D. J. Peterson

David W. Peterson (July 17, 1959 – May 25, 1993), better known by his ring name D. J. Peterson was an American professional wrestler.

For the Canadian politician and former Premier of Ontario, see David Peterson. For the baseball player, see D. J. Peterson (baseball).
D. J. Peterson
Birth nameDavid W. Peterson
Born(1959-07-17)July 17, 1959
St. Joseph, Missouri, United States
DiedMay 25, 1993(1993-05-25) (aged 33)
Cause of deathMotorcycle accident
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)D. J. Peterson
Dave Peterson
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Billed weight264 lb (120 kg)
Trained byLord Littlebrook
Debut1984

He is best known for competing in various North American regional promotions during the 1980s, including the Universal Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance, and most notably the American Wrestling Association during its final days. While there, he and The Trooper became the final holders of the AWA Tag Team Championship.[1]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1984-1987)

Making his debut in 1984, Peterson started wrestling in Texas All-Star Wrestling and in the NWA Central States. During the mid-1980s, Peterson briefly appeared in Fritz von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling defeating Jack Victory on February 7 and Prairie States Wrestling against Ox Baker on July 23 before wrestling in the Mid-South area and, by early 1986, for Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation facing wrestlers such as Gustavo Mendoza[2][3] and, in tag team matches, teamed with Brett Sawyer against Mike Scott and Rick Steiner,[4] the Blade Runners[5] and the Fabulous Freebirds (Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy & Buddy Roberts) in their UWF debut.[6] He also wrestled Bart Sawyer several times, losing to him on May 3 and teamed with Chavo Guerrero against Sawyer and Rick Steiner in the following weeks.

Later that year, he teamed with Todd Champion feuding with the Thunderfoots and faced Big Bubba Rogers and The Warlord and The MOD Squad during October while in Jim Crockett Promotions as well as wrestling Arn Anderson in St. Louis, Missouri on November 16, 1986.

American Wrestling Association- First Stint (1987)

Jumping to the American Wrestling Association in 1987, Peterson fought Super Ninja to a time limit draw at SuperClash II on May 2, 1987.[7] He would also form a team with J. T. Southern, attempting to gain the AWA World Tag Team titles, but ended up coming short.

Other Federations (1987-1990)

He then split his time wrestling in several territories during the next two years appearing on the debut television show of Continental Championship Wrestling and had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation,[8] primarily being used as a jobber. In 1989, he would head up to Calgary for Stampede Wrestling until its closure on December 18.

American Wrestling Association- Second Stint (1990)

Peterson returned to the AWA full-time in early 1990 teaming with Brad Rheingans against the Texas Hangmen at SuperClash IV on April 8, 1990 and later to pursue then AWA World Champion Mr. Saito. When Larry Zbyszko regained the title, Peterson was granted title shots although he failed to unseat the World Champion. Shortly thereafter, he formed a tag team with The Trooper which captured the AWA World Tag Team Titles from The Destruction Crew on August 11, 1990. Defending the titles during the rest of the year, Peterson and Trooper would turn out to be the last AWA World Tag Team Champions. In January 1991, Pro Wrestling Illustrated and its sister publications withdrew recognition of the AWA's World Championship status[9] but continued to recognize Trooper and Peterson as incumbent "AWA Tag Team Champions" until the promotion finally closed later that year.

Later career (1991-1993)

After the AWA closed in early 1991, Peterson went back to the independents until he died from a motorcycle crash on May 25, 1993.[10]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References
  1. "Championship Roll Call: AWA World Tag Team Championship". AWAstars.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  2. "Card Results: UWF February 16, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. Archived from the original on 2008-10-09.
  3. "Card Results: UWF April 13, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
  4. "Card Results: MSW February 11, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. Archived from the original on 2008-10-09.
  5. "Card Results: UWF March 29, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
  6. "Card Results: UWF April 27, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. Archived from the original on 2009-01-08.
  7. "AWA SuperClash: SuperClash II". ProWrestlingHistory.com. June 2002.
  8. Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1492825975.
  9. PWI Strips the AWA of World Title Status Pro Wrestling Illustrated May 1991
  10. Will, Gary (December 1998). "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers - A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past". GaryWill.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015.
  11. "A.W.A. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  12. "N.W.A. Central States Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  13. "N.W.A. Central States Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  14. "TASW Texas 6-man Tag Team Title (Texas)".
  15. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Texas: WCWA Television Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  16. "World Class Television Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  17. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1991". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
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