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FIRE PRO WRESTLING RETURNS CHARACTER GUIDE: LOU THESZ
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for Sony PlayStation 2 (U.S.)
Version 1.0
by Bill Wood ([email protected])
Last modified: 1/9/08

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (c) 2005 Spike (c) 2007 Agetec

NOTE: This guide views and prints best with a monospace typeface.
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==VERSION HISTORY==
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1.0 - Initial release of the guide.


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==TABLE OF CONTENTS==
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SECTION 1: HISTORY OF LOU THESZ
SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS
SECTION 3: MOVELIST
SECTION 4: STRATEGY
SECTION 5: CLOSING

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==SECTION 1: HISTORY OF LOU THESZ==
==================================
When you mention the names of various pro wrestlers to wrestling fans,
you're likely to get various opinions. But one name above all others
commands unanimous praise and respect; that name is Lou Thesz. He held
the NWA Heavyweight Championship for over ten years, a feat that is
unlikely to ever be equalled by any modern pro wrestler. He invented the
original powerbomb as well as the STF. He has held innumerable regional,
national and international titles. And he wrestled his last match against
Masahiro Chono (a Thesz understudy who adopted the STF as his finisher)
at age 74. SEVENTY-FOUR.

Named after his hometown of St. Louis, Thesz was introduced to
Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of eight by his father, who wrestled
in his native homeland of Hungary. In his teens he was introduced to Ed
"Strangler" Lewis, the most popular wrestler of his era, and the man
responsible for teaching Thesz the art of "hooking", or capturing the
opponent in a painful submission hold. This handy technique could be used
to prevent a wrestler from trying a double-cross in the ring (yes, even
those earlier days, the outcomes of professional wrestling matches were
predetermined).

Partly due to his skill as a hooker, Thesz was chosen as one of the very
first NWA champions. Not only did he go on to hold that title for a record
amount of time, but he would also go on to achieve numerous other
milestones in his lengthy career. Among Thesz's crowning achievements was
that he -- along with Rikidozan -- was one of the men primarily
responsible for introducing professional wrestling to Japan.

In the world of Fire Pro, the Legends category was created specifically
for wrestlers like Thesz, a truly classic competitor and an icon for
future generations.

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==SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS==
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SKILL
-----
Real Name......................Lou Thesz
FPR Name.......................R.J. Faze
Organization.....................Legends
FPR Organization.................Legends
FPR Group........................Legends
Size..............................Medium
Class..............................Heavy
Height............................191 cm
Weight............................110 kg
Gender..............................Male
Birthdate......................9/26/1916
Country..........................America
Rank...................................S
Charisma...............................S
Stance............................Strong
Fight Style.....................Orthodox
Return..........................Orthodox
Critical........................Finisher
Special...........................Finish
Recovery............................Fast
Recovery (when bleeding)............Fast
Breathing.........................Medium
Breathing (when bleeding).........Medium
Spirit............................Strong
Spirit (when bleeding)............Strong
Neck Endurance......................High
Arm Endurance.......................High
Waist Endurance.....................High
Leg Endurance.......................High
Movement Speed....................Medium
Up and Down Speed...................Slow
Ascent Style.....................Disable
Favorite Weapon.....................None

PARAMETER - OFFENSE     PARAMETER - DEFENSE
-------------------     -------------------
Punch.............7     Punch.............9
Kick..............5     Kick..............8
Throw............10     Throw............10
Submission........9     Submission........9
Stretch...........9     Stretch...........9
Power.............8     Flying............7
Instant-P.........9     Body.............10
Arm Power.........7     Vs Lariat.........3
Technical.........6     Technical.........9
Rough.............8     Rough............10
Ground............6     Ground............9
Entertain.........1     Entertain.........4
-------------------     -------------------
OFF. SUB-TOTAL...87     DEF. SUB-TOTAL...97

TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 244

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==SECTION 3: MOVELIST==
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Specialty moves are marked with [S]. Finisher is marked with [F].

KEY:

([]) = Square button
(X)  = X button
(O)  = Circle button

STRIKES
-------
Standing ([])....................................Punch
Standing (X)................................Chest Slap
Standing (O) + d-pad..............................Kick
Standing (O)...........................Football Tackle
Standing ([]) + (X)...................Forward Dropkick
Running ([])...........................Shoulder Tackle
Running (X)...............................Kitchen Sink
Running (O)................................THESZ PRESS [S]
Running Counter ([]).......................Back Switch
Running Counter (X).....................Back Body Drop
Running Counter (O)........................Cobra Twist
Running to corner...........................Back Elbow 
Co-op Irish whip to corner..................Back Elbow
Corner-to-center attack...........................none

