Stampede Wrestling
Acronym | Stampede Wrestling |
---|---|
Founded | September 11, 1948 (first run) October 28, 1985 (second run) April 2, 1999 (third run) |
Defunct | November 5, 1984 (first run) December 18, 1989 (second run) April 26, 2008 (third run) |
Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta |
Founder(s) | Stu Hart Al Oeming |
Owner(s) | Al Oeming (1948–1959) Stu Hart (1948–1984) Vince McMahon (1984–1985) Bruce Hart (1985–1989) Bruce and Ross Hart (1999–2007) Bill Bell (2007–2008) Smith Hart |
Parent | National Wrestling Alliance (until 1982) World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985) WWE Legacy Department (WWE) |
Formerly | Klondike Wrestling Big Time Wrestling Wildcat Wrestling |
Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the promotion competed with other promotions such as NWA All-Star Wrestling and Pacific Northwest Wrestling and regularly ran events in Calgary's Victoria Pavilion, Ogden Auditorium and the Stampede Corral between 1948 until 1984 when bought out by promoter Vince McMahon, the company was briefly run by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) before being sold back to the Hart family the following year. Run by Bruce Hart until January 1990, he and Ross Hart reopened the promotion in 1999 and began running events in the Alberta area.
Along with its wrestling school known as "The Dungeon", many of the promotion's former alumni becoming some of the most popular stars in the World Wrestling Federation and other American promotions during the 1980s and 1990s, the promotion produced one of the earliest televised professional wrestling programs (today considered the forerunner of today's WWE) that remained one of Calgary's most popular sports programs eventually airing in over 50 countries.[1]
History
[edit]First run (1948–1984)
[edit]Stampede Wrestling was formed in 1948 by Stu Hart and Al Oeming under the name Klondike Wrestling, and held their first show on September 11, 1948, at the Sales Pavillion in Edmonton, Alberta. It also become the National Wrestling Alliance's Calgary territory in Canada. In May 1951, they changed its name to Big Time Wrestling. In February 1958, they introduced their version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship to replace the Alberta Tag Team Championship that was retired the year before, which was won by The Kalmikoffs.
In 1959, Oeming retired and Hart took full control of the territory. Hart would also retire their version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. In 1965, he changed the name of the promotion to Wildcat Wrestling. Finally, in August 1967, he changed it to Stampede Wrestling, and the name stuck. In February 1968, they created their own singles title, the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Archie Gouldie (the future Mongolian Stomper). Four years later, they retired their version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship. In June 1978, they introduced the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, with Dynamite Kid as their inaugural champion during his first tour in North America. In 1979, Stampede would bring back an old championship, the Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (the title was first introduced in June 1959, before being quickly abandoned), with Dick Steinborn as champion. In 1982, Stampede withdrew from the NWA.
On December 2, 1983, a riot broke out at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary during a match between Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith and Sonny Two Rivers against Bad News Allen, The Stomper and Stomper's kayfabe son Jeff Gouldie.[2] Longtime Stampede announcer Ed Whalen reportedly became distraught during the riot, in which a woman was trampled, causing him to quit from the Stampede on air. Speaking of the events he remarked, "We're starting to scare the patrons with this violence outside the ring, and I will not be associated with it anymore."[3] The event led to Stampede Wrestling being banned from Calgary for six months by the city's wrestling and boxing commission. In August 1984, Stampede Wrestling was sold to the World Wrestling Federation.[4] Of all the talent that WWF took upon their purchase of Stampede, they took only three wrestlers: Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Dynamite Kid. Their last show was held on November 5, 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a WWF/Stampede joint show. Bret Hart claims that Vince McMahon never actually paid for the territory, and “stiffed” his father, Stu Hart.
Second run (1985–1989)
[edit]On October 28, 1985, the WWF sold Stampede back to the Hart family, with Bruce Hart taking the reins, and by 1986, the Calgary territory was given a shot of adrenaline with new talent such as Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, Biff Wellington, and Johnny Smith coming in to tangle with Gama Singh and his Karachi Vice stable (which included Shinya Hashimoto, Gary Albright, and Mike Shaw) and The Viet Cong Express (which included a masked Hiroshi Hase). In December 1987, they added a women's championship, the IWA World Women's Championship, with Monster Ripper as their champion, but by January 1989, that championship moved to Japan.
