NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Whipper Billy Watson and Lou Thesz
November 1956
November 1956 was one of the more significant transitional months in the history of the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship. It began with Whipper Billy Watson sitting atop the wrestling world, continued through a championship showdown in St. Louis that restored Lou Thesz to the throne, and ended with the two men sharing the spotlight in Toronto in a rematch that demonstrated that their rivalry had not ended with the title change.
The month also provides an interesting look at the NWA’s organizational structure during the 1950s. The world championship was more than a championship belt. It was the centerpiece of a touring system that connected independent wrestling territories, gave local promoters a major attraction, and provided the Alliance with a traveling representative whose appearances helped maintain the credibility and commercial value of its world title.
Watson had held the championship since March 15, 1956, when he defeated Thesz at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. His reign had lasted nearly eight months, during which he defended the championship throughout the United States and Canada. Thesz, meanwhile, was looking to reclaim the championship he had held for much of the previous six years.
