Ox Baker
Encyclopedia
Douglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor
, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several movies including Blood Circus
and Escape from New York
.
in 1962 before getting thrown out of school. He also played football for two years in the armed forces. In the early 1960s Ox approached Kansas City, Missouri
promoters about wrestling and was paid $300 for his first night. Following that night he went into training with Buddy "Killer" Austin, Pat O'Connor
, and Bob Geigel
. A couple of years later he was ready, standing 6'5" and weighing 342 pounds (hence the nickname "Ox"). He began his pro wrestling career by defeating Frank Hickey in Kansas City, and later the Missouri Mauler
as well. As time went on he was winning a majority of his matches by knock out caused by the Heart Punch (which he borrowed from Stan Stasiak
) and adapted into his own ring arsenal. He would later rename the move the Hurt Punch after Stasiak objected.
Initially debuting as a kind, horn-rimmed glasses wearing, country simpleton, Ox would eventually evolve into one of the most hated and feared villains in the History of Professional Wrestling, known for his captivating mic skills, his finishing maneuver The Heart Punch (later dubbed The Hurt Punch), and his unique look with his shaved head and dark black bushy mustache and eyebrows. In press and television he stood out among other wrestlers because of his ability to interview well. His heart punch was one of the most feared moves of its time. Baker worked wrestling promotions all over the United States and Canada, as well as several in other parts of the world.
In 1967 Baker had worked for the WWWF as The Friendly Arkansas Ox, most notably at the Market Street Arena in Philadelphia. In his first appearance there, Baker teamed with Armand Hussein (whom Ox traveled with) in a handicap match versus Gorilla Monsoon.
Later on Baker went to fight in different promotions through North America. He Fought in Detroit, Stampede Wrestling in Calgary,and AWA throughout the 1970s.
Itis believed that Ox Baker's short 1980 stay in the World Wide Wrestling Federation
(he did one television taping) was aborted because Vince McMahon Sr. was unimpressed with his ringwork (some rumors have Baker initially planned to challenge then heavyweight champion Bob Backlund
).
In his career he would defeat "Cowboy" Bob Ellis for the World Wrestling Association
belt in Dick The Bruiser
's Indianapolis territory, he would also defeat Carlos Colon
for the WWC
World Title in Puerto Rico. Baker was a multi-time Tag Team Champion; he has teamed with the likes of Ole Anderson
and Skandor Akbar to capture Tag Team Championships in the NWA
and NWF
. Baker teamed with Big John Studd
(then known as Chuck O' Connor) to win the WWA Tag Team Title in 1976. He also teamed with Superstar Billy Graham to hold the NWA Florida Tag Team Title. Baker would go on to Heart Punch his way through The Sheik
to win the Detroit version of the US Heavyweight Title, he also won the World Class Championship and the World Class Texas Title several times. Another memorable Baker feud was with Randy "Macho Man" Savage, in the southern promotion that Savage ran with his father Angelo Poffo and his brother Lanny Poffo.
An estimated 8,000 men have fallen to the Heart Punch. Among them are Fritz Von Erich
, David Von Erich
, Kerry Von Erich
, Jimmy Snuka
, Verne Gagne
, Ernie Ladd
, Harley Race
, Bulldog Brower
, Mil Mascaras
, Hulk Hogan
, and The Sheik
. Hogan's knockout came when he tried to wrestle the Florida Title away from Baker, Hogan would eventually get knocked out three nights in a row. Ed Roney challenged Baker numerous times and also chased Baker out of the ring four times. Baker never accepted Roney's challenge.
Late in his career, Baker appeared with Central States Wrestling
as a face and feuded with Rip Rogers
.
tag team match against Alberto Torres and his partner Cowboy Bob Ellis in Verdigre, Nebraska
. Torres was injured during the match and died three days later. Though evidence indicated that Torres died of a ruptured appendix, Baker's Heart Punch was blamed and, though by his own account Baker was privately distraught over the death, he did "work" it as though he had killed Torres.