Despite a valiant four years trying to resurrect the wrestling scene in Calgary to its former glory, Stampede officially shut down on December 18, 1989. The closure stemmed from long-standing problems between Bruce Hart and Ed Whalen, producer Fred May's constantly editing too much content off TV, and pay disputes within talent. Their final show before closing down was held in Edmonton on December 16, with Larry Cameron defeating Bob Emory in the main event to retain the North American Heavyweight Championship.
Failed attempts to relaunch
[edit]Despite Stampede officially closing down in December 1989, there were several attempts to revive the promotion. The first attempt occurred around March 1990 by Bruce Hart, but it only lasted three months, running smaller towns outside Calgary and Edmonton, due to a lack of approval by the Calgary Wrestling & Boxing Commission to promote shows. The next attempt was around December 1991 by Abu Wizal, but only lasted a couple weeks. Between July 1995 and July 1997, Bruce Hart promoted one-off shows periodically at the Rockyford Rodeo in Rockyford, Alberta.
On December 15, 1995, a special Stampede Wrestling tribute show was held at the Corral in Calgary, celebrating Stu Hart's life and career. It featured several Stampede alumni, as well as talent from both the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. The main event saw Bret Hart successfully defend the WWF Championship against Davey Boy Smith.
Third run (1999–2008)
[edit]In early 1999, Bruce and Ross Hart reopened Stampede Wrestling, showcasing graduates from the Hart Dungeon training school. However, only weeks after their first event, the promotion once again became inactive following the death of Owen Hart in May. Although considering closing the promotion, the Hart family continued to promote events five months later and began touring western Canada. Although successful, the Harts were forced to cancel several tours in late 2001 and early 2002 due to the arrival of a rival promotion backed by a Calgary businessman. The promotion also lost much of its roster due to its rival hiring away top stars.
In 2005, promoters Bill Bell and Devon Nicholson took over day-to-day operations for Stampede Wrestling. During an event at the Spray Lakes Sawmill Sportsplex in Cochrane, Alberta, Nicholson would face Abdullah the Butcher after the scheduled main event between Lance Storm and Rhyno was canceled when Rhyno failed to appear. At that same event, longtime tag team partners TJ Wilson and Harry Smith faced each other in Smith's final match for the promotion before leaving for World Wrestling Entertainment. Bruce and Ross Hart sold Stampede Wrestling to Bill Bell in 2007. The promotion ceased operations again in April 2008.
Stampede's weekly shows were held mostly at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary, with special events held at the Stampede Corral.
Television program
[edit]Stampede Wrestling was the basis for a long-running weekly sports broadcast produced in Calgary showcasing many of the promotion's most popular wrestlers. Hosted by Ed Whalen most of its run, which went from 1957 to 1989, the series was syndicated around the world and reruns continue to be shown in some countries to this day. At the time Stampede was revived in 1999, a second Stampede Wrestling TV series was attempted, hosted by Bad News Allen and play by play commentator Mauro Ranallo, but it was short-lived and Whalen was not involved.
Tape library
[edit]WWE currently controls Stampede's extensive tape library. In December 2015, the WWE Network began adding Stampede Wrestling shows to its Vault section.[5] However, it was all removed a few days later, after Bret Hart proved that he owned the rights to the footage of his matches.[6]
The Dungeon
[edit]Stampede Wrestling was famous for "The Dungeon", a professional wrestling school located in the basement of the Calgary mansion Hart House, home of the Hart family. Stu Hart and Mr. Hito were the main trainers in the Dungeon. The school trained a number of ECW, WCW, WWE and NJPW stars, including the Hart Brothers, Mark Henry, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Ricky Fuji, Hiroshi Hase, Ken Shamrock, Justin Credible, Christian and Edge.
