January 16, 201312 yr Author comment_5528400 Lou is in pretty great shape for a 74 year old. On here for curiosity purposes and historical value more than anything else. Interesting clip.
February 7, 201312 yr comment_5533984 Chono is clearly in awe that someone old enough to be his grandfather could still go in the ring, and that he was really wrestling Lou Thesz. They go a few minutes before the legend tells him he's had enough.
February 8, 201312 yr comment_5534037 Is Thesz the oldest guy to compete in a match? He's in better shape at 74 than a number of guys have looked at 44. Thesz, bless him, actually tries to power bomb Chono and it ends poorly, and Chono gets the submission with the STF. This is definitely a curiosity more than anything but I must have watched a severely clipped version when I saw it years ago because it's actually better than I remembered.
February 8, 201312 yr comment_5534080 Gypsy Joe had his retirement match two years ago at the age of 77. Can't think of anybody older.
February 13, 201312 yr comment_5535017 Lou Thesz! He just looks legit as a wrestler even at his age. 74 years old. That’s crazy. It’s not a great match but it’s a a 74 year old Thesz and he he still looks physically good. Chono gets the STF out of nowhere. Interesting to see this.
February 13, 201312 yr comment_5535086 Very clear WTF match. Not good but cool to see and Chono was having a blast. Thesz looked good physically.
April 1, 201510 yr comment_5662592 This was more like an exhibition than an actual competitive match. I was impressed by Lou's ability to still do the basics well at the age of 74, and they even gave him a couple of near falls, which was a nice touch. The failed powerbomb was his undoing, though, as Chono locked him up for the submission soon after. I liked the big ovations for both men before and after the match. If New Japan had put this card on videotape with English commentary, it might not have been a bad tape to rent. Especially for older fans, seeing Bock and Thesz go one last time would have been a nice way to kill a few hours.
August 21, 20178 yr comment_5811632 If I was impressed with Bock at 56 doing what he did, Thesz at 74 is amazing. No way you'd expect anywhere near what we got here.
July 7, 20223 yr comment_5985556 Thesz wrestled this match with an artificial hip which makes what he does in this match a bit crazy. Chono is there for the ride taking a big backdrop suplex right at the start and a Thesz press but Thesz himself does take a few bumps, obviously him blowing his hip on that failed powerbomb attempt was already mentioned above but right before that Thesz on his first attempt takes a goddamn backdrop and bridges up before trying that powerbomb that blows hip out before Chono gets the STF in to submit Thesz. Of course, this is more of an exhibition and is not as much of a proper match like the Bockwinkel-Saito match is but I feel this was an impressive last match for Thesz who gets to showcase a few of his big moves before Chono takes control and capitalises on Thesz slowing down as the match goes on to win.
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