NICK BOCKWINKLE "Wrestling Legend"
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I can say that i was fortunate enough to catch Nick Bockwinkle wrestled at the end of his career when he was smashing on all contenders in AWA and remembered watching AWA and when AWA vs NWA went against other and s great match with two of the greatest wrestlers of all times when NICK BOCKWINKLE wrestled THE NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR.
This is a thread that will have his matches and a BIO on one of the Great WRESTLING CHAMPION OF ALL TIMES, THE AWA GOLDEN BOY NICK BOCKWINKLE
This is a thread that will have his matches and a BIO on one of the Great WRESTLING CHAMPION OF ALL TIMES, THE AWA GOLDEN BOY NICK BOCKWINKLE
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Nick Bockwinkel
Nicholas Warren Francis "Nick" Bockwinkel[2] (born December 6, 1934) is a retired American professional wrestler. He mainly competed in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the United States. He is a former multi-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and co-holder of the AWA World Tag Team Championship.
Bockwinkel was considered by his peers and many industry experts to be an excellent wrestler, known for his exceptional technical ability and ring psychology. He was also known for his calm, charismatic, articulate promos, which distinguished him from many of his contemporaries.
Professional wrestling career
[edit]Early career
Bockwinkel began his career in 1955, after a knee injury forced the University of Oklahoma to withdraw his football scholarship. After training to become a wrestler by his father Warren,[1] a regional star in the 1940s, and Lou Thesz,[1] he spent the early years of his career teaming with his father. At the age of 16, he had his debut match against Thesz. He won his first major singles title in 1963, defeating Tony Borne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship.
[edit]American Wrestling Association
In 1970, Bockwinkel joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he formed a team with wrestler Ray Stevens and manager Bobby Heenan.[1] Together, they won the AWA World Tag Team Championship three times, the first in 1972.[1]
Bockwinkel won the first of many AWA World Heavyweight Championships at the age of 40, ending Verne Gagne's seven year reign.[1] As AWA Champion, Bockwinkel had feuds with Billy Robinson, ? the Bruiser, The Crusher, Mad Dog Vachon, Jerry Lawler, Otto Wanz, Mr. Saito, Verne Gagne and Hulk Hogan. Bockwinkel was involved in the first ever AWA versus World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) World Title Unification match, wrestling WWWF Champion, Bob Backlund, to a double count-out, on March 25, 1979.[1]
During the early years of the 1980s Nick Bockwinkel and the AWA World Heavyweight Championship would be mired in controversy. On July 19, 1980 Nick Bockwinkel was defeated by former and seven time AWA Champion Verne Gagne in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after regaining the AWA World title, Verne Gagne announced his retirement from professional wrestling and the AWA Heavyweight Championship was awarded to the #1 contender Nick Bockwinkel on May 19, 1981. This move infuriated wrestling fans throughout the American Wrestling Association and solidified Nick Bockwinkel as the most despised wrestler in the AWA. But the controversy surrounding Nick Bockwinkel, AWA president Stanley Blackburn and the AWA title would continue to grow.
Perhaps the biggest controversy (in a series of questionable decisions in favor of Bockwinkel) was known as the "screwjob" that involved Hulk Hogan. In June 1982, Hulk Hogan defeated Nick Bockwinkel by pinfall in St. Paul, Mn to capture the AWA World Title, but once again the favor of AWA president Stanley Blackburn rested in Bockwinkel's corner. Immediately after the conclusion of the match, AWA president Stanley Blackburn reversed the decision and returned the title to Bockwinkel who would lose the title again in a stunning upset to Otto Wanz on August 29, 1982. Two months later Nick Bockwinkel would regain the AWA Heavyweight Championship.