Championships
[edit]Championship: | Last champion(s): | Active from: | Active until: | Notes: |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta Tag Team Championship | John Foti and John Paul Henning | 1954 | 1957 | [7] |
British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship | Gama Singh Jr. | July 1978 | April 2008 | The British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title was revived in 1999 when Stampede started promoting again[8][9] Karl Anderson won it on March 12, 2006 in Santa Monica, California.[8][10] |
IWA World Women's Championship | Kyoko Inoue | December 1987 | 1997 | In 1989 the title began being promoted by All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling[8][11] |
NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) | Dave Ruhl | November 1, 1946 | 1972 | [8][12] |
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) | Butcher Vachon and Mad Dog Vachon | 1954 | 1959 | Tag Team title replaced by the NWA International Tag-Team Championship (Calgary version) later known as the “Stampede International Tag Team Championship”[8][13] |
Stampede International Tag Team Championship | Chris Steele and Pete Wilson | 1958 | April 2008 | The International Tag Team title was revived in 2000 when Stampede started promoting again[8][14] |
Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship | Ravenous Randy | February 28, 1968 | April 2008 | The North American title was revived in 1998 when Stampede started promoting again[8][15] |
Stampede Pacific Heavyweight Championship | Michael Modest | May 1999 | June 27, 2001 | [8][16] |
Stampede Women's Pacific Championship | Belle Lovitz | June 15, 2005 | April 2008 | The Women’s Pacific Title is the only title that was not used in the original version of Stampede Wrestling[17] |
Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship | Dynamite Kid | 1979 | c. October 1985 | [8][18] |
Former personnel
[edit]Modern version (1999-2008)
[edit]- Male wrestlers
Ring name | Real name | Tenure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Alex Plexis | Unknown | 2005–2008 | |
Apocalypse | Eric Thompson | 2000–2008 | |
Bobby Sharp | Robert Sharp | 2012–2013 | |
Brady Roberts | Brady Roberts | 2005–2008 | |
Brandon Van Danielson | Unknown | 2005–2008 | |
Bruce Hart | Bruce Hart (wrestler) | 1999–2003 | |
Carlo Cannon | Unknown | 2005 | |
Carrot Adams | Unknown | 2006–2008 | |
Chris Steele | Unknown | 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008 | |
Chucky Blaze | Michael Richard Blais | 2005–2008 | |
Crosse | Deryck Barton | 2006–2008 | |
Duke Durango | Jordan Clarke | 2003–2006 | |
Dusty Adonis | Unknown | 2005–2008 | |
Eddie Mustang | Unknown | 1999–2005 | |
Gama Singh Jr. | Unknown | 2004–2008 | |
Greg Pawluk | Greg Pawluk | 1999–2000, 2003–2004 | |
Harry Smith | Harry Smith | 1999–2006 | |
Jimmy T | Unknown | 1999–2000, 2007–2008 | |
Johnny Devine | John Parsonage | 1999–2000, 2002–2006, 2008 | |
Juggernaut | Craig Renney | 2002–2003, 2006–2007 | |
Karnage | Unknown | 2002–2005 | |
Kirk Melnick | Unknown | 2000–2004, 2007 | |
Lance Storm | Lance Evers | 2001 | |
Marky Mark | Unknown | 2003–2008 | |
Matt Richards | Unknown | 2004–2006 | |
Michael Avery | Unknown | 2006–2008 | |
Mike Modest | Michael Ciriglio | 2001 | |
Neil Faith | Neil Horsfall | 2002 | |
Pete Wilson | Peter Minnema | 2003–2008 | |
Randy Myers | Theo Francon | 2001–2008 | |
Retch Worthington | Unknown | 2007–2008 | |
Richard Pound | John Cozman | 1999–2001, 2003–2004 | |
Scotty Putty | Unknown | 2007–2008 | |
Superfly Dan | Unknown | 2002–2008 | |
Tatanka | Chris Chavis | 1999 | |
T-Bone | Unknown | 2006–2008 | |
Teddy Hart | Edward Annis | 1999–2006, 2008 | |
Thomas E Wolf | Shane Diederich | 1999-2002 | |
Tiger Raj Singh | Yuvraj Raj Dhesi | 2004–2008 | |
Tiger Kahn | Marlon Kalkai | 1999–2001 | |
T.J. Wilson | Theodore James Wilson | 1999–2007 |
- Female wrestlers
Ring name | Real name | Tenure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Anna Marie | Unknown | 2004–2005 | |
Belle Lovitz | Unknown | 2002–2008 | |
Mama Myers | Unknown | 2004–2006 | |
Natalya Neidhart | Natalie Neidhart | 2002–2007 | |
Phoenix Taylor | Unknown | 2003–2005, 2007–2008 |
Original version (1948–2007)
[edit]- Adrian Street†
- Abdullah the Butcher
- Bad News Allen†
- Hercules Ayala†
- Ben Bassarab
- Chris Benoit†
- Black Tomcat
- Steve Blackman
- "Bulldog" Bob Brown†
- Kerry Brown†
- Leo Burke†
- Larry Cameron†
- Edouard Carpentier†
- The Cobra
- Cuban Assassin
- Steve DiSalvo
- Dynamite Kid†
- Dory Funk Jr.
