1.
Las Vegas
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The city anchors the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area and is the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment and it is the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World and it is a top three destination in the United States for business conventions and a global leader in the hospitality industry, claiming more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any city in the world. Today, Las Vegas annually ranks as one of the worlds most visited tourist destinations. The citys tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, it was the most populated American city founded within that century, population growth has accelerated since the 1960s, and between 1990 and 2000 the population nearly doubled, increasing by 85. 2%. Rapid growth has continued into the 21st century, and according to a 2013 estimate, perhaps the earliest visitors to the Las Vegas area were nomadic Paleo-Indians, who traveled there 10,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs. Anasazi and Paiute tribes followed at least 2,000 years ago, a young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera is credited as the first non-Native American to encounter the valley, in 1829. Trader Antonio Armijo led a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, the area was named Las Vegas, which is Spanish for the meadows, as it featured abundant wild grasses, as well as desert spring waters for westward travelers. The year 1844 marked the arrival of John C, frémont, whose writings helped lure pioneers to the area. Downtown Las Vegas Fremont Street is named after him, eleven years later members of the LDS Church chose Las Vegas as the site to build a fort halfway between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, where they would travel to gather supplies. The fort was abandoned several years afterward, the remainder of this Old Mormon Fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres of adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area. In 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city,1931 was a pivotal year for Las Vegas. At that time, Nevada legalized casino gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce to six weeks and this year also witnessed the beginning of construction on nearby Hoover Dam. The influx of workers and their families helped Las Vegas avoid economic calamity during the Great Depression. The construction work was completed in 1935, in 1941, the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School was established. Currently known as Nellis Air Force Base, it is home to the team called the Thunderbirds
2.
Nevada
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Nevada is a state in the Western, Mountain West, and Southwestern regions of the United States of America. Nevada is the 7th most extensive, the 34th most populous, nearly three-quarters of Nevadas people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area where three of the states four largest incorporated cities are located. Nevada is officially known as the Silver State because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the Battle Born State, because it achieved statehood during the Civil War, as the Sage-brush State, for the plant of the same name. Nevada borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, Nevada is largely desert and semi-arid, much of it located within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are located within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe, about 86% of the states land is managed by various jurisdictions of the U. S. federal government, both civilian and military. Before European contact, Native Americans of the Paiute, Shoshone, the first Europeans to explore the region were Spanish. They called the region Nevada because of the snow covered the mountains in winter. The area formed part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the United States annexed the area in 1848 after its victory in the Mexican–American War, and it was incorporated as part of Utah Territory in 1850. The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in 1859 led to a boom that became an impetus to the creation of Nevada Territory out of western Utah Territory in 1861. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31,1864, as the second of two added to the Union during the Civil War. Nevada has a reputation for its libertarian laws, in 1940, with a population of just over 110,000 people, Nevada was by far the least-populated state, with less than half the population of the next least-populated state. However, legalized gambling and lenient marriage and divorce laws transformed Nevada into a major tourist destination in the 20th century, Nevada is the only U. S. state where prostitution is legal, though it is illegal in Clark County, Washoe County and Carson City. The tourism industry remains Nevadas largest employer, with mining continuing as a sector of the economy. The name Nevada comes from the Spanish nevada, meaning snow-covered, most Nevadans pronounce the second syllable of their state name using the vowel of trap. Many from outside the Western United States pronounce it with the vowel of father, although the latter pronunciation is closer to the Spanish pronunciation, it is not the pronunciation preferred by most Nevadans. State Assemblyman Harry Mortenson proposed a bill to recognize the alternate pronunciation of Nevada, though the bill was not supported by most legislators, the Nevadan pronunciation is the de facto official one, since it is the one used by the state legislature. Nevada is almost entirely within the Basin and Range Province, and is broken up by many mountain ranges
3.
Vancouver, Washington
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Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U. S. State of Washington, and the largest suburb of Portland, Oregon. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state, Vancouver is the county seat of Clark County and forms part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, the 23rd largest metropolitan area in the United States. Originally established in 1825 around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost, in 2005, Money magazine named it No.91 on its list of best places in America to live. In 2016, WalletHub ranks Vancouver the 39th best place to live for families in the US, Vancouver shares its name with the larger city of Vancouver in southern British Columbia, Canada, approximately 300 mi to the north. Both cities were named after sea captain George Vancouver, but the American city is older, Vancouver, City officials have periodically suggested changing the U. S. citys name to Fort Vancouver to reduce confusion with its larger and better-known northern neighbor. Many Pacific Northwest residents distinguish between the two cities by referring to the Canadian city as Vancouver, B. C. and the United States city as Vancouver, Washington, or Vancouver, local nicknames include, Vantucky and The Couv. In 2013, the nickname Vansterdam surfaced as a result of the legalization of marijuana in the state of Washington and this nickname has also long been used to refer to Vancouver, B. C. as well. This name is a reference to the cannabis-legal city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Vancouver, Washington, area was inhabited by a variety of Native American tribes, most recently the Chinook and Klickitat nations, the Chinookan and Klickitat names for the area were reportedly Skit-so-to-ho and Ala-si-kas, respectively, meaning land of the mud-turtles. First European contact was made in 1775, with half of the indigenous population dead from smallpox before the Lewis. Meriwether Lewis wrote that the Vancouver area was the only desired situation for settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, the first permanent European settlement did not occur until 1824, when Fort Vancouver was established as a fur trading post of the Hudsons Bay Company. From that time on, the area was settled by both the US and Britain under a joint occupation agreement. Joint occupation led to the Oregon boundary dispute and ended on June 15,1846, with the signing of the Oregon Treaty, in 1850, Amos Short traced over the claim of Williamson and named the town Columbia City. It changed to Vancouver in 1855, the City of Vancouver was incorporated on January 23,1857. U. S. Army Captain Ulysses S. Grant was quartermaster at what was known as Columbia Barracks for 15 months beginning in September 1852. Soon after leaving Vancouver, he resigned from the army and did not serve again until the outbreak of the American Civil War, other notable generals to have served in Vancouver include George B. McClellan, Philip Sheridan, Oliver O. Howard and 1953 Nobel Peace Prize recipient George Marshall, Vancouver became the end point for two ultra-long flights from Moscow, USSR over the North Pole. The first of these flights was performed by Valery Chkalov in 1937 on a Tupolev ANT-25RD airplane, Chkalov was originally scheduled to land at an airstrip in nearby Portland, Oregon, but redirected at the last minute to Vancouvers Pearson Airfield
4.
Professional wrestling
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Professional wrestling is a dramatized athletic performance that portrays a combat sport. Various forms of weaponry are sometimes used, the content – including match outcomes – is scripted and choreographed, and the combative actions and reactions are performed to appear violent without injuring the wrestlers. Before the 1980s, these facts were considered trade secrets, in the mid-90s, the presentation of scripted events as legitimate is known as kayfabe. Although the combative content is staged and communicated between the wrestlers, there are physical hazards involved - including permanent injury and death. While it has declined in Europe, in North America it has experienced several different periods of prominent cultural popularity during its century. The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet, unlike in Europe, show wrestling has become especially prominent in Japan and in North America. In Brazil, there was a popular wrestling television program from the 1960s to the early 1980s called Telecatch. High-profile figures in the sport have become celebrities or cultural icons in their native or adopted home countries, although professional wrestling started out as petty acts in sideshows, traveling circuses and carnivals, today it is a billion-dollar industry. Revenue is drawn from live event ticket sales, network television broadcasts, pay-per-view broadcasts, personal appearances by performers, branded merchandise, pro wrestling was also instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery. Annual shows such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and formerly Bash at the Beach, Halloween Havoc, home video sales dominate the Billboard charts Recreational Sports DVD sales, with wrestling holding anywhere from 3 to 9 of the top 10 spots every week. Due to its persistent cultural presence and to its novelty within the performing arts, there have also been many fictional depictions of wrestling, the 2008 film The Wrestler received several Oscar nominations and began a career revival for star Mickey Rourke. Because actual events are often co-opted by writers for incorporation into storylines for the performers, special care must be taken when talking about people who perform under their own name. The actions of the character should be considered fictional events, wholly separate from the life of the performer and this is similar to other entertainers who perform with a persona that shares their own name. Some wrestlers will incorporate elements of their real-life personalities into their characters, even if they and those who participated felt that it was necessary that spectators should be kept in a constant and complete illusion of a real competition to keep audience interest. For decades, up until the mid-1980s, wrestlers lived their lives as though they were their characters. Wrestlers, bookers and promoters all rigorously enforced the illusion and very few were allowed into the society of professional wrestling to maintain suspension of disbelief. The practice of keeping the illusion, and the methods used to do so, came to be known as kayfabe within wrestling circles. An entire lexicon of slang jargon and euphemism developed to allow performers to communicate without outsiders knowledge of what was being said, occasionally a performer will deviate from the intended sequence of events
5.
Glossary of professional wrestling terms
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Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable nomenclature throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the origins in the days of carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such terms in the presence of fans so as not to reveal the nature of the business. In recent years, widespread discussion on the Internet has popularized these terms, many of the terms refer to the financial aspects of professional wrestling in addition to performance-related terms. A-show A wrestling event where a companys biggest draws wrestle, a-team A group of a wrestling promotions top stars who compete at an A-show. Abort To discontinue a feud, angle, or gimmick suddenly, usually without explanation or due to a lack of fan interest, ace A term typically only used in Japanese puroresu for a wrestler designated as the face of the promotion. Not necessarily the same as the top champion, examples of modern aces include Hiroshi Tanahashi in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Suwama in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Agent A management employee, often a former wrestler, who helps set up matches, plans storylines. Often acts as a liaison between wrestlers and higher-level management, referred to as producers by WWE and sometimes by other companies. Sometimes they help train and teach younger active wrestlers and give criticism, Alliance A cooperative relationship developed between two or more wrestlers, whether wrestling as a tag team or in individual matches. Alliances are often formed for the purpose of retaining titles between the members of the alliance, or to counter a specific foe or group of foes. The formation of an alliance can be a storyline of its own, an angle usually begins when one wrestler attacks another, which results in revenge. An angle may be as small as a match or a vendetta that lasts for years. It is not uncommon to see an angle become retconned due to it not getting over with the fans, Apter mag An old-style professional wrestling magazine that sticks to kayfabe articles. The term refers to the magazines at one time connected to journalist Bill Apter, B-show A wrestling event featuring the middle and lower-level talent of a wrestling promotion. Sometimes includes well-known wrestlers making a return or finishing up their career, b-team The group of wrestlers on a B-show. Babyface A wrestler positioned as a hero, who the crowd are typically cheering for in a match, often simply known as a face. Beat down A situation in which a wrestler or other performer is the recipient of a one-sided beating, blading A wrestler intentionally cutting themself to provoke bleeding
6.
Verne Gagne
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Laverne Clarence Verne Gagne was an American professional wrestler, football player, wrestling trainer, and wrestling promoter. He was the owner and promoter of the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association and he remained in this position until 1991, when the company folded. He holds the record for the longest combined reign as a champion and is third for the longest single world title reign. He is one of six men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW. Gagne was born in Corcoran, Minnesota and grew up on a farm in Robbinsdale and he left home at the age of 14 after his mother died. In 1943, he was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota, after one year of college, Gagne enlisted with the Navy Underwater Demolition Team. He chose to return to the University of Minnesota, where, as an amateur wrestler and he was also an alternate for the U. Gagne joined the National Football League soon after being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 16th round of the 1947 NFL Draft, Bears owner George Halas prevented Gagne from pursuing both football and wrestling, and forced Gagne to make a choice. In a 2006 interview for WWE, Gagnes son Greg mentioned that wrestling was a better paying job at the time than playing football. In 1949, Gagne decided to wrestle professionally, starting his career in Texas, in his debut, he defeated Abe Kashey, with former World Heavyweight boxing Champion Jack Dempsey as the referee. On November 13,1950, Gagne captured the National Wrestling Alliance Junior Heavyweight title in a tournament for the vacant championship, in September 1953, Gagne won the Chicago version of the NWA United States Championship. Gagne became one of the most well-known stars in wrestling during the age of television, thanks to his exposure on the Dumont Network. He was rumored to be one of the highest paid wrestlers during the 1950s, on June 14,1957, Edouard Carpentier defeated NWA Champion Lou Thesz in Chicago. The NWA later overruled the decision of the referee in Chicago, however, certain wrestling territories of the NWA including Nebraska refused to go along with the decision and continued to recognize Carpentier. By early 1960, the highly wealthy Gagne rarely wrestled and turned his focus towards building a wrestling promotion of his own, in 1960, Gagne formed his own promotion, the American Wrestling Association, instantly becoming its top star. That same year, Gagne was awarded the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, after Pat OConnor failed to defend the title against the number one contender, Gagne would go on to become a nine-time AWA World Champion, a record for the promotion. This reign was the third longest world title reign in history, as well as being the companys owner, Gagne would also train wrestlers from his farm in Chanhassen as well. Some of Gagnes biggest feuds were against Gene Kiniski, Dr. Bill Miller, Fritz Von Erich, Dr. X, The Crusher, Ray Stevens, Mad Dog Vachon, Larry Hennig and he always wrestled as a face, and utilized the sleeper hold as his finisher
7.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
8.
Sgt. Slaughter
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Robert Remus, better known by his ring name of Sgt. Slaughter, is an American retired professional wrestler signed with the WWE in the ambassador program. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, he had success in the National Wrestling Alliance, American Wrestling Association, Slaughter also captured the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship twice. Slaughter, Remus became known for his dark sunglasses, his large hat, in the 1980s, an alternate version of the Sgt. Slaughter character was incorporated into the G. I, joe, A Real American Hero toy line as well as its animated series and comic books. Though Remus was born in Detroit, Michigan, he was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attended Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, where he wrestled and played football. Remus legitimately enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and was an instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina. During the late 1970s, Remus worked the American Wrestling Association territory under a mask as Super Destroyer Mark II with managers Lord Alfred Hayes and he then signed with the WWF and was pushed as a villainous character. Between 1980 and 1981, Slaughter wrestled in the WWF under the guidance of the Grand Wizard and he would eventually face Bob Backlund for the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship across the WWF territory in 1980, earning two-or-three main event matches in most markets. Slaughter was the only WWF-based challenger not to do the honors for Backlund at MSG, Slaughter then engaged in a feud with Pat Patterson, which stemmed from Slaughter calling Patterson yellow and offering him $10,000 to try to break the cobra clutch. In 1981, Slaughter joined the National Wrestling Alliance, mainly wrestling for its Mid-Atlantic territory and he would hold onto the title for over seven months, before losing the title to Wahoo McDaniel in May 1982. In September 1982, Slaughter and partner Don Kernodle were awarded the NWA World Tag Team Championship, claiming a victory over Antonio Inoki. They would be in a rivalry with the team of Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood. After the rivalry ended, Slaughter left the NWA, Slaughter returned to the WWF in March 1983, and again took on the Grand Wizard as his manager. He immediately targeted Backlund, who was still the reigning WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Slaughter turned up the feud another notch when he attacked Backlund at a television taping, beating him repeatedly with his riding crop and leaving bruises on his back. Although he won matches by disqualification, Slaughter was never able to win the title from Backlund. In early 1984, Slaughters career took off after he turned face, Slaughter and the Iron Sheik engaged in many matches throughout the year, culminating in a boot camp match which took place before a sold out Madison Square Garden that summer. However, with the emergence of Hulk Hogan as the WWF World Heavyweight Champion and lead face within the company, Slaughter left for the AWA
9.
American Wrestling Association
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The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo, the territory was originally part of the National Wrestling Alliance, becoming an independent territory in the late 1950s. Anton Stecher was a member of the NWA in 1948 and had promoted wrestling in Minneapolis since 1933 through his Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club. In 1952, he sold a one third interest in the promotion to his son Dennis, Stecher died on October 9,1954 and control of the promotion passed to Karbo and Dennis. Verne Gagne, an amateur wrestling champion, had become a well known. He aspired to become NWA World Champion, but for reasons to do with politics inside the NWA. In 1959, Dennis Stecher sold his majority stake in the Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club to Karbo and they became co-owners of the promotion from that point onward. In 1960, after unsuccessfully lobbying the NWA for a match between Gagne and the NWA World Champion Pat OConnor, Gagne and Karbo led certain territories out of the NWA forming the AWA. The AWA unilaterally recognized NWA World Champion Pat OConnor as AWA World Champion, OConnor was stripped of the AWA title and it was awarded to Gagne on August 16,1960. While OConnor was considered the first AWA Champion, he never wrestled in the AWA until later in the 1960s, starting in the 1970s, Gagne trained his newcomer wrestlers from his farm in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Relationships were also developed with existing promotions in Houston, Memphis, after Gagnes retirement in 1981, he focused the promotion on Nick Bockwinkel, a loyal employee of several years who was a mat-wrestling technician like Gagne had been. Starting in 1982 and accelerated by a role in the hit film Rocky III, Hogan rapidly caught on as a babyface with AWA fans, and became the AWAs top draw. But even as his popularity grew to unprecedented levels, Gagne refused to him the AWA World Heavyweight Champion. He recognized Hogans showmanship and charisma and was aware of his potential drawing power. On two occasions, Gagne went so far as to tease AWA title wins for Hogan, only to return the title to Bockwinkel via technicalities, the first was on April 18,1982. Hogan defeated Bockwinkel with the help of an object that Bockwinkels manager Bobby Heenan had interjected into the match. After the three count the belt was awarded to Hogan and he was announced as the new champion, Heenan informed the referee of the object and the ref questioned Hogan about this, but the blood on Hogans face was evidence that the object had also been used on him. The ref stood by his decision and Hogan left the arena as the new AWA World champion, six days later on AWA television, AWA President Stanley Blackburn stripped Hogan of the title and returned it to Bockwinkel
10.
