Steve Lawler (wrestler)
Steve Lawler | |
---|---|
Atlanta, Georgia | |
Trained by | Ricky Lawless Glenn Holbrook |
Debut | 1984 |
Steve Gower (January 24, 1965 – September 2, 2021), better known by his
A noted tag team specialist, he was a member of the original Bad Company with John Michaels and The Nightmare, a popular
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1984–1986)
A native of
Gower briefly toured Florida, where he wrestled on television as "Adrian Steele", and where he was first given the name Steve "The Brawler" Lawler. Gower would also fill in for
Around this time, Steve Kyle (the original "Steve "The Brawler" Lawler"), was wrestling in the
Deep South Wrestling (1986–1988)
In 1986, Gower began wrestling for
Southern Championship Wrestling (1988–1990)
While working for Hamilton, Gower also started competing in
Independent circuit (1991–1999)
Gower continued wrestling in various Southern independent promotions having memorable matches, and gaining invaluable experience, against such well-known veterans as Ray Candy, Randy Rose, Mr. Wrestling II, Dick Slater, Ken Timbs, Mike Golden, Abdullah the Butcher, The Bullet, and Scott Studd, among others.[1]
One of the top stars for
On September 15, 1991, Gower faced his former student a second time at an interpromotional show in Marietta, Georgia between the Global Wrestling Federation, where Bagwell was now wrestling as "The Handsome Stranger", and Georgia All-Star Wrestling which he lost to Bagwell via disqualification.[13]
Gower continued his long-running feud against Tommy Rich in GASW, helped by manager Dave Prazak, where the two had several wild brawls. Prazak later claimed that during one of their encounters, in which Rich put Prazak in a piledriver, "both he and Steve Lawler were roaring drunk for that match." They would eventually meet in a "lights out" match at Douglasville, Georgia with the loser being forced to retire.[14] Gower himself later said the greatest matches he ever had were against Rich calling them "some of the bloodiest, they were some of the hardest, and I have a lot of respect for Rich to this day."[1]
With the end of the NWA territory system, Gower remained in Georgia working for independent promotions such as Peach State Wrestling (1991–95), shortly after it began bringing in SCW stars for its televised matches,[15] and the North Georgia Wrestling Association (1992–97). Shortly before the latter promotion's close, he and Bubba Humphries[16] won the NGWA Tag Team Championship from Kenny and John Arden and held them for less than a month before dropping the belts back to the Ardens in Rome on April 19, 1996. He also wrestled and lost to Kenny Arden in a singles match on May 18, 1996.[17] A year later, Gower won the NGWA Heavyweight Championship and remained champion until the promotion's close at the end of the year. He also spent some time in the North American Wrestling Alliance and appeared at its supercard "The Crime in College Park" where he faced his old ally, "The Nightmare" Ted Allen on February 12, 1999.[18]
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling (2000–2001)
In 2000, he joined Dusty Rhodes' short-lived
Semi-retirement (2001–2004)
Gower eventually left pro wrestling to work for a building supply company, and later with a major motorcycle distributor, Greg and Lori Becker's Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson, though he continued to make occasional appearances on the Georgia "indy circuit" for a number of years.
Return to the Georgia "indy circuit" (2008–2009)
After an absence of several years, Gower came out of retirement losing over thirty pounds to get in shape for his return. By 2008, he was wrestling for both NAWA Ring Champions, for which he served as
The two split up after their most recent loss and were on opposing sides the following week when he and his new partner, The Super Destroyer, beat Bull Buchanan and Bulldog Raines via disqualification.[35][36] In SECW, Gower later challenged Raines for the SECW Heavyweight Championship.[37]
The two were back together again in NAWA Ring Champions days later to wrestle Tommy Rich and Kenny Arden in Rome,[38] but fought each other at NAWA's next show on March 13, another tag team match, pitting Steve & Terry Lawler against Bulldog Raines & the Nightmare. Both Lawler and Raines were still being managed by Jackie Rosedale.[37] At another NAWA house show, headlined by Bambi versus Peggy Lee Leather, in Cedarsburg on April 4 he appeared with Ricky Morton, Bobby Eaton, and Chick Donovan.[39] Two weeks later he wrestled Tommy Rich in a "bounty" match in Carrollton.[40]
On May 3, 2008, Gower was yet again among the Southern legends, such as Tommy Rich, Dennis Condrey and The Nightmare, invited to participate in AWA World-1 South's "Southern Clash" supercard in Cordele, Georgia. Though the majority took part on the "AWA Legends vs. Georgia Legends" main event, he wrestled The Nightmare, in a "special attraction match." The event also included the AWA's Larry Zbyszko and Jake Milliman & Frankie DeFalco, as well as younger independent wrestlers Ricky Landell, Kirby Mack, Chasyn Rance, Brian Logan, Ron Niemi, and The Heartbreak Express (Sean and Phil Davis).[41]
Georgia Wrestling Promotions incident (2008)
In early 2008, Gower was among a number of wrestlers booked to wrestle an event in Woodstock, Georgia for Georgia Wrestling Promotions. The card advertised Gower and Terry Lawler to face Hot Like Lava (Cru Jones & Shawn Banks) in the main event and was to include a 20-man Battle Royal, with the final two men facing each other to determine the new GWP Champion on June 1, and appearances from Tommy Rich, Masked Superstar, and former students Buff Bagwell and Murder One.[42][43]
The event experienced a number of problems both prior to and during the show. The promotion's owner, Roger Cantrell, had been hospitalized due to cellulitis related to his diabetes around this time and contracted pneumonia during his stay. He was later diagnosed with kidney failure and put on dialysis. Despite his poor health, and disregarding advice that he cancel the event, Cantrell provided the card for the upcoming show in Woodstock direct from his bed at Northside Cherokee Hospital.[42]
Advertising for the show was not distributed until the three days before the show, contributing to its low attendance, and Cantrell had to personally call wrestlers who had been prematurely told the event was going to be cancelled. On the night of the show, at the Hot Wheels Skate Center, the building's manager informed the arriving wrestlers that she would not allow the show to take place because the promotion already owed her $500 for a
Gower, upset by the experience, posted a message criticizing the promotion on his website shortly after what would be its final show;
GEORGIA W_______ PROMOTIONS, DON'T CALL IT WRESTLING !!