On February 22, 1984, Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Bockwinkel to capture the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Bockwinkel wrestled NWA World Champion Ric Flair for the NWA title at the last AWA show in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 16, 1986 at the Winnipeg Arena before the AWA territory lost Winnipeg to the WWF. Bockwinkel was not the AWA champion at this time. Bockwinkel last held the title in 1987, at the age of 52, before dropping the championship to another second generation wrestler, Curt Hennig, at SuperClash. The match ended in controversial fashion due to interference by Larry Zbyszko, who had handed a roll of coins to Hennig to use on Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel retired in 1987, ending a career that spanned four decades. In one of his final matches as an active competitor, he paid Zbyszko back for costing him the AWA World title by pinning him on an episode of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN after knocking him out with a roll of coins.
Bockwinkel came out of retirement for one night in May of 1992, wrestling old rival Billy Robinson on a UWFI show in Japan. The match has gotten some notoriety in recent times for an incident in which Robinson became legitimately upset with Bockwinkel for throwing a knee at him, and Bockwinkel audibly replying "It's a knee, Robinson."
Post-retirement
After departing AWA, Bockwinkel worked as a road agent for the World Wrestling Federation, also serving as a color commentator for occasional televised events. He returned to the ring in 1993 at Slamboree: A Legends' Reunion. The card was promoted by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) but featured veteran wrestlers from all over the country. Bockwinkel wrestled former NWA World Champion Dory Funk, Jr. to a time limit draw as part of the undercard. In 1994, Bockwinkel became the on-screen commissioner of WCW.[1]
In 2000, he and Yoshiaki Fujiwara were the commissioners for a short-lived shoot style promotion, the Japan Pro Wrestling Association, but as the shoot-style market in Japan had been low since the collapse of UWF International, the wrestlers on it moved to other promotions. Bockwinkel is currently the President of the Cauliflower Alley Club, as well as the on-screen General Manager for AWA Superstars.
On March 31, 2007, he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.[1]
[edit]Other media
In 1968, Bockwinkel appeared as a contestant on a prime-time version of the NBC game show Hollywood Squares.[1] He played Harry in the episode Savage Sunday in the show Hawaii Five-O.[1] Bockwinkel also played a wrestler in an episode of the 1960s television series The Monkees.[1]
[edit]Personal life
He now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. On November 8, 2009, Bockwinkel underwent triple bypass heart surgery.
He recently made an appearance on WWE Monday Night Raw, on March 29, 2010, as part of Legends Lumberjack match. He was a Lumberjack for the match between Christian and Ted Dibiase.
In 2007, he was elected President of the Cauliflower Alley Club, a non-profit organization.
[edit]In wrestling
Finishing moves
Piledriver[1]
Sleeper hold[1][3]
Signature moves
Cobra clutch
Dropkick
Drop toe-hold[3]
Figure four leglock
Indian deathlock[3]
Seated senton to an opponent's leg[3] -
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
AWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Ray Stevens
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ray Stevens
Continental Wrestling Association
AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Mid-South Sports
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Georgia Television Championship (3 times)
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (1 time) - with Ricky Romero
NWA Los Angeles
NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (2 times)
NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Bobby Shane
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version) (1 time)
NWA San Francisco
NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (2 times) - with Ramon Torres
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 time) - with Nick Kozak (2) and Buddy Mareno (1)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Stanley Weston Award (2007)
PWI Tag Team of the Year (1973) - with Ray Stevens
PWI ranked him #18 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Class of 2003
World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)
WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Édouard Carpentier (1) and Lord James Blears (1)
World Wrestling Entertainment
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)[1]
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996) -
Nick Bockwinkel Shoots On Hulk Hogan Classic AWA Promo
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Wrestler: Nick Bockwinkel
