Bushwhacker Luke
Bushwhacker Luke | |
---|---|
Birth name | Brian Wickens |
Born | [1] Auckland, New Zealand | 8 January 1947
Children | 1 |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Bushwhacker Luke[2] Cousin Luke Cousin Luke Dudley Gorgeous Teddy Williams "Luke" Doink Luke Williams Pretty Boy Floyd Sweet William |
Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 242 lb (110 kg)[1] |
Billed from | Wellington, New Zealand |
Debut | 1962[1] |
Brian Wickens (born 8 January 1947) is a New Zealand
Along with Butch, Luke held
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1962–1974)
Luke Williams started wrestling for NWA New Zealand (later known as All-Star Pro Wrestling) with his friend and long term tag team partner
The Sheepherders (1974–1981)
After leaving Stampede Wrestling, the Kiwis began doing double duty in Japan for International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE). They would disband in 1975. Miller temporarily retired from the sport as Williams continued working for IWE until 1976 and was inactive until 1979. The Kiwis reunited working in NWA Pacific Northwest as well as the Canadian-based International All-Star Wrestling around 1979–1980 as "the Kiwi Sheepherders". In 1979, the team won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship on three occasions between 21 July and 5 August 1980,[6] before they left the territory. On 22 September, the Sheepherders lost the gold to Dutch Savage and Stan Stasiak, only to regain them a week later.[6] On 11 February 1980, the Sheepherders became double champions when they downed Dutch Savage and Stan Stasiak, this time for the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. Top faces Rick Martel and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper teamed up in May, to take the NWA Canadian tag title from the Sheepherders and, in effect, run the duo out of the Northwest region by August,[6] gaining the NWA Pacific Northwest tag titles when the Sheepherders left the promotion.[6]
The next stop for the Sheepherders was a brief stay in the
The New Sheepherders (1981–1983)
After the team left WWC, Butch decided that he wanted to return closer to home and went to Australia to wrestle. Luke remained in the United States determined to keep the "Sheepherders" name on everyone's lips by teaming up with "Lord"
Boyd and Williams moved slightly more north as they began to work in the
Boyd and Williams resurfaced in
Butch returns (1983–1988)
Luke and Butch stayed with the SWCW through the rest of 1983 and into 1984. There, the two again came head-to-head with the Fabulous Ones; this time the prize was the
When Luke and Butch returned to main land USA and signed on with
After being unable to beat the Fantastics on several occasions, the Sheepherders traveled back to Puerto Rico during the summer for a six-week run with the
In 1987, the Sheepherders returned to the CWA once more. On 10 January, the New Zealanders beat the up-and-coming team of Badd Company (Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond) for the CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship. Unfortunately, they lost them back to Badd Company as fast as they had won them.[6] After the quick run with Badd Company, the Sheepherders again became entangled in a feud with the Fabulous Ones in a rivalry that seemingly would never end. In what turned out to the last series of matches between the Sheepherders and the Fabulous Ones, the Fabs dominated the matches and again "ran off" the Sheepherders.[10][11]
After leaving Memphis, the Sheepherders returned to Puerto Rico and the WWC. Here the Sheepherders started a bloody feud with Chris and Mark Youngblood that drew big crowds in Puerto Rico.[4] The feud saw Luke and Butch win the WWC World Tag Team titles on 4 April and then defend them tooth and nail until the Youngbloods regained the gold on 10 May in a cage match.[6] After their spring run with WWC, the Sheepherders returned to Florida and instantly became challengers for Mike Graham and Steve Keirn's NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. On 26 June, Luke and Butch added that title to their collection by brawling and cheating.[6] Their run with the Florida titles came to an end on 29 August when Keirn and Graham regained the titles.[6]
After losing the Florida titles, Luke and Butch returned to the UWF and started a second run with the UWF World Tag Team Championship after beating
The Bushwhackers (1988–1996)
Luke and Butch signed on with the WWF in the midst of its aggressive national expansion giving them a national and international exposure unlike anything they had ever had before. The team changed their name to The Bushwhackers and changed their violent style to a comedic style which was an instant hit with the fans. The comedy act involved licking, arm motions, and more.[4] The Bushwhackers made their debut on a matinee house show on 26 December 1988 facing The Bolsheviks.[13]
In February, the Bushwhackers began a feud with
During this time, the Bushwhackers were featured in a long series of comedic
By 1990, the Bushwhackers were established as a solid mid-card comedy act feuding with the newly established heel team known as
At the 1991 Royal Rumble, Luke set a rather unfortunate record as he lasted a total of 4 seconds. Using the trademark arm-swing entrance, he climbed into the ring, walked across in a straight path, and was thrown over the top rope by Earthquake.
