IPW/HoF Waterloo, IA 7/10/15

Promotion: Impact Pro Wrestling
Time/Date: 7pm Friday July 10, 2015
City, State: Waterloo, Iowa
Venue: Five Sullivan Brothers Event Center

 This was the annual IPW George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame event. The 2015 class included (painted below top left to right, bottom left to right) Greg Wojciechowski and Jim Landos, Beth Phoenix (Frank Gotch award), B. Brian Blair (Lou Thesz award), Matt Lindland (George Tragos award) and Wade Keller (Jim Melby award).

 At 4 pm in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum Kurt Angle was presented with two rings in honor of his amateur wrestling championships. Angle was inducted into the Tragos/Thesz hall of fame a few years ago but was unable to show up in Waterloo. While at the museum Angle added his signature to the "Mat of Honor".

The first match of the night was the annual Lou Thesz Cup Memorial Battle Royal.

 Sparrow and James Jefferies were the last two men in the battle royal. With a little help from his partner, Sparrow was able to toss Jefferies over the top rope to get the victory.

Ryan Slade pinned Bobby Fonta.

 Latin Thunder & U Gene defeated Nate Redwing & Jake Dirden.

 Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana pinned Bob Holly.

IPW Vault champion Marshall Scott pinned Nicky Free to retain the title.

 B Brian Blair, Ugly & James Jefferies defeated Matty Starr, Sparrow & Aaron Von Baron in a 6 man tag match. Blair pinned Starr for the 3 count.

 Wes Brisco defeated AJ Smooth by tap out in a legends lumberjack Match.

 At the end of the match Wes Brisco celebrated in the ring with JJ Dillon, Jerry Brisco and Baron Von Raschke.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you are a pro wrestling fan in the Midwest you should make your way to Waterloo to check out the museum. The best time to do that is during the Hall of Fame weekend. Check out the museum's web site for info on next years event. http://nwhof.org/waterloo/

Tragos/Thesz 2010 Hall of Fame Waterloo, IA 7/10/2010

On Saturday July 10, 2010 The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum inducted 5 wrestlers into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame. The museum in located in downtown Waterloo, Iowa and they had their first class of Hall of Fame members inducted in 1999. The majority of the museum is dedicated to armature wrestling but one of the rooms is filled with some of the most interesting items from pro wrestling past. On display are many ring jackets including some worn by Larry Hennig, Mr Wrestling and Bret Hart as well as title belts worn by Ted DiBiase and Lou Thesz.

The class of 2010 included Terry Funk, Paul Vachon, Warren Bockwinkel, George Gordienko and Stanislaus Zbyszko. Funk and Vachon were present to accept their HoF plaques at the ceremony.

Mick Foley received the Frank Gotch award from Kent Sesker of the museum.

J Michael Kenyon received the Jim Melby award for excellence in pro wrestling journalism. He was presented the award by melby's daughter.
Rene Goulet received the Lou Thesz award for his charity work. Thesz's widow Charlie was there to present the award to Goulet.

Danny Hodge was at this years ceremony to accept Warren Bockwinkel's HoF award as Bockwinkel's son Nick was unable to attend. If you have the chance to meet the man that Jim Ross says is the best pro wrestler alive do not ask him to put you in a headlock. He may be almost 80 years old but he still knows how to make it hurt.

George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame

Mick Foley and Terry Funk will be in Waterloo, Iowa this weekend for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz professional Wrestling hall of Fame class of 2010 inductions. Funk will be inducted into the HoF and Foley will receive the Frank Gotch award. Both men will take part in a Q & A on Friday night before the IPW card. Check out the web site for more details. Dan Gabel International Wrestling Institute and Museum