In the many years, Steve Lawler has been wrestling. He has come into contact with numerous wrestling promoters and federations. The Brawler would like to think that he has acted professional in the ring and behaved professionally with other promoters in negotiations.
This brings me to the subject of Georgia Wrestling Promotions (GWP). That will be the last time you see the word "Wrestling" in that phrase. In the twenty plus years "The Brawler" has been in the business, He has never been treated so poorly by any federation as he was treated by GWP. The promoter of this group should be embarrassed to call himself a promoter or to pretend he is in the wrestling business. It is enough to make Steve Lawler embarrassed to be in the wrestling business.
It is a shame that any guy can come out of the crowd and pass himself off as a promoter without having any respect for the business. If you pass bounced checks or don't take care of the building prior to your next show, you are a damned fool. It is damned insulting to disrespect legends of the sport like Masked Superstar and Tommy Rich. How can an asshole like this expect wrestlers to show up for his shows when he is pulling stunts like this ? How can wrestlers work for a person with no respect for good business practices and when you know he is screwing your brothers in the dressing room (You know he will screw you over next!!!) ?
This promoter is a piece of shit. I am warning all my brothers in the business to stay away from this group. I would strongly encourage someone in this group to step up and make things right with those who have been cheated.
If you don't have the money or know how to promote, Buy a damn ticket!!! [46]
Later years (2010–2021)
On June 1, 2010, Gower was a guest on the
The "Legends of Wrestling" show took place three days later at an outdoor concert held at the Granite Mountain Harley-Davidson dealership, celebrating its 6th anniversary, in Conyers, Georgia. A portion of the proceeds went to raising funds for breast cancer patients and family support. Among the performers at the event included Abdullah the Butcher, Randy Rose, Steve and Terry Lawler, and the masked Original Assassin.[47]
Gower was also present at an event for Purks International Championship Wrestling a week later, where Terry Lawler was wrestling in a 6-man tag team match, although Gower did not take part in the show.[48]
On February 12, 2011, Gower reunited with his old Bad Company tag team partner, Jon Michaels, at
During the summer of 2011, Gower appeared with other Georgia legends for
In July 2012, Gower appeared on the Wrestle Rock event taking place in Covington Georgia. The event which featured Rock & Roll Express' Robert Gibson, cage matches, street fights, a live band and women's matches. Gower tagged with local personality Bam Bam against Lee Brock and Chris Nelms in a steel cage street fight match.[citation needed]
The Brawler's Last Ride Tour (2012–2013)
The Brawler's retirement kicked off in late 2012 and was set to run up to the third annual Nightmare to Remember event taking place in Villa Rica, Georgia on February 16, 2013, in which Steve Lawler would wrestle in his final match. On Christmas night 2012, Lawler and younger brother Terry wrestled for Georgia All-Star Wrestling as part of Steve's retirement tour against local team "The Best of the Best". On February 2, 2013, Lawler tagged again with brother Terry at PCW in Porterdale, Georgia against "Worst Case Scenario". Later in the evening on February 2 while set to compete at NSCW in Covington, Georgia, Steve Lawler was presented with an award for three decades of service in the wrestling business. The Lawler brothers and Bam Bam faced Alex Brock, Chris Nelms & Demarko Knight in a 6-man match. On February 16, 2013 at the 3rd annual Nightmare to Remember event, Lawler along with Grizzly Boone and manager John Michaels (all members of the original Bad Company) took part in and won his official retirement match against the Pretty Young Things (Fredrick & James) with manager Phil Hefner.[51][52]
Death
Gower died on September 2, 2021, at the age of 56. He had been hospitalized at a Florida hospital for nearly two weeks suffering from COVID-19 and pneumonia symptoms while on a ventilator.[53]
Championships and accomplishments
- Deep South Wrestling
- DSW Brass Knucks Championship (1 time)[1]
- Georgia All-Star Wrestling
- North American Wrestling Association
- North Georgia Wrestling Association
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Southern Championship Wrestling
- SCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Dino Minelli[54]
References
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External links
- SteveTheBrawlerLawler.com, official website
- Steve Lawler's profile at Cagematch.net