Before Ric Flair wore all the fancy suits and had the cool promos as world champion there Nick Bockwinkel in the AWA styling and profiling. Today we learned at the age of 80 “The Greatest AWA Champion of All Time” has passed away. Bockwinkel started out in the business in the mid 1950’s after his college football career was ended by a knee injury. He was trained by his father Warren Bockwinkel who was a popular wrestler at the time and even got to team with his dad in different territories. The legendary Lou Thesz also help contribute to the young Bockwinkel’s training.
Nick wrestled throughout the 1960’s but broke out to be a megastar when he arrived in the AWA in 1970. He formed one of wrestling’s legendary tag teams with Ray Stevens, managed by the great Bobby Heenan. They went on to win the AWA tag titles 3 times feuding with notable teams like Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher. The team eventually broke up when a rift developed between Stevens and Heenan.
With Heenan still as his manager Bockwinkel went on to take on the AWA’s patriarch Verne Gagne for the world title and had one of the most memorable feuds for the belt. Nick was a innovator as he added style to the game appearing in fancy suits during his interview segments. After ending Gagne’s seven year reign at the top Bockwinkel would go on to feud with a who’s who in wrestling over the title. Between the 1970s and early 80s we saw Bockwinkel defend the belt against Tito Santana, Jerry Lawler, Greg Gagne and Hulk Hogan.
Nick went on to win the AWA belt 6 times throughout his career and established himself as the best to ever hold it. He was a fierce technical wrestler who was regarded by many as one of the best in the ring. Bockwinkel’s most notable contribution to the game was his microphone work. Commonly using five to six syllable words in some of the greatest promos ever in the business.
Bockwinkel retired from in ring action in 1987 capping off a career that spanned four decades. Despite leaving the ring he never really ever left the business behind. He worked as a road agent for the WWE for a little while and then worked as the on screen commissioner in WCW in 1994. He also worked a commissioner in a shoot style promotion in Japan in 2000. In 2007 Bockwinkel was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and also in that same year he became president of the prestigious Cauliflower Alley Club. He served in that post until 2014 when he stepped down due to health reasons. The champ definitely left his mark on the business and will be missed.
Written By
Keith B. Holt
Follow on Twitter @Kholtjr
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