Real Name: Nicholas Warren Francis Bockwinkel
Birthday: December 6, 1934
Hometown: Originally: St. Paul, Minnesota
Moved to Los Angeles, California
Marital Status:
Height & Weight: 5'10" - 265 lbs
Trained by: Warren Bockwinkel
Lou Thesz
Debut:
Previous Names: ? Warren (San Francisco)
Roy Diamond (Texas)
The Phantum (Nebraska)
"Sensational White Phantom"
Commisioner of WCW
Finishing Move: The Pile Driver
Japanese Sleeper
Favorite Moves: Figure Four Leglock
Indian Death Lock
The Dropkick
Notable Feuds:
Pat patterson
Lou Thesz
Billy White Wolf
Don Manoukian
Billy Varga
Tosh Togo
Ski High Lee
Shag Thomas
Leo Garibaldi
? The Bruiser
Rick Steamboat
The Funks
Larry Zbyszko
Notable Feuds:
Bruiser Brody
Jerry Lawler
Rick Martel
Tito Santana
The Crusher
Baron Von Raschke
Tommy Rich
Crusher Blackwell
Wahoo McDaniel
Stan Hansen
Hulk Hogan
Curt Hennig
Verne Gagne
Mad Dog Vachon
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Ramon Torres defeating Hans Hermann & Art Neilson (April 28, 1958);
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Ramon Torres defeating Hombre Montana & Tiny Mills (July 14, 1958);
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title defeating Tony Borne (October 30, 1963);
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Nick Kozak defeating The Destroyer & Art Michalik (March 18, 1964);
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Nick Kozak defeating The Destroyer & Dan Manoukian (April 22, 1964);
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title defeating The Destroyer (May 22, 1964);
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Buddy Mareno (Omar Atlas) -replaces injured Nick Kozak- (1964);
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Barend (November 25, 1964);
(Amarillo) World Tag Team titles w/Ricky Romero defeating Kurt & Karl Von Brauner (November 15, 1967);
(Texas) World Tag Team titles w/Ricky Romero defeating Kurt & Karl Von Brauner (April 25, 1968);
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Barend (December 25, 1968);
NWA Georgia Television title defeating Joe Scarpa (January 30, 1970);
NWA Georgia Television title defeating El Mongol (March 2, 1970);
NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Assassin #1 (Tom Renesto) (April 17, 1970);
NWA Georgia Television title defeating Joe Scarpa (June 5, 1970);
NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Paul DeMarco (July 24, 1970);
AWA World Tag Team titles w/Ray Stevens defeating Red Bastien & Crusher Lisowski (January 20, 1972);
NWA (Florida) Tag Team titles w/Ray Stevens defeating Hiro Matsuda & Tim Woods (July 20, 1972);
AWA World Tag Team titles w/Ray Stevens defeating Verne Gagne & Billy Robinson (January 6, 1973);
AWA World Tag Team titles w/Ray Stevens defeating Crusher Lisowski & Billy Robinson (October 24, 1974);
AWA World Heavyweight title defeating Verne Gagne (November 8, 1975);
AWA World Heavyweight title defeating Verne Gagne (May 19, 1981);
AWA World Heavyweight title -Awarded- (April 24, 1982);
AWA World Heavyweight title defeating Otto Wanz (October 9, 1982);
AWA (Tennessee) Southern Heavyweight title defeating Jerry "The King" Lawler (October 11, 1982);
AWA World Heavyweight title -Awarded when Stan Hansen vacated title- (June 28, 1982);
World Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee (1994);
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Inductee (1996);
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee (2003); -
Nick Bockwinkel vs Ric Flair
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AWA Wrestling: Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel
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Nick Bockwinkel Shoot Interview
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AWA - Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig in 1986 for the AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
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i GOT TO GIVE IT UP TO Nick Bockwinkle even though he was the Man in AWA he never tried to hold the younger guys down and will take a fall to push them over. He pushed over Hulk Hogan, Curt Henning, Larry Zybsko and Jerry Lawler all great wrestlers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7hVP0HSMNo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCY39WjDYjQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9zBzzlqZ-E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRclSWabbJY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSCKg0jDH1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQ4jEwe1Y8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCZqYa3FBTs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaVwcvavoNo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCmVCBGSnZI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye3TohXAAtY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsLOtPbfbeA