Tag: history

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/20): Jeff Jarrett wins NWA Title

    1964

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – Reggie Parks drew AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon 
    – Larry Hennig & Harley Race beat Mighty Igor Vodik & Ivan Kalmikoff
    – Eddie Sharkey drew Bob Boyer 
    – Jack Lanza beat George Drake

    1966

    Melbourne, Australia;
    – Ray Stevens and Art Nelson defeated George & Sandy Scott for the IWA Tag Team Titles 

    1970

    Amarillo, Texas:
    – Dory Funk Jr. defeated Thunderbolt Patterson for the Southwest Brass Knux Title 

    1974

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – AWA Champion Verne Gagne double countout Billy Robinson 
    – Great Kusatsu & Kimura beat Ray Stevens & Buddy Wolff
    – Mighty Inoue beat Nick Bockwinkel in 2 out of 3 falls

    1977

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – WWWF Champion Billy Graham beat Stan Stasiak 
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Edouard Carpentier 
    – Black Jack Lanza & Bobby Duncum beat AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell dq 
    – Verne Gagne beat El Santos

    1988

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – AWA Champion Jerry Lawler beat Pit Viper
    – Loser Leaves Town, Jimmy Golden & Robert Fuller beat Cactus Jack & Gary Young
    – Sid Vicious beat Bill Dundee dq
    – Jeff Jarrett beat Buddy Landell
    – CWA Champion Brian Lee beat Mike Miller
    – RPMs beat Scott Steiner & Brickhouse Brown

    1990 

    Rochester, New York:
    – Curt Hennig defeated Kerry Von Erich to win the WWF Intercontinental title 

    Jacksonville, Florida:
    – Ric Flair defeated Butch Reed
    – The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) defeated The Southern Boys (Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong

    2000 

    Augusta, Georgia:
    – Chuck Palumbo & Sean Stasiak defeated Elix Skipper (subbing for an injured General Rection) & Alex Wright for the WCW World Tag Team Title 

    2002 

    Nashville, Tennessee:
    – Jeff Jarrett defeated Ron Killings for the NWA World Heavyweight Title 

    2011

    New York City:
    – WWE Champion CM Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio to retain the title
    – The Rock and John Cena defeated Miz and R Truth

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/19): Curt Hennig wins WWF Intercontinental Title

    1906 

    Melbourne, Australia:
    – Clarence Weber defeated Buttan Singh for the Australian Heavyweight Title 

    1951

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Danny McShain defeated Verne Gagne to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title

    1954 

    Houston, Texas:
    – Polo Torres defeated The Sheik for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title 

    1956 

    Phoenix, Arizona:
    – Otto Lenz and Jack O’Reilly defeated Enrique Romero and Black Hawk to win the Western States Tag Team Title 

    1958 

    Mobile, Alabama:
    – Billy Wicks defeated Gorgeous George to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title

    1960 

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Hard Boiled Haggerty & Len Montana beat Roy McClarty & Joe Scarpello
    – Gene Kiniski beat Nick Roberts
    – US Champion Wilbur Snyder beat Cowboy Rocky Lee
    – Bob Rasmussen beat Bill Green

    – Johnny Valentine & Buddy Rogers defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) for the United States Tag Team Title 

    1964 

    Kalamazoo, Michigan:
    – Martino Angelo defeated Danny Ferraza to win the Wolverine Wrestling Midwest Heavyweight Title 

    1966 

    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – Mad Dog Vachon defeated Dick the Bruiser for the AWA World Heavyweight Title (title change only recognized in Omaha)
    – Ron Reed & Mr Wrestling Tim Woods beat Dale Lewis & Haru Sasaki
    – Jake Smith beat Mad Russian Stan Pulaski dq
    – Luke Brown beat Luke Graham

    Melbourne, Australia:
    – Ray Stevens and Art Nelson defeated George and Sandy Scott to win the International Wrestling Alliance (Australia) Tag Team Titles

    1970 

    Amarillo, Texas:
    – Dory Funk, Sr. defeated Thunderbolt Patterson for the Southwest Brass Knuckles Title 

