Post by Terry Taylor on Sept 3, 2010 15:21:45 GMT -5
Barry Windham: “The Champion of Champions” Barry Windham is the true legend and icon of “our world” of wrestling. With 13 World Titles and one run as Undisputed World Champion and a record nine time winner of PWI’s Wrestler of the Year, no one comes close to Windham. Windham retired in 2002 as Undisputed Champion. When Windham retired our entire world of wrestling more or less retired with him.
The story of our Windham goes back to 1987. Barry Windham was turned heal and became a “bounty hunter” for the Four Horseman, long before the ‘real’ Jim Crockett would use “the Windham joins the Horseman storyline”. Around this time Ric Flair has a falling out with the NWA and decides to wrestle on a part time schedule splitting time with Crockett and in Japan. This leaves a huge gap to fill for the NWA. Flair had lost the NWA World Title to Roddy Piper, but Piper was only supposed to have a short run as champion, by his request as Piper did not want to travel the world for long periods at a time at that stage of his carrier. The NWA looked to Barry Windham. On June 2nd 1987 Barry Windham won his first NWA World Title. Windham took over Flair’s extensive schedule and even duplicated Flair’s run at the Great American Bash. While traveling as World Champion, Windham feuded in Jim Crockett Promotions with Roddy Piper through out 1987 and soon became the leader of the Four Horseman as well. He lost the title back to Piper at Starrcade 87 to end the first phase of the Piper/Windham feud. Again Piper did not want a long run as champion. He lost the title to “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, who lost it back to Windham one week later.
Windham reigned supreme in 1988, even stealing the AWA World Title belt claiming to be champion of the AWA, but by November a car wreck ended his second title reign. He would soon recover, quit the Four Horseman and win the NWA Title back by early 1989 for the third time. The allure of Hollywood called. Windham attacked NWA President Bob Geigal and was stripped of the title and off he went to star in a TV show. Windham soon found he was a far better wrestler than actor and his show was canceled.
He was back in the NWA by Starrcade 89 and won the title for a fourth time. He held on to the title until July of 1990 when he lost it to Piper. This was only the second time he was pinned to lose the title. Windham left WCW after the loss, as WCW and the NWA was falling behind the WWF and the upstart WWA/PWA. He decided to sign with the PWA, but soon learned he was just another fish in the ocean, as the WWA/PWA was ruled by Owen Hart. Windham would win regional titles, but never found himself as a World Title contender. Many experts said his days as a World Champion were over. He left the PWA and returned to the NWA. The experts were proven wrong as he won his fifth NWA World Title by beating Rick Steamboat.
The closing of the WWF in 1992 after it was bought by Time Warner, then owner of the NWA/WCW, back fired. Instead of joining WCW and a wave of talent joined the WWA/PWA instead. By mid-1992 Windham saw the writing on the wall and quit the NWA and gave up the NWA World Title and rejoined the PWA hoping for a better run this time. As the NWA fell further, Windham finally saw himself rise in the PWA on his second run. A feud with Randy Savage brought Windham in the main events. He even formed a new stable, known as the Windham Hell Raisers. The Hell Raisers soon feuded with Hulk Hogan, which led to several ‘dream matches’ with Windham facing Hogan. Even with the big push Windham never still never found his way to the WWA World Title and left the PWA in 1993 to return to the NWA and WCW to help rebuild the alliance and his old promotion. This time he had help. Paramount Sports (later know as Viacom Sports), the owners of the WWA and co-owners of the PWA bought WCW from Time Warner.
Windham won a tournament to win the vacant NWA World Title in Japan, winning his sixth NWA World Title. He would lose it to Bret Hart in July, only the third time he was pinned in the ring to lose the title. With Windham back on top, WCW was growing again and signing new talent including Sid Vicious who won the title from Hart. In a violent match at Starrcade Windham won the title for the seventh time and as a baby face by defeating Vicious. His time as a baby face champion would not last, as Windham attempted to blind his old foe Roddy Piper in early 1994. Windham would find him stripped of title and suspended for a mere 30 days.
He would win the NWA World title for a record tie with Harley Race for the eighth time at Battle at Busch. He would hold the title until March when Paramount Sports and the PWA split. Paramount bought the all the rights to the WWA and sold back it’s half of the PWA to Fredrickson Sports Promotions, leaving WCW as their sole flagship promotion. Holding the rights to the NWA and WWA World Titles, Paramount Sports did not see the need for both titles. They planned to unify the titles together under the WWA name. Windham refused to help in destroying the NWA’s legacy and decided in March of 1995 to retire instead as NWA World Champion. Paramount Sports claimed the belts to still be unified after his retirement. In July of 1995 the NWA would reemerge, but not as the powerhouse it once was.
Windham would return to wrestling by the end of 1995 to WCW, now as its head booker, as they entered a semi war with the PWA over talent and PPV’s but still shared the WWA World title. Windham would finally win his first WWA World Title and ninth world title on March 31st 1996 at Wrestlemania. He would hold the title until the reunification of the NWA and WWA belts as he lost on points to Dan Severn in a controversial lose. All hell broke loose soon after, as PWA Head Booker Chris Champion signed Severn to a PWA contract and the “Severn death” angle soon followed. The NWA and WWA pulled out of the Unified title and the PWA quit the WWA totally and crowned their own World title.
Windham remained as WCW Head Booker and the promotions top star and would win his second WWA World Title and tenth overall World title by defeating The Giant at Starrcade 96. He would hold the title for his longest tile reign of his carrier a total of 747 days. By 1997 with his booking skills, the new WCW’s “attitude style”, star power and Viacom Sports (formerly Paramount Sports) backing WCW would finally rival the PWA as a dominate wrestling company. Almost 10 years after winning his first World title, most experts say this was Windham in his prime. But all things would soon be changing for WCW and Windham.
The PWA and Chris Champions beginning slowly picking away the younger talent base of WCW and soon begin booking a more mature storyline bases to compete with WCW’s “attitude style”. By early 1998 WCW was starting to see a major decline and dropping faster by the week. They begin spending money on older talent that cost much more money, some of which could no longer headline. In an attempt to make a turnaround Windham finally saw his long title reign come to an end as he lost to upstart Bill Goldberg at Starrcade 98, only his fourth pin fall lose of the belt... Very soon afterward Viacom Sports put the WWA up for sale in an attempt to save WCW. Fredrickson Sports quickly bought up the WWA. WCW would quit the WWA leaving them without a marquee World Title as Goldberg was stripped of the title. Windham was losing his cool with Viacom and their budget cuts. They would finally sell WCW to a new group called Prime Time Sports and Entertainment, owners of the NWA. WCW would finally rejoin the NWA.
Windham was less impressed with the new owners and left and joined the winning side, the PWA and soon became their new Head Booker. He would win the WWA title for his third time and eleventh World Title on October 17th 1999. But trouble was brewing. Windham, as the Head Booker, took the PWA further into the “mature storylines” and offending many top sponsors. John Fredrickson told him and Champion to tame things down. A week before an upcoming PPV, Windham ok'ed an angle with Nic Cross where incest and abortion was used. The FOX network was bombed with call and groups called for protest. John Fredrickson fired Windham as Head Booker on the spot. He would forfeit the WWA World Title at the PPV and leave the PWA with his head down. He called this the lowest point of his entire carrier.
Prime Time Sports called and offered not only his old job back in WCW, but partial ownership in the company. He agreed and won his record breaking ninth NWA World Title and twelfth overall World title in June of 2000. He would hold the title a year and half before losing it to Steve Austin, after Austin burned Windham. He would have his revenge and tenth NWA World Title on December 12th 2001 in New York City. Now in his thirteenth World Title run, Windham decided it was time to call it quits for good and go on his “farewell tour”. John Fredrickson soon called and offered a match with WWA World Champion Rob Van Dam. Windham would defeat Van Dam and win his fourth WWA World Title and become for this first time in his carrier the Undisputed World Champion.
His farewell tour took him all over the world as Undisputed World Champion. It would come to an end at Wrestlemania when he faced Steve Austin. After beating Austin, Windham gave his farewell speech and retired as Undisputed World Champion. The WWA and NWA would split the title back up and hold tournaments to crown new champions. Windham appeared at both events and presented the new champion with a title belt. He even gave a copy of his storied “big gold belt” to new WWA World Champion Brandon Myers. Windham and long time rival Owen Hart was inducted into the PWA/WWA Hall of Fame at Battle at Busch. After that Windham would make one last appearance at a wrestling event in July of 2002 at a reunion ceremony for the Four Horseman with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson and JJ Dillion. He remained has a co-owner in Prime Time Sports, but he had little dealings with the day to day operations. WCW was in its final days.
By 2003 Prime Time Sports sold WCW, the roster, video library and PPV event rights to Fredrickson Sports Promotions. WCW’s roster was merged into the PWA. Windham and his holding company would take profits from the WCW sale to buy the full rights to the NWA and ensure the NWA’s name and history would continue. He hired former PWA President Chris Champion to oversee the NWA as Executive Director. He soon signed a deal with Jeff and Jerry Jarrett to book the NWA Title in the new Total Non Stop Action promotion.
After years of refusing to do so, Windham finally appeared in and was interviewed for a 2007 PWA video/DVD that chronicled his entire carrier. He called Roddy Piper his toughest challenger, that Hulk Hogan had no ring talent, he had no respect for his father Blackjack Mulligan and Ric Flair and the Andersons his ring idols. His said his firing from the PWA for what he now calls “immature booking” was his lowest point, but his return from the firing to win the NWA World Title for a record ninth time as his highest point.
At the end of the video he said when he retired he meant it and was done. He wanted to “go out on top and he did”. He has turned down any other wrestling appearances and has no day to day dealings with the running of the NWA. He vows to never step foot in a wrestling area again.
Windham left wrestling with 13 World Titles, 9 Wrestler of the Year Awards and held the “Lord of the Ring” title for 15 years. With no questions, no one comes close to him in our world of wrestling.
Today true to his word, he stays out of the wrestling scene and runs Windham Holdings, a LLC that specialize in buying companies that are financial trouble and reselling them for profit. It is estimated he has made more money with Windham Holdings than he did in his entire wrestling carrier.
Copyright © 1988-2010
Fredrickson Sports Promotions.
The story of our Windham goes back to 1987. Barry Windham was turned heal and became a “bounty hunter” for the Four Horseman, long before the ‘real’ Jim Crockett would use “the Windham joins the Horseman storyline”. Around this time Ric Flair has a falling out with the NWA and decides to wrestle on a part time schedule splitting time with Crockett and in Japan. This leaves a huge gap to fill for the NWA. Flair had lost the NWA World Title to Roddy Piper, but Piper was only supposed to have a short run as champion, by his request as Piper did not want to travel the world for long periods at a time at that stage of his carrier. The NWA looked to Barry Windham. On June 2nd 1987 Barry Windham won his first NWA World Title. Windham took over Flair’s extensive schedule and even duplicated Flair’s run at the Great American Bash. While traveling as World Champion, Windham feuded in Jim Crockett Promotions with Roddy Piper through out 1987 and soon became the leader of the Four Horseman as well. He lost the title back to Piper at Starrcade 87 to end the first phase of the Piper/Windham feud. Again Piper did not want a long run as champion. He lost the title to “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, who lost it back to Windham one week later.
Windham reigned supreme in 1988, even stealing the AWA World Title belt claiming to be champion of the AWA, but by November a car wreck ended his second title reign. He would soon recover, quit the Four Horseman and win the NWA Title back by early 1989 for the third time. The allure of Hollywood called. Windham attacked NWA President Bob Geigal and was stripped of the title and off he went to star in a TV show. Windham soon found he was a far better wrestler than actor and his show was canceled.
He was back in the NWA by Starrcade 89 and won the title for a fourth time. He held on to the title until July of 1990 when he lost it to Piper. This was only the second time he was pinned to lose the title. Windham left WCW after the loss, as WCW and the NWA was falling behind the WWF and the upstart WWA/PWA. He decided to sign with the PWA, but soon learned he was just another fish in the ocean, as the WWA/PWA was ruled by Owen Hart. Windham would win regional titles, but never found himself as a World Title contender. Many experts said his days as a World Champion were over. He left the PWA and returned to the NWA. The experts were proven wrong as he won his fifth NWA World Title by beating Rick Steamboat.
The closing of the WWF in 1992 after it was bought by Time Warner, then owner of the NWA/WCW, back fired. Instead of joining WCW and a wave of talent joined the WWA/PWA instead. By mid-1992 Windham saw the writing on the wall and quit the NWA and gave up the NWA World Title and rejoined the PWA hoping for a better run this time. As the NWA fell further, Windham finally saw himself rise in the PWA on his second run. A feud with Randy Savage brought Windham in the main events. He even formed a new stable, known as the Windham Hell Raisers. The Hell Raisers soon feuded with Hulk Hogan, which led to several ‘dream matches’ with Windham facing Hogan. Even with the big push Windham never still never found his way to the WWA World Title and left the PWA in 1993 to return to the NWA and WCW to help rebuild the alliance and his old promotion. This time he had help. Paramount Sports (later know as Viacom Sports), the owners of the WWA and co-owners of the PWA bought WCW from Time Warner.
Windham won a tournament to win the vacant NWA World Title in Japan, winning his sixth NWA World Title. He would lose it to Bret Hart in July, only the third time he was pinned in the ring to lose the title. With Windham back on top, WCW was growing again and signing new talent including Sid Vicious who won the title from Hart. In a violent match at Starrcade Windham won the title for the seventh time and as a baby face by defeating Vicious. His time as a baby face champion would not last, as Windham attempted to blind his old foe Roddy Piper in early 1994. Windham would find him stripped of title and suspended for a mere 30 days.
He would win the NWA World title for a record tie with Harley Race for the eighth time at Battle at Busch. He would hold the title until March when Paramount Sports and the PWA split. Paramount bought the all the rights to the WWA and sold back it’s half of the PWA to Fredrickson Sports Promotions, leaving WCW as their sole flagship promotion. Holding the rights to the NWA and WWA World Titles, Paramount Sports did not see the need for both titles. They planned to unify the titles together under the WWA name. Windham refused to help in destroying the NWA’s legacy and decided in March of 1995 to retire instead as NWA World Champion. Paramount Sports claimed the belts to still be unified after his retirement. In July of 1995 the NWA would reemerge, but not as the powerhouse it once was.
Windham would return to wrestling by the end of 1995 to WCW, now as its head booker, as they entered a semi war with the PWA over talent and PPV’s but still shared the WWA World title. Windham would finally win his first WWA World Title and ninth world title on March 31st 1996 at Wrestlemania. He would hold the title until the reunification of the NWA and WWA belts as he lost on points to Dan Severn in a controversial lose. All hell broke loose soon after, as PWA Head Booker Chris Champion signed Severn to a PWA contract and the “Severn death” angle soon followed. The NWA and WWA pulled out of the Unified title and the PWA quit the WWA totally and crowned their own World title.
Windham remained as WCW Head Booker and the promotions top star and would win his second WWA World Title and tenth overall World title by defeating The Giant at Starrcade 96. He would hold the title for his longest tile reign of his carrier a total of 747 days. By 1997 with his booking skills, the new WCW’s “attitude style”, star power and Viacom Sports (formerly Paramount Sports) backing WCW would finally rival the PWA as a dominate wrestling company. Almost 10 years after winning his first World title, most experts say this was Windham in his prime. But all things would soon be changing for WCW and Windham.
The PWA and Chris Champions beginning slowly picking away the younger talent base of WCW and soon begin booking a more mature storyline bases to compete with WCW’s “attitude style”. By early 1998 WCW was starting to see a major decline and dropping faster by the week. They begin spending money on older talent that cost much more money, some of which could no longer headline. In an attempt to make a turnaround Windham finally saw his long title reign come to an end as he lost to upstart Bill Goldberg at Starrcade 98, only his fourth pin fall lose of the belt... Very soon afterward Viacom Sports put the WWA up for sale in an attempt to save WCW. Fredrickson Sports quickly bought up the WWA. WCW would quit the WWA leaving them without a marquee World Title as Goldberg was stripped of the title. Windham was losing his cool with Viacom and their budget cuts. They would finally sell WCW to a new group called Prime Time Sports and Entertainment, owners of the NWA. WCW would finally rejoin the NWA.
Windham was less impressed with the new owners and left and joined the winning side, the PWA and soon became their new Head Booker. He would win the WWA title for his third time and eleventh World Title on October 17th 1999. But trouble was brewing. Windham, as the Head Booker, took the PWA further into the “mature storylines” and offending many top sponsors. John Fredrickson told him and Champion to tame things down. A week before an upcoming PPV, Windham ok'ed an angle with Nic Cross where incest and abortion was used. The FOX network was bombed with call and groups called for protest. John Fredrickson fired Windham as Head Booker on the spot. He would forfeit the WWA World Title at the PPV and leave the PWA with his head down. He called this the lowest point of his entire carrier.
Prime Time Sports called and offered not only his old job back in WCW, but partial ownership in the company. He agreed and won his record breaking ninth NWA World Title and twelfth overall World title in June of 2000. He would hold the title a year and half before losing it to Steve Austin, after Austin burned Windham. He would have his revenge and tenth NWA World Title on December 12th 2001 in New York City. Now in his thirteenth World Title run, Windham decided it was time to call it quits for good and go on his “farewell tour”. John Fredrickson soon called and offered a match with WWA World Champion Rob Van Dam. Windham would defeat Van Dam and win his fourth WWA World Title and become for this first time in his carrier the Undisputed World Champion.
His farewell tour took him all over the world as Undisputed World Champion. It would come to an end at Wrestlemania when he faced Steve Austin. After beating Austin, Windham gave his farewell speech and retired as Undisputed World Champion. The WWA and NWA would split the title back up and hold tournaments to crown new champions. Windham appeared at both events and presented the new champion with a title belt. He even gave a copy of his storied “big gold belt” to new WWA World Champion Brandon Myers. Windham and long time rival Owen Hart was inducted into the PWA/WWA Hall of Fame at Battle at Busch. After that Windham would make one last appearance at a wrestling event in July of 2002 at a reunion ceremony for the Four Horseman with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson and JJ Dillion. He remained has a co-owner in Prime Time Sports, but he had little dealings with the day to day operations. WCW was in its final days.
By 2003 Prime Time Sports sold WCW, the roster, video library and PPV event rights to Fredrickson Sports Promotions. WCW’s roster was merged into the PWA. Windham and his holding company would take profits from the WCW sale to buy the full rights to the NWA and ensure the NWA’s name and history would continue. He hired former PWA President Chris Champion to oversee the NWA as Executive Director. He soon signed a deal with Jeff and Jerry Jarrett to book the NWA Title in the new Total Non Stop Action promotion.
After years of refusing to do so, Windham finally appeared in and was interviewed for a 2007 PWA video/DVD that chronicled his entire carrier. He called Roddy Piper his toughest challenger, that Hulk Hogan had no ring talent, he had no respect for his father Blackjack Mulligan and Ric Flair and the Andersons his ring idols. His said his firing from the PWA for what he now calls “immature booking” was his lowest point, but his return from the firing to win the NWA World Title for a record ninth time as his highest point.
At the end of the video he said when he retired he meant it and was done. He wanted to “go out on top and he did”. He has turned down any other wrestling appearances and has no day to day dealings with the running of the NWA. He vows to never step foot in a wrestling area again.
Windham left wrestling with 13 World Titles, 9 Wrestler of the Year Awards and held the “Lord of the Ring” title for 15 years. With no questions, no one comes close to him in our world of wrestling.
Today true to his word, he stays out of the wrestling scene and runs Windham Holdings, a LLC that specialize in buying companies that are financial trouble and reselling them for profit. It is estimated he has made more money with Windham Holdings than he did in his entire wrestling carrier.
Copyright © 1988-2010
Fredrickson Sports Promotions.