Tag Archives: NWA Word Champions

Episode 176: The NWA World Champions Series, Part 2 – Lou Thesz

June 25, 2025 TGBL2022

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #176 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! It’s part two of the NWA Word Champions series, with special guest Mark Fleming.

The name “Lou Thesz” is synonymous with wrestling greatness, and with being world champion. This week, Brian sits down with a man who was trained and mentored by Thesz, and shares his priceless memories and insights on this iconic figure.

Learn what Joe DiMaggio thought of Thesz… Behind the scenes of the title switches with Nomellini, Hutton, Carpentier, Watson and Rogers… How Thesz was at the center of the NWA/AWA/WWWF world title splintering of the early ’60s… Plus, Strangler Lewis tries to get Lou to forgive Toots Mondt, and much more!

Shut Up and Wrestle is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network.

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Episode 172: The NWA World Champions Series, Part 1 – Orville Brown

May 28, 2025 TGBL2022

Hello, wrestling fans! It’s time for Episode #172 of Shut Up and Wrestle, with Brian R. Solomon! It’s part one of the NWA Word Champions series, with special guest Dr. Robert Stinson.

This week, Brian and the good doctor look back at the life and career of an often-overlooked legend, the very first National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight champion, Orville Brown.

It’s a journey back to the very beginning of the Alliance in the late 1940s, to understand how Brown’s efforts helped to establish the brand-new world title.