WWE
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Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American professional wrestling promotion and the sanctioning body for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Federation. Founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1953, Capitol Wrestling Corporation is the precursor to todays WWE, run by Jess grandson, Jess McMahon was a successful boxing promoter who began working with Tex Rickard in 1926. With the help of Rickard, he began promoting boxing at the third Madison Square Garden, a few years prior, professional wrestler Toots Mondt had created a new challenge of professional wrestling that he called “Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling”. He convinced wrestler Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow to implement this new solution, after much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt later formed partnerships with other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. Mondt eventually took over the New York wrestling scene, due to the fact Curley was dying, with the aid of several bookers, together, McMahon and Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. which later joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. In November 1954, Jess McMahon died and Ray Fabiani, one of Mondts associates, both men left the company in protest following the incident and formed the WWWF in the process, awarding Rogers the new WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in April of that year. He lost the championship to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17,1963, after gaining a television program deal and turning preliminary wrestler Lou Albano as a manager for Sammartinos heel opponents, the WWWF was doing sell out business by 1970. Mondt left the company in the late 1960s and although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon, at the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, the McMahons and WWF employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization. By March 1979, for marketing purposes, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was renamed the World Wrestling Federation and that same year, Vincent J. McMahons son, Vincent K. McMahon, founded Titan Sports, Inc. incorporated on February 21,1980, originally in Massachusetts. In 1982, Titan Sports Inc. acquired Capitols operations, effectively relocating its headquarters to Greenwich, in an attempt to make the WWF the premier wrestling promotion in the world, McMahon began an expansion that fundamentally changed the industry. In the end, the elder McMahon would never live to see his company grow from a promotion to what is now a worldwide organization. He died from cancer at 69 years old on May 24,1984. By 1985, Titan moved to Stamford, Connecticut then establishing a new entity in 1987 in Delaware which later merged with the old company in 1988. Titan later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment, list of independent wrestling promotions in the United States
11.
Don Owen (wrestling)
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For the Shreveport news anchor and Louisiana politician, see Don Owen. Don Owen was an American professional wrestling promoter, for several decades, he owned and operated the highly successful Pacific Northwest Wrestling under his parent company, Don Owen Sports, which was based out of Portland, Oregon. Born in Eugene, Oregon to boxing/wrestling promoter Herb Owen, Don and his brother Elton began working in the business in the mid-1920s, selling popcorn. Early on, Don and Elton even stepped into the ring on occasion to box or wrestle, in time, Don moved more and more into the promoting side, eventually taking over completely after his father died in 1951. His career as a promoter spanned over 60 years throughout the heyday of territorial pro wrestling, Owen was a founding member of the National Wrestling Alliance. Owen was known for dealing fairly with all his wrestlers, paying them exactly what he promised and never trying to stiff them, because of this, every major star in the 1960s and 1970s wished to wrestle in the Northwest. In 1952, Don Owen negotiated a deal with pioneering Portland TV station KPTV to become the very first wrestling show seen on TV in the city, in 1968, Owen bought and renovated a bowling alley which eventually became the Portland Sports Arena and the new home of PNW. By the 1980s, professional wrestling had seen a revival on behalf of Vince McMahons World Wrestling Federation, however, McMahon had accomplished this by successfully driving the old wrestling territories like PNW out of existence. That same decade, the formation of World Championship Wrestling, WWFs future chief competitor and he sold the entire company, minus the Sports Arena, to promoter Sandy Barr. The Portland Sports Arena was sold to a local church, Owen then lived out a quiet retirement until his death in 2002. Don Owen is regarded as one of the most honest and beloved wrestling promoters of the 20th century and his professionalism was outstanding among territorial wrestling promoters and helped give PNW an intimate, mom and pop quality. Owen remained one of the most recognizable figures of Oregon years after his retirement and was remembered by wrestling stars he helped push in their early careers. One particular star, Roddy Piper, even returned to Oregon on February 18,1995, Owen was married with three sons, Mike, Marc and Barry. List of professional wrestling promoters Molinaro, John, Owen legacy strong in Pacific Northwest SLAM. Remembering the great Portland territory SLAM
12.
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
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Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925 and it was the Northwest territory of the National Wrestling Alliance from the Alliances inception in 1948 until 1992. The area was brought to its prime by Herbs son, Don Owen, the Pacific Northwest was considered one of the main pro wrestling territories from the 1960s to the 1980s. Portland Wrestling was forced to close its doors in July 1992, the telecasts, which originated on Portland station KPTV, ended in December 1991 and were replaced on KPTV by syndicated WWF programming. A new wrestling promotion emerged in 2000, calling itself Portland Wrestling and claiming to be a restart of the original Pacific Northwest/Portland Wrestling and it stressed a title lineage to the old NWA PNW Championships. Unlike the Don Owen promotion, the new incarnation of Portland Wrestling was not an NWA member, due to legal problems the companys owner encountered, the promotion was forced to close down in 2007 and the owner sold his ownership rights to former announcer Don Coss. This program also originated on KPTV, though it would move to another Portland television station. Thye hired Herb Owen as his assistant, while Thye was on a trip home to Australia, Owen had the ownership of the company put in his name. Due to rules in effect within the state of Oregon at that time, Herb Owen started out just promoting boxing matches, but soon began promoting wrestling matches as well, focusing on lightweights. During this time, sons Don and Elton Owen began helping their father in the business, helping set up cards. During the early years, Herb brought in boxer Jack Dempsey, according to Barry Owen, Dons son, Dempsey even refereed some wrestling matches for Owen. An unknown to many at the time, George Wagner, worked for Owen early in his career, while in the PNW, Wagner developed the character for which he would become famous, Gorgeous George. Wagner is reported to have married his first wife in the ring before a match in Eugene, in 1942, following his death, Herbs son Don took over the company. In 1944, Don Owen promoted several cards with women wrestlers, the National Wrestling Alliance was formed in 1948 with Don Owen as one of the founding members. This started the beginning of what became known as NWA Pacific Northwest, on July 10,1953, Don Owen started what was the first regular professional wrestling program on television. Pacific Northwest Wrestling aired a weekly 60 minute live program originally called Heidelberg Wrestling, named for its sponsor, Heidelberg Brewing Co. of Tacoma, the show was initially broadcast on KPTV, but moved to rival KOIN-TV in 1955. Along with the move came the new name, Portland Wrestling. The 1950s were good to Portland Wrestling, seeing wrestlers such as Ed Francis, Gory Guerrero, Elliott promoted these matches, as well as spot matches throughout Washington, Idaho and northeastern Oregon, while Don Owen continued to handle bookings for these matches
13.
Roddy Piper
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Roderick George Toombs, better known by his ring name Rowdy Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor. In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation. Although he was Canadian, because of his Scottish heritage he was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and he earned the nicknames Rowdy and Hot Rod by displaying his trademark Scottish rage, spontaneity, and quick wit. Piper was described by industry veteran Ric Flair as the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling, One of the most recognizable pro wrestling stars worldwide, Piper headlined numerous pay-per-view cards, including the WWF and WCWs respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. Never a world champion, he nevertheless accumulated 34 championships in various promotions during a 42-year ring career and he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Toombs was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 17,1954 and his father, Stanley Baird Toombs, was an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police while they lived in The Pas, Manitoba. After being expelled from junior high for having a switchblade in school and falling out with his father, Piper left home and he picked up odd jobs at local gyms, running errands for several professional wrestlers. As a young man, he became proficient in playing the bagpipes and his childhood best friend was ex-NHL player and Stanley Cup winner Cam Connor. Piper was a boxer and a wrestler before he started to become a professional wrestler. He won the Golden Gloves boxing championship and he was awarded a Black Belt in Judo from Gene LeBell, American Judo champion, instructor, stuntman, and professional wrestler. Roddy started wrestling under the care of promoter Al Tomko in Canada, his first match involving midget wrestlers in front of an audience in Churchill. He soon began earning money wrestling while still going to school and his first match in a pro and famous organization was with the legendary Larry Hennig in the American Wrestling Association. Friends of his played the bag-pipes during his entrance while he was handing out dandelions and then the ring-announcer had to announce something, so, after seeing the pipe band he then announced Here comes Roddy the piper, thus giving birth to Roddy Piper and the name stuck. From 1973 to 1975, Piper was a jobber in the American Wrestling Association, NWA Central States territory surrounding Kansas City and he also worked in Texas for Paul Boeschs NWA Houston Wrestling promotion, and in Dallas for Fritz Von Erichs Big Time Rasslin. By late 1975 and early 1976, Piper was a top villain for Mike, in 1977–78, he also started to work for Roy Shires NWA San Francisco Wrestling in addition to remaining with the Los Angeles office, where Piper developed his Rowdy character. Piper also managed a stable of wrestlers in California, in the Los Angeles area, Piper feuded with Chavo Guerrero Sr. and his father Gory Guerrero. Piper and Chavo Guerrero faced each other in matches for the Jules Strongbow Memorial Scientific Trophy. Piper also defeated Chavo for the Americas Heavyweight Title, during the feud, Piper lost a hair match and had his head shaved
14.
