|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Bockwinkel was groomed for the sports by his famous wrestling father,
Warren Bockwinkel and quickly became a major player. He debuted for Georgia
Championship Wrestling in 1969, defeating Billy Spears and went on to become
a fixture of the Georgia Championship Wrestling program in Atlanta. By
the end of 1969, Bockwinkel was a main eventer, defeating Louis Tillet
and Joe Scarpa for the Georgia Television Title. He dropped the belt to
El Mongol but won it back quickly in 1970. After losing the title to Bobby
Shane, Bockwinkel went on to defeat the Assassin for the Georgia Heavyweight
Title in 1970, just one year after making his professional wrestling debut.
Bockwinkel lost the gold again to Jumbo Tsuruta in Japan and lost control of the belt for a lengthier amount of time. Bockwinkel teamed with Ray Stevens and Larry Zbyszko at AWA Superclash in 1985 in a losing effort to Greg Gagne, Curt Hennig and Scott Hall. In 1986, Bockwinkel took the AWA World Title back after turning into a fan favourite, when AWA World Champion Stan Hansen quit the company, marking the second time Bockwinkel become AWA Champion by virtue of the champion leaving AWA competition. Bockwinkel finally lost the AWA World Title for the last time to Curt Hennig in 1987 and the company folded soon after. Bockwinkel worked behind the scenes for the World Wrestling Federation for a brief time, but chose not to become an on air talent, feeling his time as a wrestler was done. Bockwinkel was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994 and then became the WCW Commissioner, on camera. A feud was teased between Bockwinkel and WCW newcomer, and old Bockwinkel foe, Hulk Hogan but nothing came of it. Bockwinkel was phased out of WCW programming very quickly and soon retired from WCW as well. Bockwinkel now travels the country for legends appearances, but is retired from active competition. He was the pillar of the AWA throughout the 1970s and 1980s and many have argued that if Bockwinkel accepted Vince McMahon's offer to join the WWF during the Rock-n-Wrestling era, he could have been bigger than Ric Flair. His old school style and classic interview made him a viable heel World Champion and there is no doubt, this man belongs here in the UWOW Hall of Fame! |
| * | * |
Bockwinkel left Georgia to join Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association,
teaming with Ray "The Crippler" Stevens under the management of a young
Bobby Heenan. Together, they won the AWA World Tag Team Championship three
times, defeating the Bruiser & the Crusher, Verne Gagne & Billy
Robinson & the Vachons. In November of 1975, Bockwinkel won the big
belt, taking down Verne Gagne for the AWA World Championship, thus ending
his 7 year reign. He held on to the title in rematches and then made history
by attempting to unify the AWA and WWF World Championships with WWF Champion
Bob Backlund, but the match went the distance and was declared a draw.
Verne Gagne regained the AWA World Title in July of 1980 but soon retired
and Bockwinkel was declared the AWA World Champion for the second time.
Bockwinkel held the title for two years before dropping it to Otto Wanz
in August of 1982, but regained it by November. During this time, Bockwinkel
and the Heenan Family came across the awesome challenge of a new phenomenan...
HULK HOGAN. Bockwinkel and Hogan had a classic feud that could have been
huge except for Verne Gagne's unwillingness to let Hogan take the AWA Championship.
Hogan defeated Bockwinkel in 1983 after hitting him with a roll of coins,
however, the title change was reversed one day later and Hogan was disqualified.
An angry Hogan looked for work elsewhere and became WWF Champion in 1984,
leaving Bockwinkel and the AWA to decline rapidly.