Nick Bockwinkel
Acting
Biography
Nicholas Warren Francis "Nick" Bockwinkel was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the '70s and '80s. The son of wrestler Warren Bockwinkel, Nick had a lengthy professional wrestling career with matches in 34 consecutive years (1954-1987). Debuting in 1954, Bockwinkel spent the first half of his career as a journeyman, playing the babyface (good guy), wrestling primarily in territories based in California and Hawaii with stints in Texas, Georgia, and the Pacific Northwest as well as Canada and Australia. In 1970, he joined the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based AWA, where he would be based for the remainder of his career. Bockwinkel held the AWA World Tag Team Championship three times (with partner Ray "The Crippler" Stevens and managed by Bobby Heenan) then the AWA World Heavyweight Championship four times before retiring in 1987. In 1986, before retirement, Bockwinkel had a classic 1-hour draw against Curt Hennig on ESPN's AWA Championship Wrestling. He worked briefly for WWE in 1987 as a color commentator and with WCW as commissioner. Bockwinkel was recognized for his exceptional technical wrestling ability, mastery of in-ring psychology, and even-toned, articulate promos. Professional wrestling historian Tim Hornbaker described him as "the definitive heavyweight champion heel of the 1970s", while historian Scott Beekman described him as "the most successful heel champion in wrestling history". Bockwinkel was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003, the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2016!
Known For
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. Jack Lord portrayed Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett, the head of a special state police task force which was based on an actual unit that existed under martial law in the 1940s. The theme music composed by Morton Stevens became especially popular. Many episodes would end with McGarrett instructing his subordinate to "Book 'em, Danno!", sometimes specifying a charge such as "murder one".
Hawaii Five-O
Mid-South Wrestling was one of the most successful wrestling territories in the 1981s; featuring future WWE Hall of Famers.
Mid-South Wrestling
At a time when matches between big-name Superstars are usually only seen on pay-per-view, WCW presents Clash of the Champions on free TV.
Clash of the Champions
Jerry Jarrett's Continental Wrestling Assocation (CWA) Wrestling show on WMC-TV, later renamed to "Championship Wrestling Association" and keeping the same CWA name around the time Jerry Lawler joined Jerry Jarrett in running the show. After Jarrett and Lawler purchased the rights to World Class Wrestling Association's "World Class Championship Wrestling" shows in the Dallas area, both the Dallas shows and the CWA show were rebranded under the "United States Wrestling Association" name. This show was rebranded to "USWA Championship Wrestling." The show ended in 1997.
USWA Championship Wrestling
The best and most memorable matches from Hulk Hogan's career.
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
The American Wrestling Association takes its unique brand of sports-entertainment to locations around the world; these classic AWA events feature the top competitors in the Minnesota-based territory, and many were never broadcast on television.
AWA Arena Shows
A countdown of the greatest superstars in WWE History. From Hulk Hogan to Randy Savage to The Rock to John Cena enjoy an experience down memory lane for long-time fans, and a new experience for new fans of WWE.
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Join the stars of yesterday and today for this star-studded spectacular. Davey Boy Smith challenges Big Van Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Barry Windham defends the NWA World Championship against Arn Anderson. Dory Funk Jr. takes on Nick Bockwinkel. Rick Rude & Paul Orndorff face Dustin Rhodes & Kensuke Sasaki.
WCW Slamboree 1993
Throughout the decades, fans of sports entertainment have long enjoyed the controlled chaos of tag-team wrestling. Many future Hall of Fame performers started as part of a popular duo, such as Shawn Michaels (the Rockers), Bret “Hit Man” Hart (Hart Foundation). Now, for the first time on DVD, fans can enjoy the greatest tag teams in sports entertainment history in Allied Powers: The World’s Greatest Tag Teams. Hosted by The Miz and John Morrison who are the current World Tag Team champions and the longest-running WWE Tag Team Champions in recent history. They bring their own brand of humor to this 3-DVD set that hits the biggest and the best duos throughout the annals of sports entertainment.
WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams
The class of 2007 takes their rightful place in the Hall of Fame, during Wrestlemania 23 weekend. Inductees include Nick Bockwinkel, The Wild Samoans, The Sheik, Mr. Fuji, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Mr. Perfect, and Dusty Rhodes.
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
See countless WWE Hall of Famers compete in the American Wrestling Association's flagship show, AWA All Star Wrestling.
AWA All-Star Wrestling
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defends against Ric Flair. "Stunning" Steve Austin defends the WCW United States Championship against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Antonio Inoki takes on "Lord" Steven Regal in an international showdown. Dustin & Dusty Rhodes take on Terry Funk & Bunkhouse Buck. The Nasty Boys take on Pretty Wonderful.
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Frank Bass (Ed Asner) is an honest guy trying to make a living in the cut throat world of professional wrestling, and he's gonna make it work - even if he dies trying! But first - he'll have to strong-arm his way through all the mobsters, gamblers, promoters and fight fixers and help his past-his-prime wrestler once again win a championship belt. Features appearances from real-life legendary wrestlers and AWA superstars Verne Gagne, Rick Flair, Superstar Billy Graham, Dusty Rhodes, Dick the Bruiser, Ray Stevens, Dory Funk Jr., Ken Patera, Billy Robinson, Dan Gable, Eddie Graham, Dick Murdoch, Vincent J. McMahon, and more.
The Wrestler
AWA Super Clash '85 – The Night of Champions was the first Super Clash professional wrestling supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). It was billed as AWA's flagship supercard, their biggest event of the year. The event was held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1985, only a few months after WrestleMania, which was promoted by rival WWE promotion. The show drew a paid attendance of 20,347, although it was announced as 25,000. Super Clash – Night of Champions was one of the co-promotional efforts by the AWA, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) to compete with WWE's increasing national presence and popularity. The jointly promoted venture was known as Pro Wrestling USA.
AWA Super Clash
All the stars of The American Wrestling Alliance converge in the San Francisco bay area for an all-star card!
AWA Battle by the Bay
Nick Bockwinkel challenges Stan Hansen for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
AWA WrestleRock 1986
The Biggest stars of the mat game converge in Boston to help The Muscular Dystrophy Association!
AWA Wrestling For a Cure
AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel defends his title against Hulk Hogan in the main event. Plus Jerry Lawler, Wendi Richter, and more in action.
AWA Super Sunday
WWE Superstars clash year-round with championships, glory, and personal pride on the line. But only 25 rivalries can be considered the greatest in sports entertainment history. Now for the first time ever, WWE counts down the most intense rivalries of all time. With each segment narrated by a different WWE or mainstream personality, each rivalry takes on a life of its own as WWE fans get an inside, never-before-seen perspective on their favorite showdowns. From the grudges born from equal pursuit of a common goal to those where the animosity crosses personal boundaries, all the timeless conflicts in the history of WWE, WCW, NWA, ECW and more are presented. Featuring Cena vs. Edge, Stone Cold vs. Mr. McMahon, Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat and many more, this controversial countdown is sure to be dissected and debated by fans of all eras. Plus, special features include over 5 hours of bonus matches highlighting the rivalries presented in the countdown.
WWE: The Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History
Pro Wrestling's first all-Cage Match event! featuring King Tonga, Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie & The Masked Superstar vs. Jerry Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Gagne & Verne Gagne vs. Mr. Saito & Nick Bockwinkel and The Road Warriors vs. Larry & Curt Hennig for the AWA World Tag Team Championship and much more!