-time World Heavyweight Champion, two-time holder of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version) and one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[12]
1999   Frank Gotch Posthumous inductee: One-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and three-time American Heavyweight Champion[12]
1999   George Tragos Posthumous inductee: Won many amateur titles in Greece and competed for two Olympic teams there, trained Lou Thesz.[12][3]
1999   Verne Gagne Two-time NCAA champion, member of the U.S. wrestling team at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Co-founder of the American Wrestling Association, 10-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2000   Dick Hutton Three-time NCAA champion, one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2000   Danny Hodge Seven-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, three-time NCAA champion, Olympic silver medalist[12]
2000   Joe Stecher Posthumous inductee: Three-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)[12]
2000   Earl Caddock Posthumous inductee: One-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)[12]
2001   William Muldoon Posthumous inductee: First chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, one-time World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Champion[12]
2001   Martin "Farmer" Burns Posthumous inductee: One-time American Heavyweight Champion[12]
2001   Jack Brisco Two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, NCAA champion[12]
2001   Tim Woods
(George Woodin) 		Won two Big Ten Conference Championships in 1958 and 1959. Two-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion[12]
2002   Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer Three-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2002   Bob Geigel Three-time AWA World Tag Team Champion[12]
2002   Baron von Raschke
(James Raschke) 		Three time WWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA Brass Knuckles Champion (Texas version), one-time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion[12]
2002   Ed Don George
 Posthumous inductee: Two-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and one-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion (Boston version)[12]
2002 — Peter Sauer
 Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2003   Billy Robinson
 One-time PWF World Heavyweight Champion, two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion, and three-time AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion[12]
2003   Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon
 Five-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2003 — Joe Scarpello
 Posthumous inductee: Won several amateur titles before wrestling professionally for the American Wrestling Association[12]
2003   George Hackenschmidt
(Georg Hackenschmidt) 		Posthumous inductee: One-time European Greco-Roman Heavyweight Champion and first ever World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion[12]
2004   Gene Kiniski Held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and WWA World Heavyweight Championship once each.[13][14]
2004 — Leroy McGuirk Posthumous inductee: Three-time NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion.[13][14]
2004   Pat O'Connor Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA Central States United States Heavyweight Champion, One-time (and inaugural) AWA World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time AWA World Tag Team Champion.[13][14]
2004   Brad Rheingans Member of the U.S. 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympic teams, won two gold medals in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games and a bronze medal in the 1979 World Wrestling Championships. Later wrestled professionally for NJPW, WWF, WCW, and AWA[13][14]
2005   Antonio Inoki Founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, two-time WWWF/WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion, and one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion[15]
2005   Harley Race Eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time and first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, three-time AWA World Tag Team Champion and WWF King of the Ring winner in 1986[15]
2005   Gerald Brisco Three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion[15]
2005   Earl McCready Posthumous inductee: Competed for Canada in the 1928 Summer Olympics before becoming a professional wrestler[15]
2005 — Dr. Bill Miller Posthumous inductee: One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion[15]
2005 — John Pesek Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time MWA World Heavyweight Champion[15]
2006   Bret "Hitman" Hart Five-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, was a Triple Crown winner in WWF and WCW.[16]
2006   Larry "The Axe" Hennig Four-time AWA World Tag Team Champion, one-time IWA World Tag Team Champion[16]
2006 — Bob Roop 1967 NCCA Champion. Four-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[16]
2006   Dory Funk Posthumous inductee: Won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and various NWA regional titles.[16]
2006 — "Iron" Mike DiBiase Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion.[16]
2006   Tom Jenkins Posthumous inductee: Three-time American Heavyweight Champion[16]
2007   Red Bastien
(Roland Bastien) 		One-time NWA Texas Tag Team Champion[17]
2007   "Dr. Death" Steve Williams One-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, one-time UWF World Heavyweight Champion, four-time NCAA All-American[17]
2007   The Great Gama
(Ghulam Mohammad Baksh) 		Posthumous inductee: Won the Indian version of the World Heavyweight Championship[17]
2007   "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig Posthumous inductee: One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, one-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion[17]
2007   Dale Lewis Posthumous inductee: Wrestled in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Later held the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship once.[17]
2007   "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase Four-time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion and three-time WWF World Tag Team Champion.[17]
2008   Masa Saito One-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion[6]
2008   Abe Jacobs Won several regional championships[6]
2008 — Stu Hart Posthumous inductee: Established Stampede Wrestling in Calgary 1948, and ran it until 1984. Ran "The Dungeon" wrestling school and trained numerous wrestlers. Patriarch of the Hart family[6]
2008   "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
(Roderick Toombs) 		One-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion and three-time NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion[6]
2008 — Ray Gunkel Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion and three-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion[6]
2008 — Leo Nomellini Posthumous inductee: One-time AWA World Tag Team Champion[6]
