Power Pro Wrestling

For the 1980s television program of the same name, see Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts).

Memphis Power Pro Wrestling (Power Pro Wrestling) was a Memphis, Tennessee based professional wrestling promotion that was founded by Randy Hales. It was affiliated with Memphis Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation. It was the first developmental territory for the World Wrestling Federation.^[1] The roster featured WWF-contracted wrestlers sent for training and experience like Kurt Angle and Matt Bloom (Tensai/Albert), Daniel Bryan and Memphis wrestling legends Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher and many others.

Power Pro Wrestling

Power Pro Wrestling's logo
Acronym	PPW
Founded	April 18, 1998
Defunct	April 14, 2001
Headquarters	Memphis, Tennessee
Founder(s)	Randy Hales
Owner(s)	Randy Hales
Predecessor	United States Wrestling Association

It operated from April 1998 to April 2001. The promotion was booked by Randy Hales and Brandon Baxter.

Alumni

Male wrestlers

Birth name:	Ring name(s):	Tenure:	Notes
Kurt Angle	Kurt Angle	1999	[2][3][4][5]
Matthew Anoa'i†	Matt E. Smalls	1999
Darrell Anthony	Dirty White Boy	1999
Steve Bisson†	Steve Bradley	1999–2000	[3][6]
Numa Blanchard	Blade Boudreaux	1999–2000
Matthew Bloom	Baldo	1998–1999	[4][7]
Larry Booker†	Moondog Spot	1998, 2000
Thomas Boric	Paul Diamond / Venom	1998–1999	[8]
Ruben Cain	Robert Gibson	1998, 2000
Mark Canterbury	Henry O. Godwinn	1998WWF
Americo Costantino	Rico Constantino	1999–2000	[6]
Thomas Couch†	Tommy Rogers	2000
William Crookshanks	Bill Dundee	1998–1999	[8][9]
Harry Del Rios	Spellbinder / Streak	1998–1999	[8][9][10]
Robert Dicks Jr.	Robbie D / Slick Robbie D	1999–2000
Nicholas Dinsmore	Nick Dinsmore	1999–2000
Sidney Eudy	Sid Vicious	1998WWF
James Fanning	Jimmy Valiant	1998, 2000
Edward Fatu†	OG Ekmo	1999
Solofa Fatu Jr.	JR Smooth	1999
Anthony Felker	Tony Falk / 2 Falk 4 Sure	1998–2000	[8]
Kevin Fertig	Seven	1999–2000
Nelson Frazier Jr.†	King Mabel	1998WWF	[9]
Scott Garland	Scott Taylor	1999
Doug Gilbert	Doug Gilbert	1999	[4][10]
Terry Gordy†	Terry Gordy	1999
Terry Gordy Jr.	Ray Gordy	1999
Bob Govoni	Bobby Doll	1998–1999
Byron Greene†	Johnny Rotten	1998
Vic Grimes	Vic Grimes	1998–1999
Michael Hegstrand†	Road Warrior Hawk	1998
Mark Henry	Mark Henry	1999
Daniel Hollie	Damaja	2000
Robert Horne	BJ Awesome / Rob Harlem / Sir Mo	1998, 2000	[8][9]
Tim Horner	White Lightning	2000
Robert Howard	Bombastic Bob	1998WWF
Glenn Jacobs	Kane	1998WWF	[9]
Jay Jaillet	Jay Jaillet	1999
Brian James	Jesse James / Road Dog	1998WWF	[9]
Jeffrey Jarrett	Jeff Jarrett	1998WWF
Dwayne Johnson	Rocky Maivia	1998WWF	[9]
Steve Keirn	Steve Keirn	1999
Hiram Keller†	Heinrich Franz Keller / Trae Keller	1998–1999
James Kimble	King Cobra	1998–1999
Christopher Kindred	Flash Flanagan	1999–2000
Dennis Knight	Phineas I. Godwinn	1998WWF
Glen Kulka	Glen Kulka	1999
Alan Lamb	Alan Steel	1999–2000
Wallace Lane	Stan Lane	1999
Brian Lawler†	Brian Christopher	1998–1999	[4][8][9][10]
Jerry Lawler	Jerry Lawler	1998–1999, 2001	[7][8][9][11]
Kevin Lawler	Kevin Christian / The Yellow Jacket	1998–1999	[9]
James Lehman	Jagger	2000
Michael Lockwood†	Erin O'Grady	1998–1999
Paul J. Mcknight	Moondog Rover	1998
Lance McNaught†	Lance Cade / Lance Jade	1999
Gary Mize†	Billy Joe Travis / Billy Travis	1998–1999	[8]
Richard Morton	Ricky Morton	1998–1999
Scott Oberholzer	Scotty Sabre	1999–2000
Carl Ouellet	Kris Kannonball	1999
Russell Payne Jr.	BJ Payne	1999–2000
Alex Pliakis	Alex Arion	1999
Bill Pierce	Chris Michaels	2000
Mike Polchlopek	Bodacious Bart / Bart Gunn	1998WWF
Tom Prichard	Tom Prichard	1998–1999
Scott Raines	Bulldog Raines	1998–2000
Kenneth Raper	Ken Raper	1999
Thomas Richardson	Tommy Rich	1999	[10]
Michael Seitz	Michael "P.S." Hayes	1999
Steve Sharpe	Ali Stevens	1999–2000
Paulo César da Silva	Giant Silva	1998–1999
Timothy Smith	Rex King	1998
Tracy Smothers	Tracy Smothers / The Assassin	1998–2000	[8]
Shawn Stipich	Meat / Shawn Stasiak	1998–1999WWF	[4]
Mike Walden	Cash Flo	1999
Reginald Walt	Master B / Reggie B. Fine	1998–1999	[8][9]
James Ware	Koko B. Ware	1998–1999	[9]
Anthony Williams	Kid Wikkid / Tony Williams	1998–1999	[8][9]
Frank Williams	Trailer Park Trash	1999–2000
Kelly Wolfe	Wolfie D	1999–2000	[2]
Steve Williams†	Steve Williams	1999
Unknown	Ashley Hudson / Australian Sensation	1998	[8][9]
Unknown	Beau James / The Bodyguard	1998	[8]
Unknown	Bobby Bronz / Bobby Brawnz	1998	[9]
Unknown	CB Wyatt	1999
Unknown	The Cremator	1999
Unknown	Deon Harlem	2000
Derrick Taylor	Derrick King / Tay Hi	1998–2000	[8][9]
Unknown	Dynamite D	1999
Unknown	Firecracker	1999
Unknown	Freddy Krueger / Mr. Wrestling	1998	[8]
Unknown	Jason Gibson	1998
Unknown	Jason Lee	1998–2000
Cory Radford	JD Hall	1999-2001
Unknown	Jebediah	1999
Unknown	Kip Morris	1999
Unknown	Lance Jade	1998–2000	[8][9]
Unknown	Loose Cannon	1999
Unknown	Mick Tierney	1998–1999
Charles White	Ric Havoc	2000
Unknown	Ron McClarity	1998–1999
Unknown	Scotty McKeever	1998
Unknown	Swole	1998	[9]
Unknown	Tony DeNucci	1998
Unknown	Ugly Ed Johnson	1999
Unknown	Youngblood	2000

Female wrestlers

Birth name:	Ring name(s):	Tenure:	Notes
Nicole Bass†	Nicole Bass	1999
Stacy Carter	Lovely Stacy / Stacy Carter	1998–1999
Jacqueline Moore	Jackie / Jacqueline	1998	[8][9]
Johnnie Mae Young†	Mrs. Stasiak	1999
Unknown	Brianna Starr	1999
Unknown	Danna Shepherd	1998	[8]
Unknown	Paula Bunyan	1998	[8]
Unknown	Samantha	1998	[9]
Unknown	Vicious Vicki	1998

