Memphis Wrestling: Nick Bockwinkel - AWA SOUTHERN Champion!!

[@digital2500]

I met Mr. Bockwinkel in 2011 at the NWA Legends Fanfest in Atlanta. Just a really nice man!! He was very gracious!

[@reh629]

bockwinkel was ahead of his time. his promos skills were legendary. he didnt have to scream or yell. he was truly cerebral.

[@seanbuchanan966]

One of the best champions wrestlers.talkers. heels ever. Calm cool and collected

[@TimothyKendrick]

WOW! I forgot how great of a talker Nick was, Thanks for posting this

[@ronaldshank7589]

I don't know if he got the term "humanoids" from Bobby The Brain Heenan, or if Heenan got it from him. Whatever. He could be unbelievably articulate! He didn't get all tongue-tied, and start muttering unintelligibly. No. Nick Bockwinkle, like him or not, was a man's man that backed up his talk!

[@yardlet6]

Bockwinkel:one of the most underated men on the stick.

[@WatchVenusSpa]

Bockwinkel's promos and matches in Memphis were Nick at his best.

[@landrykkb]

Nick Bockwinkel had that rare combination of being an effective top heel who didn't have to shout and was very articulate with his vocabulary as well as being a stellar ring general.I suppose Chris Jericho was somewhat inspired my Mr,Bockwinkel,but he definitely had his own style too.

[@A_real_Ha_So]

John W Landry Jericho says in a shoot that he based his heel run off of Bockwinkel's character.

[@WatchVenusSpa]

Jericho, Curt Hennig, even Flair took a lot from Bockwinkel.

[@josephsoutherland7240]

@@WatchVenusSpa w

[@okrabay]

little did we know that we were two years away from the end of this type of great wrestling.

[@t01880]

Genius. Should be required viewing for anyone who wants to cut a great promo. Bockwinkel was a master at displaying his disgust for his opponents and the fans without actually coming out and saying it.

[@csaver]

Outstanding post. Nick Bockwinkel showing how to be both 100% heel and 100% class at the same time. There hasn't been anyone like him.

[@Tbone3471]

NIce to see a wrestler cut an effective promo without raising his voice, and with such a command of fhe language.. Bockwinkel was phenomenal. I wish he would have wrestled in the NWA or WWF at the time because I didn't get AWA programming. I'm just catching his stuff here on youtube. Thanks for the post.

[@contour157]

Memphis could've had a legendary match if they'd booked AWA vs NWA with Flair vs Bockwinkle.. Crowd turnout would've been massive..

[@robertcolacino7310]

What a dastardly turn of events

[@gl6996]

Every moment was Jimmy Hart's "greatest day of his life"!!!

[@atheistasylum]

A true champion. Unlike the cretinous humanoids who claim such today.

[@geodeuce]

Nevertheless, when folks talk about the old barn having its last match this past week, I will always remember the greatest match ever at the arena. Ric Flair vs. Nick Bockwinkel, sixty minute draw.

[@GumboGalahad]

"I'll have to get extra luggage just to haul these around".

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

GumboGalahad kind of like Slick Ric having a hard time keeping these alligators down...

[@dmjones7022]

Tricky Nick Bockwinkel, one of the greatest mic generals and performers of all time bar none. I remember seeing him defend the AWA title against Lawler in San Antonio, Tx. and against Verne Gagne in Denver, Colo. and to make it simple, the wrestling world never truly gave this man his due. With Bobby Heenan at his side, Nick had it all and was greater than the AWA could have ever been. He would have exemplified a true undisputed heavyweight champion.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Jimmy Hart’s laugh is so devilish , it’s hilarious! 😅

[@jvinson]

Well in Nick's defense, he did say he'd defend the Southern title in Southern California.

[@anthonythompsonsr1993]

Lol true

[@thedarkchild86]

Nick Bockwinkel is SMOOVE .........

[@taylorcrouse668]

I loved Bockwinkel on the mic. So erudite.

[@diamondman420]

Yeah I'm no Flair fan by any means but I'd watch anything with the Bock.

[@JayCity10]

In terms of Heel Promos, I would rank or compare this one, side by side with The Rock's Heel Promo in 2003 in Canada.

[@FerretJohn]

Underrated? I don't think so. Anybody who knows wrestling history immediately recognizes him as one of the most intelligent and articulate wrestlers who ever stepped in the ring. As one person said, if you ask Bockwinkel for the time he'll tell you how to build a watch. Nobody's ever underrated him

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

FerretJohn really?? Wow. Cool F story....

[@Tbone3471]

I think what anyone means by calling him “underrated” is that he really should have received more National and global notoriety than he did. He should be mentioned in the same breath with the Flairs Race, Rhodes, Hogan but he’s not. He was loyal to Verne and ultimately it cost him that

[@markbowman6655]

Nick Bockwinkel almost sounded more like he was suited to be a doctor or attorney.

[@timstrickland8774]

Rare not to see lawler with that title

[@DomenicDee]

Now that's a helluva' promo, talk about getting heat! LOL

[@adrianjohnson5479]

This is how a promo should be done.

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

Jimmy Hart's laugh at the very end is great! Lol. But they're right- I mean, who in their right mind would want to stay and fight among all the trash in Memphis, when u could win the World Title in your own hometown of Beverly Hills, which is also where I happen to be from, as well as all the other celebrities... HAAA HA HAhaha... :)

[@JasonQuinn-qq4om]

One of the reasons Nick worked so much in Memphis is because the AWA rarely ran shows on Monday. CWA ran the Mid South Coliseum every Monday every week. This was an opportunity for Nick to make a little extra money on the side.

[@sspaay]

If Nick didn't invent the arrogant heel, he perfected him. Oh BTW, he was one of the best workers of any time.

[@79chevy901]

This was when wrestling was wrestling.

[@ronaldshank7589]

Yeah! It wasn't "Sports Entertainment"!

[@bigpoppanard]

Notice how AWA World Champion Bockwinkel does NOT call the Southern Title an AWA Title...He was "looking" for a unification match with Ric Flair.

[@ptothej100]

I don't think Bockwinkel was underrated, either. At least among knowledgeable fans. However, he probably was underexposed to an extent. Based on the isolated territories of the 70s and 80s. Flair tends to give Ray Stevens credit for being his inspiration, but Bockwinkel had to be an influence.

[@OaktownABQ]

I feel like a cretinous humanoid after watching this video!

[@GShea]

Lawler beat him in a hair match - Lawler's hair vs. Bockwinkel's Southern title. The World title was not on the line.

[@diamondman420]

Winnepeg Arena 1986. Said to have been a good match, but anything involving Bock was good to great.

[@Kenro200x]

Wasn't Nick smooth or what?

[@rockitmorton]

He acquiesce to no one.

[@bigpoppanard]

The Southern Title in Memphis wasnt truely an "AWA" title. CWA (the promotion in Memphis that the Apter called the Mid-Southern Area) was actually a due-paying NWA" member until the end of 1986 and had an "association" with the AWA until 1989. At times on tv and in their programs they would affix the "AWA" and/or "NWA" affilliations on their titles. So technically the title was NWA/AWA Southern Title as recognized by CWA/Memphis (not to be confused with the Southern Title in NWA CWF).

[@IceColdWater]

yep...1986...DCO - I have it

[@Evan3682]

i think this video is in 1080p

[@marcntexas]

@dmjones7022 Agree 100%...and I was at that Lawler match in S.A. TX as well...to me Mr. Bockwinkel will always be the ultimate Villian...even Flair gave him props. No screaming reality TV/WWE mentality here. Almost seemed real for a sec...

[@geodeuce]

How did he lose the Southern title or did he ever lose it?

[@sadetwizelve]

The original suit wearing,big word using heel! Jericho reinvented himself as Bockwinkel and did well,miz tried and failed!

[@feb287]

So Bobby Heenan took humanoid from this great talker

[@highgate4767]

I wonder why he had Hart with him instead of Heenan.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

It's because Jimmy was basically the top heel in the territory, and he was constantly bringing wrestlers to Memphis in an attempt to beat up Lawler. Nick was the latest heel he brought to Memphis to dethrone the King, and this time it worked.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

@@jonathanturbide2232 I believe Ric Flair actually put a bounty out on Jerry Lawler. Hart was bringing in wrestlers in to collect.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

@@VolumedMusicMan Cool, thanks for the clarification! Your knowledge always impresses me! 😀👍🏻

[@MadAnthonyWayne]

Bockwinkel 3:16

[@yardlet6]

Those who know wrestling history not WWE/Cena loving humanoids.