2009   Nick Bockwinkel Four-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and three-time AWA World Tag Team Champion[7]
2009 — Karl Gotch
(Karl Istaz) 		Posthumous inductee: Won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship and WWWF World Tag Team Championship once each[7]
2009 — Luther Lindsay Posthumous inductee: Won the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship, NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship, and the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) once each[7]
2009   Bronko Nagurski Posthumous inductee: Two-time NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship, one-time New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Champion[7]
2009   Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
(Richard Blood) 		One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and one-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion[7]
2009   Fritz Von Goering
(John Gabor) 		One-time NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion[18]
2010   Stanislaus Zbyszko
(Jan Stanisław Cyganiewicz) 		Posthumous inductee: Two-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion[19]
2010 — Warren Bockwinkel Had high-profile feuds in the National Wrestling Alliance[19]
2010 — George Gordienko Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion (Vancouver version), one-time British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion (New Zealand version), three-time NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion (Calgary version).[19]
2010   Paul "Butcher" Vachon Two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion and three-time NWA International Tag Team Champion (Calgary version)[19]
2010   Terry Funk One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion[19]
2011   Dory Funk Jr. One-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion[20]
2011   Gorilla Monsoon
(Robert "Gino" Marella) 		Posthumous inductee: One-time IWA World Heavyweight Champion, and two-time WWC North American Heavyweight Champion[20]
2012 — Don "The Buffalo Bomber" Curtis Posthumous inductee: Won various NWA tag team championships[21]
2012   Kurt Angle Named the greatest shoot wrestler by USA Wrestling; won the freestyle wrestling gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Four-time WWF/WWE Champion, one-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE), one-time WCW Champion, one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion (IGF), six-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion[21]
2013   Chris Taylor Posthumous inductee: Bronze winner in freestyle wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics, becoming the heaviest Olympian ever at that point. Later wrestled for the American Wrestling Association[22]
2013   "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
(Richard Fliehr) 		Two-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion, inaugural and six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion[22]
2013   "Cowboy" Bill Watts Former wrestling promoter in the mid-south United States, one-time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion and held over 20 NWA regional championships[22]
2014   Scott Steiner
(Scott Rechsteiner) 		One-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Tag Team Champion, two-time TNA Tag Team Champion, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and seven-time NWA (Mid-Atlantic version)/WCW Tag Team Champion[23]
2014   Rick Steiner
(Robert Rechsteiner) 		One-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Tag Team Champion, two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and eight-time NWA (Mid-Atlantic version)/WCW Tag Team Champion[23]
2014   Wilbur Snyder Posthumous inductee: Two-time World Heavyweight Champion (Omaha version), two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion[23]
2015 — The Great Wojo
(Gregory Wojciechowski) 		Three-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion (Indianapolis version)[24]
2015   Jim Londos
(Christos Theofilou) 		Posthumous inductee: One-time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion[24]
2016   Bob Backlund Two-time WWWF/WWF (World) Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion[25]
2016   The Iron Sheik
(Khosrow Vaziri) 		1971 Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman wrestling champion and gold medalist. One-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion[25]
2016 — Joe Blanchard Posthumous inductee: One-time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion. Later founded Southwest Championship Wrestling and served as a figurehead in the American Wrestling Association[25]
2017   "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff One-time Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Champion, three-time NWA (Mid-Atlantic)/WCW World Tag Team Champion, one-time WCW World Television Champion[11]
2017   "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(Virgil Runnels Jr.) 		Posthumous inductee: Three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, ten-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion, seven-time NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion (Florida version), one-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion[11]
2018   Owen Hart Posthumous inductee: one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, four-time WWF World Tag Team Champion, one-time Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Champion, one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion[26]
2018   Dan Severn First three-time honoree: previously received the Frank Gotch Award in 2002 and the George Tragos Award in 2012.[26] One-time UFC Superfight Champion and UFC Hall of Famer. Two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion[12]
2019   Beth Phoenix
(Elizabeth Kociański) 		Second time honored, previously received the Frank Gotch Award in 2015. First woman inducted in the Hall of Fame. One-time WWE Divas Champion, three-time WWE Women's Champion[27]
2019   Bruno Sammartino Posthumous inductee: two-time WWWF/WWF (World) Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion[27]
2021[a]   Adnan Al-Kaissie One time WWWF World Tag Team Champion, one time NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion and one time IWA World Heavyweight Champion (Australian version).[28]
2021[a] — Earl Wampler Posthumous inductee: An influence on Lou Thesz, Wampler wrestled for 40 years. He held the NWA Iowa Heavyweight Title and was the inaugural holder of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) with Jack O'Brien.[28]
2021 — Don Kernodle Posthumous inductee:Three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Mid-Atlantic version)[29]
2022   Mike Rotunda One time NWA World Tag Team Champion, three times NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion, three times NWA Television Champion and five times WWF Tag Team Champion.[30]
2023   Gary Albright Posthumous inductee: Two time AJPW World Tag Team Champion and one time Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champion[1]
2024   Greg Gagne Two time AWA World Tag Team Champion, two time AWA International Television Champion