On August 1, 1972, in Savannah, Georgia
Baker faced Ray Gunkel
, who was a popular wrestler in (and part owner of) the Georgia promotion. Though it was claimed that Gunkel dropped dead in the ring from the Heart Punch, other accounts, most notably in the biography of Vince McMahon Sex, Lies and Headlocks, state that Gunkel had suffered a heart attack apparently from over-indulging at a restaurant before the match. The truth is that Gunkel won the match and died in the dressing room after the match. In both cases, Baker was "blamed" for the death.
On February 12, 1981, Baker was a contestant on the game show The Price is Right
. He won his way on stage (winning Poker Game) but lost in the Showcase Showdown. He was called down by his real name, Douglas.
In 1985, Ox Baker played the Russian in the wrestling movie "Blood Circus".
In 1988 Ox returned to professional wrestling for The AWA. Under contract, Ox teamed up with The Russian Brute of ICW fame. The following year he opened "Ox Baker's Wrestling School" becoming a well-renowned trainer. His students include Star The Night Stalker (real name Bryan Clark
, later known as Adam Bomb, NWA New England Superstar The Dark Angel, and his Kayfabe twin Brother Micky Byggs of Wrestling Spotlite Radio. He has published a children's coloring Book, recorded a music CD and always a fan favorite, continues to make public appearances, most recently to promote his new cookbook. Ox is assisting The Russian Brute with his book Dreams Through A Window. He also did commentary for some IWCCW events in the early 1990s.
During his years as a territorial wrestler Baker had gained a reputation as an accomplished cook, saving money on the road by avoiding restaurants and cooking meals for his fellow wrestlers himself. Sometime after his retirement Baker wrote and privately published his own cookbook/memoirs.
On February 14, 1996, Ox Baker was united in marriage to his second wife Peggy Ann Kawa.
Baker made an appearance in Ring of Honor
in 2004 during their At Our Best show, confronting Dusty Rhodes
before the show started and again during the main event.
In 2005 an extensive documentary on Baker's life and career was filmed, directed by Halfbreed Billy Gram, shot by Robert Lucas. At last word the film is still in post production with a working title of "I Love the People I Hurt-The Life and Legend of the Mighty Ox Baker". Also filmed during this time was a short comedy feature titled "My Smorgasboard with Ox", co-written and co-starring Ox and Gram. A very crude, rough cut of this film exists, Ox has been selling copies at personal appearances.
In 2006 the North Carolina-based indie band The Mountain Goats
released a song on the album Babylon Springs entitled Ox Baker Triumphant in which Ox is betrayed by the wrestling community and rises up to strike vengeance upon them.
Baker also made an appearance in CZW on December 8, 2007, in Philadelphia, during their Cage of Death 9 show. Ox appeared as the guest of Cult Fiction
, Halfbreed Billy Gram
and Toby Klein
, in an interview segment that opened the show, serving a dual purpose of paying respect to Ox and setting up some heat around the main event later in the evening. This appearance is available from SmartMark Video.
Baker resides in Connecticut, doing shows in the New England area and has been inducted into the NEPWHOF.
Peggy Ann Kawa-Baker died on April 24, 2010, in Danielson, Connecticut
.
National Wrestling Federation
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several movies including Blood Circus
Blood Circus
Santo Gold's "Blood Circus" is a science fiction movie, with a professional-wrestling theme, produced in 1985. The movie was produced by Baltimore-native Santo Victor Rigatuso, also called Robert "Bob" Harris, who promoted it through infomercials for his mail-order "Santo Gold" jewelry...
and Escape from New York
Escape from New York
Escape from New York is a 1981 American science fiction action film directed and scored by John Carpenter. He co-wrote the screenplay with Nick Castle. The film is set in the near future in a crime-ridden United States that has converted Manhattan Island in New York City into a maximum security...