Jimmy Snuka
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James Reiher Snuka, better known by the ring name Jimmy Superfly Snuka, was a Fijian professional wrestler and actor. Snuka wrestled for promotions from the 1970s to 2010s. He was best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation in the early to mid-1980s and was credited with introducing the style of wrestling to the WWF. He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996, Snuka was the inaugural ECW Heavyweight Champion in Eastern Championship Wrestling. His children, Jimmy Reiher, Jr. and Tamina Snuka, are also wrestlers, in the decades before the criminal charges, Argentinos suspected homicide was a cold case in which Snuka was the only suspect. Snuka pleaded not guilty, but was found unfit to stand trial in June 2016 due to being diagnosed with dementia. His health further declined, and in December 2016 his legal representative announced he had six months left to live due to his terminal illness, the charges were dismissed on January 3,2017, when Snuka was deemed unfit to stand trial. Snuka was born in Fiji on May 18,1943 to Louisa Smith, Thomas was married to another woman, and Smith was engaged to Bernard Reiher. Before Snuka was born, his mother married Reiher, as a child, Snuka moved with his family to the Marshall Islands and then to Hawaii. Snuka was active in amateur bodybuilding in Hawaii in the 1960s and he also enjoyed some success as a professional bodybuilder, earning the titles of Mr. Hawaii, Mr. Waikiki and Mr. North Shore. Snuka opted to go into the more lucrative career of professional wrestling due to the uncertainty of his making a living in bodybuilding. While working at Dean Hos gym in Hawaii, Snuka met many of the wrestlers who worked in the South Pacific region, Snuka made his debut as Jimmy Kealoha fighting Maxwell Bunny Butler in Hawaii in 1970. He later moved to the mainland and wrestled for Don Owen’s NWA Pacific Northwest territory where he held the belt as Heavyweight Champion six times and he first won the title by pinning Bull Ramos on November 16,1973. It was in territory that Reiher transformed himself into Jimmy Snuka. Snuka also held the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship six times with partner Dutch Savage, Snuka also had a two-year feud with another rookie, Jesse The Body Ventura. Snuka also wrestled in several other National Wrestling Alliance regions, including Texas, in 1977, he won both the Texas Heavyweight and Tag Team titles. Snuka then left for the Mid-Atlantic where he formed a tag team with Paul Orndorff, in their first television match they defeated the NWA World Tag Team Champions Jack and Jerry Brisco in a non-title bout. Orndorff and Snuka defeated Baron von Raschke and Greg Valentine to become the tag team title holders in 1979, on September 1,1979, Snuka defeated Ricky Steamboat to hold the United States title
15.
Bob Backlund
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Backlund was also an accomplished amateur wrestler for the North Dakota State University Bison from the late 1960s to early 1970s. He continues to work in the wrestling business in various capacities. In 2000, Backlund unsuccessfully ran for a Connecticut seat in Congress on a Republican ticket, Backlund was born in Princeton, Minnesota iIn 1949. During his freshman year, Backlund was an All-American in both football and wrestling while at Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, Iowa, during his sophomore campaign, Backlund focused on wrestling and once again earned All American Honors. Backlund was a wrestler at North Dakota State University, winning the Division II NCAA Championship at 190 pounds in 1971. In 1972 Backlund moved up to the Heavyweight class and finished 5th at the NCAA DII Nationals and he is a graduate of Princeton High School, where he was a state finalist in wrestling. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in physical education, Backlund was trained for professional wrestling by renowned trainer Eddie Sharkey and made his debut for the American Wrestling Association in 1973. Backlunds clean cut look and technical approach made him a natural face, after leaving the AWA, Backlund traveled the United States, working for the National Wrestling Alliance in its various territories. In 1974, Backlund wrestled in Texas, for Dory Funk, Jr. in March, he defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship. Backlund held it for two months, before losing it to Karl Von Steiger in May, in mid-1975, Backlund started working for Georgia Championship Wrestling. He teamed with Jerry Brisco to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship from Toru Tanaka and they held the championship belts for two months before losing to Les Thornton and Tony Charles. In 1976, Backlund left Georgia for Championship Wrestling from Florida, here he teamed with Steve Keirn to defeat Bob Orton, Jr. and Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. Backlund and Keirn lost the title to The Hollywood Blonds in October 1976, while working for NWA Florida, Backlund also wrestled in St. Louis, Missouri, for Sam Muchnicks St. Louis Wrestling Club. He defeated Harley Race to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship on April 23,1976, in early 1977, Backlund joined Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation. He was managed by The Golden Boy Arnold Skaaland, less than four months into his WWWF run, Backlund received his first shot at the WWWF Heavyweight Championship against Superstar Billy Graham, but he lost by countout. On February 20,1978, at Madison Square Garden, Backlund finally scored a victory over Graham and won the title. He also won a series of rematches against Graham, including an April 1978 steel cage match at Madison Square Garden, three days after winning the WWWF Heavyweight Championship, Backlund clashed with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race in a rare WWWF vs. NWA title match. Both titles were on the line, but neither changed hands as the two fought to a 60-minute time limit draw, defending against other champions became a recurring theme in Backlunds run with the title
16.
Pedro Morales
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Pedro A. Morales is a Puerto Rican retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the United States with Worldwide Wrestling Associates, debuting in 1959, Morales originally came to prominence with Worldwide Wrestling Associates in the 1960s, where he held the WWA World Heavyweight Championship and WWA World Tag Team Championship. In the 1970s, he joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation, winning the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship, Morales retired from professional wrestling in 1987. A popular champion, Morales enjoyed particular appeal with his native Puerto Ricans, the first Latino to hold a world heavyweight championship, Morales combined reign as WWWF Heavyweight Champion remains among the longest in history. He also holds the record for most days as Intercontinental Champion, Morales was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum two decades later. The following two years, he made campaign in Virginia and North Carolina, particularly in the towns of Petersburg, after a similar result in a short program with Hard Boiled Haggerty, he had two draws against Allan Garfield, before defeating him on July 16,1962. In August, Morales traveled to Texas and was involved in a series of matches with Jack and Jim Dalton, facing them along multiple tag team partners. It was here where he first teamed with Miguel Pérez, Sr. and Argentina Apollo, later in the year, he formed a recurrent tag team with Perez and feuded with Pedro Rodriguez. In June, Morales joined Bruno Sammartino, Bobo Brazil, Perez and Apollo to once again enter a storyline with Johnny Barend, who was now joined by Diamond Jack. After this, Vittorio Apollo became his main stay tag team partner, along whom he challenged The Fabulous Kangaroos, Johnny Barend, Morales finished the year by teaming with Pérez, earning three victories over the Fabulous Kangaroos. The team opened 1964 by feuding with Chris and John Tolos, individually, Morales defeated Chuck Martoni, Arnold Skaaland and Prince Nero on several occasions. The tag team next entered a feud with Jerry Graham and Luke Graham, the team also exchanged results against Hans & Max Mortier. Morales then entered a feud against Pedro Rodriguez and Gene Kiniski, dominating Rodriguez. Along Pérez, he retook their feud with the Grahams, picking a second victory, in the final months of 1964, Morales also gained wins over Robert Duranton and Steve Stanlee. On March 12,1965, Morales defeated The Destroyer Dick Beyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in a three-fall match and he became involved in a feud against The Assassins and The Butcher, steadily gaining the upper hands both individually and in tag matches. Morales moved on from these angles and defeated Rod Orell, Billy Klutzer and The Mummy, Morales responded by defeating Graham in a three-fall chain match less than a month later, in the process winning a Brass Knuckles Championship. Meanwhile, his team with Hernandez won three matches against The Assassins by disqualification. Hernandez was eventually replaced by Adalberto Torres as Moraless tag team partner, along whom he also faced Gorilla Monsoon, on October 17,1965, he defeated Graham to regain the WWA World Heavyweight Championship
17.
Ernie Roth
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Irwin J. Ernie Roth, known by the ring names the Grand Wizard of Wrestling and Abdullah Farouk, was a professional wrestling manager of many infamous heels. Not a wrestler himself due to his stature, he was noted for his flamboyant outfit of sequined jackets, wraparound sunglasses. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995, Ernie Roth got his start in the entertainment business as a disc jockey, and became involved in professional wrestling as a manager in the 1960s in Detroit-based territories. Sporting a turban, Farouk took great pains in trying to control his madman protégé, but he also carved a niche for himself as a deceitful, underhanded character who insulted US fans whenever he had a chance, laying a template for heels for years to come. Farouk was a pioneer of manager interference, as he physically would attempt to alter a matchs outcome in the Sheiks favor whenever he could. Roth, who was Jewish, reportedly took the name The Grand Wizard as a snub to the white supremacy organization the Ku Klux Klan, the Grand Wizard of Wrestling, playing the heel manager role to the absolute hilt, had an instant impact in the WWF. In fact, the Wizard guided a second protégé, the flamboyant and chiseled Superstar Billy Graham, to the very same Championship on April 30,1977, when Graham overcame Sammartino in Baltimore. Graham is now seen as the prototype for later Superstars like Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura and Scott Steiner. Graham and the Wizard were arguably the first performers to be cheered without requiring a push as a babyface, once again laying a template for superstars to come. On February 20,1978, former amateur wrestling standout Bob Backlund took on Superstar Billy Graham for the WWF Championship at Madison Square Garden, and managed to dethrone the champion. The Wizard made it his duty to gain revenge on Backlund, sending charges such as Don Muraco, Ken Patera and Greg Valentine after the champion. The Wizard never managed a world champion again, however he did manage the very first Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson, other protégés of the Wizard included Beautiful Bobby Harmon, Killer Kowalski, Crazy Luke Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Cat Ernie Ladd, Ox Baker, and Cowboy Bob Orton, a Boston radio program, The Sports Huddle, would feature in-character interviews with Roth portraying him as a hero. The programs hosts, Eddie Andelman, Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin, the host dictated the message, Tell him to bring home a loaf of bread and a quart of milk. An example of his Farouk characters interview style is provided by the sing-song given prior to a bout between the Sheik and Haystacks Calhoun. Roth looked into the camera and said, Ashes to ashes, if the camel clutch doesnt get you, Calhoun, the fire must, alluding to The Sheiks ability to toss fireballs. Roth was revealed to be homosexual after his death, although some claim they were aware of his sexual orientation during his lifetime and he was the godfather of protégé Don Muracos daughter. His parents were Evrum Roth and Rizel Stern, on October 12,1983, Roth died of a heart attack
18.