Frank Gotch Award recipients

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Named after hall of fame inductee Frank Gotch, this award honors people in professional wrestling who brought positive recognition to the industry through work outside of it.[11][12]

Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2000 — Bobby Managoff One-time World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)[12]
2001 — Tom Drake Also inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum[12]
2002   Dan Severn
 Later received the George Tragos Award in 2012 and inducted into the hall of fame in 2018[12]
2003   Jesse Ventura
(James Janos) 		One-time AWA World Tag Team Champion. Former commentator in WWF and WCW. 38th Governor of Minnesota.[12]
2004 — George Scott Won several tag team championships with his brother, Sandy. Later served as an executive in WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions[13][14]
2005 — Gene LeBell Martial artist who later promoted NWA Hollywood Wrestling[15]
2006 — Nikita Koloff
(Nelson Simpson) 		One-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Mid-Atlantic Version)[16]
2008 — Penny Banner
(Mary Ann Kostecki) 		One-time AWA World Women's Champion, Commissioner of the Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA) from 1992 to 2008[6]
2009   Ivan Koloff
(Oreal Donald Perras) 		One-time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion[7]
2010   Mick Foley Three-time WWF Champion, one-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, eight-time WWF Tag Team Champion, two-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion[19]
2011   "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan Winner of the first Royal Rumble match in 1988, one-time WCW United States Champion[20]
2012   Road Warrior Animal
(Joe Laurinaitis) 		Along with his longtime tag team partner, Road Warrior Hawk, they were two-time WWF Tag Team Champions, one-time AWA World Tag Team Champions, and one-time NWA World Tag Team Champions (Mid-Atlantic)[31]
2013   Jim Brunzell Two-time AWA World Tag Team Champion[22]
2014   "Diamond" Dallas Page Three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWF Tag Team Champion, one time WWE European Champion and four-time WCW World Tag Team Champion[32]
2015   Beth Phoenix
(Elizabeth Kociański) 		Later became the first woman inducted into the hall of fame in 2019[24]
2016   Lex Luger
(Lawrence Pfohl) 		Two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, five-time NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion[25]
2017   Stan "The Lariat" Hansen Four-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, four-time PWF World Heavyweight Champion, one-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, one-time WCW United States Champion[11]
2018   Bruiser Brody
(Frank Goodish) 		Posthumous honoree: three-time NWA International Heavyweight Champion, four-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion (Indianapolis version)[26]
2019   Sgt. Slaughter
(Robert Rudolph Remus) 		One-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion and two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion[27]
2021[a]   Mark Henry One-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE), one-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, one-time WWE European Champion[28]
2022   Dan Spivey One-time World Tag Team Champion (AJPW), one-time Florida Heavyweight Champion, one time UWF Americas Champion
2023   Haku
(Tonga Fifita) 		Former WWF and WCW and is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion[1]
2024   Arn Anderson
(Martin Lunde) 		Member of the "Four Horsemen", a five-time NWA/WCW World Tag Team Champion and four-time NWA/WCW World Television Champion

James C. Melby Award recipients

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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.[11][33]

Year Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2006 James C. Melby Longtime professional wrestling journalist[16]
2007 Mike Chapman Executive director of the Dan Gable Museum[17]
2008 Greg Oliver Honored with Steven Johnson. Canadian author and journalist, founded SLAM! Wrestling[6]
2008 Steven Johnson Honored with Greg Oliver. Has written several books on professional wrestling[6]
2009 Mike Mooneyham Author and columnist for The Post and Courier[7]
2010 J Michael Kenyon Wrestling historian and director of the Cauliflower Alley Club[19]
2011 Scott Teal Owner of Crowbar Press[20]
2012 Bill Apter Photographer and journalist for several magazines, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated[21]
2013 George Napolitano Professional wrestling photographer[22]
2014 Larry Matysik Announcer for Wrestling at the Chase[32]
2015 Wade Keller Journalist and founder of the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter[24]
2016 Dave Meltzer Editor and publisher of Wrestling Observer Newsletter[25]
2017 Scott Williams Posthumous honoree: Wrestling historian and author[11]
2018 Koji Miyamoto Japanese wrestling historian and author of 16 books[26]
2019 Brian Shields Authored several WWE books[27]
2021 Mark James Historian and author of several books about territorial professional wrestling[34]
2022 Dick Bourne Written or co-written a number of books, including: Crown Jewel: The NWA Championship 1959–1973.[35]
2023 Tom Burke Historian and journalist for numerous publications[1]
2024 Al Getz Host of the Charting the Territories podcast

Lou Thesz Award recipients

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This award recognizes those in the professional wrestling industry who have used their skills in the realm of public service.[11]

Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2007 — Bill Murdock Head of Eblen Charities[17][b]
2008 — Father Jason Sanderson Cauliflower Alley Club board member and promoter who held regional championships[6][38]
2009 — Bill Kersten Announcer for Kansas City Wrestling[7]
2010   Rene Goulet
(Robert Bédard) 		One-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion[19]
2011   Jim Ross Longtime lead announcer for WWF/E, WCW and other regional promotions; Head of WWF Talent Relations during the Attitude Era, signing many well known wrestlers[20]
2012   John "Bradshaw" Layfield One-time WWE Champion, three-time WWF Tag Team Champion[21]
2013   Edge
(Adam Copeland) 		Four-time WWE Champion, a record seven-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE). He held the WWF/World and WWE Tag Team Championships a combined 14 times, more than any other wrestler[22]
2014   Larry "The Axe" Hennig Second time honored, previously inducted in 2006[32]
2015   Brian Blair Two-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[24]
2016   J. J. Dillon
(James Morrison) 		Long-time manager in the NWA, former WCW onscreen commissioner[25]
2017   Magnum T. A.
(Terry Allen) 		Two-time Mid-South North American Champion, two-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion[11]
2018   Booker T
(Robert Huffman) 		Five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, one-time World Heavyweight Champion (WWE), a record six-time WCW World Television Champion, a record 11-time WCW World Tag Team Champion (10 of which came with his brother Stevie Ray as Harlem Heat)[26]
2019 — Thunderbolt Patterson
(Claude Patterson) 		One-time CWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion[27]
2021[a]   Trish Stratus
(Patricia Stratigias) 		A record seven-time WWF/E Women's Champion[39]
2023   Bill DeMott
(William Charles DeMott II) 		Two-times WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time W*ING World Heavyweight Champion[1]
2024   Tito Santana
(Merced Solis) 		Two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, two-time WWF Tag Team Champion, 1989 winner of King of the Ring

George Tragos Award recipients

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This award recognizes wrestlers who have excelled in mixed martial arts.[11]

Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2011   Pat Miletich Inaugural UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 Welterweight Tournament Winner[20]
2012   Dan Severn Second time honored, previously received the Frank Gotch Award in 2002[31]
2013   Matt Hughes Two-time UFC Welterweight Champion, UFC Hall of Fame inductee, and NJCAA Hall of Fame inductee[22]
2014   Randy Couture Three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion[32]
2015   Matt Lindland Won a silver medal in wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics and later competed in mixed martial arts for several promotions[24]
2016   Chael Sonnen Amateur wrestler, mixed martial artist and noted Steroid Abuser who has competed in UFC, WEC and Pancrase[25]
2017   Mike van Arsdale Mixed martial artist who has competed in the UFC, World Fighting Alliance, and the IVC[11]
2018   Ben Askren One-time ONE Welterweight Champion, one-time Bellator Welterweight Champion[26]
2019   Daniel Cormier One-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and one-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion[27]
2021[a]   Ken Shamrock Inaugural UFC Superfight Champion. In professional wrestling, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, WWF Intercontinental Championship and WWF Tag Team Championship once each.[28]
2024 — Don Frye Fought for UFC in 1996 – winning the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 1996 tournaments – and Pride Fighting Championships between 2001 and 2003. Also wrestled in New Japan Pro-Wrestling between 1997 and 2002.

Gordon Solie Award recipients

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This award recognizes excellence in professional wrestling broadcasting.[40]

Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2021   Gordon Solie
(Francis Labiak) 		Posthumous honoree: commentator, announcer and promoter for Championship Wrestling from Florida, later worked for World Championship Wrestling[40]
2022   Jim Ross
 Second time honored, previously received the Lou Thesz Award in 2011[40]
2023 — Conrad Thompson
 Professional wrestling promoter, and podcast host and promotes the Starrcast wrestling convention[40]
2024   Tony Schiavone Lead commentator for Jim Crockett Promotions between 1985 and 1989, the World Wrestling Federation between 1989 and 1990, World Championship Wrestling between 1990 and 2001, and All Elite Wrestling since 2019.

Jack Brisco Spotlight Award recipients

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Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2023   Les Thatcher
(Leslie Malady) 		Has performed various roles in the wrestling industry, including as a wrestler, trainer, promoter and announcer[1]
2024   Tony Garea
(Anthony Gareljich) 		Five time WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Champion

Verne Gagne Trainer Award recipients

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Introduced in 2023, this award recognizes excellence in the training of others for professional wrestling.[1] In the December 2023 newsletter published by the hall, it was announced this award would be renamed in honor of Verne Gagne.

Year Image Ring name
(Birth name) 		Notes
2023   Boris Malenko
(Lawrence J. Simon) 		Posthumous honoree: Held various regional championships[1]
2024   Tom Prichard One-time WWF Tag Team Champion, eight-time SMW Tag Team Champion; trainer of Kurt Angle, The Rock, Randy Orton and many others.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e These honorees were originally announced as being part of the 2020 ceremony but the event was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]
  2. ^ In 2019, it was reported that Murdock had been convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child in 1988 and he has since been removed from the Hall of Fame's website.[36][37]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Johnson, Mike. "Les Thatcher Among Those Being Honored This July By Thesz/Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Solomon, Brian (2015). Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1617135996.
  3. ^ a b "George Tragos". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  4. ^ Skok, Jason (2013). Kurt Angle: From Olympian to Wrestling Machine. Capstone Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-1429686822.
  5. ^ Klingman, Kyle (June 14, 2008). "Iowa wrestling museum flooded". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Klingman, Kyle (June 20, 2008). "Flood won't stop Tragos/Thesz HOF 'Super Weekend'". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Johnson, Mike (June 30, 2009). "Ricky Steamboat, Nick Bockinkel Among 2009 Class Honored By Wrestling Museum & Institute". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  8. ^ "Chapman retires from Dan Gable Museum". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. November 25, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  9. ^ Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Former UNI wrestler and Wartburg coach Jim Miller named new Dan Gable Museum director". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  10. ^ "Big weekend on tap for local wrestling HOF". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. May 22, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Keller, Wade (June 17, 2017). "Shelton Benjamin part of Impact Pro's Hall of Fame Classic tournament next month, full weekend details & schedule". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Ventura given Museum's top honour". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. August 4, 2003. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e Oliver, Greg (July 25, 2004). "Kiniski, Rheingans entering Newton hall". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d e Curry, Lewis (August 2, 2004). "Newton inducts Class of 2004". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Oliver, Greg (July 10, 2005). "Newton HOF set to grow by six". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h "Hall of Fame Inductions Report: Bret Hart, Larrry Hennig, Mike DiBiase, Dory Funk Sr., Bop Roop". Pro Wrestling Torch. July 6, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Johnson, Steve (July 14, 2007). "Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction". Slam Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  18. ^ Vongsarath, Chris (March 2, 2009). "Longtime Campbell resident Fritz von Goering to be inducted into wrestling hall of fame". Mercury News. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
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