Ultimate Pro Wrestling
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Ultimate Pro Wrestling | |
---|---|
Details | |
Acronym | UPW |
Established | 1998 |
Location | California |
Founder(s) | Rick Bassman |
Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) is a Professional wrestling promotion owned and operated by Rick Bassman. It has often been used as a training ground for World Wrestling Entertainment. Its wrestling school, Ultimate University, has become popular for sending over 30 of its graduates to WWE and others to Zero One in Japan.
It has been a stepping stone in the development of many past and present WWE Superstars including John Cena, Chris Masters, Victoria, Jon Heidenreich, The Miz, Melina, Deuce and Ryan Sakoda. It has also featured some of the more well known independent wrestling stars in the world, including Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe. Since their debut in 1998, they have run many shows in Southern California and Nevada and at one point in 1999, UPW was shown on KDOC TV in Santa Ana, CA. In late June of 2006, it was announced that UPW had become an official talent scout for WWE once again.[1]
[edit] Championships
Titles | Current champion(s) |
UPW Heavyweight Championship | Tom Howard |
UPW Tag Team Championship | Ballard Brothers (Shane and Shannon) |
UPW Lightweight Championship | Lil' Nate |
UPW Women's Championship | VACANT |
Defunct titles | Last Champion |
UPW Internet Championship | The Blue Meanie |
UPW No Holds Barred Championship | Shane Ballard |
UPW Southern California Heavyweight/Shoot Championship | Tom Howard |