- Waldo Von Erich†
- The Great Gama
- Andre The Giant†
- Sumo Hara
- Bret Hart
- Bruce Hart
- Keith Hart
- Owen Hart†
- Smith Hart†
- Stu Hart†
- Teddy Hart
- Wayne Hart
- Mr. Hito†
- Honky Tonk Wayne
- Hiroshi Hase
- Lance Idol
- Jason the Terrible
- Hashif Khan†
- Killer Khan†
- Tyson Kidd
- Killer Kowalski†
- Dan Kroffat
- Phil Lafon
- Jos Leduc†
- Paul Leduc
- Keiichi Yamada
- Michel Martel†
- Rick Martel
- Frenchy Martin†
- Eddie Morrow
- Gerry Morrow
- Angelo Mosca†
- Don Muraco
- Duke Myers†
- Kendo Nagasaki (Peter Thornley)
- Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart†
- Nattie Neidhart
- Brian Pillman†
- Gilles Poisson
- Harley Race†
- Ron Ritchie
- Big Daddy Ritter†
- Jake Roberts
- Billy Robinson†
- Goldie Rogers†
- Jacques Rougeau
- Mr. Sakurada†
- Wild Samoans†
- Benkei Sasaki
- Satoru Sayama
- The Sheepherders
- "Dr. D." David Schultz
- Rhonda Sing†
- Makhan Singh†
- Vokhan Singh†
- Davey Boy Smith†
- Harry Smith
- Johnny Smith
- Stan Stasiak†
- The Stomper†
- Terrible Ted, a black bear†
- Les Thornton†
- Maurice Vachon†
- Paul Vachon†
- Biff Wellington†
- George Wells
- Ed Whalen†
Hall of Fame
[edit]The Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame list professional wrestlers and others who have competed in Stampede Wrestling, from Stu Hart's Klondike Wrestling to the original Stampede Wrestling promotion which closed in 1990.[19]
# | Year | Ring name (Real name)[a] |
Inducted by | Inducted for | Notes[b] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1995 | Stu Hart[20] | N/A | Wrestling and Promoting | Founder of Stampede Wrestling |
2 | 1995 | Jack Taylor[20] | N/A | Wrestling | |
3 | 1995 | Al "Mr. Murder" Mills[20] (Adolph Mittlestadt) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
4 | 1995 | Lou Thesz[20] (Aloysius Thesz) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
5 | 1995 | Jim "Riot Call" Wright[20] (James Wright) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
6 | 1995 | Rube Wright[20] (Reuben Wright) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
7 | 1995 | Pat McGill[20] (Patrick McGill) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
8 | 1995 | Sky Hi Lee[20] (Robert Leedy) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and Alberta Tag Team Championship (2 times) |
9 | 1995 | Luther Lindsay[20] (Luther Goodall) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (1 time), NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
10 | 1995 | Dr. Bill Miller[20] (William Miller) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
11 | 1995 | Whipper Billy Watson[20] (William Potts) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
12 | 1995 | Chief Thunderbird[20] (Jean Baptiste Paul) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
13 | 1995 | Earl McCready[20] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Alberta Tag Team Championship (1 time) |
14 | 1995 | Pat O'Connor[20] (Patrick O'Connor) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
15 | 1995 | Ilio DiPaolo[20] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
16 | 1995 | Édouard Carpentier (Édouard Weiczorkiewicz]) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
17 | 1995 | Gorgeous George[20] (George Wagner) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
18 | 1995 | Argentina Rocca[20] (Antonino Biasetton) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
19 | 1995 | Killer Kowalski[20] (Edward Spulnik) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) |
20 | 1995 | Czaya Nandor[20] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (3 times) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (1 time) |
21 | 1995 | Waldo Von Erich[20] (Walter Sieber) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) and Stampede Wrestling North American Championship (1 time) |
22 | 1995 | Tex McKenzie[20] (Frank McKenzie) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
23 | 1995 | Johnny Valentine[20] (John Wisniski) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) |
24 | 1995 | "Crusher" Stan Stasiak[20] (George Stipich) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (3 times) and Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) |
25 | 1995 | Don Leo Jonathan[20] (Don Heaton) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) |
26 | 1995 | George Gordienko[20] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
