| Ulf Nadrowski | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Ulf Ranger Ulf Herman Herman the German |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Billed weight | 281 lb (127 kg) |
| Born | April 4, 1966 Hannover, Germany |
| Trained by | CWA Wrestling School |
| Debut | 1989 |
Ulf Nadrowski (born April 4, 1966) is a German professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ulf Herman. He is best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998-1999 where he would join with the Full Blooded Italians faction. Herman is also known around the world for his time in the European independent circuit, most notably in the United Kingdom for Frontier Wrestling Alliance, and more recently 1 Pro Wrestling and Real Quality Wrestling (where he is currently RQW Heavyweight Champion).
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Ulf Nadrowski was a local swimming champion in Germany and also did some Judo before he decided to get into wrestling. Herman travelled to Dortmund, Linz, Graz and Vienna, in order to train there. In Vienna he began performing for a small promotion, and he wrestled his first match on August 27, 1989 under the name Ulf Ranger, which he won. In January 1990 he wrestled in South Africa for eight weeks.
He returned to Germany, working for small promotions, but earned a tryout in the World Wrestling Federation as "Herman the German". Herman then travelled to the United Kingdom, where he gained crucial experience so he could wrestle for the CWA in Vienna.
In the last tournament of the year in 1993 in Bremen he was selected as 'Rookie Of The Year' and earned a match against Papa Shango (The well-known Godfather from the WWF), which took place at the Euro Catch Festival. Ulf lost, but this experience was worth more than a victory.
In 1995 he wrestled the Ultimate Warrior who made a guest-appearance in the CWA for one match. Although Herman lost the match wrestling one of the greatest wrestling legends of the time contributed greatly to his popularity.
In 1998, Herman travelled to the United States where he competed for Extreme Championship Wrestling. On July 18, 1998 he made his ECW debut teaming with Mike Lozansky and Michael Kovac; they lost to the team of Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney and John Kronus. On July 24, 1998 Herman was defeated by Kronus. Herman was defeated for the second time by Kronus almost two weeks later on August 7, 1998. Finally on August 8, 1998 Herman picked up his first victory in ECW by defeating Kronus. On August 28, 1998 Tommy Dreamer, Blue Meanie and Super Nova beat Jack Victory, Danny Doring and Herman. Herman didn't appear again until January 16, 1999, where, at ECW's House Party, he was defeated again by Kronus.
Herman briefly joined ECW stable called the Full Blooded Italians. The stable gained a cult following in ECW. While Herman slowly faded away from ECW in the coming months, he still earned various title shots against Rob Van Dam and Sabu, but the matches did not garner any real interest. Nevertheless Herman would participate in the ECW Pay by View "November to Remember '98". To this day he states that his favourite match was against Van Dam in Detroit, Michigan. Ulf's last match in ECW was against his friend Sabu on January 30 1999
After his stint in ECW, Ulf returned to Europe where he captured the NWA Germany Heavyweight championship. Herman continued on the European independent circuit making a name for himself in the United Kingdom once more, competing in Frontier Wrestling Alliance and later 1 Pro Wrestling.
On January 6, 2006, Herman made his debut in 1PW, replacing D'Lo Brown who had withdrawn from the event. Herman lost his first match to Sterling James Keenan, but appeared at the end of the show to help Sabu stave off an attack from Keenan and Abyss. The next night, Herman and Sabu teamed to lose to Keenan and Abyss, with Herman being pinned.
Herman was signed up for 1PW's next double-header show 'All or Nothing', winning a dark match on Night One. Prior to the 1PW Heavyweight Title Tournament Final, Herman came out and cut a promo stating that, since he believed A.J. Styles would defeat Abyss in the match, he was challenging 'The Monster' to a 'Survival of the Sickest' match for Night Two. Following the revelation that Christian Cage, the number one contender for the title was unable to compete on Night Two, Herman stepped in as his match with Abyss was made a 1PW Heavyweight Championship match. Herman was defeated, however, after being chokeslammed through a flaming table covered in thumbtacks.
Herman was granted a Falls Count Anywhere rematch at Know Your Enemy Night One. Abyss once again defeated Herman, causing Herman to publicly question his career on Night Two. As he seemed poised to announce his retirement, Iceman interrupted him and attacked, intending to see Herman off into retirement for good. This did not happen, but Herman was defeated by Iceman in a No-DQ match at The Devil's Due.
Herman was unavailable for Invincible due to a personal commitment, but he returned to face both Iceman and Martin Stone in a European Deathmatch. Stone pinned Iceman to win the match and shook hands with Herman after the match, only for Iceman to flip both men off and escape the ring. Herman returned to the Doncaster Dome once more at Fight Club IV: Fight for the Future to team with Steve Corino and new fans' favourite Keenan against the team of Darkside and Team Supreme, Keenan's former followers. The team won the six-man match after Corino hit Darkside with a stiff kick. In the following twenty man 'Fight for the Future' battle royale, Herman garnered the most eliminations but was tossed out by Jodie Fleisch, who came from another arena entrance to blindside Herman.
After 1PW put out a notice of liquidation, northern wrestling promotion 3 Count Wrestling took over 1PW's January 13 booking at the Doncaster Dome to put on the ...Will Not Die show, as a tribute to the fallen promotion, announcing that Iceman and Herman would face off once more in a Survival of the Sickest main event. Following events which led to Abyss being stripped of his second 1PW World Championship, Herman and Iceman battled it out to determine the 'final' 1PW World Heavyweight Champion. After a heated hardcore match, Herman hit a brainbuster/suplex through a flaming table on Iceman to gain the pinfall and become the 1PW World Heavyweight Champion.
Herman managed to retain the belt at 1PW's comeback show Resurrection where he beat Iceman in an I quit Match. He also managed to retain over two nights at the Know Your Enemy weekend, on Night 1 in a four-way against Abyss, Sterling James Keenan and Doug Williams and on Night 2 against Sterling James Keenan. Herman managed to again defend his title at the 1PW show Invincible against Sterling James Keenan after the proposed three-way was cancelled due to Abyss not making the show. It was later announced that he would defend his title for the last time against Sterling James Keenan in a steel cage match at the 2nd Anniversary Show on October 13.
Herman lost the title to Keenan in the cage at 2nd Anniversary Show. Afterwards, Keenan accepted Herman's gesture in handing him the belt, but declared that he would now pillage 1PW for all he could and that he didn't care about the fans or his fellow wrestlers.
Herman is scheduled to face Jim Fullington, The Sandman, on 18 April at The Doncaster Dome.
On February 9, 2008 at ACW's Riptide II event, Herman became the Real Quality Wrestling Heavyweight champion in a title vs title match, putting his ACW Title belt on the line against with the then current RQW champion Martin Stone. He won after a referee mix up spot and rolled his opponent up for the 3 count. Herman made his first RQW title defence on the March 9 RQW TV taping show, where he defeated Johnny Moss.
Nadrowski is married and has a child. In past times he worked as a lifeguard. Aside from his wrestling career, Nadrowski works as a bodyguard on tour with bands such as 3 Doors Down, System of a Down, Slipknot and Rammstein. Nadrowski also owns a fitness club.