Tito Santana
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Merced Solis, better known by the ring name Tito Santana, is a Mexican-American semi-retired professional wrestler. Santana was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, during his time in the WWF, Santana, despite being born and raised in Texas, was billed from Tocula, Mexico, which may be a misspelled reference to the city of Toluca. Santana still appears on the independent circuit, Solis attended West Texas State University, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Solis played tight end for the West Texas State Buffaloes, the team was quarterbacked by future professional wrestler Tully Blanchard, who would introduce Solis to the world of professional wrestling. After graduating, Solis was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs and he played a single season for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, appearing in 13 regular season games. Solis was trained to wrestle by Yasuhiro Kojima and Bob Orton and he debuted in 1977, working for Championship Wrestling from Florida. Later that year, he joined Georgia Championship Wrestling, where he wrestled until 1978, Santana joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1979. He teamed with Ivan Putski to defeat Johnny Valiant and Jerry Valiant for the WWF Tag Team Championship at Madison Square Garden in October 1979, the duo held the titles for close to six months before losing to the Wild Samoans in April 1980. Santana left the later that year. Santana wrestled in the American Wrestling Association from 1980 to 1982, matches he had in the AWA include two matches he had against Nick Bockwinkel in St Paul, Minnesota, on March 1,1981 and in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on May 13,1982. Santana also wrestled Blackie Guzman, and teamed with future tag team partner Rick Martel against the The High Flyers on Aug 29,1982 in St Paul Minnesota, Santana and Martel lost the match. Santana returned to the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, in 1983, he engaged in a lengthy feud with then WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, The Magnificent Muraco. Santana finally won the title on February 11,1984, becoming the first Mexican-American wrestler to win the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, soon after, the storyline had Valentine injuring Santanas knee and putting Santana out of action for several months. Santana returned in December 1984 and set his sights on getting the Intercontinental title back from Valentine, during this time, he started using The Hammers finishing hold, the figure-four leglock and also wrestled in tag-team competition with Blackjack Mulligan. Santana made an appearance in the later in the card during the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship match between Valentine and Santanas friend the Junkyard Dog. Wearing street clothes, Santana rushed to the ring to inform referee Dick Kroll that Valentine had used his feet on the ropes to pin the JYD. Despite having already called for the bell, Kroll restarted the match, Santana and Valentine went on to wrestle a memorable series of singles and tag team matches with neither gaining the upper hand. They wrestled in a variety of different types of such as regular title matches, no disqualification matches
19.
WrestleMania I
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WrestleMania was the inaugural WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on March 31,1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by one million viewers through closed-circuit television. The show consisted of nine professional wrestling matches, in the main event, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. Also, Wendi Richter defeated Leilani Kai to win the WWF Womens Championship, Express to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. During the 1980s, Vince McMahons World Wrestling Federation s main competition in the wrestling industry was from Jim Crockett Promotions. McMahon countered Jim Crocketts successful Starrcade pay-per-view, which began airing in 1983, for the first WrestleMania, Vince McMahon began cross promoting with MTV, which aired two wrestling specials. The first one was The Brawl to End It All, aired on July 23,1984, Wendi Richter defeated The Fabulous Moolah to win the WWF Womens Championship on the card, with Cyndi Lauper on her side. At The War to Settle the Score, which aired on February 18,1985, Leilani Kai, accompanied by Moolah, defeated Richter, again accompanied by Lauper, two other championships were also defended at WrestleMania, the WWF Intercontinental Championship and the WWF World Tag Team Championship. Prior to the event, Greg Valentine had feuded with Tito Santana over the belt, Valentine defeated Santana on September 24,1984 for the championship. Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham won the WWF Tag Team Championship three months before WrestleMania from the team of Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch, in the months leading up to the first WrestleMania, Roddy Piper began a talk-show segment on WWF television entitled Pipers Pit. On one episode of the show, he hit Jimmy Snuka over the head with a coconut, as part of the storyline, Piper recruited Bob Orton to be his bodyguard. On another episode of Pipers Pit, Piper spoke out against the burgeoning Rock n Wrestling connection, in February 1985, the two men faced each other at The War to Settle the Score, where Hogan won by disqualification after interference by Paul Orndorff and Mr. T. Their on-going feud led to their match at WrestleMania, belzer, however, fell to the floor unconscious and began to bleed profusely. Belzer later sued Hogan for $5 million, but they settled out of court. The night before WrestleMania, Hogan and Mr. T hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live to help promote the event, Gene Okerlund opened the event by singing The Star-Spangled Banner. The originally intended singer, a celebrity guest that Okerlund and Vince McMahon refused to name, the first match was between Tito Santana and The Executioner. Santana won the match after applying a figure four leglock on The Executioner, following the match, King Kong Bundy and Special Delivery Jones made their way to the ring
20.
The Rockers
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The Rockers were a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty that teamed from 1985 to 1992. The team worked for NWA Central States Wrestling, the American Wrestling Association, Continental Wrestling Federation, Continental Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation. In 1992, the team had a violent kayfabe breakup that helped propel Michaels into the ranks with The Heartbreak Kid gimmick that he used until his retirement in 2010. After the breakup Michaels and Jannetty had an on again, off again due to Jannetty leaving the WWF on more than one occasion. In 1996, Jannetty teamed up with Leif Cassidy to form The New Rockers but the team never achieved success in the WWF. In 2005, The Rockers reunited for one night but nothing came of it because Jannety was released by WWE. Instead, WWE reformed Michaelss other team, D-Generation X, to fill the story line, Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels first met and struck up a friendship when they both competed for the National Wrestling Alliances Central States Wrestling territory in Kansas City in 1985. Initially they would travel together since Jannetty was either teaming with Tommy Rogers as the Uptown Boys. After the team of Jannetty and Brown broke up Michaels and Jannetty started teaming up, on May 15,1985 Michaels and Jannetty defeated The Batten Twins to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship. Their first title reign was short-lived as the Batten Twins regained the title only a week later on May 22,1985. Shortly after the team lost the CSW tag team title, Michaels left Kansas City and the NWA, in TASW Shawn began teaming with Paul Diamond as ”American Force” and the team of Jannetty and Michaels seemed like it was never meant to be a permanent thing. The two were paired up by the AWA bookers, Greg Gagne suggested the name ”The Country Rockers”, Express not keen on the idea the two of them came up with the name The Midnight Rockers inspired by Judas Priest’s ”Living after Midnight”. AWA owner Verne Gagne did not seem to understand the idea, the two started wearing identical outfits and develop the ”Fun loving pretty boy” gimmick they would be known for throughout their time together. Their initial outing with Somers and Rose at the WrestleRock stadium show on April 20,1986 did not go well for Jannetty and Michaels who lost in front of 22,000 fans. When Somers and Rose beat Scott Hall and Curt Hennig for the AWA World Tag Team Championship the Midnight Rockers suddenly found themselves chasing the main tag team title of the promotion. The Midnight Rockers teamed up with Curt Hennig to defeat Somer, Rose, the Midnight Rockers would repeatedly challenge Somers throughout the rest of 1986 but never quite be able to get the win when the title was on the line. Finally near the end of year, Jannetty and Michaels defeated the champions in a ”non-title” Steel cage match on December 25,1986 on the AWA’s ”Brawl in St. Paul” show. A month later on January 271987 the Midnight Rockers defeated Rose, Jannetty and Michaels realized that the AWA was a promotion in decline, in fact it would shut down completely by 1990, and they decided that their best bet was to work for the WWF
21.
Kerry Von Erich
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Kerry Gene Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior and The Texas Tornado. He was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers and he is best known for his time with his fathers promotion World Class Championship Wrestling, where he spent eleven years of his career, and his time in World Wrestling Federation. Adkisson held forty championships in various promotions during his career, among other accolades, he was a five-time world champion, and a one-time WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. Kerry was the son of wrestler Fritz Von Erich and his brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. Kerry was also a standout in high school track and field and he debuted in his fathers promotion, NWA Texas/Big Time Wrestling on May 7,1979 against Paul Perschmann. In Big Time Wrestling, he held many Texas Tag Team, most of Kerrys fame was made in Texas World Class Championship Wrestling, where he was nicknamed The Modern Day Warrior. On December 28,1980, his first NWA American Heavyweight Championship reign came after he defeated Gino Hernandez for the vacant title and he lost the title to Ken Patera before winning his second NWA American Heavyweight Championship from The Masked Superstar. In May and June 1981, Kerry exchanged the NWA American Heavyweight Championship with Ernie Ladd, on October 25, he teamed with Terry Orndorff and they defeated The Great Kabuki and Chan Chung to win the NWA American Tag Team Championship. After having short angles as a wrestler, he began teaming with his brother Kevin. On March 15,1982, the two brothers wrestled Gary Hart and King Kong Bundy to a double disqualification, on June 4, Von Erich defeated former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race, elevating him to main event status. Kerry started feuding with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, on August 15, he got his very first shot at the NWA title against Flair in a two out of three falls match, which Flair won to retain the title. On December 25, Kerry got his title shot against Flair in a no disqualification steel cage match. Hayes, as the special guest referee, the Fabulous Freebirds helped Kerry to win the match, but he refused to take their help and said that he didnt want to win by cheating. Terry Gordy slammed the door on Kerrys head, which led to Flair winning the match. This culminated in a feud between the Von Erichs and the Freebirds that lasted for over five years. On June 17,1983, he teamed with Bruiser Brody to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. On July 4, Kerry and his elder brothers Kevin and David defeated the Fabulous Freebirds in a two out of three match to win the NWA Texas Six-Man Tag Team Championship. They lost the back to the Freebirds on August 12
22.
Saturday Night's Main Event
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Saturday Nights Main Event was a sports entertainment television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation. Premiering in 1985, the originally aired on NBC as an occasional replacement for Saturday Night Live on its weekend broadcast schedule. The program aired on an infrequent basis on NBC until 1991, at the time of the original airing it was a rare example of professional wrestling being broadcast on an over-the-air commercial television network after the 1950s. It coincided with and contributed to the apogee of the golden age of professional wrestling in the United States. The Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brand rosters were featured on the show, all episodes of Saturday Nights Main Event are available for streaming on the WWE Network. However, the episodes on the WWE Network are not 100% original, may 1985–January 1988 episodes do not have the original opening theme by Animotion instead they are dubbed over by the February 1988–April 1991 opening theme. Sponsored segments that aired as part of the original such as the Mountain Dew Slam of the Night have been removed as well. Saturday Nights Main Event, which was broadcast live, debuted on May 11,1985 in the time slot normally assigned to reruns of the NBC sketch comedy Saturday Night Live. Then-SNL executive producer Dick Ebersol had made a deal with WWF owner Vince McMahon to produce the show,1989 and 1990 both offered episodes in July promoted as Summertime Bonus Editions. That show was headlined by a battle royal featuring Hulk Hogan and André the Giant, as Hogan rarely wrestled on the WWF syndicated and cable television shows, Saturday Nights Main Event was the program on free television where most viewers were able to see him in action. The success of Saturday Nights Main Event led to several Friday night prime time specials, while ratings remained strong through 1990, they began to fall shortly thereafter. NBC, who had just acquired the rights to broadcast NBA games nationwide, now started to lose interest in wrestling and its final NBC airing occurred on April 27,1991. Fox picked up the show in 1992, but it was shown twice on that network, February 8,1992. For much of its history, Saturday Nights Main Event was hosted by McMahon, in 1990, Roddy Piper replaced Ventura as McMahons broadcast partner when Ventura left the WWF. On the two episodes aired on Fox, Heenan served as McMahons partner. In February 1988, the songs were replaced with an original WWF-created instrumental theme, the new instrumental theme was originally used as the theme of the 1987 WWF Slammy Awards. A different opening theme song was used for the February 1992 episode, Saturday Nights Main Event returned to NBC on March 18,2006, in a prime-time slot. The opening theme song for the run was Boom by P. O. D
23.
Bob Orton Jr.
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Robert Keith Bob Orton Jr. better known by the ring name Cowboy Bob Orton, is an American professional wrestler. He is the son of professional wrestler Bob Sr. the brother of professional wrestler Barry O, and he is best known for his time in the WWF. He has also wrestled for promotions in the United States, Japan. Orton was born in Kansas City, Kansas and they won the tag team title from the promotion. Orton was one of the first wrestlers to use the Superplex as his final movement, Orton, in his early days in wrestling, used a gimmick of a masked wrestler known as The Invader. He often used this gimmick, until 1976, after experiencing success in the Florida, Central States, and Mid-South regions, Orton competed in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1980-1981 using a cowboys gimmick. While he competed in the NWA, he won matches and earned a reputation as a hard worker. In 1981 he left the NWA to sign a contract with the World Wrestling Federation, in 1981, Orton competed in the World Wrestling Federation. Competing as a heel and using the dreaded superplex as his finisher, he challenged Bob Backlund for the WWF Heavyweight Championship, winning by count-out and they had a lumberjack match a month later but was unsuccessful. He returned to the NWA again in 1983 and captured the tag title with Don Kernodle. The duo held the title for two months before succumbing to Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood, together with Dick Slater, he had a feud with Ric Flair. Orton and Slater interfered in Flairs return match against NWA World Champion Harley Race, in the run-up to this incident, Orton had been portrayed as a babyface and a longtime friend of Flair - his participation in the attack was thus portrayed as the betrayal of that friendship. Flair would eventually return in late 1983, attacking both Orton and Slater with a baseball bat, Orton re-joined the WWF in 1984 for what would be the most famous run of his career. He was often addressed as Ace Orton by Roddy Piper, and was Pipers bodyguard and he won several matches, with the cast and without the cast. In 1985, Orton was the #1 contender to the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Orton was successful in winning untelevised matches and events against Santana, but Orton mostly won by either count-out or disqualification. Orton would also be successful in defeating Santana in non-title bouts, but Santana ultimately remained as the champ, Orton would also engage in a bitter feud with Jimmy Snuka through 1985 and 1986. Orton, just like with Santana, managed to achieve victories over Snuka, just like his feud with Santana, Snuka would get the upper hand in the feud. Orton remained with Piper for the remainder of 1985, feuding with Orndorff and a variety of partners, such as Hogan, André the Giant, in early 1986, Orndorff began wearing a cast as a neutralizer, and the WWF ordered both men to remove their casts
24.
Jimmy Valiant
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James Harold Fanning is a retired professional wrestler and author better known as Jimmy Valiant. Jimmy Valiant was born in Franklin County, Tennessee, near Tullahoma as the youngest of five children of James and he later incorporated the names of his four sisters – Louise, Christine, Charlena and Patrica – into the spider web tattoo on his upper arm. He later moved to Willingboro Township, New Jersey and he married Clara, with whom he fathered three children, Robin, Rhonda, and Dana. With Monika, he has his first son Todd, with Felicia, he has his youngest son Handsome. He is now married to Angel and he has 6 grandchildren, Lonna, Jenae, Beau, Chassie, Clarissa, and Delilah. Fanning started wrestling in 1964 as Big Jim Vallen, at one point in the AWA, they were managed by Bobby Heenan. Valiant had entered the WWWF as a babyface, but quickly switched to heel and he had title matches against champion Pedro Morales in secondary arenas, such as Philadelphia, and feuded with short-term tag partner Chief Jay Strongbow. Jimmy and his kayfabe brother Johnny held the tag belts and main evented Madison Square Garden against Chief Jay Strongbow, during the late 1970s – early 1980s, Valiant was a central player in the Memphis, Tennessee wrestling scene. He feuded regularly with Jerry Lawler and teamed with Bill Dundee to dominate the tag team matches of that time. He even recorded a song, The Ballad of Handsome Jimmy, Valiant also spent a brief amount of time in Jim Crockett Promotions in the late 1970s as the heel King James Valiant managed by Lord Alfred Hayes. In the early 1980s, Valiant returned as a babyface to NWAs Jim Crockett Promotions as Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant and his theme music around this time was Boy From New York City, by The Manhattan Transfer. While in Jim Crockett Promotions, he would appear in a black bandit-style mask. This usually occurred when Valiant was banned from wrestling, Charlie Brown was billed as someone other than Valiant, despite Brown having Valiants legendarily prodigious beard. January 1984, Valiant was attacked by Paul Jones and The Assassins and they tied him to the wrestling ring ropes so that Jones could cut his beard off. weebly. com/ WWE Hall of Fame Page with Johnny Valiant Memphis Wrestling History
25.