    Ashikaga, Japan:
    – Larry Hennig and Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan) defeated Thunder Sugiyama and Great Kusatsu for the International Wrestling Alliance (Japan) Tag Team Titles

    1971 

    – Kinji Shibuya and Masa Saito won the NWA Americas Tag Team Title, defeating Pantera Negra and Salvador Lothario

    1974
    Mobile, Alabama:
    – Jack Donovan defeated Ken Lucas to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title 

    1975 

    Nashville, Tennessee:
    – Jackie Fargo and Jerry Lawler defeated Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey for the Mid-America version of the NWA United States Tag Team Titles

    1976 

    – Chavo Guerrero, Sr. defeated Ken Mantell to win the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Thunderbolt Patterson defeated The Sheik for the Toronto version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title

    Dothan, Alabama:
    – Bob Kelly defeated The Wrestling Pro (Doug Gilbert) for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title 

    1977

    Mexico City, Mexico:
    – Sangre Chicana defeated Jose Luis Mendieta to win the Mexican National Middleweight Title 

    1978

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Attendance was 9,000
    – US Champion Ric Flair beat Ricky Steamboat
    – Tony Atlas beat Ken Patera
    – Bob Backlund & Dino Bravo beat AWA Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens dq
    – Jay Youngblood beat Geoff Portz
    – Johnny Weaver beat Steve Muslin
    – Steve Bolus beat Joe Marcus
    – Dewey Robertson (Missing Link) beat Kim Chang

    1979 

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Billy Graham beat CWA Champion Jerry Lawler dq
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Sonny King
    – Ricky Morton beat Tojo Yamamoto dq
    – Hector Guerrero & Steve Regal beat The Blond Bombers (Wayne Ferris & Larry Latham) to win the Southern Tag Title
    – The Assassins beat Jerry Bryant & Jerry Barber
    – Koko Ware beat Steve Kyle

    1981 

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Tommy Martin defeated Bob Sweetan to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title 

    1982 

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
    – Leo Burke and Bret Hart defeated Duke Myers and The Dynamite Kid for the Stampede International Tag Team Title 

    1984 

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Jacques Rougeau, Jr. won the vacant NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title 

    Salt Lake City, Utah: Attendance was 3,002
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors beat Fabulous Ones
    – Jimmy Garvin beat Jim Brunzell
    – Curt Hennig & Larry Hennig beat Nick Bockwinkel & Mr Saito dq
    – Jim Brunzell drew Billy Robinson
    – Blackjack Lanza beat Steve Regal

    1985 

    Tampa, Florida:
    – Lex Luger defeated Wahoo McDaniel to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title

    1988 

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Brian Lee defeated Mike Miller in a tournament final for the Championship Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title 

    Carolina, Puerto Rico:
    – Jason the Terrible defeated TNT (Juan Rivera) for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title 

    1989 

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Bill Dundee defeated Tony Anthony for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title 

    1990 

    Rochester, New York:
    – Curt Hennig defeated Kerry Von Erich for the WWF Intercontinental title 

    1991 

    Savannah, Georgia:
    – Dustin Rhodes & mystery partner Ricky Steamboat defeated The Enforcers, Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko to win the WCW World Tag 
      Team Titles 
    – Rick Rude defeated Sting to win the WCW United States Title

    1994

    Cherry Hill, New York:
    – Chris Candido defeated Tracey Smothers to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title in a tournament final 

    1995

    Landover, Maryland:
    – Bret Hart defeated Diesel to win the WWF World Title
    – Shawn Michaels, Ahmed Johnson, Sid, & Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon, Owen Hart, Dean 
      Douglas, & Yokozuna

    2004 
    Columbus, Nebraska:
    – Trevor Rhodes defeated Rick Steiner for the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title 

    2005 

    Wayne, New Jersey:
    – Chris Harris defeated Jeff Jarrett for the NWA Cyberspace title
    – Abyss defeated Chris Harris to win the NWA Cyberspace title

    2006 

    Orlando, Florida:
    – Abyss defeated Sting by DQ to win the NWA World Title
    – Kurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe
    – TNA X Division Champion Christopher Daniels defeated Chris Sabin to retain the title
    – Christian Cage defeated AJ Styles

