Stampede Wrestling

Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the promotion competed with other promotions such as NWA All-Star Wrestling and Pacific Northwest Wrestling and regularly ran events in Calgary's Victoria Pavilion, Ogden Auditorium and the Stampede Corral between 1948 until 1984 when bought out by promoter Vince McMahon, the company was briefly run by the World Wrestling Federation before being sold back to the Hart family the following year. Run by Bruce Hart until January 1990, he and Ross Hart reopened the promotion in 1999 and began running events in the Alberta area.
Along with its wrestling school known as "The Dungeon", many of the promotion's former alumni becoming some of the most popular stars in the World Wrestling Federation and other American promotions during the 1980s and 1990s, the promotion produced one of the earliest televised professional wrestling programs that remained one of Calgary's most popular sports programs eventually airing in over 50 countries.

WWW stampedewrestling.com

History

First run (1948–1984)

Stampede Wrestling was formed in 1948 by Stu Hart and Al Oeming under the name Klondike Wrestling, and held their first show on September 11, 1948, at the Sales Pavillion in Edmonton, Alberta. It also become the National Wrestling Alliance's Calgary territory in Canada. In May 1951, they changed its name to Big Time Wrestling. In February 1958, they introduced their version of the NWA International Tag Team Championship to replace the Alberta Tag Team Championship that was retired the year before, which was won by The Kalmikoffs.
In 1959, Oeming retired and Hart took full control of the territory. Hart would also retire their version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. In 1965, he changed the name of the promotion to Wildcat Wrestling. Finally, in August 1967, he changed it to Stampede Wrestling, and the name stuck. In February 1968, they created their own singles title, the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Archie Gouldie. Four years later, they retired their version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship. In June 1978, they introduced the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, with Dynamite Kid as their inaugural champion during his first tour in North America. In 1979, Stampede would bring back an old championship, the Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship, with Dick Steinborn as champion. In 1982, Stampede withdrew from the NWA.
On December 2, 1983, a riot broke out at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary during a match between Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith and Sonny Two Rivers against Bad News Allen, The Stomper and Stomper's kayfabe son Jeff Gouldie. Longtime Stampede announcer Ed Whalen reportedly became distraught during the riot, in which a woman was trampled, causing him to quit from the Stampede on air. Speaking of the events he remarked, "We're starting to scare the patrons with this violence outside the ring, and I will not be associated with it anymore." The event led to Stampede Wrestling being banned from Calgary for six months by the city's wrestling and boxing commission. In August 1984, Stampede Wrestling was sold to the World Wrestling Federation. Of all the talent that WWF took upon their purchase of Stampede, they took only three wrestlers: Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Dynamite Kid. Their last show was held on November 5, 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a WWF/Stampede joint show. Bret Hart claims that Vince McMahon never actually paid for the territory, and “stiffed” his father, Stu Hart.

Second run (1985–1989)

On October 28, 1985, the WWF sold Stampede back to the Hart family, with Bruce Hart taking the reins, and by 1986, the Calgary territory was given a shot of adrenaline with new talent such as Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, Biff Wellington, and Johnny Smith coming in to tangle with Gama Singh and his Karachi Vice stable and The Viet Cong Express. In December 1987, they added a women's championship, the IWA World Women's Championship, with Monster Ripper as their champion, but by January 1989, that championship moved to Japan.
Despite a valiant four years trying to resurrect the wrestling scene in Calgary to its former glory, Stampede officially shut down on December 18, 1989. The closure stemmed from long-standing problems between Bruce Hart and Ed Whalen, producer Fred May's constantly editing too much content off TV, and pay disputes within talent. Their final show before closing down was held in Edmonton on December 16, with Larry Cameron defeating Bob Emory in the main event to retain the North American Heavyweight Championship.

Failed attempts to relaunch

Despite Stampede officially closing down in December 1989, there were several attempts to revive the promotion. The first attempt occurred around March 1990 by Bruce Hart, but it only lasted three months, running smaller towns outside Calgary and Edmonton, due to a lack of approval by the Calgary Wrestling & Boxing Commission to promote shows. The next attempt was around December 1991 by Abu Wizal, but only lasted a couple weeks. Between July 1995 and July 1997, Bruce Hart promoted one-off shows periodically at the Rockyford Rodeo in Rockyford, Alberta.
On December 15, 1995, a special Stampede Wrestling tribute show was held at the Corral in Calgary, celebrating Stu Hart's life and career. It featured several Stampede alumni, as well as talent from both the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. The main event saw Bret Hart successfully defend the WWF Championship against Davey Boy Smith.

Third run (1999–2008)

In early 1999, Bruce and Ross Hart reopened Stampede Wrestling, showcasing graduates from the Hart Dungeon training school. However, only weeks after their first event, the promotion once again became inactive following the death of Owen Hart in May. Although considering closing the promotion, the Hart family continued to promote events five months later and began touring western Canada. Although successful, the Harts were forced to cancel several tours in late 2001 and early 2002 due to the arrival of a rival promotion backed by a Calgary businessman. The promotion also lost much of its roster due to its rival hiring away top stars.
In 2005, promoters Bill Bell and Devon Nicholson took over day-to-day operations for Stampede Wrestling. During an event at the Spray Lakes Sawmill Sportsplex in Cochrane, Alberta, Nicholson would face Abdullah the Butcher after the scheduled main event between Lance Storm and Rhyno was canceled when Rhyno failed to appear. At that same event, longtime tag team partners TJ Wilson and Harry Smith faced each other in Smith's final match for the promotion before leaving for World Wrestling Entertainment. Bruce and Ross Hart sold Stampede Wrestling to Bill Bell in 2007. The promotion ceased operations again in April 2008.
Stampede's weekly shows were held mostly at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary, with special events held at the Stampede Corral.

