Arvanitis' interest in grappling brought him in contact with many former professional wrestlers from the old NWA and World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) including the likes of Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino, and Walter "Killer" Kowalski.
On February 11, 1938, he received the biggest victory of his career when he defeated Lou Thesz to win the National Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship.
Lou Reed | Lou Gehrig | Lou Harrison | Lou Rawls | Mary Lou Retton | Lou Grant | Lou Holtz | Lou Donaldson | Lou Piniella | Lou Grant (TV series) | Lou Diamond Phillips | Lou Costello | Lou Savarese | Lou Adler | Lou Barlow | Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed song) | Lou Pearlman | Lou Ferrigno | Lou Brock | Lou Dobbs Tonight | Lou Thesz | Lou Scheimer | Lou Henry Hoover | Mary Lou Lord | Mary Lou Fallis | Lou Nanne | Lou Klimchock | Lou Gramm | Lou Giordano | Lou Gehrig's Disease |
Later in 1936, Bowser made Steve "Crusher" Casey his top star, and Casey rose to become world champion with a victory over Lou Thesz in Boston on February 11, 1938.
Ernie was a very accomplished wrestler he wrestled many famous wrestler's such as Warren Bockwinkel, George Zaharias, Lou Thesz, Wladek Zbyszko, Yvon Robert, Karl Sarpolis, Sandor Szabo, Mike Mazurki, Abe Coleman, and Man Mountain Dean.