Stables and tag teams

Tag team/Stable(s)	Members	Tenure(s)
The Fabulous Ones	Stan Lane and Steve Keirn	1999
The Fabulous Freebirds	Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy	1999
The Godwinns	Henry O. Godwinn and Phineas I. Godwinn	1998
Kings	Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee	1998–1999
The Masked Thugs	Masked Thug #1 and Masked Thug #2	1998
The Midnight Express	Bombastic Bob and Bodacious Bart	1998
The Regulators	Deon Harlem and Rob Harlem	2000
The Rock 'n' Roll Express	Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson	1998
Suicide Blondes	Jason Lee and Derrick King	1999–2000
Too Much	Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher	1999

Managers and valets

Birth name:	Ring name(s):	Tenure:	Notes
Brandon Baxter	Brandon Baxter	1998–2001	[8][9]
Jim Cornette	Jim Cornette	1998–2000	[9]
Randy Hales	Randy Hales	1998–2000
Bruno Lauer	Downtown Bruno	1998–1999
Bruce Prichard	Bruce Prichard	1999
Unknown	Miss Veronica	1998	[9]

Commentators and interviewers

Birth name:	Ring name(s):	Tenure:	Notes
Dave Brown	Dave Brown	1998-2001	[9][10]
Corey Maclin†	Corey Maclin	1998-2001	[9]

Other personnel

Birth name:	Ring name(s):	Tenure:	Notes
Brandon Baxter	Brandon Baxter	1998–2001	Booker
Randy Hales	Randy Hales	1998–2001	Promoter and Booker Buddy Wayne. Live Event Promoter Tony Falk. Producer and Agent [4][12][13]

Notes
† ^ Indicates they are deceased.
‡ ^ Indicates they died while they were employed with Power Pro Wrestling.
WWF ^ Indicates they were part of a talent exchange with the World Wrestling Federation.

Championships

Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship

The PPW Heavyweight Championship was the top title contested for in the Power Pro Wrestling (later Memphis Power Pro Wrestling).^[14]

Champion	#	Date	Location	Notes
Baldo	1	January 29, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee	Beat Jerry Lawler in a tournament final to become the first champion.
Michael Hayes	1	March 7, 1999	Jonesboro, Arkansas	Won the title by pinning Baldo in a tag team match, with Hayes teaming with Brandon Baxter against Randy Hales & Baldo.
J.R. Smooth	1	May 8, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Kurt Angle	1	July 24, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Steve Bradley	1	August 7, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Vic Grimes	1	September 18, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Steve Bradley	2	September 25, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Rico Constantino	1	December 4, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee
Steve Bradley	3	January 15, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
Ali	1	January 19, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
Wolfie D	1	April 8, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
Vacant		May 27, 2000		Wolfie D was stripped because he couldn't defend the title.
Wolfie D	2	May 27, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee	Beat Ali for the vacant title.
Spellbinder	1	July 2, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
Steven Bradley	4	January 13, 2001	Corinth, MS	Also holds the Memphis Championship Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship.
Pete Gas		March 17, 2001		Pete Gas was stripped when Power Pro Wrestling ends its affiliation with World Wrestling Federation because Gas is under contract to WWF.
Promotion closes in April 2001

Power Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship

The PPW Tag Team Championship was a title contended for in the Power Pro Wrestling later Memphis Power Pro Wrestling promotion.^[15]

Team	#	Date	Location	Notes
Billy Travis & Bulldog Raines	1	July 21, 1998	Memphis, Tennessee	Beat The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) in a tournament final to become champions.
Vacant				Title vacant in early 1999
Kid Wikkid & Derrick King	1	March 7, 1999	Jonesboro, Arkansas	Won a tournament for the vacant title.
Vacant		March 19, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee	Vacant after a match between Wikkid & King and Erin O'Grady & Vic Grimes.
Erin O'Grady & Vic Grimes	1	March 20, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee	Defeated Kid Wikkid & Derrick King in a rematch.
Kid Wikkid & Derrick King	2	April 3, 1999	Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee	1	April 17, 1999	Memphis, Tennessee	Lawler won the belts in a handicap match when Dundee no showed.[16]
Glenn Kulka & Mic Tierney	1	October 2, 1999		This was a phantom title change. The title became vacant after Bill Dundee left the company.
Vacant				Titles became vacant in November 1999 when Kulka left the promotion.
Derrick King (3) & Jason Lee	1	January 22, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee	Beat Tony Falk & Blade and Bulldog Raines & Robbie D in a triple threat match tournament final.
Wolfie D	1	January 29, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee	Wins handicap match.
Derrick King (4) & Moondog Spot	1	March 18, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
The Regulators (Deon & Rob Harlem)	1	April 8, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee	Beat Derrick King in a handicap match.
Deactivated		March 17, 2001		The Regulators is stripped of the titles because the promotion closed.

Power Pro Wrestling Television Championship

The PPW Television title was a secondary championship contested for in Power Pro Wrestling/Memphis Power Pro Wrestling.^[17]

Champion	#	Date	Location	Notes
Blade	1	March 25, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee	Won a Battle royal to become the first champion.
Khan	1	June 24, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
Bulldog Raines	1	December 2, 2000	Memphis, Tennessee
RodRageous	1	January 27, 2001	Memphis, Tennessee
Grandmaster Sexay	1	February 21, 2001	Jonesboro, Arkansas	This was a joint MCW/PPW/WWF event. Sexay substituted for K-Kwik.
RodRageous	2	February 24, 2001	Memphis, Tennessee
Vacant		March 17, 2001		PPW ends relationship with WWF. RodRageous is stripped because he is under contract with WWF.

Power Pro Wrestling Young Guns Championship

The PPW Young Guns title was a secondary championship contested for in Power Pro Wrestling/Memphis Power Pro Wrestling.^[18]

Power Pro Wrestling Hardcore Championship

The PPW Hardcore title was a secondary championship contested for in Power Pro Wrestling/Memphis Power Pro Wrestling.^[19]

See also

• United States portal

• List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States

References

1. K8 News (February 13, 2016). TV News story on WWF Power Pro Wrestling. YouTube. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
2. Rouvalis, Cristina (November 14, 1999). "Kurt Angle: WWF's Golden Boy". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
3. Mooneyham, Mike (December 7, 2008). "Matt Hardy enjoying run as ECW champ". The Post and Courier.
4. Beougher, Wyatt (May 18, 2014). "WWE Developmental Through the Ages". 411mania.com.
5. Hornbaker, Tim. "Kurt Angle Wrestling History". Legacyofwrestling.com.
6. Woodward, Buck (December 4, 2010). "THIS DAY IN HISTORY: PAUL HEYMAN EXITS WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT". PWInsider.com.
7. "This Day In Wrestling History – January 29th". Gerweck.net. January 29, 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014.
8. Powell, Jason (June 14, 2003). "Where were today's stars before they were stars? - 5 Yrs Ago". PWTorch.com. Pro Wrestling Torch.
9. Powell, Jason (July 4, 2003). "Memphis TV: Lawler, Koko B. Ware, Mabel, Sir Mo - 5 Yrs Ago". PWTorch.com. Pro Wrestling Torch.
10. Shoemaker, David (June 7, 2013). "Wrestling's Greatest Shoots, Volume 2: Doug Gilbert vs. Jerry Lawler". Grantland.
11. Scherer, Dave (March 31, 2001). "WWF IN MERGER-MANIA". New York Daily News.
12. Dills, Tim (2004). "Regional Territories: Memphis/CWA #22". KayfabeMemories.com.
13. Brashear, David (January 6, 2010). "One Year in Memphis – Wrapping up 1986". InsidePulse.com. Inside Pulse Wrestling.
14. "PPW Heavyweight Title (Tennessee)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
15. "PPW Tag Team Title (Tennessee)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
16. Hoops, Brian (April 17, 2020). "Daily pro wrestling (04/17): WCW Spring Stampede 1994". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
17. "PPW Television Title (Tennessee)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
18. "PPW Young Guns Title (Tennessee)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
19. "PPW Hardcore Title (Tennessee)". Wrestling-Titles.com.