Brad Rheingans

Last updated

Brad Rheingans
BradRheingans 830828.jpg
Rheingans in 1983
Birth nameBradley Bert Rheingans
Born (1953-12-13) December 13, 1953 (age 70)
Appleton, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater North Dakota State University
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Brad Rheingans
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm) [1]
Billed weight260 lb (118 kg) [1]
Billed fromAppleton, Minnesota, U.S.
Trained by Verne Gagne [2]
Billy Robinson [3]
Debut1980 [4]
Retired1995 [4]
Sports career
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1979 San Diego 100 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1975 Mexico City 100 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1979 San Juan 100 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the North Dakota State Bison
NCAA Division II Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1975 East Stroudsburg190 lb
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1974 Fullerton177 lb

Bradley Bert Rheingans (born December 13, 1953) is an American former Greco-Roman wrestler and professional wrestler. He was a member of the United States' Greco-Roman wrestling teams for the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics, as well as winning two gold medals in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games and a bronze medal in the 1979 World Wrestling Championships. [5] [4] As a professional, Rheingans co-held the AWA World Tag Team Championship one time.

Contents

Early life

Rheingans was born in Appleton, Minnesota. [4] While in high school, he won honours in football, wrestling, and track and field. [5] His high school friends included fellow future professional wrestling personality Eric Bischoff. [6] After graduating high school, Rheingans enrolled in North Dakota State University. [5]

Amateur wrestling career

Originally from Appleton, Rheingans was an NCAA Division II [7] champion in 1975 for North Dakota State University and wrestled in the 1976 Olympics, placing fourth. [8] [9] He qualified for the Olympic team in 1980, but did not compete due to the United States boycott. [8] [10] Between Olympics, he placed third for a bronze medal at the 1979 World Wrestling Championships. [11] He was later inducted into the Tribune Hall of Fame. [12] Rheingans also won gold medals in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games. [13]

From 1976 to 1977, Rheingans served as assistant wrestling coach for the University of Minnesota. [2] He went on to serve as a coach for the Minnesota Wrestling Club, where he trained Jeff Blatnick for the 1980 Summer Olympics. [14] Like Rheingans, Blatnick qualified for the Olympic team in 1980, but did not compete due to the United States boycott.

Professional wrestling career

Rheingans during a professional wrestling match, c. 1983 Brad Rheingans wrestling 1983.png
Rheingans during a professional wrestling match, c. 1983

American Wrestling Association (1980–1986)

Rheingans entered professional wrestling in 1980, training under Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson. [4] [2] [3] He debuted in Gagne's American Wrestling Association.

World Wrestling Federation (1987)

He also wrestled briefly for the WWF as an enhancement talent in 1987. [15]

Return to American Wrestling Association (1988–1990)

He worked for the AWA again in 1989 where he and Ken Patera formed The Olympians tag team and beat Badd Company for the AWA World Tag Team Championship but were forced to vacate the belts when Patera was kayfabe injured in a strongman contest by The Destruction Crew who subsequently won the vacant title. Rheingans worked for AWA until August 1990 when the company went bankrupt. Afterwards, he worked for various independent promotions in the Minnesota area during the early half of the 1990s.

World Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)

Rheingans also wrestled occasionally worked for World Championship Wrestling from 1989 to 1990.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1989–1993)

In 1989, Rheingans began touring Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), allying himself with his former trainee Leon White, now known as Big Van Vader, and Buzz Sawyer in battling Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu and Kengo Kimura, but later, he would aid New Japan in their battle against USSR amateur wrestlers such as Salman Hashimikov, Victor Zangiev, Vladimir Berkovich, Timur Zalasov and Wahka Evloev for the remainder of the year. In 1990, he started to help training young wrestlers on the NJPW Dojo, most notably Koji Kitao and Osamu Nishimura. In that time his most notable match was against another decorated amateur wrestler in Victor Zangiev from the Soviet Union on February 10 at the Tokyo Dome, in a winning effort. Later on, he would only engage against young lions such as Michiyoshi Ohara, Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata and many others. His last match on New Japan saw Rheingans defeat El Samurai on December 11, 1993. [4]

Retirement

Rheingans retired in 1995 after undergoing major reconstructive surgery on both knees. [16] After recovering, he began working as a trainer and as the American booker for NJPW, hiring wrestlers to tour Japan with the promotion. In the early 1990s, Rheingans helped broker a working agreement between NJPW and World Championship Wrestling. [6] [17]

After retiring, Rheingans opened the World Wide School of Professional Wrestling in Hamel, Minnesota. [4]

Rheingans was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. [10]

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

Professional wrestling

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Wrestling Association</span> American professional wrestling promotion

The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The promotion was born out of the Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club, originally founded in 1933, which served as the Minnesota-based territory of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from 1948 onward, before breaking away from the NWA and becoming an independent territory in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verne Gagne</span> American professional wrestler and football player (1926–2015)

Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne was an American amateur and professional wrestler, football player, wrestling trainer and wrestling promoter. He was the owner and promoter of the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association (AWA), the predominant promotion throughout the Midwest and Manitoba for many years. He remained in this position until 1991, when the company folded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Patera</span> American professional wrestler and weightlifter

Kenneth Wayne Patera is an American retired professional wrestler, Olympic weightlifter, and strongman competitor. Well known in the World Wrestling Federation from 1976 to 1981, 1984 to 1985 and 1987 to 1988 and American Wrestling Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron von Raschke</span> American professional and amateur wrestler

James Donald Raschke is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Baron von Raschke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Anderson (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler and manager

Eugene Avon Anderson was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. He is best known for being one-half of the tag team the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, first with Lars Anderson, then with Ole Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adnan Al-Kaissie</span> Iraqi professional wrestler (1939–2023)

Adnan bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie, better known professionally as Adnan Al-Kaissie, was an Iraqi-American professional wrestler and manager best known as Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey, Billy White Wolf, or General Adnan. In 1971 he defeated André the Giant in Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad, under the auspices of his high school classmate, Ba'ath Party leader Saddam Hussein. He competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). On December 7, 1976, he won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship with Chief Jay Strongbow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Zenk</span> American professional wrestler

Thomas Erwin Zenk was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987, with the American Wrestling Association from 1988 to 1989, and with World Championship Wrestling from 1989 to 1994, as well for his tours of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Gagne (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler (born 1948)

Gregory Alan Gagne is an American retired professional wrestler. He is the son of Verne Gagne. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he achieved his biggest success as one-half of tag team the High Flyers with Jim Brunzell. The High Flyers enjoyed a number of high-profile feuds within the American Wrestling Association (AWA) with the likes of Bobby Duncum and Blackjack Lanza, Pat Patterson and Ray "The Crippler" Stevens, the East-West Connection, and the Sheiks.

The Beverly Brothers were a professional wrestling tag team comprising Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom in the World Wrestling Federation. They were also known as The Destruction Crew in the American Wrestling Association and the Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2 in the National Wrestling Alliance. The Destruction Crew won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 1989 Rookie of the Year award, the only tag team to win this accolade.

Michael Enos is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under his birth name and with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Blake Beverly. For much of his career, Enos teamed with Wayne Bloom as The Destruction Crew/The Beverly Brothers.

Wayne Bloom is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under his birth name and with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Beau Beverly. For much of his career, Bloom teamed with Mike Enos as the Destruction Crew / the Beverly Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Bockwinkel</span> American wrestler (1934–2015)

Nicholas Warren Francis Bockwinkel was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the 1970s and 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackjack Lanza</span> American professional wrestler (1935–2021)

John Mortl Lanzo was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Blackjack Lanza. Along with his long-term tag team partner, Blackjack Mulligan, Lanza was one-half of The Blackjacks: "black cowboy hat-wearing, cowboy boot-stomping, rugged hombres who drew money wherever they went".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Blackwell</span> American professional wrestler

