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Post by Rich Tate on Jun 24, 2010 13:52:41 GMT -5
Les Thatcher is one of the most respected among his peers, as both a wrestler and trainer. In a career dating back to 1960, he has performed just about every role a person can be asked to do in the business.
Aside from wrestling in the ring, he also has spent many years broadcasting, production, booking, and promoting. Always innovative, Les has been credited as being the first to produce a promotion-specific magazine, and also being involved among the first group to mass produce merchandise for sale at events.
He ran Heartland Wrestling in Ohio, a developmental office for World Wrestling En5tertainment, in the late 1990s and 2000s. Les has also become one of the more highly respected trainers in the business, and still offers his services regularly upon request.
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Post by nickgulasmark on Aug 14, 2010 21:52:36 GMT -5
les i wanna ask u this question.....why did promotors use foreign wrestlers for their trainers like verne had the iron sheik/ billy robinson...eddie graham had hiro matsuda.. and nickgulas / jerry jarrett had tojo yamamoto....i cant think of any other promotion that done that i just wondered , i know it's a dumb question but i thought of that the other day
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Post by Les Thatcher on Aug 18, 2010 12:32:15 GMT -5
Hey Nickgulasmark,
All the ones you mentioned except Tojo had strong amateur wrestling backgrounds as well as experience as a pro so they had a wider experience level from which to teach.
Today that's not always the case, but there are very few legit trainers in this country that can actually get a young athlete ready for the big time. A top trainer must experience a high level of involvement in the industry to really be qualified,such as Harley Race, Jody Hamilton. Ricky Steamboat, Dory Funk Jr., Tom Prichard, and I have to include myself as well to name but a few.
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Post by nickgulasmark on Oct 5, 2010 23:30:44 GMT -5
les i was reading don greenes bio online and saw you was the mid-american tag team champion with bearcat brown, i know he was partners with len rossi but , could you tell me about what you know about him
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Post by Les Thatcher on Feb 10, 2011 5:41:04 GMT -5
Sorry this took so long, but Bearcat was a nice soft spoken person and easy to get along with.
The real reason Cat and I were put together in Memphis was that Rossi was a mainstay in Birmingham which also ran on Monday night. I believe we were the first racially mixed team to perform in Men phis up to that time. We weren't together a long time but he was easy to work with and it went well.
Regards,
Les
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Post by dannygoddard on Feb 10, 2011 15:02:55 GMT -5
Just wanted to say "hey," Les. Lots of good memories with you back in the 70s. I will always consider you a friend.
Danny Goddard
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Post by Les Thatcher on Feb 16, 2011 5:33:25 GMT -5
Hey DG,
Thanks for the kind words, and let me say that if all fans were as respectful of the business as you have been it would be better for all of us, and the fact that you have a cute sister helps also :-)
Joking aside Danny, your contributions over the years have always been positive, God bless.
Les
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Post by vickies911 on Feb 16, 2011 18:29:36 GMT -5
Danny Goddard still has a cute little sister!  |
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Post by Les Thatcher on Feb 22, 2011 5:13:43 GMT -5
Hey Vickie,
So good to hear from you and Danny doesn't still have a cute little sister, but a lovely women for a sister unless he has found a way to suspend time :-)
I'm honored that you would take the time to chime here with us, and hope you are doing well, guiding Danny in the right direction and enjoying life. God bless.
Your Fan,
Les
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