    2011

    Chicago Ridge, Illinois:
    – Eddie Edwards defeated Kyle O’Reilly
    – The Briscoes defeated The Young Bucks
    – ROH Tag Team Champions, Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin defeated The All Night Express to retain the titles
    – ROH Champion Davey Richards defeated El Genericho to retain the title

    2014

    – Taryn Terrell defeated Havok & Gail Kim to win the TNA Knockouts Title
    – Low Ki defeated Tigre Uno, Manik and DJ Z to win the TNA X Division Title

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/18): Jack Brisco battles Bob Backlund for Missouri gold

    1938 

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Jim Londos defeated Bronco Nagurski for the World Heavyweight Title 

    1942

    Des Moines, Iowa:
    – Orville Brown defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis in 2 out of 3 falls
    – Ken Fenelon beat Nick Elitch 2 falls to 0
    – Ronnie Etchison beat Bad Boy Brown 

    1971

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat AWA Tag Team Champions The Crusher & Red Bastien dq
    – Billy Robinson beat Lars Anderson
    – Larry Hennig beat Dr. X
    – Ivan Koloff beat Bull Bullinski
    – Don Muraco beat Treach Phillips

    1972

    Chicago, Illinois:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher
    – Wahoo McDaniel beat Ivan Koloff
    – Superstar Billy Graham beat Moose Cholak
    – Rene Goulet drew George Scott
    – Larry Hennig beat Joe Scarpello

    1976 

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – Jack Brisco defeated Bob Backlund to win the Missouri State Title

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Attendance was 10,000
    – AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel double count out Verne Gagne (Special Referee: Pat O’Connor)
    – The Crusher beat Baron Von Raschke
    – Jim Brunzell beat Pierre Poisson
    – Pedro Morales beat Blackjack Lanza
    – Pat O’Connor beat Bobby Duncum
    – Peter Maivia drew Moose Morowski

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Akio Sato defeated The Iron Sheik via DQ
    – Bob Brown defeated Ronnie Etchison
    – Bob Geigel & The Super Intern defeated Bob Brown & Mitsuo Hata

    1983 

    Cleveland, Ohio:
    – Ted DiBiase defeated Brett Wayne Sawyer for the Georgia National Heavyweight Title 

    1992 

    Macon, Georgia:
    – Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas defeated Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes to win the NWA & WCW World Tag Team Titles
    – Sting and Rick Rude wrestled to a 20 minute draw

    1995

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – ECW World Champion Mikey Whipwreck defeated Steve Austin
    – ECW World Tag Team Champions 2 Cold Scorpio & The Sandman defeated The Public Enemy

    2001 

    Greensboro, North Carolina:
    – WCW Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy in a steel cage unification match
    – The Rock defeated Steve Austin

    2007

    Miami, Florida:
    – ECW Champion CM Punk defeated The Miz and John Morrison
    – WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels
    – World Champion Batista defeated The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match

    2012

    – WWE Champion CM Punk defeated Ryback and John Cena
    – United States Champion Antonio Cesaro defeated R Truth

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/17): Sid Vicious wins WWF World Title

    1949

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz beat Ernie Dusek 2 falls to 0
    – Joe Dusek and Mike Sharpe drew 
    – Ben Sharpe beat Ben Morgan
    – Karl Davis defeated Babe Zaharias 

    1956

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – In a match for the Central State title, Richard Brown defeated Dr. Lee Grable to win title 
    – Gene Stanlee defeated Bobby Lane

    1972

    Denver, Colorado:
    – Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch beat The Crusher & Billy Robinson in 2 out of 3 falls
    – Wahoo McDaniel beat Ivan Koloff 
    – Superstar Billy Graham beat George Scott 
    – Lani Kealoha (Jimmy Snuka) beat Larry Hennig by dq

    1986

    Fort Worth, Texas:
    – Lance Von Erich & The Dingo Warrior (Ultimate Warrior) defeated Matt Borne & Master Gee (subbing for Buzz Sawyer) to win the 
      World Class Championship Wrestling Tag Team Titles

    1996 

    Madison Square Garden:
    – Sid Vicious defeated Shawn Michaels to win the WWF World Heavyweight Title
    – Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin
    – The Undertaker defeated Mankind

