Ultimate Professional Wrestling (UPW) was a California-based independent pro wrestling promotion and developmental territory owned and operated by Rick Bassman, that operated from 1998–2007.
The company had working relationships with Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It served as a developmental company for WWE, where they would scout wrestlers and send others for training, from 2006 to 2007. Some of the major names to go on to stardom are John Cena, Samoa Joe, The Miz, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. The promotion was featured on a Discovery Channel special called Inside Professional Wrestling School.
Notable alumni Deceased individuals are indicated with a dagger (†). Melina Perez Rick Bassman B-Boy Mike Bell † The Blue Meanie Jack Bull Cheerleader Melissa Melissa Coates † Christopher Daniels Head Bitch in Charge (Victoria) Jon Heidenreich Horshu Tom Howard Ivory Tony Jones † Evan Karagias Al Katrazz Frankie Kazarian Mike Knox Paul London Scott Lost The Miz Michael Modest Donovan Morgan Chris Mordetzky Nova Human Tornado Navajo Warrior Shinjiro Otani Adam Pearce The Prototype (John Cena) Daniel Puder Tyler Reks Puma Quicksilver Ricky Reyes Davey Richards Rocky Romero Ruckus Joey Ryan Keiji Sakoda † Samoa Joe Scorpio Sky Skulu † Babi Slymm Bison Smith Spanky Solo Snuka Masato Tanaka Chase Tatum † Sylvester Terkay Brett Wagner Tommy Drake
Tag Teams: The Ballard Brothers (Shane and Shannon) and Cheerleader Melissa Los Cubanitos (Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero) Evolution (Frankie Kazarian and Nova) Hardkore Inc. (Adam Pearce, Hardkore Kidd, and Al Katrazz) Team Emblem (Keiji Sakoda, Masato Tanaka, and Shinjiro Otani)
Championships
UPW Heavyweight Championship UPW Lightweight Championship UPW Tag Team Championship UPW Southern California/Shoot Championship UPW No Holds Barred Championship NWA/UPW/Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship
UPW Heavyweight Championship The UPW Heavyweight Championship was a championship contested for by Heavyweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Wrestler # Date Location Notes Sylvester Terkay 1 February 1, 1999 Mission Viejo, California Won a Battle royal to become first champion Aaron Baker 1 1999 Santa Ana, California Mike Bell 2 November 1999 Santa Ana, California Vacant N/A January 9, 2000 N/A Mike Bell was stripped of the title. Bad Boy Basil 1 January 27, 2000 Santa Ana, California Defeated J. D. Dempsey in a tournament final. Smelly 1 March 29, 2000 Santa Ana, California The Prototype 1 April 27, 2000 San Diego, California Smelly 1 May 24, 2000 Santa Ana, California Staz 1 August 23, 2000 Santa Ana, California Christopher Daniels 1 October 12, 2000 Costa Mesa, California Samoa Joe 1 March 14, 2001 Santa Ana, California Mikey Henderson 1 November 27, 2001 Hollywood, California Vacant N/A November 27, 2001 N/A stripped for no-show Christopher Daniels 2 March 13, 2002 Santa Ana, California Defeats Samoa Joe and Frankie Kazarian in a 3-way match. Tom Howard 2 May 8, 2002 Santa Ana, California Defeated Christopher Daniels in a tournament final, stripped of the title on June 3. Vacant N/A June 3, 2002 N/A Adam Pearce 1 July 11, 2003 Anaheim, California Defeated Chris Mordetzsky in a tournament final. Tom Howard 1 October 22, 2003 Santa Ana, California Inactive N/A 2007 N/A