27 | 1995 | Archie Gouldie[20] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (14 times) |
28 | 1995 | Dave Ruhl[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) (8 times), Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
29 | 1995 | Tiger Joe Tomasso[21] (Joseph DiTommaso) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (4 times) |
30 | 1995 | Angelo Mosca[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) |
31 | 1995 | Billy Robinson (William Robinson) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
32 | 1995 | Geoff Portz[21] | N/A | Wrestling | |
33 | 1995 | Kendo Nagasaki[21] | N/A | Wrestling | |
34 | 1995 | Tor Kamata[21] (McRonald Kamaka) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
35 | 1995 | Les Thornton[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time) |
36 | 1995 | Dan Kroffat[21] (Daniel Kroffat) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (6 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (4 times) |
37 | 1995 | Mr. Hito[21] (Katsuji Adachi) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (8 times) |
38 | 1995 | Leo Burke[21] (Leonce Cormier) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (8 times) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (6 times) |
39 | 1995 | Dory Funk Jr.[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (1 time) |
40 | 1995 | Terry Funk | N/A | Wrestling | |
41 | 1995 | Harley Race[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) |
42 | 1995 | André the Giant[21] (André Roussimoff) |
N/A | Wrestling | |
43 | 1995 | Sky Low Low[21] (Marcel Gauthier) |
N/A | Midget Wrestling | |
44 | 1995 | Little Beaver[21] (Lionel Giroux) |
N/A | Midget Wrestling | |
45 | 1995 | The Fabulous Moolah[21] (Mary Ellison) |
N/A | Women's Wrestling | |
46 | 1995 | Penny Banner[21] (Mary Ann Kostecki) |
N/A | Women's Wrestling | |
47 | 1995 | Alexander Scott[21] | N/A | Refereeing | |
48 | 1995 | Cedrick Hathaway[21] | N/A | Refereeing | |
49 | 1995 | J.R. Foley[21] (John Foley) |
N/A | Managing | |
50 | 1995 | The Dynamite Kid[21] (Tom Billington) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (5 times) and Stampede International Tag Team Championship (6 times) |
51 | 1995 | Davey Boy Smith[21] (David Smith) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (2 times) and NWA Stampede International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) |
52 | 1995 | Keith Hart[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (7 times) |
53 | 1995 | Bruce Hart[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (8 times), Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) |
54 | 1995 | Bret Hart[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (6 times), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (3 times) and NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (5 times) |
55 | 1995 | Owen Hart[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times), Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (1 time) |
56 | 1995 | Brian Pillman[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (2 times) |
57 | 1995 | Chris Benoit[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (4 times) |
58 | 1995 | "Dr. D" David Schultz[21] (David Schultz) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (3 times) |
59 | 1995 | Jim Neidhart (James Neidhart) |
N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 times) |
60 | 1995 | Duke Myers[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 times) |
61 | 1995 | Kerry Brown[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (4 times) |
62 | 1995 | Hiroshi Hase | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) |
63 | 1995 | Larry Cameron[21] | N/A | Wrestling | Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time) |
64 | 1995 | Ed Whalen[22] | N/A | Announcing and Commentating | |
65 | 1995 | Henry Viney[22] | N/A | Announcing and Commentating | |
66 | 1995 | Tom Moore[22] | N/A | Other | Calgary Boxing and Wrestling Commissioner |
67 | 1995 | Mike Bulat[22] | N/A | Promoting | |
68 | 1995 | Bob Leonard[22] | N/A | Announcing, Photography and Promoting | |
69 | 1995 | Ernie Roth[22] | N/A | Announcing and Commentating | |
70 | 1995 | Sam Menacker[22] | N/A | Announcing and Commentating | |
71 | 1995 | Tyrone McBeth[22] (James Vilvang) |
N/A | Other | Appeared as the "onscreen" president of the National Wrestling Alliance |
- a – Entries without a birth name indicates that the inductee did not perform under a ring name.
