Stampede Wrestling

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Stampede Wrestling
Acronym Stampede
Founded 1948
Headquarters Calgary, Alberta
Founder(s) Stu Hart
Owner(s) Stu Hart (1948–1984)
Vince McMahon (1984–1985)
Bruce Hart (1985–1989)
Bruce and Ross Hart (1999–2007)
Bill Bell (2007–2008)
Smith Hart
Clint Hardman Trademark owner (2009–Present)
Martin Soult and Cory Crispens Company Owners (2012–Present)[1][2]
Parent National Wrestling Alliance (until 1982)
World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)
Formerly Klondike Wrestling

Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based[3] in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years 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 and 1984. 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 worldwide.[4]

History

Stampede Wrestling was operated by Stu Hart from 1948 to 1984. In 1983, a riot broke out during a match at the Ogden Auditorium 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. 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."[5] The event led to Stampede Wrestling being banned from Calgary for six months by the city's wrestling and boxing commission, and within a year the operation was sold to the World Wrestling Federation.[6]

Take over from the World Wrestling Federation

A member of the National Wrestling Alliance until about 1982, Stampede's talent was taken by the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, developing into the major professional wrestling promotion it is today. In 1985, the WWF sold Stampede back to the Hart family, who continued to run it until it was shut down in December 1989. The promotion was re-opened on April 2, 1999 by Bruce and Ross Hart. Stampede's weekly shows were held mostly at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary, with special events held at the Stampede Corral.

Notable alumni to enter the WWF

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Stampede Wrestling was one of the top wrestling promotions in Canada. One of its main legacies was its impact on the WWF. In the 1980s, the stars of Stampede Wrestling included Bret Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Dynamite Kid, Brian Pillman, Bad News Allen, The Honky Tonk Man (under the name Honky Tonk Wayne), Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Junkyard Dog (under the name Big Daddy Ritter) and Chris Benoit. All these wrestlers later joined the WWF when it expanded across Canada and USA. The British Bulldogs and the Hart Foundation were among the top tag teams in the WWF in the 1980s.

Television program

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 current "Showtime Championship Boxing" play by play commentator Mauro Ranallo, but it was short-lived and Whalen was not involved.

Revival

Hart family member Harry Smith at the Stampede Wrestling revival in 2011.

In early 1999, Bruce and Ross Hart reopened Stampede Wrestling after an nine-year hiatus 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.[7]

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.[8]

Earlier in 2007, Stampede Wrestling lost the use of the Ogden Legion which was their home base for the past number of years. Stampede Wrestling announced on their official website that the promotion will begin to run at the Bowness Sportsplex with the first show being September 7, 2007.

Bruce and Ross Hart sold Stampede Wrestling to Bill Bell in 2007. The promotion ceased operations again in April 2008.

On May 9, 2011, the Stampede Wrestling name was brought back to life by Clint Hardman who registered the trademark, after filing notice to all linked to the name, giving them 9 months to respond, no one opposed the name being revived and a New Trademark was filed and new ownership of the name Stampede Wrestling was declared.

Tape library

WWE currently controls Stampede's extensive tape library. In December 2015, the WWE Network began adding Stampede Wrestling shows to its Vault section.[9] However, it was all removed a few days later, after Bret Hart proved that he owned the rights to the footage of his matches.[10]

The Dungeon

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 WCW, ECW, WWE, and Japanese stars, including the Hart Brothers, Mark Henry, Chris Benoit, Ricky Fuji, Hiroshi Hase, Ken Shamrock, Justin Credible and Edge.

Championships

Active until 2008

Championship: Last Champion(s): Active From: Active Until: Notes:
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[11][12]
Stampede 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[11][13]
Stampede International Tag Team Championship Pete Wilson & Chris Steele 1958 April 2008 The International Tag Team title was revived in 2000 when Stampede started promoting again[11][14]
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[15]

Retired, defunct, and inactive championships

Championship: Last Champion(s): Active From: Active Until: Notes:
NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version) Dave Ruhl November 1, 1946 1972 [11][16]
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) Mad Dog Vachon & Butcher 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”[11][17]
Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship Dynamite Kid September 16, 1972 1984 [11][18]
Stampede Pacific Heavyweight Championship Michael Modest June 1958 June 27, 2001 [11][19]
IWA World Women's Championship Kyoko Inoue December 1987 1997 In 1989 the title began being promoted by All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling[11][20]
Stampede British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship Karl Anderson July 1978 2006 Karl Anderson is the last known champion of this title. He won it on March 12, 2006 in Santa Monica, California.[11][21]

Roster

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 Unknown 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 Theodore Annis 1999–2006, 2008
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
Nattie Neidhart Natalie Neidhart 2002–2007
Phoenix Taylor Unknown 2003–2005, 2007–2008

Notable alumni (1948–90)

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Main article: List of Stampede Wrestling alumni

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Hall of Fame

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.[22]

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References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Corporate Registries NUANS Lookup
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ McCoy, H. (2005) Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. CanWest Books. p 187.
  6. ↑ Meltzer, D. (2004) Tributes II: Remembering more of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. pp 105-106.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

  • 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
  • McCoy, Heath. Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. Toronto: CanWest Books, 2005. ISBN 0-9736719-8-X

External links

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