Sly may want to take a look at this.

[Shadowmancer]

I found this. Quite Interesting. I was doing a bit of Groundwork for my History Essay on Japanese Wrestling, I came across this little beut from Lou Thesz.

He describes Hulk Hogan, whom Thesz would have pinned in three minutes in the old days, as a great entertainer. ``I'd give him a 10 for body. And a one for wrestling . . . maybe a zero,'' he said.

here is the link to it as well.

Lou Thesz's Thoughts on Hogan

 

[Lil Wes]

Hilarious and so true, too bad Hulk is actually known....

 

[justinsayne]

Sig-worthy fucking Sig-worthy

 

[Slyfox696]

Nothing surprising about this at all. Old-timers are nothing more than grumpy former wrestlers, who criticize the current generation for doing the same thing they did, only doing it in a different fashion. Bruno Sammartino is the same way.

 

[Lil Wes]

Hulk Hogan > Your favorite wrestler.

FACT.

 

[justinsayne]

Hulk Hogan > Your favorite wrestler.

FACT.

So if my favorite wrestler were Hulk Hogan then Hulk Hogan > Hulk Hogan

Fuck!!, now my brain hurts

 

[Lil Wes]

Yup.

 

[Slim Pickns]

He was also the first person to say "Hulk Hogan doesn't know the difference between a wrist lock and a wrist watch."

 

[Slyfox696]

He was also the first person to say "Hulk Hogan doesn't know the difference between a wrist lock and a wrist watch."

Which also proves that he is a bitter old man who refuses to accept the fact that society changes, and that what worked in the first half of the century wasn't going to work in the second half.

Lou Thesz was great in his time, and Hogan was great in his.

 

[Slim Pickns]

Which also proves that he is a bitter old man who refuses to accept the fact that society changes, and that what worked in the first half of the century wasn't going to work in the second half.

Lou Thesz was great in his time, and Hogan was great in his.

True, most of the old wrestlers are bitter toward the new guys. Its actually kind of hard to find an old wrestler that loves the new product.

 

[Lil Wes]

Well if your talking about the current day product. Who would?

 

[klunderbunker]

To me there is little doubt that Thesz could wrestle circles around Hogan, but Hogan has been 100x more important to the business. You don't see Thesz on the cover of SI, on the tonight show, starring in (bad) movies or anything like that. Hogan made wrestling what it is today. Thesz is a great in ring wrestler, but his overall meaning to the business is limited at best.

 

[Bernkastel]

Well if your talking about the current day product. Who would?

John Cena

 

[BooCocky]

^^^ Marvelous, I know.

 

[justinsayne]

To me there is little doubt that Thesz could wrestle circles around Hogan, but Hogan has been 100x more important to the business. You don't see Thesz on the cover of SI, on the tonight show, starring in (bad) movies or anything like that. Hogan made wrestling what it is today. Thesz is a great in ring wrestler, but his overall meaning to the business is limited at best.

Were SI, and the Tonight Show even around when Thesz was wrestling in his prime?, I mean I'm not saying the guy would have been on the cover of SI or on the Tonight Show had either been around but it would be kinda hard for him to do those things when they didn't even exist, and lets not forget where Hogan did make wrestling what it is today and is without a doubt the biggest name in the history of wrestling, if it weren't for guys like Thesz then there wouldn't be a business for Hogan or anyone else to make bigger and launch into the mainstream

 

[Shocky]

I read that a while ago, but Hogan had a gem of a comment to reply to that, I'll try to find it.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Yeah but Thesz got the Legit Sports pages. I don't think Hogan got that.

 

[justinsayne]

Yeah but Thesz got the Legit Sports pages. I don't think Hogan got that.

No but Beniot did oddly enough, at least he made the sports section of our local newspaper, go figure

 

[Shocky]

Actually, it wasn't as good as I thought, Hogan pretty much said "well, I would rate Thesz about a 1 on the entertainment scale.

 

[Shocky]

Hogan was also on the cover of Sport's Illustrated, something not accomplished by a wrestler besides Hogan.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Whoopdedoo about SI. SI did a story on the death of Giant Baba so Wrestlers getting into SI is no big deal. But When Thesz first won the title and was World Champion when a world champion defended his title around the world I don't think SI existed. I think but IM not sure SI came after ESPN started.

 

[klunderbunker]

Were SI, and the Tonight Show even around when Thesz was wrestling in his prime?, I mean I'm not saying the guy would have been on the cover of SI or on the Tonight Show had either been around but it would be kinda hard for him to do those things when they didn't even exist, and lets not forget where Hogan did make wrestling what it is today and is without a doubt the biggest name in the history of wrestling, if it weren't for guys like Thesz then there wouldn't be a business for Hogan or anyone else to make bigger and launch into the mainstream

Actually yes both were around in that time. Both debuted around 1953-4. Granted they weren't as big as they are now, and neither is wrestling so that has to be taken into account. I can definately understand Thesz not being happy with the product today, as if nothing else, someone like him never got the fame or money that someone like Hogan did, when there is no question as to who has more talent.

 

[klunderbunker]

Whoopdedoo about SI. SI did a story on the death of Giant Baba so Wrestlers getting into SI is no big deal. But When Thesz first won the title and was World Champion when a world champion defended his title around the world I don't think SI existed. I think but IM not sure SI came after ESPN started.

SI has been around 25 years longer than espn, 1954 for SI, 1979 for ESPN.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Ok, But just something to remember Thesz died somewhere around a Decade ago.

 

[klunderbunker]

That's very true. Thesz has never been given the respect he deserves. Hogan deserves what he gets to an extent considering how far he pushed wrestling to. Thesz was something like a Benoit or a Malenko: A great wrestler who never got the credit he should have.