Lou Thesz is widely considered one of the greatest wrestling performers and by many also considered one of the best hookers of his time, even with only competing in several legitimately competitive matches. He started his training to be a professional at the age of 16, in 1932, after being spotted as a stand-out Greco-Roman amateur wrestler by John Zastrow. He would go on to wrestle in every decade after until his final match at the age of 74 in 1990, along the way holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times, for a combined total of 10 years, 3 months and 9 days.
Hooker with Kit Bauman is a surprisingly bluntly honest book, Lou Thesz hides none of his opinions and speaking openly about his peers and his own career inside the squared circle. Although not always accurate, he admits he does not remember everything precisely and stresses the memories and matches he recalls are ones that held an impact in his life or for an unusual reason stood out, where as most occasions were the same ole-same ole arrive at a town, wrestle, drive to the next town. Delving deep in to everything from his training with George Tragos and Ed ‘Strangler’ Lewis to road stories and matches along the way with everyone from Everett Marshall, in 1937, to ‘Nature Boy’ Buddy Rogers, in 1963, to the promoters through-out the time and the formation and his dealings with the N.W.A. He speaks of his admiration for the history of wrestling and his original shyness at first meeting with Martin ‘Farmer’ Burns but also talks just as passionately of his disliking for people such as ‘Toots’ Mondt and ‘none wrestlers’ in the business. Up until 1966 when he lost his last NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Gene Kiniski he talks in detail of the key moments of his career, all the while backed up by Kit Baumans excellently informative end notes, researched with J. Michael Kenyon. Lou Thesz only glances upon the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s speaking of his refereeing and his brief association with shoot style wrestling in Japan, he chooses rather to allow his book to reminisce fondly over his beloved catch-as-catch-can style. It must be noted though, that the writing of the book was originally completed in 1991.
All in all, the 2011 revised edition of Lou Thesz’s Hooker is one mans philosophy and outlook on the world of wrestling, set in his ways and knows what he likes, Lou tells you exactly how he saw it and what he thinks of it, yet all the while smoothed over by the Kit Bauman’s contribution. At first I dreaded the thought of informational end notes at the conclusion of every chapter, however I found them very helpful and insightful through-out the process of reading the book. Not only do they correct the errors of Lou’s memory at times, they provide additional information and stories that simply would not have fitted well in the actual chapter. With a section after the biography itself dedicated to Lou’s stories and memories of topics, other wrestlers and a full black and white 215 photo gallery, the book is truly a must read for any fan of the history or the sport of professional wrestling and wants an inside look at what it took to be a professional wrestler in the ‘Golden Era’.
– By Jimmy Wheeler
By Lou Thesz with Kit Bauman, additional research and editing by J. Michael Kenyon
Published by Crowbar Press
Released June 2011 (Second edition)
318 Pages, paperback