Backbreaker
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The standard version of the move sees the wrestler scoop their opponent horizontally before dropping to one knee, slamming the opponents back on their other knee. A variation of the Argentine backbreaker rack, known as La Reienera, often set up by a tilt-a-whirl, the opponent ends up suspended with one arm hooked behind him and both legs hooked by the wrestlers other arm. This was utilized by wrestlers like Awesome Kong, roderick Strongs variation is where he dropped his opponet with both knees as the Strong Breaker II. While being held face up across the shoulder, the wrestler then links his/her arms around the opponents torso and presses down. A common variant of this hold has the attacking wrestler apply a double underhook before or after lifting the opponent. The double underhook variant is seen when the hold is used to transition to another maneuver. The catapult throw typically starts with an opponent on his/her back, the wrestler hooks each of the opponents legs in one of his/her arms then falls backwards to slingshot the opponent into a turnbuckles, ladders, ropes etc. At this point the wrestler will remain on the ground. The rebounding opponent will instantly trip falling backwards onto the raised knees of the wrestler, another method is that the wrestler performs a catapult and raises the knees prematurely so that the wrestler is draped over the knees without an actual launch. The wrestler performing the move stands in front of and slightly to the left of the opponent receiving it, the wrestler then reaches out and grabs the opponents throat and trunks, and lifts him or her in the air as though the wrestler is about to deliver a chokeslam. However, as the wrestler brings the opponent back down to the mat the wrestler kneels and this move is popularly known as a chokebreaker, which is a portmanteau of this moves technical name. All while the wrestler continues to maintain the hold, the attacking wrestler can maintain the hold after impact for a cobra clutch submission attempt. An attacking wrestler stands facing a bent over opponent and hooks each of the arms behind the opponents back. However, as the attacker drops the opponent back down, he raises a knee and this move is performed behind the opponent, the wrestler grabs his/her opponent by the hair and pulls them back, so the opponents back lands on the wrestlers knee. The attacking wrestler stands behind his opponent, bends him backwards, the wrestler then drops down to a single knee with the extended knee impacting with the upper back of the opponent. This move sees the wrestler stands behind the opponent and places one arm around the opponents neck. The attacker then bends forward pulling the opponent across his own back, before dropping down to his knees, can be also known as an inverted three-quarter facelock neckbreaker or more commonly known as neckbreaker backbreaker. The attacking wrestler stands behind an opponent, grabbing them by their head or hair to seemingly perform a standard mat slam, however, as the wrestler pulls the opponent backwards down to the mat, the wrestler kneels down, driving the opponents back into the wrestlers exposed knee
26.
DDT (professional wrestling)
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In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock/inverted headlock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponents head into the mat. The classic DDT is performed by putting the opponent in a front facelock, when asked what DDT meant, Jake once famously replied The End. The abbreviation itself originally came from the chemical dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, a pesticide, as stated during shoot interviews. Many think that the term DDT was applied because the chemical DDT is a hazardous chemical buried in the ground which potentially causes brain damage, the wrestler falls down to the mat front first, driving the opponent face first down to the mat. WWE wrestler Paige uses this variation as a move called the Ram-Paige. British wrestler Joseph Conners uses this variation, known as the Righteous Kill, innovated by the legendary Kenta Kobashi. Instead of applying a head or facelock, the wrestler bends his opponent forward and this is known as a butterfly. It is also known as a double arm DDT or a butterfly DDT, mick Foley, Stevie Richards, Drew Galloway, and Dean Ambrose have popularized variations of this DDT. Richards uses a variation he calls the Stevie-T, while Galloway and Ambrose use snap variations that they call the Future Shock and Dirty Deeds. The wrestler stands in a position and faces the standing or bent-over opponent. This version of a DDT first sees a wrestler place the opponent on an elevated surface. The attacking wrestler falls backwards so that the opponent is forced to dive forward onto his/her head with extra force due to the height of which they were dropped. This is used as a Signature move by Randy Orton and this can also be performed as a double team move. A slight variation, known as a diving DDT or a Halo DDT, exists and sees the wrestler and the opponent both on an elevated surface, albeit with the wrestler facing the ring. With the opponent in the front facelock, the wrestler and the opponent both dive off the surface, resulting in the wrestler falling forward to perform the DDT instead of falling backwards. The move is referred to as a spike DDT, because the defending wrestler lands in an upside-down, almost completely vertical. This move is performed with the defending wrestlers feet on the middle rope. Also known as a front flip DDT, after applying a front facelock, the wrestler pushes off the mat with his/her legs to flip the opponent and drive them onto the top of their head in a manner similar to the flip piledriver
27.
Manager (professional wrestling)
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In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. A female accompanying character is called a valet, although proper managers can also be female. The wrestler that a manager manages is called his or her charge, a wrestlers manager has nothing to do with their real-world agent. A manager is somewhat like an agent for an actor or an athlete, he helps his client to book matches and appearances. Within the context of storylines, the positions the charge for title opportunities, decides whom to trust as an ally. Outside of storylines, a job is to help the wrestler theyre paired with get over. For this reason, managers are usually paired with wrestlers who the writers feel have great potential, for example, if a wrestler can perform well in the ring, but lacks the gift of gab, a manager will cut promos for him. Often the very act of aligning with a manager, or conversely breaking away from a manager theyve worked with, can change a wrestlers alignment, making them a sudden fan favorite or villain. While the basic goal of a manager to give his or her wrestlers a push does not change, a heel manager, for example, may have their wrestler constantly duck tougher opponents while cheating to help them win when they do wrestle. Certain wrestlers employ a kind of manager, known as a handler. If a wrestlers character calls for it, a handler is the person who can control a wild wrestler prone to go out of control. A classic example of this was The Undertaker, who in his early Deadman persona could only be controlled by Paul Bearer, a recent example of this was wrestler Umaga and his handler, Armando Estrada, as well as Rusev and his ambassador, Lana. Most managers are male, a female who accompanies a wrestler to the ring is often referred to as a valet, valets, in general, rarely cut promos, instead simply making their presence felt by accompanying a wrestler during his promo. Although true female managers are rare, some have had long and storied careers, a male wrestler or character accompanying a prominent female wrestler to the ring could be considered a valet as well, though this is exceptionally rare. Enforcers appear in storylines where a wrestler needs to have back watched, enforcers will keep outside interference from taking place in a match, or become outside interference themselves. Outside the ring, they protect their charges from ambushes by other wrestlers. They tend to come from the ranks of larger, more intimidating looking wrestlers. From the early years of pro wrestling to the mid-1990s, managers were very common because they served a secondary purpose, a managers job was to cut promos on behalf of clients who may not be as charismatic
28.
Big John Studd
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John William Minton was an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Big John Studd. Studd is best known for his appearances with the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation in the 1970s and 1980s and he was posthumously inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995 and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Studd was trained by Killer Kowalski and he debuted in 1972 under the ring name The Mighty Minton, wrestling on the Los Angeles independent circuit, where he formed a tag team with Superstar Billy Graham. In mid-1972, Studd joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation under the ring name Chuck OConnor, facing wrestlers such as Chief Jay Strongbow, on September 12,1972, Studd unsuccessfully challenged Pedro Morales for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. Later that month at Showdown at Shea, Studd lost to El Olympico by disqualification and he left the WWWF in February 1973. In 1974, Studd joined Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, where he wrestled as Chuck O Connor, in 1978, Studd teamed up with Ken Patera to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team titles. In early 1982, Studd gained several unsuccessful title shots at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, in 1976, Studd returned to the World Wide Wrestling Federation, where he donned a mask and performed as Executioner #2, teaming with Executioner #1 as The Executioners. On May 11,1976, The Executioners defeated Louis Cerdan and they held the championship until October 26,1976, when they were stripped of the titles after a third Executioner interfered in a title defence. Studd left the WWWF once more in early 1977, from 1980 to 1981, Studd performed for the American Wrestling Association. Studd jumped to the World Wrestling Federation in late 1982, and was paired with manager Classy Freddie Blassie, Studd quickly became a monster heel, adopting a gimmick of bringing a stretcher to the ring and beating his opponents so badly they would be taken out on the stretcher. Studd and Blassie had issued a Bodyslam Challenge, offering $10,000 to any wrestler that could slam him before boasting that he could not be slammed. After several wrestlers were unsuccessful in answering Studds challenge, Andre accepted and was about to slam Studd before Blassie attacked Andre from behind. The Andre-Studd feud raged throughout 1983 and Andre got the hand and slammed Studd several times. Several times, the two met inside a cage, where André not only slammed Studd, but used a sitdown splash from the top rope onto his chest to knock him out. Despite this, Studd began declaring himself the True Giant of Wrestling, by 1984, with his feud with Andre still raging, Studd was challenging then-new champion Hulk Hogan for the title, Hogan was also successful on several occasions in slamming Studd. In late 1984, Studd was also paired with Bobby The Brain Heenan and this happened during a televised tag team match on WWF Championship Wrestling featuring Studd and fellow Heenan Family member Ken Patera against André the Giant and S. D. Jones. André dominated their Wrestlemania match at Madison Square Garden and won by slamming Studd at 5,54, after WrestleMania, Studd formed an alliance with fellow Heenan Family member,468 lb King Kong Bundy. The two attacked André at a WWF TV card in Toronto in the summer of 1985, injuring Andres sternum, the invitational battle royale also featured stars from the National Football league
29.
