Leslie Malady[1](born October 28, 1940), better known by the nameLes Thatcher,is an American formerprofessional wrestler.He helps run Elite Pro Wrestling Training, aprofessional wrestling schoolin his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, withRicky Steamboatand, up until his death on August 1, 2019,Harley Race.He is also on the board of directors of theCauliflower Alley Club.He won several regional tag team championships with various partners, includingNelson RoyalandRoger Kirby.He turned his hand to singles competition as ajunior heavyweight.
| Les Thatcher | |
|---|---|
 Thatcher in 2014 | |
| Birth name | Leslie Malady |
| Born | October 28, 1940 Cincinnati, Ohio,U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Les Thatcher |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Trained by | Tony Santos |
| Debut | July 4, 1960 |
Early life
editThatcher was born inCincinnati,Ohio.[2]He first watched wrestling when he was eight years old while at a friend's house, stating, "The action on that little ten-inch black & white screen just reached out and grabbed me".[3]In his youth, he playedbasketball,baseball,andfootball.He started wrestling at his localYMCAas a twelve-year-old. He attended Central High School in Cincinnati.
Professional wrestling career
editThatcher heard about Tony Santos, a promoter and owner of a wrestling school inBoston, Massachusetts.[2]Shortly thereafter, he began training in February 1960. On July 4, 1960, Thatcher made his professional wrestling debut against “Cowboy” Ronnie Hill inBlue Hill, Maine.[2]
In 1966, Thatcher started to work as part of a "cousins" faction. He was a member of the team with Roger Kirby and Dennis Hall. They used this gimmick in various southern territories until 1969.
In the 1970s,Rudy Kaybrought Thatcher to the Maritimes territory.[1]This was the only time in his career that he worked as aheel(villainous character).[1]It was in the Maritimes that Thatcher also began announcing matches.[1][4]Afterward, he worked withJim Crockett'sMid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling,announcing withGordon Solie.[1][4]
In the 1970s, Thatcher also announced forSoutheastern Championship Wrestling.[4]Throughout his broadcasting career, he also worked withBob Caudle,Lance RussellandJim Ross.During his announcing/hosting tenure, he worked for such companies asGeorgia Championship Wrestling.
In 1994, Thatcher worked as an announcer forSmoky Mountain Wrestlingin East Tennessee.[4]He also ran theHeartland Wrestling Associationbeginning in 1996.[2][1]He also created & produced theBrian Pillman Memorial Show.[1]He also operates professional wrestling training seminars and weekend camps under the Elite Pro Wrestling Training banner.[1]
Other pursuits
editFrom 1955 to 1966, he competed in NHRA drag racing, winning 100 trophies and two regional championships.[2]In his late 40s and early 50s, he competed as a bodybuilder with NPC Masters Bodybuilding.[2]He helped produce the first wrestling T-shirt in 1972 and helped publish the first color edition ofWWWF Magazinein 1978.[2]
In 1999, Thatcher appeared in an episode of the MTV SeriesTrue Lifecalled "I'm A Pro Wrestler".[5][6]The following year he also appeared in an episode ofTo Tell The Truth.[7]He was elected onto the board of theCauliflower Alley Club.Thatcher co-hosted a weekly wrestling radio program with Doc Young calledWrestling Weeklyfrom 2005 to 2008. New editions of Wrestling Weekly are now being released as weekly podcasts found on the Wrestling Observer website.[8]He also does routine website audio shows for PWInsider.
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Cauliflower Alley Club
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Jack Brisco Spotlight Award 2023
- NWA Mid-America
- NWA World Tag Team Championship(Mid-America version)(1 time) – with Dennis Hall[9]
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship(Mid-America version) (4 times) – with Roger Kirby (1), Bearcat Brown (1), Dennis Hall (1), Nelson Royal (1)[10][11]
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship(Mid-America version)(1 time) – with Bearcat Brown[12]
- NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship(6 times) – with Dennis Hall, Whitey Caldwell (3) andNelson Royal(2)[13]
- Smoky Mountain Wrestling
- Hall of Fame (class 1994)[4]
- Other
References
edit- ^abcdefghijkFollett, Jason (April 11, 2005)."Les Thatcher's Maritime memories".Slam Wrestling.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
- ^abcdefghiMooneyham, Mike (September 30, 2017)."Les Thatcher deserves spot in pro wrestling's Hall of Fame".The Post and Courier.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
- ^"Les Thatcher Bio".LesThatcher.com.Archived fromthe originalon September 10, 2015.RetrievedMay 19,2015.
- ^abcdeAndrews, Michael (June 6, 2012)."Thatcher's commentary made possible by his wrestling career".Slam Wrestling.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
- ^Brown, Sydney (August 11, 2003)."Down With The Brown: True Life: I'm A Professional Wrestler (1999)".411Mania.Archivedfrom the original on March 2, 2023.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
- ^"MTV True Life – I'm a Pro Wrestler 1999".Stringer's Stuff.YouTube.February 28, 2021.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
- ^Yannuzzi, Tony (October 3, 2000)."Will The REAL Les Thatcher PLEASE Stand Up?".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on March 2, 2023.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
- ^"Radio Search".Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.RetrievedAugust 6,2019.
- ^"NWA World Tag Team Title (Mid-America)".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedMay 19,2015.
- ^Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Tennessee: U.S. Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 194.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
- ^"NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
- ^"NWA (Mid-America)/AWA Southern Tag Team Title".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedMay 19,2015.
- ^"NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedMay 19,2015.
External links
edit
- Les Thatcher Homepage(Archived)
- Interview on HitTheRopes.com
- Les Thatcher's profile atCagematch.net
