The St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame in St. Louis, United States. After several years of debating the idea of creating the Hall of Fame, former owner and promoter of the St. Louis Wrestling Club Larry Matysik opened it in 2007. He was joined in this effort by SBAC Member Tony Casta, sports journalist Keith Schildroth, collector Mitch Hartsey, and longtime fan Nick Ridenour. Although these directors oversee the selection process, the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame is unique because it is the only wrestling hall of fame that allows fans to vote for potential inductees.
The Hall of Fame was created to honor the role St. Louis played in helping to establish professional wrestling in North America. Matysik also wanted to create a hall of fame that recognized wrestlers for their contributions to wrestling rather than their relationships with the owner of the promotion. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, inductees must have held a title belt or played an important role in or around the Missouri area between 1959 and 1983, when the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) had a strong presence in St. Louis.
For the initial group of inductions, the directors decided that Sam Muchnick, Lou Thesz, Bill Longson, Mickey Garagiola, Penny Banner, and Joe Schoenberger would be inducted by acclamation. Fans were asked to vote for seven more inductees from a list of twenty choices. At the induction ceremony, these thirteen were enshrined, along with Matysik, a surprise inductee. King Kong Brody was inducted later that year.
When the Hall of Fame opened in 2007, it was located in The Pro Wrestling Shirt Shop, a business in St. Louis' South County Mall. It contained plaques and memorabilia from the St. Louis Wrestling Club. In 2008, the Hall was moved to the South Broadway Athletic Club. Each induction plaque is personalized with a description of the individual's contributions. For example, Thesz' plaque states that he is "the finest example of a true world champion". Six more people were inducted in 2008, bringing the total to twenty-one. The Hall's directors plan to add six more inductees each year. Fourteen men and one woman have been honored for their performance in the ring as wrestlers. The remaining six people have been inducted for their other contributions, including owning and promoting the St. Louis Wrestling Club, as well as performing duties as referees, ring announcers, and commentators.
Current board members are Herb Simmons and Nick Ridenour.
Inductees #YearRing nameInducted for Notes2007 Women's wrestlingBorn in St. Louis. She began her wrestling career working for Muchnick's St. Louis Wrestling Club; won the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (1 time)2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; inducted September 14. Won the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time)2007 Hornbaker, 238. Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (3 times)2007 Hornbaker, 333. Wrestling Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (10 times) and NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2007 Ring announcing and commentating Longtime ring announcer and commentator for St. Louis Wrestling ClubMatysik, 71-74.2007 Wrestling Held NWA World Heavyweight Championship for three years; won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2007 Commentating and Promoting Owner, office worker, booker, announcer, and commentator for St. Louis Wrestling Club; wrote biography of Sam Muchnick2007 Promoting Posthumous inductee; founded the NWA and served as president from 1950 to 1960 and 1963 to 1975; owner of St. Louis Wrestling ClubHornbaker, 59.2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), and NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times); co-owner and booker of St. Louis Wrestling Club2007 Wrestling Won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (7 times) and NWA World Heavyweight Championship (8 times); co-owner of St. Louis Wrestling Club2007 Refereeing Posthumous inductee; longtime referee for St. Louis Wrestling Club and community youth sports advocate2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2007 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2008 Hornbaker, 323. Wrestling Won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (2 times), and NWA Missouri Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)2008 Wrestling Won NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2008 Commentating First commentator for St. Louis Wrestling Club's Wrestling at the Chase television programMatysik, 16.2008 Wrestling Competed in St. Louis from 1975 to 1986 and challenged for NWA World Heavyweight Championship on several occasions2008 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2008 Referee Longtime referee for St. Louis Wrestling ClubMatysik, 22.2009 Wrestling Won numerous tag team titles, including NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 time) – with Maurice Vachon and NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 Time) – with Harley Race 2010 manager Managed various Tag Team Champions in AWA and WWE with The Heenan Family2010 Wrestling Won numerous titles, including NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) 2010 WrestlingPosthumous inductee; won various titles, including NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times),NWA Central States Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob BrownNWA Central States Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com and NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (3 times) – with Dusty Rhodes (1) and Bob Sweetan (2)NWA North American Tag Team Title history At wrestling-titles.com2010 Wrestling2014 WrestlingMulti-time holder of the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship and NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship among other titles in the NWA and WWE Tag Champion.2014 WrestlingPosthumous inductee2014 WrestlingPosthumous inductee2015 WrestlingTwo-time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship title holder.2015 WrestlingPosthumous inductee: Former wrestler and referee 2015 Wrestling Former referee 2015 Wrestling Professional wrestling journalist 2016 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; NWA World Heavyweight Champion: 1984 2016 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; Missouri Heavyweight Champion: 1983–84 2016 Wrestling Missouri Heavyweight Champion: 1979–80 2016 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; Former American Wrestling Association Champion 2016 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; Very popular wrestler in the St. Louis area during the 60's 2016 Referee 2017 Wrestling Former World Wrestling Entertainment Champion: 1978–83, 1994 2017 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; NWA World Heavyweight Champion: 1957 and WWA Heavyweight Champion (Los Angeles): 1957–61, 1963–64 2018 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion: 1947, 1956 2019 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; Former Missouri Heavyweight Champion: 1954 2019 Wrestling NWA Women's Champion: 1986–87, 1987–94, 1996 2022 Wrestling Wrestled for Sam Muchnick several times during the 70's & early 80's 2023 Wrestling One half of the Brisco Brothers, long time WWE executive 2023 Wrestling Manager of The Four Horsemen 2024 Wrestling Commonly known by the ring name "Cowboy" Bob Orton during the 70's & 80's 2024 Businessman Posthumous inductee: St. Louis businessman 2024 Ring announcing Posthumous inductee: Announcer 2024 Wrestling Women wrestling star of the 80's, WWF Women's Champion (one time) 2024 Wrestling Women wrestling star of the 80's, WWF Women's Tag team Champion (one time) 2024 Wrestling Women wrestling star of the 80's, WWF Women's Champion (two times) 2025 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (Detroit version) (one time) 2025 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion (two times) 2025 Wrestling Posthumous inductee; WWWF World Heavyweight Champion (one time)572025 WrestlingHad wrestled for Sam Muchnick in the late 70's & 80's582025 WrestlingWrestled in the 60's in St. Louis against some great competition.592025 WrestlingHad some great battles with Kerry Von Erich.602026 WrestlingSold out shows in St. Louis in the 70's.612026Spike HuberWrestlingWas the son in law of Dick the Bruiser.622026 WrestlingWrestled during the Sam Muchnick days.632026Herb SimmonsWrestlingOne of the greatest wrestling promoters in St. Louis since 1973 for SICW.64 2027Jimmy ValiantWrestlingHad some great battles in the early 70s under Sam Muchnick promotion.652027Rufus R. JonesWrestlingWorked in St. Louis as a face in the Early 70s under Sam Muchnick.662027Bobby FultonWrestingworked in the NWA672027Bushwhacker LukeWrestlingOne of the greatest wrestler to work in St. Louis.682027Iceman King ParsonsWrestlingAn exciting wrestler to come out of St. Louis.
See also List of professional wrestling halls of fame
Notes – This is the name given to him by his adoptive parents.
References
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External links Official website