Cauliflower Alley Club
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The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America. Established in 1965 by Mike Mazurki and Art Abrams, the hosts a annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities. Melby Historian Award, Dennis Brent Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Terry Taylor Lou Thesz Lifetime Achievement Award, Michael P. S. Slaughter Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award, Mick Foley Lou Thesz Award, Rick Martel James C. J. Dillon, Tito Carreon, Duke Myers, Bob Leonard, Cowboy Bob Kelly, and Laura Martinez. Brian Blair, Judy Grable, Maria DeLeon, Mr. Wrestling, Jimmy Valiant, Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Ray Thunder Stern Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award, Fr. Bill Olivas Future Legend Award, Kurt Angle Gulf Coast/CAC Honorees, Sputnik Monroe Reel Member Inductees, Stan Shaw, Tommy Butch Bond, Joe Don Baker, Joe Roselius, Marion Ross and Robert Forster. Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Jesse The Body Ventura Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award, Dan Gable Other honorees included Ken Patera, Jack Donovan and Bob Geigel. Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Lou Thesz Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award, William Papas Scholarship Award Winners, Billy Pappas Other honorees included Danny Hodge, Fred Blassie, Dory Funk, Jr. Studio City, California, Tony Borne, Don Curtis, Tom Drake, Don Manoukian, Steve Rickard and Jim White. Boxing Honorees, Chuck Wepner Other honorees included, Tampa, Florida, Angelo Poffo, Bonnie Watson, Judy Glover, Jack & Jerry Brisco, Carl Engstrom, Wahoo McDaniel, Gordon Solie and Molly McShane. Elizabeth, New Jersey, Vince McMahon, Vince McMahon, Sr. Jimmy Snuka, Lou Albano, Abe Coleman, Gloria Barratini, Millie Stafford, Pat Patterson, Johnny Rodz and The Public Enemy. Studio City, California, Tiger Conway, Sr. Leo Garibaldi, Susan Sexton, Dave Levin, Ray Stevens, The Sheik and Buddy Lee. Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Vic Christy Reel Member Inductees, Harry Carey, Jr. Boxing Honorees, Lou Bogash, Joe Graziano, Lou Couture, Jocko V. Studio City, California, Dick Hutton, Billy Robinson, Stuart McCullum, Al Costello, Peggy Allen, Sherri Martel, Ed Francis and Sue Green. Iron Mike Mazurki Award, Hard Boiled Haggerty Scholarship Award Winners, Nick Cline and Mike Bresnan Reel Member Inductees, John Agar, Guy Madison, John Phillip Law, list of professional wrestling conventions Cauliflower Alley Club Lends an Ear to Boxers, Wrestlers. Cauliflower Alley Club, Gentle and Warm People, Blassie, Fred and Keith Elliot Greenberg. Classy Freddie Blassie, Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, New York, Simon and Schuster,2003. ISBN 0-7434-6316-1 Funk, Terry and Scott E. Williams, champaign, Illinois, Sports Publishing LLC,2005
30.
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship
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The title was created in 1957 by Don Owen Sports for the NWA Pacific Northwest territory, and became the top singles title for that area. The first champion was Ed Francis, who was already the top singles champion. Upon Francis taking on the NWA PNW Heavyweight Championship, his Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Championship was retired, the title remained active until July 1992, when Don Owen retired and sold his company to Sandy Barr. Barr retired all NWA PNW titles with Owen and began operating under the company name Championship Wrestling USA, the actual retired NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship belt was auctioned off by Len Denton to Bruce Owens. Dave Millican purchased it from Owens and later sold it to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous, in January 2015, the NWA made its return to Portland when local promotion Blue Collar Wrestling joined the Alliance. Pacific Northwest Wrestling Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling National Wrestling Alliance
31.
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship
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The original version of the title lasted from 1952 until the companys closure in 1992, when Don Owen retired and sold his company to Sandy Barr. Barr retired all NWA PNW titles with Owen and began operating under the company name Championship Wrestling USA, in 1993, the belts were used to represent the AAA/IWC World Tag Team Championship until it was deactivated in 1994. With Sandy Barrs passing, Josh Barr started PDX Pro Wrestling in St. Johns, Oregon, in 2007, in March 2015, the NWA made its return to Portland when local promotion Blue Collar Wrestling joined the Alliance. Thr Role Models beat The Dark Asylum To win the Titles December 18,2016 Portland Or
32.
Jesse Ventura
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He was the first and only member of the Reform Party to win a major government position, but later joined the Independence Party of Minnesota. Ventura was a member of the U. S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War, after leaving the military, he embarked on a professional wrestling career from 1975 to 1986, taking the ring name Jesse The Body Ventura. He had a tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as a performer and color commentator. Near the end of his career, Ventura started acting, appearing in films such as Predator. Ventura first entered politics as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Venturas campaign was unexpectedly successful, with him narrowly defeating both the Democratic and Republican candidates. The highest elected official to win an election on a Reform Party ticket. As governor, Ventura oversaw reforms of Minnesotas property tax as well as the states first sales tax rebate, Other initiatives taken under Ventura included construction of the METRO Blue Line light rail in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, and cuts in income taxes. Ventura left office in 2003, deciding not to run for re-election, after leaving office, Ventura became a visiting fellow at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2004. He has since hosted a number of television shows and has written several political books. Ventura remains politically active and currently hosts a show on Ora TV, Ventura was born James George Janos on July 15,1951 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of George William Janos and his wife, Bernice Martha. Both of his parents were World War II veterans, Ventura has an older brother who served in the Vietnam War. Ventura has described himself as Slovak, since his fathers parents were from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in what is now Slovakia, Ventura was raised as a Lutheran. Born in south Minneapolis by the Lake Street bridge, he attended the Cooper Elementary School, Sanford Junior High School, Roosevelt High School inducted Ventura into its first hall of fame in September 2014. Ventura served in the United States Navy from December 1,1969, to September 10,1975, during the Vietnam War and he graduated in BUD/S class 58 in December 1970 and was part of Underwater Demolition Team 12. Ventura has frequently referred to his career in public statements. He was criticized by hunters and conservationists for stating in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune in April 2001, Until you have hunted men, you havent hunted yet. Near the end of his service in the Navy, Ventura began to time with the South Bay chapter of the Mongols motorcycle club in San Diego. He would ride onto Naval Base Coronado on his Harley-Davidson wearing his Mongol colors, according to Ventura, he was a full-patch member of the club and even third-in-command of his chapter, but he never had any problems with the authorities
33.
Stan Stasiak
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George Emile Stipich was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s, born George Stipich, Stasiak made his wrestling debut in Quebec, Canada. He used the nickname Crusher early in his career and used a bear hug as a finisher, later on in his career, he adopted the heart punch as his finishing move. Unlike wrestlers today, Stasiak was given notice about winning the title before it took place. According to him, he was sitting in the room in Philadelphia. Stasiak considered this a formality as he had been having the discussion, nearly verbatim. Stasiak was used as a champion, defeating Morales for the championship belt. Stasiak also had a WWWF Heavyweight Championship title shot against Superstar Billy Graham in 1977, in 1974 to 1975, Stasiak fought Johnny Valentine in NWA Mid Atlantic and Toronto. He received an AWA World Heavyweight Championship title shot against Nick Bockwinkel in 1978 in Toronto, from there he went to Pacific Northwest where he teamed with Roddy Piper. In the early 1980s, he did there and also worked as a photographer. For several years he was the tag partner of The Gladiator. Stasiak and The Gladiator maintained a long term rivalry with the team of Ray Stevens. Stasiak left the WWWF in 1979, Stipich died of heart failure in 1997. Stipich had two children, a daughter, Brittany, and a son, Shawn, who also wrestled professionally as Shawn Stasiak
34.
Curt Hennig
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In the WWF, he found his greatest success as Mr. Perfect, a nickname introduced in his second run with the company which gradually became his official ring name. Hennig used the ring name in his third and final run. However, his name was widely acknowledged. He is the son of wrestler Larry The Axe Hennig, Hennig returned to the WWF for a brief period in 2002, being one of the last three men remaining at the Royal Rumble. He later challenged for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in TNA, both WWF and WCW have recognized Hennig as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, with the former crediting him for raising the accepted standard of technical wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by former Major League Baseball player and he was the best of the best. Hennig was childhood friends with fellow wrestler Rick Rude, known as Cool Curt Hennig, he began his career on January 30,1980 in the American Wrestling Association, the promotion which had made his father, Larry The Axe Hennig a star. Hennig left AWA in 1982 and joined World Wrestling Federation, Curt Hennig started his WWF career in 1982. He established himself as a young performer against the likes of Playboy Buddy Rose. Eventually, he was paired-up in tag matches with another young upstart, Eddie Gilbert. Hennig returned to AWA in 1984, Hennig, along with his father Larry The Axe, would engage in a long feud with Greg Gagne and his father, Verne Gagne. He began being associated with Madusa Miceli, the AWA World Womens Champion since December 27,1987, Hennig and Madusa joined The Diamond Exchange, a stable led by Diamond Dallas Page that also included Badd Company and Colonel DeBeers. Hennig would hold the AWA World Heavyweight Title for about 53 weeks, like many other AWA stars of the time, Curt left the AWA for the WWF with the promise of more money and broadened exposure. Hennig returned to the WWF in the mid-1988 at WrestleFest, where he pinned Terry Taylor, Hennig made his televised in-ring return on the September 11 episode of All-American Wrestling, defeating enhancement talent Ron Rovishod. Perfect, which would become his ring name in 1989 and the use of his name would be phased out. He presented himself as being superior in athletics or anything else he did, stars of various major league sports, including Wade Boggs, Steve Jordan, and Mike Modano, co-starred with Hennig in these vignettes. Hennig performed for the first time as Mr. Perfect on the October 4 episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Perfect survived the match with Bravo. He went undefeated on television for over a year, beating mid-card wrestlers including Koko B, Ware, The Blue Blazer, The Red Rooster, Jimmy Snuka, Tito Santana and Bret Hart