GRAPPLES
--------
Grapple ([])...............................Elbow Smash
Grapple ([]) + Up............................Body Slam
Grapple ([]) + Left/Right..................Flying Mare
Grapple ([]) + Down................Elbow Stomp to Head
Grapple (X)................................Back Switch
Grapple (X) + Up...........................Brainbuster 
Grapple (X) + Left/Right..............Headlock Punches
Grapple (X) + Down....................Neckbreaker Drop
Grapple (O)................................Cobra Twist
Grapple (O) + Up..................Original Brainbuster
Grapple (O) + Left/Right.............Russian Leg Sweep
Grapple (O) + Down..................Jumping Piledriver
Grapple ([]) + (X)..................ORIGINAL POWERBOMB [S]
Back Grapple ([]).............................Leg Trip
Back Grapple (X)...........................Atomic Drop
Back Grapple (O)..........................Sleeper Hold
Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down.................Cobra Twist
Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right...........RAPID BACKDROP [F]
Back Grapple ([]) + (X)..................Backdrop Hold
Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt
Back Grapple Counter (O)...................Flying Mare

OPPONENT DOWN MOVES
-------------------
Opponent Face Up at Head (X).......CHICKENWING ARMLOCK [S]
Opponent Face Up at Head (O)............Stomping (Arm)
Opponent Face Up at Feet (X)........Hooked-Leg Pinfall
Opponent Face Up at Feet (O)................Thigh Kick
Opponent Face Down at Head (X).................Pinfall
Opponent Face Down at Head (O)........Knee Stamp (Arm)
Opponent Face Down at Feet (X).....................STF [S]
Opponent Face Down at Feet (O)........Knee Drop (Back)
Running at Downed Opponent (O)...............Knee Drop

MMA MOVES
---------
Guard Attack ([])........................Knuckle Arrow
Guard Attack (X)...........................Collar Lock
Guard Attack (O)...........................Boston Crab
Guard Counter.................................Arm Lock
Mount/Front Facelock Attack ([]).......Front Neck Lock
Mount/Front Facelock Attack (X).............Piledriver
Mount/Front Facelock Attack (O)............Back Switch
Mount/Front Facelock Counter...........Waterwheel Drop
Back Mount Position ([]).................Knuckle Arrow
Back Mount Position (X)..........................Elbow
Back Mount Position (O)..................Choke Sleeper
Back Mount Counter..............................Escape

POST AND APRON MOVES
--------------------
Post ([]).........................................none
Post (X)..........................................none
Post (O)..........................................none
Post ([]) + (X)...................................none
Running Post Dive ([])............................none
Running Post Dive (X).............................none
Corner Grapple (O) + Up.............Corner Hammer Blow
Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right........Corner Shoulder
Corner Grapple (O) + Down...........Corner Hammer Blow
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F]...............Elbow Bunt
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B]...........Backhand Elbow
Inside Apron Grapple.............Brainbuster into Ring
Outside Apron Grapple....................Shoulder Butt
Run to outside....................................none
Dive out ring.............................Sledgehammer
Dive in ring......................................none
Cage Dive.........................................none

DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES
----------------------------
Front Double Team...................Double Brainbuster
Back Double Team.......................Double Backdrop
Corner Double Team.................Highjack Piledriver
Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow
Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow
Corner Triple Team..................Triple Hammer Blow

PERFORMANCE
-----------
Entry Performance..........................Arm Raise 1
Analog Stick Left..........................Arm Raise 1
Analog Stick Right.........................Hands Raise
Analog Stick Up..........................Clenched Fist
Analog Stick Down..........................Wrist Check

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==SECTION 4: STRATEGY==
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GENERAL STRATEGY
Let's take a quick look at Lou's stats. See all those 9's and 10's? That
should tell you something! When you choose Thesz, you choose one of the
best wrestlers Fire Pro has to offer. He is a consummate submission and
suplex master, and his defensive stats are well into the stratosphere.
Indeed, Thesz is one of the Fire Pro elite, a grappler who can take an
incredible amount of punishment before showing signs of wear.

The gameplan with Thesz should be to stick to his array of basic holds
and strikes. He can't climb the turnbuckle or perform any of the fancier
moves in Fire Pro, but you wouldn't want to do that with him anyway.
Pure old-school grappling is clearly where Lou Thesz excels. Also note
that two of his Special moves are done from an "Opponent Down" position.
Concentrate on getting the opposition into that position, where Thesz is
definitely at his most dangerous.

STRIKES
Lou's strike set is very basic, nothing fancy here. A punch, a kick, and
oh yeah, the Football Tackle. Mix up these three attacks to catch the
opponent off-guard, then proceed straight to grapples. The Thesz Press is
Thesz's patented running attack, it can easily be performed from an Irish
whip, and you should definitely work it into his repertoire.

GRAPPLES
Your intent should be to win grapples, put your opponent on the mat, and
work from there. Even a simple body slam or flying mare (a.k.a. snapmare)
will do the trick. Once you've got the opponent down, execute a Chicken
Wing Armlock or STF. With Lou's offensive submission and stretch stats, it
will only take a few of these to have your adversary aching.

One more thing -- you gotta love the Original Powerbomb. Brutal!

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==SECTION 5: CLOSING==
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In closing, I would like to thank Jason Blackhart for statistical
information and Dave Fairbairn for moveset clarification.

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Character Guide: Lou Thesz
(c)2008 Bill Wood