Otto Wanz

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Otto Wanz
Born(1943-06-13)June 13, 1943
Graz, Austria[2]
Debut1968
RetiredAugust 23, 1996

Otto Wanz (June 13, 1943 – September 14, 2017) was an

world champion
and the longest reigning world champion in Europe.

Professional wrestling career

Born in Nestelbach bei Graz on June 13, 1943,[2] Wanz made his professional wrestling debut in 1968 in his native Austria.[2] Later on he would work as "Bulldog" Otto in Japan, primarily working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

In the early 1970s he created the

Andre the Giant and was one of the few wrestlers to bodyslam him.[2]

While in the US during a 1982 tour, he worked for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he defeated long-reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA title on August 29, 1982.[2][6][7] The reign ended 41 days later as Bockwinkel regained the championship on October 9.[2][6][7]

Returning to the CWA, Wanz spent several years as the champion until March 22, 1987 where an American power house wrestler known as Bull Power defeated him for the championship.[4][5] Wanz regained the title a few months later but Bull Power started a second reign in 1989.[4][5] On June 30, 1990 Wanz won the CWA Championship for a fourth time. After the match, Wanz retired from active competition to focus on promoting the CWA.[2]

Personal life

Before entering professional wrestling, Wanz was a boxer, winning two Austrian boxing championships.

Guinness Book of World Records tearing telephone books.[2] Arnold Schwarzenegger has cited Wanz as an influence on his fitness and bodybuilding career.[8]

Wanz died on September 14, 2017.[9][2]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b "Wrestler Profiles: Otto Wanz". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Oliver, Greg (September 14, 2017). "Former AWA World champion Otto Wanz dies". SLAM Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "Sport legend Otto Wanz is dead". ORF (in German). September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Catch Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ a b c "American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. Canadian Online Explorer. March 29, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  9. ^ Meltzer, Dave (September 14, 2017). "Otto Wanz passes away at 74 years old". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 15, 2017.

External links