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In a much-anticipated battle of World champions, Lou Thesz defeats Baron Michelle Leone, unifying his NWA title with Leone’s Los Angeles version of the World championship. Interest was so great in the match that local television stations broadcast the daily workouts of both grapplers in the week leading up to their showdown in L.A., garnering high ratings. In addition to unifying the two World championships, the Thesz-Leone bout is famous for drawing a gate of $103,277, the first time a professional wrestling match was able to break the heretofore insurmountable $100,000 financial barrier.
