Derrick Dukes
Encyclopedia
Derrick Dukes is an American professional wrestler best known for his stint in the American Wrestling Association
(AWA) in the late 1980s as one half of the tag team The Top Guns with Ricky Rice
. The team was originally made up off Rice and Jon Paul DeMans. However, DeMans left the AWA and Dukes replaced him as a member of the team.
's Pro Wrestling America
, were one of several brought into central Canada by promoter Tony Condello in 1986.
over the AWA tag team titles
but broke up shortly after appearing at SuperClash III with Wendi Richter
in a mixed 6-person tag team match against Badd Company and Madusa Micelli on December 13, 1988. After participating in the "Superstars of Wrestling" tour of Europe in early 1988, Dukes then feuded with Colonel DeBeers in 1989 and lost a "Loser Gets Painted Yellow" match at War in the Windy City, however the controversial nature of the match caused it to be subsequently cut from the televised broadcast.
in a match for the PWA Iron Horse Television Championship on April 20, 1990.
All Pro Mark Gastineau
in Salem, Virginia
on June 8, 1991. Gastineau knocked Dukes out in the first round of the fight, however it was later found out that Dukes took a dive (intentionally losing the fight).
wrestler Charlie Norris
as Thunderblood winning the PWA Tag Team titles from the Storm Troopers and remained tag team champions until the promotion's closure in early 1996.
on July 31, and Chris Brown in Memphis, Tennessee
on September 7, in an attempt at a comeback. Shortly thereafter, he once again returned to professional wrestling and began touring in Japan with Worldwide Pro Wrestling.
American Wrestling Association
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...
(AWA) in the late 1980s as one half of the tag team The Top Guns with Ricky Rice
Ricky Rice
Ricky Rice is an American professional wrestler who competed in Midwest regional promotions during the late 1980s, most notably with tag team partners Derrick Dukes and Jon Paul DeMans as The Top Guns in Eddie Sharkey's Minneapolis-based Pro Wrestling America and the American Wrestling...
. The team was originally made up off Rice and Jon Paul DeMans. However, DeMans left the AWA and Dukes replaced him as a member of the team.
Early career
Dukes and Rice, who had formerly competed in Eddie SharkeyEddie Sharkey
Eddie Sharkey is an American professional wrestling trainer. He is often called "The Trainer of Champions", and has been instrumental in training some of the biggest names in the industry, including the Road Warriors , "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Tom Zenk, Bob Backlund, Jerry Lynn, Sean Waltman, Nord...
's Pro Wrestling America
Pro Wrestling America
Pro Wrestling America is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1980s and early 1990s. Founded and promoted by retired wrestler Eddie Sharkey, a longtime veteran of the American Wrestling Association and owner of the Pro Wrestling America Training...
, were one of several brought into central Canada by promoter Tony Condello in 1986.
American Wrestling Association (AWA) (1988 - 1989)
While in the AWA, Rice and Dukes feuded with Badd CompanyBadd Company
Badd Company was a professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s, which later went by the name the Orient Express. It is rumored that the team name was derived from the rock band Bad Company...
over the AWA tag team titles
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
but broke up shortly after appearing at SuperClash III with Wendi Richter
Wendi Richter
Wendi Richter is a retired American professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she teamed with Joyce Grable, with whom she held the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship twice. In the 1980s, she joined the World...
in a mixed 6-person tag team match against Badd Company and Madusa Micelli on December 13, 1988. After participating in the "Superstars of Wrestling" tour of Europe in early 1988, Dukes then feuded with Colonel DeBeers in 1989 and lost a "Loser Gets Painted Yellow" match at War in the Windy City, however the controversial nature of the match caused it to be subsequently cut from the televised broadcast.
Return to Pro Wrestling America (1990)
After AWA folded, Dukes would return to Pro Wrestling America where he lost to the Lightning KidSean Waltman
Sean Michael Waltman is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE in their developmental program. He wrestled there under the ring names 1–2–3 Kid and X-Pac off and on from 1993–2002, World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Syxx, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ...
in a match for the PWA Iron Horse Television Championship on April 20, 1990.
Boxing career
Dukes would stop wrestling full time and pursue a career in boxing for a brief period during the early 1990s. His most famous bout came against former NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
All Pro Mark Gastineau
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
in Salem, Virginia
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
on June 8, 1991. Gastineau knocked Dukes out in the first round of the fight, however it was later found out that Dukes took a dive (intentionally losing the fight).
Pro Wrestling America (1995 - 1996)
In 1995, he returned to Pro Wrestling America and teamed with former World Championship WrestlingWorld 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...
wrestler Charlie Norris
Charlie Norris
Charlie Norris is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American promotions as well as the World Championship Wrestling during the early 1990s.-Career:...
as Thunderblood winning the PWA Tag Team titles from the Storm Troopers and remained tag team champions until the promotion's closure in early 1996.
Return to boxing (1999)
In 1999, Dukes would lose to Innocent Otukuwu in Lula, MississippiLula, Mississippi
Lula is a town in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 370 at the 2000 census.Lula was the birthplace of Dr. Ransom Myers , a renowned Canadian-based marine biologist/conservationist who published a seminal study on overfishing revealing the dramatic loss of nearly 90% of...
on July 31, and Chris Brown in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
on September 7, in an attempt at a comeback. Shortly thereafter, he once again returned to professional wrestling and began touring in Japan with Worldwide Pro Wrestling.
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling AmericaPro Wrestling AmericaPro Wrestling America is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1980s and early 1990s. Founded and promoted by retired wrestler Eddie Sharkey, a longtime veteran of the American Wrestling Association and owner of the Pro Wrestling America Training...
- PWA Tag Team ChampionshipPWA Tag Team ChampionshipThe PWA Tag Team Championship is a title in the Pro Wrestling Alliance professional wrestling promotion. It became an official title on July 21, 2007 with Kryll becoming the first champions.-Title history:...
(2 times) - with Ricky RiceRicky RiceRicky Rice is an American professional wrestler who competed in Midwest regional promotions during the late 1980s, most notably with tag team partners Derrick Dukes and Jon Paul DeMans as The Top Guns in Eddie Sharkey's Minneapolis-based Pro Wrestling America and the American Wrestling...
and Charlie NorrisCharlie NorrisCharlie Norris is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American promotions as well as the World Championship Wrestling during the early 1990s.-Career:...
- PWA Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 153 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991
- St. Paul Championship Wrestling
- SCW Northern States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)