Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)

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Universal Wrestling Federation
Details
Acronym UWF
Established 1990
Style American Wrestling
Location Los Angeles, California
Founder(s) Herb Abrams
Owner(s) Herb Abrams

The Universal Wrestling Federation, or UWF, was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Herb Abrams.

Contents

[edit] History

Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots.

He trademarked the UWF name in June 1991 because Bill Watts never bothered to trademark his version of the Universal Wrestling Federation that was sold to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987.

Abrams was head booker of the company from 1990 to 1992. Zoogz Rift, a cult musician and manager in the UWF, took over as head booker in 1993.

Zoogz Rift accompanied Abrams on several international business trips in 1993 where they managed to secure home video deals for the company. He quit in March 1994, leaving Abrams to book the September 1994 Blackjack Brawl card. Abrams was a known drug addict at the time, which was apparent in both the booking of Blackjack Brawl and his on-air appearance during the show.

In late 1995, Zoogz Rift rejoined the company as Vice President, helping to secure new television deals with both SportsChannel America and Prime Network. Abrams' death in June 1996, however, marked the end of the company. Blackjack Brawl would stand as the final UWF show.

The UWF tape library is currently owned by former wrestler Al Burke. In recent years, he has partnered with Todd Okerlund of Classic Wrestling to repackage and license the library through DirecTV and ESPN Classic Canada.

[edit] Fury Hour

In 1990, the company signed a deal with national cable network SportsChannel America. A weekly program called "Fury Hour" debuted in September 1990 and ran until 1993.

The original announce team consisted of Herb Abrams as play-by-play man and Bruno Sammartino as color commentator. In late 1990, Craig DeGeorge replaced Abrams as play-by-play man. John Tolos replaced Sammartino as color commentator in 1992, with Carlo Gianelli joining him for play-by-play at 1994's Blackjack Brawl.

In 1995, existing episodes were repackaged to half-hour format and aired on ESPN2.

ESPN Classic Canada reran original one-hour format episodes in 2004.

[edit] Results

[edit] UWF Beach Brawl

Main article: UWF Beach Brawl

The UWF's first and only event that aired live on Pay Per View and garnered a 0.10 buy rate.

June 9, 1991 from the Manatee Convention Center in Palmetto, Florida

[edit] UWF Blackjack Brawl

The UWF's first and only event that aired live on SportsChannel America.

September 23, 1994 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • UWF Americas Championship: Dan Spivey defeated Johnny Ace to win the vacant title after Missy Hyatt threw in a towel
  • UWF Junior Heavyweight Championship: Jack Armstrong defeated Mando Guerrero to win the vacant title
  • Sunny Beach defeated Dr. Feelgood
  • UWF Southern States Championship: Bob Orton, Jr. fought Finland Thor to a double disqualification and retained his title
  • UWF Midget World Championship: Little Tokyo defeated The Karate Kid to win the vacant title
  • Sampson defeated The Irish Assassin
  • UWF MGM Grand Championship: Tyler Mane defeated Steve Ray to win the vacant title
  • UWF Women's World Championship: Candi Divine defeated Tina Moretti to win the vacant title
  • UWF World Tag Team Championship: The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell) defeated The New Powers Of Pain (Warlord and Power Warrior) to win the vacant title
  • Lumberjack Match: Cactus Jack and Jimmy Snuka fought to a double count-out
  • UWF World Heavyweight Championship: Steve Williams defeated Sid Vicious to retain his title

[edit] Steve Williams / Steve Ray shoot

In 1991, Herb Abrams was owed money by Steve Ray and wrongly suspected that Ray was sleeping with his wife. On May 20, 1991 at a television taping in New York City, Abrams paid Steve Williams an extra $100 for the night to break Ray's nose during their match. The ensuing shoot aired in its entirety on an episode of Fury Hour.

[edit] UWF Titles

[edit] Home Video

In 1992, the UWF issued six VHS releases in the United States through Best Film & Video Corporation.

  • Beach Brawl
  • Tag Team Tandems
  • The Best Of Paul Orndorff
  • The Lumberjack Match
  • The Steel Cage Match
  • Wrestling's Greatest Champions

In 1993, the UWF released six volumes of PAL videos in Germany through Summit International Pictures under the "Wrestling Super Champs" banner. They were all compilations of Fury Hour matches.

The same six "Wrestling Super Champs" volumes were re-released in Germany through Jünger Verlag under the "Super Wrestling" banner.

Recent years have seen the emergence of UWF DVD's in Australia through Payless Entertainment. Each of the seven Region 4 DVD's contains one episode of Fury Hour.

  • Body Slammin
  • Grand Slam
  • Grudge Matches
  • It's War
  • Tag Team Madness
  • The Main Event
  • Wrestling Wars

In Germany, a Region 0 DVD titled "Wrestling Super 4 Champs" was released containing two episodes of Fury Hour.

Also in Germany all VHS "Wrestling Super Champs" or "Super Wrestling" are re-released on DVD as "Amarican History of Wrestling - UWF" with Volumes 1-6

former pro wrestler Al Burke currently ownes the UWF Abrams video library

[edit] Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards

  • 1990 - Worst Television Announcer (Herb Abrams)
  • 1991 - Worst Promotion (UWF)
  • 1991 - Worst Television Show (Fury Hour)
  • 1994 - Worst Major Wrestling Card (Blackjack Brawl)

[edit] External links

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