Television program

Stampede Wrestling was the basis for a long-running weekly sports broadcast produced in Calgary showcasing many of the promotion's most popular wrestlers. Hosted by Ed Whalen most of its run, which went from 1957 to 1989, the series was syndicated around the world and reruns continue to be shown in some countries to this day. At the time Stampede was revived in 1999, a second Stampede Wrestling TV series was attempted, hosted by Bad News Allen and play by play commentator Mauro Ranallo, but it was short-lived and Whalen was not involved.

Tape library

WWE currently controls Stampede's extensive tape library. In December 2015, the WWE Network began adding Stampede Wrestling shows to its Vault section. However, it was all removed a few days later, after Bret Hart proved that he owned the rights to the footage of his matches.

The Dungeon

Stampede Wrestling was famous for "The Dungeon", a professional wrestling school located in the basement of the Calgary mansion Hart House, home of the Hart family. Stu Hart and Mr. Hito were the main trainers in the Dungeon. The school trained a number of ECW, WCW, WWE and NJPW stars, including the Hart Brothers, Mark Henry, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Ricky Fuji, Hiroshi Hase, Ken Shamrock, Justin Credible, Christian and Edge.

Championships

Championship:	Last champion:	Active from:	Active until:	Notes:
Alberta Tag Team Championship	John Foti and John Paul Henning	1954	1957
British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship	Gama Singh Jr.	July 1978	April 2008	The British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title was revived in 1999 when Stampede started promoting again Karl Anderson won it on March 12, 2006 in Santa Monica, California.
IWA World Women's Championship	Kyoko Inoue	December 1987	1997	In 1989 the title began being promoted by All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship '	Dave Ruhl	November 1, 1946	1972
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship '	Butcher Vachon and Mad Dog Vachon	1954	1959	Tag Team title replaced by the NWA International Tag-Team Championship (Calgary version) later known as the “Stampede International Tag Team Championship”
Stampede International Tag Team Championship	JR Wapass and Calvin Wapass	1984	April 1984 name="Titles"/>	-
Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship	Ravenous Randy	February 28, 1968	April 2008	The North American title was revived in 1998 when Stampede started promoting again
Stampede Pacific Heavyweight Championship	Michael Modest	May 1999	June 27, 2001
Stampede Women's Pacific Championship	Belle Lovitz	June 15, 2005	April 2008	The Women’s Pacific Title is the only title that was not used in the original version of Stampede Wrestling
Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship	Bob Gordon	1984	c. October 1985

Former personnel

Modern version (1999-2008)

;Male wrestlers

Ring name	Real name	Tenure	Notes
	Unknown	2005–2008
		2000–2008
		1984–1989
		2005–2008
	Unknown	2005–2008
		1999–2003
	Unknown	2005
	Unknown	2004–2019
	Unknown	2000, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008
	Michael Richard Blais	2005–2008
		2006–2008
		2003–2006
	Unknown	2005–2008
	Unknown	1999–2005
	Unknown	2004–2008
		1999–2000, 2003–2004
		1999–2006
	Unknown	1999–2000, 2007–2008
		1999–2000, 2002–2006, 2008
		2002–2003, 2006–2007
	Unknown	1984–1987
	Unknown	2000–2004, 2007
		2001
	Unknown	2003–2008
	Unknown	2004–2006
	Unknown	1984–1987
		2001
		2002
		2003–2008
		2001–2008
	Unknown	2007–2008
		1999–2001, 2003–2004
	Unknown	2007–2008
	Unknown	2002–2008
Tatanka		1999
	Unknown	2004–2013
		1999–2006, 2008
		1999-2002
		2004–2008
		1999–2001
		1999–2007

;Female wrestlers

Ring name	Real name	Tenure	Notes
	Unknown	2004–2005
	Unknown	2002–2008
	Unknown	2007–2012
		2002–2007
	Unknown	2003–2005, 2007–2008

Original version (1948–2007)

Hall of Fame

The Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame list professional wrestlers and others who have competed in Stampede Wrestling, from Stu Hart's Klondike Wrestling to the original Stampede Wrestling promotion which closed in 1990.

#	Year	Ring name	Inducted by	Inducted for	Notes
	1995		N/A	Wrestling and Promoting	Founder of Stampede Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and Alberta Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship, NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Alberta Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling North American Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship, Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Midget Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Midget Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Women's Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Women's Wrestling
	1995		N/A	Refereeing
	1995		N/A	Refereeing
	1995		N/A	Managing
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship and Stampede International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship and NWA Stampede International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede International Tag Team Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, Stampede International Tag Team Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship and NWA International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship and Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship
	1995		N/A	Wrestling	Won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
	1995		N/A	Announcing and Commentating
	1995		N/A	Announcing and Commentating
	1995		N/A	Other	Calgary Boxing and Wrestling Commissioner
	1995		N/A	Promoting
	1995		N/A	Announcing, Photography and Promoting
	1995		N/A	Announcing and Commentating
	1995		N/A	Announcing and Commentating
	1995		N/A	Other	Appeared as the "onscreen" president of the National Wrestling Alliance

– Entries without a birth name indicates that the inductee did not perform under a ring name.
– This section mainly lists the major accomplishments of each inductee in the Calgary wrestling territory.