    1998 

    Columbus, Ohio:
    – Duane Gill defeated Christian for the WWF Light Heavyweight Title 

    2002 

    New York City:
    – Billy Kidman defeated Jamie Noble to capture the Cruiserweight Title
    – Victoria defeated Trish Stratus in a hardcore match to capture the WWE Women’s Title
    – Big Show defeated Brock Lesnar to capture the WWE World Title
    – Eddie & Chavo Guerrero defeated Edge & Rey Mysterio Jr. and Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit in a three way elimination match to capture 
      the Smackdown WWE World Tag Titles 
    – Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H, Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T and Rob Van Dam in the Elimination Chamber to capture the RAW  
      World Title

    2011 

    Orlando, Florida:
    – Matt Morgan & Crimson defeated Mexican America to win the TNA World Tag Team Titles

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/16): Brock Lesnar wins UFC Title

    1932

    Kansas City, Missouri:
    – Jim Londos beat Darna Ostopavich to retain the World Title
    – Jim McMillen beat Buck Olson 
    – Fred Peterson beat Everett Kibbons 
    – Cliff Olson drew George Gostopavich 

    1946

    Wichita, Kansas:
    – Orville Brown beat Ed Virag to unify the MWA & NWA World Heavyweight Titles (Strangler Lewis was referee)
    – Roy Graham beat Vincent Lopez by dq
    – Ray Villmer defeated George Temple 
    – Ronnie Etchison beat Red Ryan 

    1955 

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Tiger Jokinder & King Kong Czaya defeated Rikidozan & Harold Sakata to win a tournament to crowd the first ever
    All-Asian Tag Team Champions

    1961 

    Rochester, Minnesota:
    – Dale Lewis & Pat Kennedy defeated Hardboiled Haggerty & Bob Geigel for the AWA World Tag Team Title 
    – Mr. M beat Tex McKenzie
    – Steve Druk beat Joe Marconi

    1963

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – The Crusher beat Verne Gagne in 2 out of 3 falls to win AWA Title when Gagne couldn’t answer the bell for the 3rd fall
    – Larry Hennig double countout with Moose Evans
    – Tiny Mills beat Johnny Kace
    – Maurice LaPointe beat Kurt Von Brauner

    1972

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Omar Atlas defeated Mike Loren
    – Bobby Whitlock & Les Thornton fought The Destroyer & Billy Howard to a draw
    – Steve Bolus defeated The Sheik
    – Harley Race & Roger Kirby defeated Danny Little Bear & Black Angus

    1974

    St. Paul, Minnesota:
    – Larry Hennig & Ivan Putski & Chris Taylor beat Baron Von Raschke & Horst Hoffman & Superstar Billy Graham 2 out of 3 falls
    – Boris Breznikoff & Bobby Heenan beat Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell by countout
    – Geoff Portz drew Larry Heiniemi 
    – Yugo Babich beat George Gadaski 
    – Rock Riddle beat Kenny Jay

    1984 

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – Crusher Blackwell defeated Harley Race for the Missouri State Heavyweight Title 

    Denver, Colorado:
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors beat Fabulous Ones
    – Curt Hennig & Larry Hennig beat Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito dq
    – Jimmy Garvin beat Jim Brunzell
    – Boom Boom Bundy beat Chris Markoff

    1992 

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – The Sandman defeated Don Muraco for the ECW Heavyweight Title 

    1994 

    Jacksonville, Florida:
    – The Patriot & Marcus Bagwell defeated Paul Roma & Paul Orndorff to win the WCW World Tag Team Titles
    – Vader defeated Dustin Rhodes 

    1996 
    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – Jerry Lawler defeated The Colorado Kid to win the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Sandman defeated Raven
    – Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer defeated Shane Douglas & Brian Lee 

    1998

    Wichita, Kansas:
    – Juventud Guerrera defeated Billy Kidman to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title 

    2000 

    Oberhausen, Germany:
    – General Rection & Alex Wright defeated Mark Jindrak & Sean O’Haire to win the WCW Tag Team Titles