.
Early life and career
Ox Baker, oldest of five siblings (three brothers and one sister), began as an amateur high school wrestler, boxer and football player in his adopted hometown of Waterloo, IowaWaterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
in 1962 before getting thrown out of school. He also played football for two years in the armed forces. In the early 1960s Ox approached Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
promoters about wrestling and was paid $300 for his first night. Following that night he went into training with Buddy "Killer" Austin, Pat O'Connor
Pat O'Connor (wrestler)
Patrick John "Pat" O'Connor , was a professional wrestler from New Zealand. O'Connor was regarded as one of the premier workers of his era...
, and Bob Geigel
Bob Geigel
Robert "Bob" Geigel is a former American professional wrestling promoter and also a former professional wrestler. Geigel ran the NWA Central States promotion between 1963 and 1986, until it was bought out by Jim Crockett Promotions...
. A couple of years later he was ready, standing 6'5" and weighing 342 pounds (hence the nickname "Ox"). He began his pro wrestling career by defeating Frank Hickey in Kansas City, and later the Missouri Mauler
Larry Hamilton
Larry "Rocky" Hamilton , known by his ringname The Missouri Mauler, was an American professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance as well as Florida Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions, becoming a mainstay of the latter promotion throughout the 1960s.One of...
as well. As time went on he was winning a majority of his matches by knock out caused by the Heart Punch (which he borrowed from Stan Stasiak
Stan Stasiak
George Stipich , better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak, was a Canadian professional wrestler and fifth World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion. He is the father of professional wrestler Shawn Stasiak.-Career:...
) and adapted into his own ring arsenal. He would later rename the move the Hurt Punch after Stasiak objected.
Initially debuting as a kind, horn-rimmed glasses wearing, country simpleton, Ox would eventually evolve into one of the most hated and feared villains in the History of Professional Wrestling, known for his captivating mic skills, his finishing maneuver The Heart Punch (later dubbed The Hurt Punch), and his unique look with his shaved head and dark black bushy mustache and eyebrows. In press and television he stood out among other wrestlers because of his ability to interview well. His heart punch was one of the most feared moves of its time. Baker worked wrestling promotions all over the United States and Canada, as well as several in other parts of the world.
In 1967 Baker had worked for the WWWF as The Friendly Arkansas Ox, most notably at the Market Street Arena in Philadelphia. In his first appearance there, Baker teamed with Armand Hussein (whom Ox traveled with) in a handicap match versus Gorilla Monsoon.
Later on Baker went to fight in different promotions through North America. He Fought in Detroit, Stampede Wrestling in Calgary,and AWA throughout the 1970s.
Itis believed that Ox Baker's short 1980 stay in the World Wide Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(he did one television taping) was aborted because Vince McMahon Sr. was unimpressed with his ringwork (some rumors have Baker initially planned to challenge then heavyweight champion Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund
Robert Lee "Bob" Backlund is an American professional wrestler with an in ring career that spanned over 30 years. Over that time, he went on to become a two-time WWWF/WWF Champion...
).
In his career he would defeat "Cowboy" Bob Ellis for the World Wrestling Association
World Wrestling Association
The World Wrestling Association is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora, Jr....
belt in Dick The Bruiser
William Afflis
William Fritz Afflis , best known as Dick the Bruiser, was an American football player and professional wrestler.-Early life:...
's Indianapolis territory, he would also defeat Carlos Colon
Carlos Colón
Carlos Colón may refer to:*Carlos Colón, Sr., wrestler*Carly Colón, wrestler whose real name is Carlos Colón, son of the above*The Deadlines' lead guitarist, Carlos Colón...
for the WWC
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
World Title in Puerto Rico. Baker was a multi-time Tag Team Champion; he has teamed with the likes of Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson
Alan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
and Skandor Akbar to capture Tag Team Championships in the NWA
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
and NWF
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
. Baker teamed with Big John Studd
Big John Studd
John William Minton was an American professional wrestler and actor who was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, better known by his ring name, Big John Studd.-Career:...
(then known as Chuck O' Connor) to win the WWA Tag Team Title in 1976. He also teamed with Superstar Billy Graham to hold the NWA Florida Tag Team Title. Baker would go on to Heart Punch his way through The Sheik
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
to win the Detroit version of the US Heavyweight Title, he also won the World Class Championship and the World Class Texas Title several times. Another memorable Baker feud was with Randy "Macho Man" Savage, in the southern promotion that Savage ran with his father Angelo Poffo and his brother Lanny Poffo.
An estimated 8,000 men have fallen to the Heart Punch. Among them are Fritz Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Jack Barton Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring name Fritz Von Erich, better known today as a wrestling promoter and the patriarch of the Von Erich family...
, David Von Erich
David Von Erich
David Alan Adkisson was an American professional wrestler who competed as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" David Von Erich...
, Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior, and The Texas Tornado and was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers...
, Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka
James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
, Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
, Ernie Ladd
Ernie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd , nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.-Pro Football career:...
, Harley Race
Harley Race
Harley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
, Bulldog Brower
Bulldog Brower
Richard Gland was an American professional wrestler who used the ring name Bulldog Brower.-Professional wrestling career:...
, Mil Mascaras
Mil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
, Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, and The Sheik
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
. Hogan's knockout came when he tried to wrestle the Florida Title away from Baker, Hogan would eventually get knocked out three nights in a row. Ed Roney challenged Baker numerous times and also chased Baker out of the ring four times. Baker never accepted Roney's challenge.
Late in his career, Baker appeared with Central States Wrestling
Heart of America Sports Attractions
Heart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was an American professional wrestling promotion that ran shows mainly in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa...
as a face and feuded with Rip Rogers
Rip Rogers
Mark Sciarra whose professional name is Rip Rogers is a former professional wrestler and trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling. He is currently a trainer for Derby City Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky.-Career:...
.
The Heart Punch Kills
On June 13, 1971, Ox and his partner the Claw were wrestling in a AWA Midwest Tag Team ChampionshipAWA Midwest Tag Team Championship
The AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship was a title in the American Wrestling Association from 1967 until 1971. It was for mid-level wrestlers and was mostly defended in the Omaha, Nebraska area.-Title history:...
tag team match against Alberto Torres and his partner Cowboy Bob Ellis in Verdigre, Nebraska
Verdigre, Nebraska
Verdigre is a village in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 519 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Verdigre is located at ....
. Torres was injured during the match and died three days later. Though evidence indicated that Torres died of a ruptured appendix, Baker's Heart Punch was blamed and, though by his own account Baker was privately distraught over the death, he did "work" it as though he had killed Torres.
On August 1, 1972, in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
Baker faced Ray Gunkel
Ray Gunkel
Raymond Fred Gunkel , known professionally as Ray Gunkel, was an American professional wrestler and promoter in the state of Georgia. He died of heart trauma after a match in Savannah, Georgia in which he defeated Ox Baker.-Early life:Gunkell was born on February 16, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois...
, who was a popular wrestler in (and part owner of) the Georgia promotion. Though it was claimed that Gunkel dropped dead in the ring from the Heart Punch, other accounts, most notably in the biography of Vince McMahon Sex, Lies and Headlocks, state that Gunkel had suffered a heart attack apparently from over-indulging at a restaurant before the match. The truth is that Gunkel won the match and died in the dressing room after the match. In both cases, Baker was "blamed" for the death.
Current
Ox Baker can be seen in the NY based independent promotion Pro Wrestling Syndicate where he is the manager of "The Samoan Mastadon" Fala.Retirement
Baker has worked in movies from time to time, most notably in the late 70's and early 80's, as a fighter in Jackie Chan's The Big Brawl and as Kurt Russell's gladiatorial opponent in John Carpenter's Escape From New York as well as the cult classic wrestling film which "borrowed" from his catch phrase...I Like to Hurt People.On February 12, 1981, Baker was a contestant on the game show The Price is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
. He won his way on stage (winning Poker Game) but lost in the Showcase Showdown. He was called down by his real name, Douglas.
In 1985, Ox Baker played the Russian in the wrestling movie "Blood Circus".
In 1988 Ox returned to professional wrestling for The AWA. Under contract, Ox teamed up with The Russian Brute of ICW fame. The following year he opened "Ox Baker's Wrestling School" becoming a well-renowned trainer. His students include Star The Night Stalker (real name Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
, later known as Adam Bomb, NWA New England Superstar The Dark Angel, and his Kayfabe twin Brother Micky Byggs of Wrestling Spotlite Radio. He has published a children's coloring Book, recorded a music CD and always a fan favorite, continues to make public appearances, most recently to promote his new cookbook. Ox is assisting The Russian Brute with his book Dreams Through A Window. He also did commentary for some IWCCW events in the early 1990s.
During his years as a territorial wrestler Baker had gained a reputation as an accomplished cook, saving money on the road by avoiding restaurants and cooking meals for his fellow wrestlers himself. Sometime after his retirement Baker wrote and privately published his own cookbook/memoirs.
On February 14, 1996, Ox Baker was united in marriage to his second wife Peggy Ann Kawa.
Baker made an appearance in Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
in 2004 during their At Our Best show, confronting Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
before the show started and again during the main event.
In 2005 an extensive documentary on Baker's life and career was filmed, directed by Halfbreed Billy Gram, shot by Robert Lucas. At last word the film is still in post production with a working title of "I Love the People I Hurt-The Life and Legend of the Mighty Ox Baker". Also filmed during this time was a short comedy feature titled "My Smorgasboard with Ox", co-written and co-starring Ox and Gram. A very crude, rough cut of this film exists, Ox has been selling copies at personal appearances.
In 2006 the North Carolina-based indie band The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
released a song on the album Babylon Springs entitled Ox Baker Triumphant in which Ox is betrayed by the wrestling community and rises up to strike vengeance upon them.
Baker also made an appearance in CZW on December 8, 2007, in Philadelphia, during their Cage of Death 9 show. Ox appeared as the guest of Cult Fiction
Cult Fiction
-Personel:* Matt Beck - guitar* Chris Raines - drums* Jon Spencer - vocals* Dan Tulloh - guitar...
, Halfbreed Billy Gram
Halfbreed Billy Gram
"Halfbreed" Billy Gram is an American musician, screenwriter, actor, professional wrestling manager, color commentator and Native American political activist. He is best known for appearances with the Philly punk-metal band Saints in Hell and his solo project Ghostdance Tribe...
and Toby Klein
Toby Klein
Toby Klein is a professional wrestler well known for deathmatches in Combat Zone Wrestling and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. He is a member of the Tough Crazy Bastards with Necro Butcher, due to their very similar styles in that their characters are both wild brawlers.-Career:Toby...
, in an interview segment that opened the show, serving a dual purpose of paying respect to Ox and setting up some heat around the main event later in the evening. This appearance is available from SmartMark Video.
Baker resides in Connecticut, doing shows in the New England area and has been inducted into the NEPWHOF.
Peggy Ann Kawa-Baker died on April 24, 2010, in Danielson, Connecticut
Danielson, Connecticut
Danielson is a borough in the town of Killingly in Windham County, Connecticut. The population was 4,265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Heart Punch
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
- Oliver HumperdinkOliver HumperdinkJohn Sutton , better known by his ring name Oliver Humperdink, was a professional wrestling manager who worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, Florida Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.-Career:...
- Jimmy Hart
Championships and accomplishments
- All Star Pro Wrestling (New Zealand)
- NWA Australasian Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with King KamakaTor KamataMcRonald Kamaka was an American/Canadian professional wrestler known by the ring name Tor Kamata. He won several Heavyweight and Tag Team championships, including one World Tag Team title. He was a classic "bad guy" wrestler...
- American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe 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 Midwest Tag Team ChampionshipAWA Midwest Tag Team ChampionshipThe AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship was a title in the American Wrestling Association from 1967 until 1971. It was for mid-level wrestlers and was mostly defended in the Omaha, Nebraska area.-Title history:...
(3 times) - with Rock RogowskiOle AndersonAlan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
(1), the Claw (1), and the Great Kusatsu (1)
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe 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....
- Other honoree (2002)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(1 time) - with Superstar Billy Graham - NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship WrestlingJim Crockett PromotionsJim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship is the tag team title currently defended in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Mid-Atlantic territory. The championship was originally created in the summer of 1968 and was originally named the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship...
(1 time) - with Carl Fergie
- Mid-South SportsGeorgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
- NWA Georgia Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Georgia Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship was the top tag team championship in Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1968 to 1980, when it was replaced with the NWA National Tag Team Championship....
(1 time) - with Skandor Akbar
- Midwest Championship Wrestling
- MCW International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Big Time WrestlingWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title that has existed since the 1930s. Though its exact date of creation isn't known, it is among the oldest championships used in professional wrestling today...
(1 time)
- NWA DetroitNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit Version)NWA Detroit United States Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Detroit United States Heavyweight Championship was a version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title. It was known as the Chicago version from 1953 until 1959 and was later renamed the Detroit version from 1959 until 1980...
(1 time)
- NWA Hollywood WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Americas Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hollywood Wrestling based out of Los Angeles, California....
(1 time) - with Enforcer Luciano - NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time) - with Enforcer Luciano
- NWA New ZealandNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version)The New Zealand version of the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship defended in the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated Dominion Wrestling Union from 1929 to 1953 and in All Star Pro Wrestling from 1968 to 1990...
(1 time)
National Wrestling Federation
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
- NWF North American Heavyweight ChampionshipNWF North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles title in the American professional wrestling promotion, the National Wrestling Federation. The title started in 1968 as a National Wrestling Alliance title, named the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship until the NWF...
(1 time)
- Southeastern Championship WrestlingContinental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
- NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division) (1 time)
- Stampede WrestlingStampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
- Stampede North American Heavyweight ChampionshipStampede North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. From its establishment in 1968 until 1972, it was Stampede's secondary singles championship, becoming the top title in 1972 after the previous top...
(1 time)
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Austra-Asian Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship was the top tag team professional wrestling title in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from 1972 through the promotion's 1978 closure....
(1 time) - with Butcher Brannigan
- World Wrestling AssociationWorld Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)The World Wrestling Association was an Indianapolis-based pro wrestling promotion which was operated by Dick "The Bruiser" Afflis and his business partner Wilbur Snyder. The WWA was affiliated with the larger American Wrestling Association and recognized its champions, though the WWA also had its...
- WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWA World Tag Team ChampionshipWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title in the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association from the promotion's formation in 1964 until the late 1980s when the promotion closed.-Title history:...
(1 time) - with Chuck O'ConnorBig John StuddJohn William Minton was an American professional wrestler and actor who was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, better known by his ring name, Big John Studd.-Career:...
- World Wrestling CouncilWorld Wrestling CouncilThe World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
- WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipWWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship is a secondary professional wrestling championship that is defended in the World Wrestling Council based in Puerto Rico. The title was created in January 1974 and, as its name suggests, is defended exclusively within Puerto Rico.-Title history:...
(1 time) - WWC World Heavyweight ChampionshipWWC Universal Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the top title contested for in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling promotion, the World Wrestling Council. The championship was established in July 1982, as the WWC World Heavyweight...
(1 time)