- b – This section mainly lists the major accomplishments of each inductee in the Calgary wrestling territory.
Major events
[edit]1950s
[edit]Date | Event | Venue | Location | Main event |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 2, 1955 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Fritz Von Erich vs. Doug Hepburn[23] | |
July 9, 1956 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Fritz Von Erich and Karl Von Schoberg vs. Hard Boiled Haggarty and The Mighty Ursus[23][24] |
July 10, 1956 | Billy Watson (c) vs. John Paul Henning for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][24] | |||
July 8, 1957 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Gene Kiniski (c) vs. Whipper Billy Watson in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship[23][25][26] |
July 9, 1957 | Lou Thesz (c) vs. Whipper Billy Watson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][25][26] | |||
July 7, 1958 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Dick Hutton (c) b. Bill Miller for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][27] |
July 8, 1958 | Dick Hutton (c) b. Billy Watson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][27] | |||
July 6, 1959 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. John Foti for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][28][29] |
July 7, 1959 | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Billy Watson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][28][29] | |||
July 11, 1959 | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[28] |
1960s
[edit]Date | Event | Venue | Location | Main event |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 11, 1960 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Gene Kiniski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][30] |
July 12, 1960 | Whipper Billy Watson vs. Gene Kiniski[23][30] | |||
July 10, 1961 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Gene Kiniski for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23][31][32] |
July 11, 1961 | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Whipper Billy Watson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[31] | |||
July 6, 1962 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Ronnie Etchison (c) vs. Gene Kiniski for the NAWA Heavyweight Championship | |
July 6, 1964 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Killer Kowalski (c) vs. Sweet Daddy Siki in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NAWA Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 7, 1964 | [33] | |||
July 10, 1964 | Killer Kowalski (c) vs. Waldo Von Erich for the NAWA Heavyweight Championship[33] | |||
July 5, 1965 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Bruno Sammartino vs. Waldo Von Erich for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship[23][34][35] |
July 11, 1967 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Gene Kiniski (c) vs. Stan Stasiak in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 8, 1968 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Gene Kiniski (c-NWA) vs. Archie Gouldie (c-SW) in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls "Champion vs. Champion" match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 7, 1969 | Stampede Week | Victoria Pavilion | Calgary, Alberta | Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Billy Robinson for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
1970s
[edit]Date | Event | Venue | Location | Main event |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 10, 1970 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Abdullah the Butcher for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 9, 1971 | Stampede Week | Victoria Pavilion | Calgary, Alberta | Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Les Thornton for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 7, 1972 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Geoff Portz for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] | |
July 6, 1973 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Harley Race (c) vs. Klondike Bill for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] | |
July 5, 1974 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Jack Brisco (c) vs. Danny Little Bear for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] | |
July 4, 1975 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Jack Brisco (c) vs. Dan Kroffat for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] | |
July 9, 1976 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Terry Funk (c-NWA) vs. Archie Gouldie (c-SW) in "Champion vs. Champion" match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship[23] | |
July 8, 1977 | Stampede Week | Stampede Corral | Calgary, Alberta | Harley Race (c) vs. John Quinn for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 7, 1978 | Stampede Week | Victoria Pavilion | Calgary, Alberta | Harley Race (c) b. Dory Funk Jr. for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[23] |
July 6, 1979 | Stampede Week | Victoria Pavilion | Calgary, Alberta | Nelson Royal (c) vs. The Dynamite Kid for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship[23] |
1980s
[edit]Date | Event | Venue | Location | Main event |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 4, 1980 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Harley Race (c) vs. Hercules Ayala for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
July 11, 1980 | Harley Race (c) vs. Archie Gouldie for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | |||
July 3, 1981 | Stampede Week | Calgary, Alberta | Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. Bret Hart for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
July 7, 1981 | ||||
August 25, 1983 | Stampede Week | Vancouver, British Columbia | Nick Bockwinkel (c) vs. David Schultz for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
July 11, 1984 | Stampede Week | Saddledome | Calgary, Alberta | The Masked Superstar (c) vs. Sonny Two Rivers for the "World Heavyweight Championship"[36] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]General
- McCoy, Heath. Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. Toronto: CanWest Books, 2005. ISBN 0-9736719-8-X
Specific
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling gets pinned". CBC Television News. 1990-01-10.
- ^ "Dave Wells, "Stu Hart isn't happy," Lethbridge Herald, December 16, 1983.
- ^ McCoy, H. (2005) Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. CanWest Books. p 187.
- ^ Meltzer, D. (2004) Tributes II: Remembering more of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. pp 105-106.
- ^ Mike Johnson (2015-12-03). "STAMPEDE WRESTLING, GWF/USWA ADDED TO WWE NETWORK". PWInsider. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^ "Bret Hart Contacts Vince McMahon And WWE Attorney Over Stampede Wrestling Footage". WrestlingInc.com. 2015-12-09. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "Alberta Tag Team Title". Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship". Jump City Productions.
- ^ "IWA Women's World Championship". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "N.W.A. Canadian Tag Team Title (Calgary)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede International Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05.
- ^ "North American Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede Pacific Heavyweight Championship". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede Women's Pacific Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 27:55. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Builders". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 40:00. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Nevada, Vance (July 16, 2008). "Stampede Wrestling Super Shows During July's Calgary Stampede". Sports & Wrestling.
- ^ a b Crawford-Frost, W. A.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1956). 71st Annual Report, 1956. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 5.
- ^ a b Manning, F. C.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1957). 72st Annual Report, 1957. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Giant Mat Program For Stampede Week". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. July 5, 1957. p. 14.
- ^ a b Manning, F. C.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1958). 73rd Annual Report, 1958. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ a b c Manning, F. C.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1959). 74th Annual Report, 1959. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Wrestling Card In Corral At Stampede". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. July 4, 1959. p. 72.
- ^ a b Dutton, M. A.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1960). 75th Annual Report, 1960. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Top Wrestlers Here For Stampede Card". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. July 8, 1961. p. 33.
- ^ Dutton, M. A.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1961). 76th Annual Report, 1961. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ a b Matthews, Donald C.; Hartnett, Maurice E.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1964). 79th Annual Report, 1964. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ Matthews, Donald C.; Parsons, Irvin W.; Porter, M. M., eds. (1965). 80th Annual Report, 1965. Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Limited. p. 6.
- ^ "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. July 3, 1965. p. 85.
- ^ "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. July 11, 1984. p. 29.
Further reading
[edit]- Books
- Ayling, Tom. "Revolutionary: A Biography of George Waclaw Spelvin". (self-published) 2012 ISBN 978-1-105-42913-2
- Erb, Marsha. "Stu Hart: Lord of the Ring". Toronto: ECW Press, 2002. ISBN 1-55022-508-1
- Hart, Bret. "Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling". Toronto: Random House, 2007. ISBN 978-0-307-35567-6
- Hart, Bruce. "Straight From the Hart". Toronto: ECW Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-55022-939-4
- Billington, Tom. "Pure Dynamite". Etobicoke: Winding Star Press, 2001. ISBN 1-55366-084-6
- Web
- http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2011/11/04/stampede-comes-to-town
- https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2011/11/04/stampede-wrestling-relaunches-in-ontario/
- https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/stampede-wrestling-bruce-hart-staging-a-calgary-comeback_n_1855346
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-s-stampede-wrestling-looks-to-step-back-in-the-ring-1.1251975
External links
[edit]- Stampede Wrestling
- 1948 establishments in Alberta
- 1950s Canadian sports television series
- 1960s Canadian sports television series
- 1970s Canadian sports television series
- 1980s Canadian sports television series
- Companies based in Calgary
- Culture of Alberta
- National Wrestling Alliance members
- Professional wrestling in Alberta
- Defunct professional wrestling promotions