Jerry Blackwell was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell. Blackwell competed in the 1979 World's Strongest Man contest, but withdrew early in the competition due to an injury. He was a main event star in the American Wrestling Association where he feuded with Mad Dog Vachon, Hulk Hogan, The Crusher, Bruiser Brody and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masa Saito</span> Japanese professional wrestler (1942–2018)

Masanori Saito was a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Mr. Saito or Masa Saito (マサ斎藤). He wrestled for 33 years around the world. He had success as a singles wrestler, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1990, and as a tag team wrestler with multiple partners in various National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jumbo Tsuruta</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Tomomi "Tommy" Tsuruta, better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta, was a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for most of his career, and is well known for being the first ever Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, having won the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the NWA United National Championship, and the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, and unifying the three titles. He is also known for being one-half of the first World Tag Team Champions with Yoshiaki Yatsu, having won the NWA International Tag Team Championship and the PWF Tag Team Championship, and unifying the two titles.

Jake Milliman is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleksandr Kolchinsky</span>

Oleksandr Leonidovych Kolchynskyy was a Soviet Ukrainian heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler of Jewish-Ukrainian descent. He won Olympic gold medals in 1976 and 1980 and a world title in 1978, placing second in 1975, 1977 and 1979. Most Olympic wins came by way of pin.

1980 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

SuperClash '85 – The Night of Champions was the first SuperClash professional wrestling supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). It was billed as AWA's flagship supercard, their biggest event of the year. The event was held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1985, only a few months after WrestleMania, which was promoted by the rival World Wrestling Federation (WWF) promotion.

References

  1. 1 2 "Brad Rheingans OWW profile". OnlineWorldofWrestling. May 31, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 George Schire (2010). Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors. Minnesota Historical Society. pp. 127–128. ISBN   978-0-87351-620-4.
  3. 1 2 Billy Robinson; Jake Shannon (June 1, 2012). Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 104–. ISBN   978-1-77090-215-2.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Oliver, Greg (August 25, 2004). "Olympic boycott still haunts Rheingans". Canoe.ca . Quebecor Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mike Chapman (2005). Wrestling Tough. Human Kinetics. p. 146. ISBN   978-0-7360-5637-3.
  6. 1 2 Eric Bischoff; Jeremy Roberts (2006). Controversy Creates Cash. Simon and Schuster. p. 134. ISBN   978-1-4165-2729-9.
  7. ↑ NCAA Division II Records through 2011
  8. 1 2 Reynolds, Marge (December 24, 1998). "Olympian's story inspires wrestlers Gold medalist overcame cancer". Chicago Daily Herald. p. 1.
  9. ↑ Reusse, Patrick (March 13, 2009). "Gust missed his Olympic moment; Canby's Brian Gust, who died last weekend, was denied a shot at the Olympics by the 1980 U.S. boycott". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. pp. 3C.
  10. 1 2 "Kiniski, Rheingans entering Newton hall". CANOE. July 25, 2004. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ "FILA Database". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ Thoma, Scott (November 12, 2008). "Tribune Hall of Fame finalists named". West Central Tribune. Minnesota.
  13. 1 2 Steven Olderr (April 29, 2003). The Pan American Games / Los Juegos Panamericanos: A Statistical History, 1951–1999, bilingual edition / Una Historia Estadistica, 1951–1999, edicion bilingue. McFarland. pp. 327–. ISBN   978-0-7864-4336-9.
  14. 1 2 3 David L. Porter (August 5, 2013). Their Greatest Victory: 24 Athletes Who Overcame Disease, Disability and Injury. McFarland. p. 4. ISBN   978-1-4766-0247-9.
  15. ↑ The History of WWE. "1987 WWF results" . Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  16. ↑ Steve Williams (December 13, 2013). Steve Williams: How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. p. 202. ISBN   978-1-61321-517-3.
  17. ↑ Jeremy Wall (2005). UFC's Ultimate Warriors: The Top 10. ECW Press. p. 119. ISBN   978-1-55022-691-1.
  18. ↑ Goode, Mike (March 1, 1976). "First Cup Match at Home". Toledo Blade . Retrieved April 29, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.