    2003

    Dallas, Texas: 
    – TEAM ANGLE (Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, John Cena, Bradshaw, and Hardcore Holly) defeated TEAM LESNAR (Brock Lesnar, Big Show, Nathan Jones, Matt Morgan, and A-Train)
    – TEAM BISCHOFF (Chris Jericho, Scott Steiner, Christian, Mark Henry, and Randy Orton) defeated TEAM AUSTIN (Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and the Dudleys)
    – Goldberg beat HHH to retain the RAW World Title 

    2008 

    Las Vegas, Nevada:
    – Former WWE champion Brock Lesnar captured the UFC Heavyweight championship, defeating Randy Couture

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/15): The Rock wins vacant WWF Title

    1951

    Kansas City, Kansas: Attendance was 3,200 (sellout)
    – Buddy Rogers beat Roy Graham in 2 out of 3 falls
    – Heart of America Champion: Jimmy Coffield and Dennis Clary went to a 45 minute draw

    1954 

    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:
    – Tex McKenzie & Ilio DiPaolo defeated Tiny & Al Mills to win the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title 

    1955

    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
    – Verne Gagne beat Kinji Shibuya by countout
    – Red Bastien beat Duke DeMetri

    1962

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Bob Orton defeated Roy Collins
    – Bob Geigel & Lee Henning defeated Matt Jewell & Sonny Myers in three falls
    – Tiny Mills fought Red Bastien to a no contest
    – Pat O’Connor fought Bob Ellis to a draw in three falls

    1972

    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – Ed Francis & Billy Robinson beat Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens in 2 out of 3 falls to win AWA Tag Team Title (Title change only  
      recognized in Honolulu)
    – Dusty Rhodes beat Sam Steamboat in 2 out of 3 falls to win North American title
    – Giant Baba beat Bulldog Brown dq 
    – Lonnie Mad Dog Mayne beat Jack Carson
    – Tony Borne drew Ray Glenn

    1973

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Mike George & Jim Brunzell fought Baron Scicluna & Bob Orton ton a draw
    – Kit Conway defeated Bob Brown via DQ
    – Steve Bolus & Gentleman Ben the Wrestling Bear defeated Tokyo Joe & Taro Kabayoshi
    – Roger Kirby & Lord Alfred Hayes defeated Jose Rivera & Black Angus
    – Harley Race defeated Dory Funk, Jr. in three falls

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:
    – No dq Match: Superstar Billy Graham beat the Crusher
    – Billy Robinson & Geoff Portz beat Larry Heiniemi & Buddy Wolff
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Reggie Parks
    – Rene Goulet drew Billy Red Cloud
    – Greg Gagne beat Ric Flair

    1976 

    Augusta, Georgia:
    – Dick Slater defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title 

    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – No dq Match: The Crusher beat Baron Von Raschke
    – Pierre Poisson beat Peter Maivia (sub Greg Gagne)
    – Jim Brunzell beat Bobby Duncum
    – Pedro Morales beat Moose Morowski

    – Greg Valentine defeated Tim Woods to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title

    1977 
    Macon, Georgia:
    – Tommy Rich & Tony Atlas defeated Jacques Goulet & Ole Anderson to win the Georgia Tag Team Titles 

    1983 

    Allentown, Pennsylvania:
    – Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson defeated The Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the WWF World Tag Team Titles 

    1985

    Denver, Colorado: (Attendance was 7,500)
    – Road Warriors drew Fabulous Freebirds
    – AWA Champion Rick Martel drew Stan Hansen
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Jim Garvin & Steve Regal beat Fabulous Ones

    1989

    Troy, New York:
    – Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk in an “I Quit” match
    – The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) defeated The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace & Shane Douglas) 
    – Rick & Scott Steiner defeated The Skyscrapers (Dan Spivey & Sid Vicious) via DQ

    1998 

    St. Louis, Missouri:
    – The Rock defeated Mankind to win the vacant WWF Championship in the finals of a one night tournament

    2009

    Orlando, Florida:
    – TNA Champion AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels to retain the title
    – Kurt Angle defeated Desmond Wolfe (Nigel McGuinness)
    – Scott Steiner defeated Bobby Lashley in a no DQ street fight

  • WOR 11/15: Dave Meltzer talks the late Nick Bockwinkel

    Wrestling Observer Radio returns tonight with Dave Meltzer’s memories of the late, great Nick Bockwinkel.

    Right click save

  • All-time great Nick Bockwinkel passes away

    Nick Bockwinkel, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of the last 50 years, passed away a few hours ago just shy of his 81st birthday.

    Bockwinkel, whose father was noted pro wrestler Warren Bockwinkel, started pro wrestling in the mid-1950s after losing his football career at the University of Oklahoma ended due to a knee injury.  He was a star on the West Coast first, and traveled all over the world for 32 years as a headliner.

    He was most famous in the AWA.  He arrived there around 1970 and quickly became the go-to heavyweight singles heavyweight main eventer, and the main rival of Verne Gagne, the owner and perennial champion, for a decade.  He held the AWA title on four occasions, most notably from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1981 to 1984.  He was also AWA tag team champion three times, with Ray Stevens, in what was generally considered the best tag team unit of the 70s.

    Bockwinkel took the AWA title out of just the Midwest and wrestled all over the country as champion, including places like Houston, San Antonio, Stampede Wrestling and Memphis, where the title became as big or bigger than the NWA title.

    Bockwinkel was a pro’s pro in every way, a masterful worker, great promo, who carried himself like a champion at all times, even well into his 50s.  Bockwinkel was just of his 52nd birthday when he had his 60 minute draw with Curt Hennig on ESPN that was one of the best matches of the 80s.

    On a personal level, Nick was one of the great teachers and philosophers in this business and the amount that I learned from him can never to put into words.  It was very sad the past year when this brilliant performer was battling memory issues and hearing about his last public appearance at the Cauliflower Alley Club this past year. Bockwinkel was the longtime President of the Club before giving up his duties due to health issues over the past year.

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/14): Big Show wins WWF World Title

    1934

    St. Louis, Missouri: Attendance was 7,534
    – Jim Londos beat Leo Numa
    – Abe Coleman beat Jack League 
    – George Tragos defeated Ellis Bashara  

    1938  

    Atlanta, Georgia:
    – Jack McAdams defeated Eddie Williams to win the Southern Light Heavyweight Title 

    1957 

    Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
    – Dick Hutton defeated Lou Thesz to win the NWA World Title 

    1963 

    – Killer Kowalski & Gorilla Monsoon defeated Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard to win the United States (WWWF version) tag team championship

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Mongolian Stomper beat Moose Cholak 2 falls to 1
    – Larry Hamilton and Enrique Torres beat Rock Hunter and Bulldog Plechas by dq

    1972 

    Tampa, Florida:
    – Lights Out Match: Jack Brisco beat Paul Jones
    – Southern Champion Buddy Colt beat Eddie Graham dq
    – Bobby Shane beat Boris Malenko
    – AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Ronnie Garvin
    – Sputnik Monroe & Norvell Austin beat Frank Hester & Bearcat Wright
    – Mr Wrestling Tim Woods beat The Professsional
    – Robert Fuller beat Mike Webster

    Macon, Georgia:
    – Tommy Seigler & Argentina Apollo defeated Rocket Monroe & Skandar Akbar to win the Macon Tag Team Titles 

    1973 

    Honolulu, Hawaii:
    – AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Ed Francis
    – AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens drew Neff Maiava & Sam Steamboat
    – Ripper Collins beat Tosh Togo by countout
    – Ken Patera beat Masked Executioner
    – Greg Valentine beat Rick Drasin
    – Bill Francis beat Betto Castro

    Hamburg, Pennsylvania:
    – Tony Garea & Dean Ho defeated Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji to win the WWWF World Tag Team Title

    1980

    Denver, Colorado:
    – Greg Gagne & Tito Santana beat AWA Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura by dq
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Nick Bockwinkel by dq
    – John Studd beat Dino Bravo
    – Handicap Match: Jerry Blackwell beat Buck Zumhofe & Juan Valez

    1985

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Attendance was 6,012
    – Cage Match: AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Boris Zhukov
    – Curt Hennig & Scott Hall beat AWA Tag Team Champions Jim Garvin & Steve Regal
    – Nick Bockwinkel beat Larry Zbyszko by dq
    – Jerry Blackwell & Kelly Kiniski beat Buddy Roberts & Ray Stevens by dq
    – Stan Hansen beat Kevin Kelly
    – Ray Stevens beat Buddy Lane

    1986

    Kansas City, Kansas:
    – Mod Squad beat George South & Rocky King
    – Dave Peterson & Todd Champion beat Thunderfoots
    – Mod Squad ddq Rufus Jones & Rocky King
    – Sam Houston beat Bulldog Brown

    1988

    Memphis, Tennessee:
    – AWA Champion Jerry Lawler beat Botswana Beast
    – Brian Lee no contest Phil Hickerson; CWA Title held up
    – Jeff Jarrett beat World Class Light Heavyweight Champion Eric Embry by dq
    – Football Match: Gary Young & Cactus Jack beat Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden
    – Sid Vicious beat Bill Dundee
    – Brian Adams beat The Executioner
    – Scott Steiner beat Tommy Lane
    – Mike Davis beat Brickhouse Brown

    1999 

    Detroit, Michigan:
    – Big Show (subbing for Steve Austin) defeated Triple H and The Rock in a Triple Threat match to win the WWF World Title

    2004

    Cleveland, Ohio:
    – Shelton Benjamin defeated Christian to retain the Intercontinental Title
    – JBL defeated Booker T to retain the WWE World Title

  • Daily pro wrestling history (11/13): Edge/Randy Orton win WWE Tag Team Titles

    1947

    Kansas City, Kansas: Attendance was 4,200
    – MWA Title Match, Orville Brown drew Sonny Myers 1 fall each as Brown retained the title
    – Yukon Eric (as Eric Holmback) beat Terry McGinnis 

    1964

    Denver, Colorado:
    – Larry Hennig & Harley Race beat Verne Gagne & Wilbur Snyder
    – Mad Dog Vachon beat Reggie Parks
    – Art Neilson vs Pat O’Connor

    1965

    Omaha, Nebraska:
    – Nebraska Champion Mad Russian Stan Pulaski beat Billy Red Cloud
    – Mitsu Arakawa & Haru Sasaki beat Danny Hodge & Reggie Parks to win Nebraska Tag Team title
    – Non Title: Mr Wrestling beat AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon
    – Bulldog Danny Plechas drew Bob Rader

    1972 

    Charlotte, North Carolina:
    – Johnny Weaver & Art Nelson defeated Ole & Gene Anderson to win the Atlantic Coast Tag Team Titles

    1981

    Denver, Colorado:
    – Hulk Hogan & Andre The Giant beat Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura & Jerry Blackwell
    – Greg Gagne beat Pat Patterson
    – Tito Santana beat Sheik Adnan dq
    – Ken Patera beat Jim Brunzell
    – Bobby Duncum beat Johnny Valiant

    1992 

    Harlan, Kentucky:
    – The Rock N’ Roll Express defeated The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane & Tom Prichard) for the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Tag Team Title 

    1993 

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
    – Tommy Dreamer & Johnny Gunn defeated Johnny Hotbody & Tony Stetson to win the ECW Tag Team Title
    – Sabu & Road Warrior Hawk defeated Terry Funk & King Kong Bundy (Sabu won Funk’s ECW TV Title)

    1995 

    Tokyo, Japan:
    – Kensuke Sasaki defeated Sting for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title 

    2002 

    Nashville, Tennessee:
    – Brian Lee & Slash defeated America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) for the NWA World Tag Team Title 

    2005

    Eddie Guerrero passed away at the age of 38, found dead in a hotel room in Minneapolis, MN.

    2006 

    Manchester, England:
    – Edge & Randy Orton defeated Ric Flair & Roddy Piper for the WWE Tag Team Titles 

    2011 

    Orlando, Florida:
    – Robbie E defeated Eric Young to win the TNA TV Title
    – Gail Kim defeated Velvet Sky to win the TNA Knockout Championship
    – Rob Van Dam defeated Christopher Daniels in a no DQ match
    – Bobby Roode defeated AJ Styles to retain the TNA World Title