After the Natural Disasters began feuding with the Legion of Doom, the Bushwhackers came across a team that was the total opposite of what they were. Luke and Butch the fun loving, "working class" guys started a feud with the rich, snobby bratty
In November, Luke and Butch helped
In March 1996, the Bushwhackers return were beaten in the first round of a tournament for the
Late career (1996–2002)
After leaving the WWF, the team made special appearances in the independent circuit. This included a return to WWC for its 24th-anniversary show, where they were billed as the Sheepherders and took on old rivals Invaders I & II.[35] They also appeared at Terry Funk's WrestleFest in Amarillo to celebrate "50 years of Funk", where they lost to old rivals Mark and Chris Youngblood.[36]
They made two appearances for Extreme Championship Wrestling in April 1998. They wrestled Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman to a no contest. Then wrestled Chris Chetti and Jerry Lynn.
In 1999, Luke and butch participated in a "wrestling nostalgia" PPV called
In 2002, Luke started working behind the scenes as a booker in IWA Puerto Rico, retiring from active competition.[1]
Return to wrestling (2007–present)
Luke made appearances with Ring of Honor starting with the final two shows in 2007, Rising Above and Final Battle. Luke hosted the Luke Williams show for Ring of Honor podcasts where he interviews ROH wrestlers.
In December 2007, Wickens again appeared on a wrestling program as Bushwhacker Luke. Wrestler
On 9 January 2008 in Adrian Michigan Luke made his in-ring return after 6 years out of the ring. He teamed with Big Chuck Wagon and lost to the BNU in the first round of a tag team titles tournament for Championship International Wrestling.
On 26 July 2008 in
In September 2013 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Luke teamed with Odjig Thundercloud and defeated the Royal Guards to capture the Victory Commonwealth Wrestling Tag Team Championships.[40]
On 23 February 2015, it was announced by WWE that The Bushwhackers would be 2015 inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame.[41] On 28 March 2015, they both attended the event to accept their induction.[1]
In February 2018, the Bushwhackers reunited for one last tour of their native New Zealand.[42] On 10 February, Bushwhacker Luke defeated Simon Seven at UCW's Invasion show, in Christchurch as well as defeating James Shaw at IPW's Kiwi as mate show, in Auckland.[43]
On 11 September 2021, Luke defeated
As of 2023, Luke stills wrestles at 76.[45]
Other media
The Bushwhackers released their autobiography "The Bushwhackers: Blood, Sweat & Cheers", along with writer John E. Crowther, on 27 September 2022.[46]
Championships and accomplishments
- Allied Powers Wrestling Federation
- APWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller[6]
- APWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with
- Can-Am Wrestling
- Can-Am Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller[6]
- Continental Wrestling Association
- CWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Butch Miller
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Butch Miller
- Continental Wrestling Association
- Flemish Wrestling Force
- Flemish Wrestling Cup (2013)
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller[6]
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller
- Laredo Wrestling Alliance
- LWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Butch Miller
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Butch Miller
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2020 - Inducted as a part of Butch Miller.
- Class of 2020 - Inducted as a part of
- Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter
- Tag Team of the Year (1979–1980) with Butch Miller[49]
- Southeast Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jonathan Boyd
- NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Sooner World Class Wrestling
- SWCW Championship (1 time)
- Southwest Championship Wrestling
- SCW Southwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jonathan Boyd (1) and Bobby Jaggers (1)
- SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller
- Stampede Wrestling
- 2 times) - with Butch Miller
- Steeltown Pro Wrestling
- SPW Provincial Championship (1 time)
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with The Honky Tonk Man and The Maritime Menace
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling (Virginia)
- UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller[6]
- United States Wrestling League
- USWL Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Butch Miller[6]
- Universal Wrestling Federation
- Butch Miller
- Victory Commonwealth Wrestling
- VCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Odjig Thundercloud[40]
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance
- WWWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Butch Miller[6]
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC North American Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Butch Miller
- WWC World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Butch Miller
- WWE
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2015) - as a member of The Bushwhackers
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #363 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003.
- PWI ranked him #71 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Butch Miller in 2003.
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Tag Team(1992, 1994) with Butch Miller
References
- ^ a b c d e "Online World of Wrestling Profile: Luke Williams". Online World of Wrestling.
- ^ "Bushwhacker Luke's WWE Alumni Bio". WWE. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "Cowboy Billy Wright". Kiwi Pro Wrestling. November 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
- ^ "Online World of Wrestling: The Sheepherders". Retrieved 22 April 2007.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Mid-South Coliseum Results 1983". 28 March 1983.
The Fabulous Ones, & Steve O, & Dutch Mantel beat The Sheepherders (Boyd & Williams), Jesse Barr, & Adrian Street
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (19 April 1986). "1st Annual Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Cup".
- ^ "Mid South Superdome Shows (1986)". 14 June 1986. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007.
UWF Tag Champs The Fantastics beat The Sheepherders in a "New Zealand boot camp" match
- ^ "Mid South Coliseum Shows (1987)". 9 February 1987.
The Fabulous Ones beat The Sheepherders in a "massacre" match.
- ^ "Mid South Coliseum Shows (1987)". 16 February 1987.
The Fabulous Ones & Paul Diamond beat The Sheepherders & Jonathon Boyd in a "barbed wire cage" match
- ^ "3rd Annual Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Cup". 23 April 1987.
- ^ "WWF Show Results". 26 December 1988.
WWF @ Rochester, NY - War Memorial - December 26, 1988 (matinee) The Bushwhackers vs. Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov
- ^ "WWF Show Results". 11 February 1989.
(shown 20 February) Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated the Bushwhackers via disqualification at 14:04 after Luke shoved the referee to the mat
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF WrestleMania Results (V)".
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Saturday Night's Main Event Results (23)".
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Survivor Series Results (1989)".
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Royal Rumble Results (1990)".
- ^ "WWF Show Results". 1 April 1990.
featured a performance by the Honkytonk Man & Greg Valentine of their new single 'Hunka, Hunka, Hunka, Honky Love'; after the performance, they were attacked by the Bushwhackers inside the ring, who then destroyed their equipment
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Survivor Series Results (1990)".
- ^ "Royal Rumble Elimination Info (1991)". 19 January 1991.
- ^ Graham Cawthon (28 May 1991). "WWF Show Results 1991".
(Shown: 15 June 1991)Earthquake & WWF Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Tugboat & the Bushwhackers at 4:05 when Earthquake pinned Luke with a sit-down splash after Tugboat attacked both of his teammates; after the match, Tugboat embraced with his new friends
- ^ Graham Cawthon. "WWF Show Results 1991". Retrieved 21 April 2007.
Date: 28 May 1991 Shown: 26 June 1991) The Natural Disasters (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Bob Abbott & Bill Sampson at 2:30 when Earthquake pinned Sampson with the sit-down splash following a regular splash from Typhoon (the debut of the Natural Disasters as a tag team)
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF SummerSlam Results (1991)". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Survivor Series Results (1991)".
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (19 January 1992). "WWF Royal Rumble Results (1992)".
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1993". 7 February 1993.
The Headshrinkers defeated the Bushwhackers
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1993". 7 March 1993.
The Bushwhackers & Tiger Jackson defeated the Beverly Brothers & Little Louie at 9:57 when Tiger pinned Louie with a crossbody off the top
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF Survivor Series Results (1993)".
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1994". 17 August 1994.
The Bushwhackers defeated Well Dunn (w/ Harvey Wippleman)
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1995". 17 August 1995.
The Blu Twins defeated the Bushwhackers
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1996". 10 March 1996.
(Shown 16 March) WWF Tag Team Title Tournament Quarter-finals: Skip & Zip (w/ Sunny) defeated the Bushwhackers when Zip pinned Butch after coming off the top behind the referee's back, moments after Skip sustained the battering ram and was covered
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1996". 30 April 1996.
(Shown 4 May) Mankind defeated Scott Taylor via submission with the Mandible Claw. The Bushwhackers (with someone in a kangaroo costume) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Skip & Zip (with Sunny) in a non-title match at around 5:16
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1996". 14 September 1996.
The Bushwhackers defeated Justin Bradshaw & Uncle Zebekiah
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (15 August 1997). "WWC Anniversary Show Results (24)".
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1997". 11 September 1997.
Mark & Chris Youngblood (w/ Rick Romero) defeated the Bushwackers at 10:20 when Mark pinned Williams
- ^ "Heroes of Wrestling PPV Report". 10 October 1999.
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "WWF WrestleMania Results (X7)".
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. "Mid-South Coliseum Results (2001-2002)".
- ^ a b "Victory Wrestling Showcase #36 - Odjig & Bushwhacker Luke". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016.
- ^ "WWE Confirms Tag Team for 2015 Hall of Fame, Post-Fastlane Video of Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton & Others". 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Wrestling's WWE Hall of Famers, the Bushwhackers, march out of retirement for NZ tour". 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Bushwhacker Luke » Matches". CageMatch. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Backyard Wrestling - WWE Legend Bushwhacker Luke vs Gangrel - Getting Heckled 9-11-21 in Ocala, FL". YouTube. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Bushwhacker Luke » Matches". CageMatch. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ The Bushwhackers: Blood, Sweat & Cheers Amazon
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Rodgers, Mike (2004). "Regional Territories: PNW #16 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
External links
- Official website
- The Bushwhackers on WWE.com
- Bushwhacker Luke's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
- Brian Wickens at IMDb