UPW Lightweight Championship The UPW Lightweight Championship was a championship contested for by Cruiserweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Wrestler # Date Location Notes Prodigy 1 January 27, 2000 Santa Ana, California Won a Battle royal to become first champion Rick Bassman 1 January 27, 2000 Santa Ana, California Bassman [who was the company's owner] stole the title belt and named himself champion. Prodigy 2 February 23, 2000 Santa Ana, California The Enterprise 1 March 15, 2000 Hollywood, California Title might be vacant later in the month. Savvy 1 March 28, 2000 Santa Ana, California Won a Battle royal. Might have been for a vacant belt. The Enterprise 2 March 29, 2000 San Diego, California Won a Battle royal. Stripped of the title on May 24, 2000, for being over the title's weight limit. Stretch 1 May 24, 2000 Santa Ana, California Won a Battle royal for the vacant title. B-Boy 1 June 2000 San Diego, California Stretch 2 June 10, 2000 Santa Ana, California Drunk Irishman 1 July 20, 2000 Huntington Beach, California Later had to vacate the title due to injury. Stretch 3 July 29, 2000 Huntington Beach, California Won a tournament for the vacant title. Mikey Henderson 1 August 23, 2000 Santa Ana, California Vacates the title on October 12, 2000, to create the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Southern California title. Prodigy 3 November 8, 2000 Santa Ana, California Won a Battle royal for the vacant title B-Boy 2 May 30, 2001 Santa Ana, California Frankie Kazarian 1 August 15, 2002 Santa Ana, California This was a 2 out of 3 falls Triple Threat Match also involving Spanky. The first fall was for Spanky's Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship and the second fall was for B-Boy's UPW Lightweight title. Lil Nate 1 February 23, 2005 Santa Ana, California
UPW Tag Team Championship The UPW Tag Team Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Tag Team # Date Location Notes The Ballard Brothers 1 December 2, 1999 Hollywood, California Team Hardcore 1 March 2000 Santa Ana, California The Ballard Brothers 2 March 28, 2000 Santa Ana, California Jobbers-R-Us 1 April 19, 2000 Santa Ana, California Los Cubanitos 1 April 27, 2000 San Diego, California The Ballard Brothers 3 May 24, 2000 Santa Ana, California Team Hardcore 2 July 1, 2000 Huntington Beach, California The Ballard Brothers 4 July 15, 2000 Huntington Beach, California Evolution 1 May 30, 2001 Santa Ana, California The Ballard Brothers 5 May 8, 2002 Santa Ana, California Funky Billy Kim (2) & B-Boy 1 January 8, 2003 Santa Ana, California The Ballard Brothers 6 March 15, 2003 Laughlin, Nevada Hardkore Inc. 1 April 25, 2003 Anaheim, California The Ballard Brothers 7 February 20, 2004 Anaheim, California
UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship The UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Champion # Date Location Notes Mikey Henderson 1 October 12, 2000 Santa Ana, California Henderson was the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Lightweight Champion when he vacated that title to create the UPW Southern California title. Was stripped for too many no shows. Tony Jones 1 January 30, 2001 Santa Ana, California Was awarded the title after winning a six-man tag match. Tom Howard 1 June 26, 2001 Santa Ana, California The title is renamed the UPW Shoot Championship on August 22, 2001. Unified with the UPW Heavyweight Championship When Howard beats Christopher Daniels for the Heavyweight title on May 8, 2002
UPW No Holds Barred Championship The UPW No Holds Barred Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.
Champion # Date Location Notes J.D. Dempsey 1 March 28, 2000 Santa Ana, California Defeated Samoan Joe to become the first champion. Samoa Joe 1 March 29, 2000 San Diego, California Smooth Billy D 1 April 19, 2000 Santa Ana, California Shane Ballard 1 April 27, 2000 San Diego, California
UPW Internet Championship The UPW Internet Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Championship # Date Location Notes Navajo Warrior 1 November 8, 2000 Santa Ana, California Won a Battle royal. The Blue Meanie 1 March 14, 2001 Santa Ana, California
UPW Women's Championship Champion # Date Location Notes Erica Porter 1 April 25, 2003 Anaheim, CA Beat Savvy to become champion.
See also List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States
References
External links www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/upw www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/upw