Ultimate Pro Wrestling

Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) was a California-based independent pro wrestling company owned and operated by Rick Bassman,[1] that operated from 1999–2007.

Ultimate Pro Wrestling
AcronymUPW
Founded1999
Defunct2007
HeadquartersCalifornia
Founder(s)Rick Bassman
Owner(s)Rick Bassman

The company had working relationships with Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wrestling Entertainment. It served as a developmental company for WWE, where they would scout wrestlers and send others for training, from 2006 to 2007.[2] Some of the major names to go on to stardom are, John Cena, Samoa Joe, The Miz and Christopher Daniels. The promotion was featured on a Discovery Channel special called Inside Pro Wrestling School.

Notable alumni

Deceased individuals are indicated with a dagger (†).

Tag Teams:

Championships

UPW Heavyweight Championship

The UPW Heavyweight Championship was a championship contested for by Heavyweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[3][4]

Wrestler#DateLocationNotes
Sylvester Terkay1February 1, 1999Mission Viejo, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal to become first champion
Aaron Baker11999Santa Ana, California
Mike Bell2November 1999Santa Ana, California
VacantN/AJanuary 9, 2000N/AMike Bell was stripped of the title.
Bad Boy Basil1January 27, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaDefeated J. D. Dempsey in a tournament final.
Smelly1March 29, 2000Santa Ana, California
The Prototype1April 27, 2000San Diego, California
Smelly1May 24, 2000Santa Ana, California
Staz1August 23, 2000Santa Ana, California
Christopher Daniels1October 12, 2000Costa Mesa, California
Samoa Joe1March 14, 2001Santa Ana, California
Mikey Henderson1November 27, 2001Hollywood, California
VacantN/ANovember 27, 2001N/Astripped for no-show
Christopher Daniels2March 13, 2002Santa Ana, CaliforniaDefeats Samoa Joe and Frankie Kazarian in a 3-way match.
Tom Howard2May 8, 2002Santa Ana, CaliforniaDefeated Christopher Daniels in a tournament final, stripped of the title on June 3.
VacantN/AJune 3, 2002N/A
Adam Pearce1July 11, 2003Anaheim, CaliforniaDefeated Chris Mordetzsky in a tournament final.
Tom Howard1October 22, 2003Santa Ana, California
InactiveN/A2007N/A

UPW Lightweight Championship

The UPW Lightweight Championship was a championship contested for by Cruiserweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[5][6]

Wrestler#DateLocationNotes
Prodigy1January 27, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal to become first champion
Rick Bassman1January 27, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaBassman [who was the company's owner] stole the title belt and named himself champion.
Prodigy2February 23, 2000Santa Ana, California
The Enterprise1March 15, 2000Hollywood, CaliforniaTitle might be vacant later in the month.
Savvy1March 28, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal. Might have been for a vacant belt.
The Enterprise2March 29, 2000San Diego, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal. Stripped of the title on May 24, 2000, for being over the title's weight limit.
Stretch1May 24, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal for the vacant title.
B-Boy1June 2000San Diego, California
Stretch2June 10, 2000Santa Ana, California
Drunk Irishman1July 20, 2000Huntington Beach, CaliforniaLater had to vacate the title due to injury.
Stretch3July 29, 2000Huntington Beach, CaliforniaWon a tournament for the vacant title.
Mikey Henderson1August 23, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaVacates the title on October 12, 2000, to create the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Southern California title.
Prodigy3November 8, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal for the vacant title
B-Boy2May 30, 2001Santa Ana, California
Frankie Kazarian1August 15, 2002Santa Ana, CaliforniaThis was a 2 out of 3 falls Triple Threat Match also involving Spanky. The first fall was for Spanky's Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship and the second fall was for B-Boy's UPW Lightweight title.
Lil Nate1February 23, 2005Santa Ana, California

UPW Tag Team Championship

The UPW Tag Team Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[7][8]

Tag Team#DateLocationNotes
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
1December 2, 1999Hollywood, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal to become first champions.
Team Hardcore
(Justin Sane & Hardkore Kidd)
1March 2000Santa Ana, California
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
2March 28, 2000Santa Ana, California
Jobbers-R-Us
(Billy Kim & Troubled Youth)
1April 19, 2000Santa Ana, California
Los Cubanitos
(Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero)
1April 27, 2000San Diego, California
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
3May 24, 2000Santa Ana, California
Team Hardcore
(Justin Sane & Hardkore Kidd)
2July 1, 2000Huntington Beach, CaliforniaThis was a phantom title change meaning it never actually took place.
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
4July 15, 2000Huntington Beach, CaliforniaPhantom title change. Stripped on January 31, 2001.
Evolution
(Frankie Kazarian & Nova)
1May 30, 2001Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a tournament for the vacant titles.[9]
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
5May 8, 2002Santa Ana, California
Funky Billy Kim (2) & B-Boy1January 8, 2003Santa Ana, California
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
6March 15, 2003Laughlin, Nevada
Hardkore Inc.
(Hardkore Kidd (3) & Al Katrazz)
1April 25, 2003Anaheim, California
The Ballard Brothers
(Shane & Shannon)
7February 20, 2004Anaheim, California

UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship

The UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[10]

Champion#DateLocationNotes
Mikey Henderson1October 12, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaHenderson was the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Lightweight Champion when he vacated that title to create the UPW Southern California title. Was stripped for too many no shows.
Tony Jones1January 30, 2001Santa Ana, CaliforniaWas awarded the title after winning a six-man tag match.
Tom Howard1June 26, 2001Santa Ana, CaliforniaThe title is renamed the UPW Shoot Championship on August 22, 2001. Unified with the UPW Heavyweight Championship When Howard beats Christopher Daniels for the Heavyweight title on May 8, 2002

UPW No Holds Barred Championship

The UPW No Holds Barred Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[11]

Champion#DateLocationNotes
J.D. Dempsey1March 28, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaDefeated Samoan Joe to become the first champion.
Samoa Joe1March 29, 2000San Diego, California
Smooth Billy D1April 19, 2000Santa Ana, California
Shane Ballard1April 27, 2000San Diego, California

UPW Internet Championship

The UPW Internet Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[12]

Championship#DateLocationNotes
Navajo Warrior1November 8, 2000Santa Ana, CaliforniaWon a Battle royal.
The Blue Meanie1March 14, 2001Santa Ana, California

UPW Women's Championship

Champion#DateLocationNotes
Erica Porter1April 25, 2003Anaheim, CABeat Savvy to become champion.

See also

References

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