A.J. Freeley
Encyclopedia
A.J. Freeley or Freely is a semi-retired New Zealand
professional wrestler. He competed throughout Australasia
and in the United States during the 1990s, however, he is best remembered as the last NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion
of Steve Rickard
's NWA New Zealand. He won the belt from 3-time champion Bruno Bekkar
in 1992, shortly before the promotion's close, and was billed as champion until the end of the decade.
and made his professional debut in 1989. He began wrestling in Australia and the United States before returning to his native country in 1992. That same year, during the last months of Steve Rickard
's NWA New Zealand, Freeley ended the two-year reign of Bruno Bekkar
winning the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
from him on November 22, 1992. He held the title until the close of NWA New Zealand but was continued to be billed as the national champion for the next seven years.
After the close of NWA New Zealand, then the country's only wrestling company, Freely went back to Australia. During the first half of 1993, he worked for Wrestling Down Under, a short-lived national company which also featured wrestlers from World Championship Wrestling
and the World Wrestling Federation, and faced opponents such as Con Iakovidis, Bobby Blaze, Greg Smith and Ace Fenton. In 1998, AJ Freeley joined International Wrestling Australia (IWA) where he became a major star and won the promotion's heavyweight title three times before leaving the company in 2002. In recent years, he has been associated with Kiwi Pro Wrestling
as have several other New Zealand wrestling veterans.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
professional wrestler. He competed throughout Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and in the United States during the 1990s, however, he is best remembered as the last NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion
NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
The NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
of Steve Rickard
Steve Rickard
Sydney Mervin "Merv" Batt , best known by his ring name Steve Rickard, is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...
's NWA New Zealand. He won the belt from 3-time champion Bruno Bekkar
Bruno Bekkar
Brian Ashby is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler and trainer, known by his ring name Bruno Bekkar, who competed for Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling and for other promoters in New Zealand and Australia from the early 1960s until his retirement in 1992...
in 1992, shortly before the promotion's close, and was billed as champion until the end of the decade.
Career
A.J. Freeley was born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and made his professional debut in 1989. He began wrestling in Australia and the United States before returning to his native country in 1992. That same year, during the last months of Steve Rickard
Steve Rickard
Sydney Mervin "Merv" Batt , best known by his ring name Steve Rickard, is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...
's NWA New Zealand, Freeley ended the two-year reign of Bruno Bekkar
Bruno Bekkar
Brian Ashby is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler and trainer, known by his ring name Bruno Bekkar, who competed for Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling and for other promoters in New Zealand and Australia from the early 1960s until his retirement in 1992...
winning the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
The NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
from him on November 22, 1992. He held the title until the close of NWA New Zealand but was continued to be billed as the national champion for the next seven years.
After the close of NWA New Zealand, then the country's only wrestling company, Freely went back to Australia. During the first half of 1993, he worked for Wrestling Down Under, a short-lived national company which also featured wrestlers from World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and the World Wrestling Federation, and faced opponents such as Con Iakovidis, Bobby Blaze, Greg Smith and Ace Fenton. In 1998, AJ Freeley joined International Wrestling Australia (IWA) where he became a major star and won the promotion's heavyweight title three times before leaving the company in 2002. In recent years, he has been associated with Kiwi Pro Wrestling
Kiwi Pro Wrestling
Kiwi Pro Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion based in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Started in May 2006 by veteran New Zealand wrestler Rip Morgan, KPW was formed with the express purpose of taking NZ wrestling from club level to professional level and groom local wrestling talent...
as have several other New Zealand wrestling veterans.
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling Australia
- IWA Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- NWA New Zealand
- NWA New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
(1 time, last)
- NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship