Otto Wanz
Otto Wanz | |
---|---|
Born | Graz, Austria[2] | June 13, 1943
Debut | 1968 |
Retired | August 23, 1996 |
Otto Wanz (June 13, 1943 – September 14, 2017) was an
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
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.
Wanz died on September 14, 2017.[9][2]
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- Catch Wrestling Association
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #135 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
- PWI ranked him #135 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "
References
- ^ a b "Wrestler Profiles: Otto Wanz". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Sport legend Otto Wanz is dead". ORF (in German). September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ a b c d e f "Catch Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ a b c "American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- )
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (September 14, 2017). "Otto Wanz passes away at 74 years old". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
External links
- Otto Wanz's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- Otto Wanz at IMDb